Backlash

by Charley Dee Brown

  ‘There’s more where that came from.’ Steve insisted. ‘Aint you gonna count it?’

  The bloke was a nutter, he pushed his arm away. ‘When did you hear me agree to anything?’ He responded bluntly.

  ‘You’d be a fool to turn it down.’ Steve insisted. His first pint was finished, so Jack got up and replenished his drink. The more the man drunk the loser his tongue became. He had no intention of drinking more than one pint himself, he wanted a clear head.

  ‘I’ll decide that.’ Jack replied.

  ‘What shall I tell him then?’ Steve pressed for an answer.

  ‘Well mate that depends on what the blokes after.’

  ‘He wants a way into the bitches club, if you take this monkey, I’ll get a fucking bonus.’

  This oddball had irked Jack by referring to Crimson as a bitch; he wanted to smack him in the mouth. Nevertheless he knew he had to go along with it, so he ordered him another beer. Jack knew he could be sarcastic and tell the fucker to get a membership form, and then he’d get into the club. However he swallowed hard and pushed for more answers. ‘So when does he want to get into the club? He asked casually.

  ‘This weekend, I think.’ He replied sluggishly. The alcohol was doing a fine job.

  ‘So who is the bloke who’s planning all this?’

  ‘Ken Reed, but Sean’s got the cash.’

  ‘Who else is involved?’ Jack asked directly.

  ‘I dunnow, there’s a mob.’ He slurred.

  ‘Ok mate, well you find out exactly what they have planned and I’ll meet you here on Friday morning.’ Jack assured.

  ‘You’ve gotta take the cash though.’ Once again he pushed the crumpled envelope towards Jack.

  After a moment’s thought Jack took the envelope and stuffed it in his pocket, he’d sort that out later. He knew if he refused again they’d smell a rat. Surely, they weren’t all, that fucking thick. He scraped his chair back, got up and left the bar.

  Back in the office, the boys were shocked that Crimson had gone for a rest, as she wasn’t feeling good. They sat and discussed the meeting Jack had just left with Steve. ‘I’m meeting him again on Friday.’ Jack announced.

  ‘Have you checked the bung he gave you?’ Billy asked.

  ‘Yeah, I could tell it was monopoly notes by the size of the package, I only took it as the nutter thought he was in for a bonus.’ Jack gave a lopsided grin and the boys laughed. He was about to say more, when the office door opened and Larry walked in.

  ‘Fuck mate, we thought you were brown bread!’ Billy yelled.

  Between Johnboy and Larry they brought the others up to date with what had occurred with Archie.

  ‘So you’ve got a key to this gaff then?’ Billy quizzed.

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Ok then, get that bike of yours in action, you and me are taking a trip to Dollis Hill.’ Billy stated.

  I’d had to get out of the office; the thought of eating was making me nauseous. In the flat, I lay on the sofa and attempted to put my thoughts into perspective. Matilda’s words were predominant on my mind. Had I always been so engrossed with The Docket, and all the feuding that I’d overlooked reality? I viewed myself as one of the boys, now a very disturbing feeling was causing the dread of imminent danger….would Jack be the same as Michael Power? I have to speak to someone, my mother, would she understand?

  Matilda was glad when she was inside the Hampstead house; she was only too aware that trouble was brewing. She also knew that Brita would be back in London the following week, so she needed time with Ava alone. She was worried about Crimson, and unsure how much to disclose to Ava. Therefore Matilda was stunned at Ava’s first words when they were alone in Harry’s study. ‘How did Crimson take the news about Jack?’

  ‘She was shocked lass.’ Obviously Ava knew more than she’d anticipated. ‘She has to stay quiet about her relationship with Johnboy.’

  ‘Harry has told me everything Mattie, I insisted no more lies. I’m stronger than you all think.’ She smiled. ‘The trouble with my girl, she sees herself as one of the boys.’

  ‘Exactly, now Matt has gone, Billy’s married, Larry is into men, and of course Rudy’s her cousin, just leaving Johnboy and Jack.’

  ‘She doesn’t realise the strength of her own beauty.’ Ava added.

  Ava was the only other person that called her Mattie, apart from Daley, her long time ex fiancé. She liked that it gave her a warm feeling. Now she was concerned about Archie, how much did Ava know?’Then as if she’d read her mind, Ava said directly. ‘Has Archie been seen again?’

  ‘I believe Larry took him back to the flat in Dollis Hill.’ Matilda was afraid she was overstepping the mark.

  ‘He won’t stay there Mattie, you know as well as me, there is no hope for my son.’

  Once again Matilda was shocked at Ava’s words. ‘Again I’m concerned about Crimson.’ She replied somewhat awkwardly.

  ‘Crimson will know what to do. Time we continued with my work Mattie, times running out. Please keep recording everything, its imperative you know every detail. There is only one vital piece of information I intend to keep, right until the end.’

  Matilda was now filled with curiosity, Ava’s words ‘right until the end’ what was she referring to? She was reacting as though she now belonged to the spirit world…Matilda was mystified…..and somewhat afraid for her friend……

  Billy and Larry arrived at the Dollis Hill flat to find the door had been kicked in. Unsure as to what or who may be inside, Billy was armed, his flashlight was the only illumination at first, Larry flicked the light switch, and the story of the night began to unfold. The flat had been systematically ransacked, the contents of the cupboards and drawers strewn like ugly confetti. Family portraits roughly smashed to the floor, the frames ripped apart…Whoever had been in the flat had been desperate to find something…but what….and would they come back? There was no sign of Archie… ‘Who the fuck’s been in here.’ Billy yelled. ‘And where the fuck is Archie?’

  ‘No idea.’ Larry replied stunned.

  ‘What did he keep in here, cash or paperwork?’

  ‘No not to my knowledge, he dealt with a bank.’ Larry responded.

  ‘What about his fucking keys, he had keys to the club, Hampstead and all Harry’s properties.’

  ‘I took those this morning, Crimson has them now.’

  ‘Thank fuck for that. So where’s the little fucker gone now?

  Johnboy was feeling uneasy; he knew Billy had gone to finish Archie off. Crimson had seemed troubled, she was a courageous girl, nothing fazed her. He realised that the issue with Archie was huge, life changing, nevertheless with Harry A’s guidance, he felt she’d cope, she always did. No, there was something else on the girl’s mind. She’d always shared her thoughts with him, so why now had she gone off alone? He was baffled….When Billy and Larry returned, she still hadn’t reappeared. He could see by the look of anger on Billy’s face that matters hadn’t gone to plan. ‘The fuckers gone!’ Billy yelled. ‘The flats been turned over.’

  ‘Who could have known about the flat?’ Johnboy asked.

  ‘No one, only us.’ Larry replied.

  ‘You must have been tailed then.’ Billy said angrily. ‘Did you notice anything?’

  ‘I hailed a cab, Archie collapsed I had to carry him.’ Larry added.

  Billy left the office. ‘Don’t worry mate, he’s not mad at you, he sees things differently, Billy’s an old hand at this. Johnboy explained. ‘The problem now, where is Archie, is he alone or has someone grabbed him?’

  I knew I wasn’t handling the situation well; they’d all be concerned as to what was wrong with me. I had to deal with this and I would. I’d be guided by my instincts and trust in them. I had tried to ring my mother; however Patsy had informed me that she was busy with Matilda. After much deliberation I came to the conclusion I must get a grip….so with complete resolve, I headed back up to the office. I knew I had never wavered before, and this certainly wasn’t t
he time to start. As I stepped outside, the air was damp and cool, smelling slightly of exhaust fumes, the sound of a live band in the distance. Suddenly I felt refreshed. A single headlight roared into view, a bike, and the rider was Jack…..

  ‘Hello Jack.’ I said with enthusiasm, my instincts kick in from here.

  ‘Hi lass, are you on your way to the gym?’He responded as he pulled off his head gear.

  ‘No, I’m about to join the others for a meal.’ I replied.

  ‘I’ll join you when I’ve put the bike away.’

  I nodded and smiled, then walked briskly towards the club, the air was damp, and I felt the first few drops of rain. The sound of the band playing a cover of David Bowie’s Jean Genie, was enlightening. Walking into the office I sensed a feeling of relief, so to allay any atmosphere, I said cheerfully. ‘Why don’t we all go in the bar and order a meal, the music sounds inviting.’ Was I being a tad over the top, as celebrating was certainly not on the cards? Nevertheless I needed to get back on track. Where Archie was could wait until after we’d eaten, surely. The club as always was packed, irrelevant to which day of the week, the crowds never ceased to pile in. These days I had very little to do with the actual running of the club, Janet was in her element with this role. As we all sat around a table in the small bar, I sensed Billy was the most restless, however whatever had taken place during my absence, could wait for an hour or so. Jack joined us, our food orders were placed, and basically the meal was eaten in silence….apart from the music of course…..

  Archie had seen the two thugs who’d kicked the door of his flat in, he’d only just left the building and had noticed two men approaching. He’d recognised one of them as Weavers son. He stood behind a concrete divider, and waited until they emerged. When he felt they had left the complex, he slipped back inside the open door. He knew they’d been looking for any information connected to the Brook Empire. He realised they must have followed him back last night. What puzzled him was why they had waited until today? He knew he’d have to find somewhere else to lay low; Larry had taken his keys, so he collected a few essentials and made a hasty retreat. There was only one house he knew would be safe. No one had been there for years; the property belonged to his Grandparents, Eddie and Brita Jackson. Since Eddie went missing back in the fifties, Brita had never set foot inside the house. She had always paid for all the necessary upkeep, anticipating that one day Eddie may return….while there’s life there’s hope…because of the elite location of the house, she had paid a gardener to tend both the front and back gardens. Archie had always thought there was little hope of Eddie returning, he was an old East end face….gangsters had a way of vanishing….or swimming with the fishes….However today he was grateful she’d kept the building …..Crimson knew of course…however he doubted she’d give it a second thought….no one else knew of the buildings existence…or did they?

  ‘There must have been something in the fucking gaff!’ Reed demanded. ‘Where was the bastard wimp?’

  ‘There was no sign of him, just piles of crap.’ Jamie insisted. ‘Like I said mate the fucking gaff was empty. We tore it apart, nothing!’

  ‘He must be back at The Docket then, we need to get that bloke on board. You go with Steve tomorrow, get the bastard to name his price. He must be interested, or he wouldn’t have taken the bung.’

  ‘Why don’t you fucking well go, I’m not your lackey mate.’ Jamie objected.

  Reed realised he’d gone too far, so he back tracked. ‘Ok I’ll go, I just want to get this fucking shit out the way, it’s been going on too long.’ He insisted. ‘Weavers a waste of time, let’s try and get it sorted by this weekend.’

  ‘That bloke Jack is supposed to be coming to Scrubs on Saturday night to meet Coleen.’ Jamie added.

  ‘I’ll find that out tomorrow.’

  ‘What’s the plan if he don’t play ball?’ Jamie urged.

  ‘Face off!’ Reed assured.

  After the meal, we all met back in the office, everyone seemed edgy, ill at ease. ‘So are there any updates on my brother?’I asked directly, knowing full well that Billy would have made a move.

  ‘Me and Larry went to Dollis hill earlier girl, the flat had been done over, no sign of anyone.’ His expression dulled.

  ‘So what do you think Larry?’

  ‘I’ve no idea; he was out of it when I left the flat.’

  ‘He could have been taken.’ Once again fear found me, my legs felt weak and my stomach lurched. I’ve been there for you so many times Archie. But right now the forces converging on your position have me out gunned. Had the mob got him? Or had he once again escaped? Where would he go? He had no keys….I knew they were all waiting for me to speak. ‘I’d say we have a dire situation, anything is possible. If the mob has him, the Hampstead house becomes a target again.’

  ‘Why don’t me and Larry go to Hampstead lass, I know the house and grounds inside out, if he tries to gain entrance.’ Rudy suggested. ‘There’s nothing going on at Clouds, even if Geary’s gone, the old man’s not going anywhere.’

  ‘Ok, ring me regularly from the house; I have to know what’s taking place.’

  ‘I’m meeting that bloke Steve in the Mailcoach tomorrow.’ Jack added.

  ‘I’ll tail Jack.’ Billy looked agitated; I knew out of all the boys, he wanted my brother out of the way. And I fully understood why.

  ‘We all need to watch each other’s back, if the mob has him, we’ll soon know. If he’s free the same statement applies. I also know he’s been missing for a while, so he could be anywhere.’ I knew I had to make a direct statement. ‘Save yourselves at any cost.’ I’d just given them the ok to kill my brother….my dad had told me in my dream that something would happen….now we have to wait and see exactly what?

  His grandparent’s old detached house looked tired and rather bleak, in the damp evening air. The paintwork was cracked and fissured, making the well kept gardens not at all in keeping with the building. He’d waited until the evening, less chance of being noticed, as he hastily made his way to the back of the house. There was a large glass conservatory, housing many pot plants. An ivy stem like a tree trunk, which must have been at least twenty years old, had pushed its tendrils into the conservatory, and spread runners over the glass. He knew there must be a key somewhere, for the gardener to tend the plants….He rummaged around until he found the key to the conservatory….once inside he must find a way into the house. There were a few overgrown steps leading down to the basement, he doubted anyone had used the steps for years. Fortunately the door was hidden from the garden, he shone his torch, and there was a tiny side window, with a deep crack. Unlike the boys, Archie was not familiar with breaking and entering….however something took over, and the next thing his fist was safely through the window and he’d unlocked the door. Gaining entrance was more difficult, as the door hadn’t been opened for many years. With a few hard kicks, he eventually managed to open the door far enough to squeeze through. The oldest residents of the abandoned house were the spiders, the cobwebs hung from the rafters and ballooned in the breeze he’d created, and stirred the dust. They hung like great sheets of hair, from an ancient hag, dirty looking and tangled. They were on the frosted pains of the windows too, obscuring the flash of light that struggled through them, in the dim twilight. He knew it had been almost two decades since a footstep had echoed within the walls. Now the dust had been disturbed…and ghosts awakened…. Archie was inside the basement…..

  Later that night I lay in bed and sleep evaded me, I knew something was wrong, the boys were all set with their plans for the morning….where was Archie? The thought of the mob tearing him apart limb from limb, was hideous to me, I would rather be the one to kick the devil from his head. Would he go back to Dollis Hill, if he’d managed to escape? So many questions….Even though Rudy and Larry were going to Hampstead in the morning, could Archie already be there? Would he harm our mother? Lifting the phone I dialled the house, it was late, it had to be done. I was amazed
to hear my mother’s voice. ‘Whatever is wrong lass?’ she asked gently.

  ‘Have you seen Archie?’ I blurted out.

  ‘No of course not honey, he won’t come here.’ Ava replied passively. ‘Go to sleep, stop worrying, everything will be alright…goodnight darling.’ The line went dead.

  What was going on? My mother sounded as though she was possessed….Matilda is the only person I can rely on, and she’s also at Hampstead…I have to speak to her and soon…..Hanging up the receiver I slipped under the covers and closed my eyes….the visions I could see were implausible ….what the hell was taking place……

  The guttural voice was screaming at Archie again, he’d only been in the basement of the old house for minutes….the voice was like iron nails dragging over rock…go…go now! Archie searched around in the dark, he found what he was looking for….get out before it’s too late you fucking wimp! The screams urged, grabbing his coat Archie left the old house…Scrubs…the word stuck in his throat, the old club, Weavers club……An awareness crept over him, all he could see was Sebs face, grotesque…his open mouth was magnified…in utter paralysis he was drawn to it….the demands became stronger…kill the fucker or he’ll kill you!...the screams in his head were piercing…he clamped his hands over his ears…when he opened his eyes he was outside of Scrubs…now! Do it now!

  Jamie was serving behind the bar, Scrubs was slow tonight, just a few losers, he poured himself a pint of lager and leant against the bar, watching the antics of the few. He could hear Ken Reed, before he saw him, his banter was crude, now he’d sunk a few beers, and he acted on impulse. Jamie was pissed off with him, after his comments in the pub earlier, Reed never thought before he acted or spoke. Taking a long swig of his beer, he grabbed the black bag from the trash can and headed out to the back door. His mind made up, he wanted out of this fucking shit, as he lifted the dustbin lid, he glanced over his shoulder, he’d heard a noise. He could see nothing, probable a fucking rat…