by Jacqui Rose
Annoyed, he sighed loudly, knowing it wasn’t really that which was pissing him off. It was Franny. Always Franny. He’d tried to call her again, and again. There’d been no answer. All he’d had from her was another text simply saying sorry. And a whole lot of fucking good that was.
Irritated, having successfully wound himself up now, Alfie ground the cigarette butt into the concrete floor. He was sick at the idea of the Reynolds business slipping through his fingers. It was doing his head in and something had to give.
He knew Vaughn wasn’t up for trying to knock out the diamonds. And although he wouldn’t go all out and say that he’d lost his bottle, it was clear Vaughn had become cautious. And that was a problem, because the way he saw it, caution never won a war, or rather, it never got rid of a banging load of diamonds.
But Christ knows, it was the perfect way of getting out of the hole they were in. He got it that it could be difficult to keep it quiet and their names out of it once they were shopping the goods around. But if they got away with it? It would be game back on.
‘Alright, Alfie?’ Janine Jennings appeared at the stable door.
‘Janine if you’ve come to chew me ear off, forget it. If I want to have a fag, I will. Whether it’s here or in the house. Anywhere I bleedin’ please, cos let’s have it right, this place is mine. I paid for it. You know it and I know it, the only pity is that when I divorced you, the judge didn’t see it like that.’
Taking a bite out of a Greggs iced bun, Janine shrugged. ‘Once you’ve finished getting your Alan Whickers in a twist, maybe you’ll listen to what I have to say.’
Resigned, and wanting the next few minutes to be as painless as possible, Alfie said, ‘Go on then. Tell me whatever it is. Me day can’t get any worse.’
‘I’ve got a plan.’
‘Actually, it’s just got worse.’
‘Put a cork in it and listen … I know how we can get Vaughnie on board with the diamonds.’
‘Hold up Janine, you’re jumping the gun here, darlin’. You’re presuming I want to get involved. It ain’t to be taken lightly. There’s lots of things to consider.’
Janine pulled a face. ‘Oh, don’t give me that. Your ego is more precious than your dick, and fuck me, that’s saying something. There’s no way in the world the mighty Alfie Jennings wants to live under his ex-wife’s roof any longer than he has to, or to have nothing in his pocket. Tell me I’m wrong.’
Alfie scowled as he watched Janine nibble the cherry off the top of the iced bun. ‘I ain’t telling you nothin’ Janine, but – and it’s only a but – if I did want to do the job, how could I? Seriously. I’ve hardly got an army behind me, have I? Nearest I get to that is you and Lola.’
Janine winked. ‘Well, that’s where my plan comes into it. Leave it to me, Alfred. It’ll take a few days to get it sorted, but I got it all sussed out.’
‘And why does that worry me so much? Just do us all a favour, and leave it.’
Turning away, Janine blew Alfie a kiss. ‘You know what they say Alf, never look a gift horse in the mouth, or in your case, what came out of its arse.’
Alfie shook his head as he listened to Janine’s high-pitched laughter as she disappeared towards the house. But before he had a chance to think about what Janine might be up to, he felt the buzzing of the phone in his pocket.
Pulling it out but not recognising the number, Alfie answered cautiously, an image of Bree flashing into his mind; something that had happened often since they’d bumped into each other at the car park.
‘Yeah?’
‘Alfie.’
Alfie rolled his eyes, immediately recognising the voice of the male caller.
‘It’s me, Alf.’
‘I know who it is, but what I’m wondering is, why the fuck you’re calling me. What do you want?’
‘I need to talk to you.’
‘Well mate, right there’s the difference. I don’t need to talk to you.’
‘Please, Alf.’
‘Please? Oh, it’s please now? That is a change from what you said the last time you saw me. Now if I recall correctly, it was more like, “cunt”. “You cunt, Alf.”’
‘Yeah, well, I might have been a bit hasty there … and I’m sorry about that. But I had a lot of stress at that time. Life ain’t easy. You know that, Alf … So, come on, will you meet me?’
Lighting up another cigarette, Alfie inhaled deeply. ‘Fine. Okay. When?’
‘Now. I was hoping you were at the house … because I’m outside your gates.’
And as Alfie clicked off the phone, he wondered what it was that Eddie Styler could want to talk to him about.
21
Kieran Dwyer skipped along the edge of the fields by the ancient coppice on his dad’s expansive land, which ran behind his mobile home. Ducking down by the low hedges, making sure no one could see him, he paused to get his breath.
The sun was going down and the long, wet grass had soaked the bottom of his black jeans. He’d forgotten to put on his blue-and- white-striped coat, and now he felt cold. But he didn’t care. He didn’t care how cold he got because he wanted to get to the far end of the woods before dark. His sister, Molly, had wanted to come, but she was six and stupid. And she would spoil it. Tell everybody about what she’d seen, because he knew that Molly couldn’t ever keep a secret. And it was a secret he was going to see.
She’d been upset and started crying, but to keep her quiet he’d let her play his Xbox, something he didn’t often do. But he knew it’d be worth it.
Panting as he ran happily up the hill, Kieran felt the mud soak up and over into his trainers. But he was nearly there, and if he was really quick, he could get back home without anyone noticing he’d even gone.
By the old oak tree he stopped, getting his breath again and peering around.
It was quiet, apart from the sound of the wind, and even though Kieran hadn’t cared how cold he got, he was pleased the leaves from the trees sheltered him slightly from it.
Pushing through some bushes, he glanced around again. He could feel the butterflies in his tummy. This was his secret and he didn’t want anyone finding out, not even Ma, who always wanted to know what he did.
At the hawthorn bush by the stream, he knelt down, squeezing his eyes shut, preparing himself for the pain from the scratching thorns as he crawled underneath it. Scrambling to the other side of the bush, Kieran came up into a clearing in the thicket. It was like his own secret garden. A place no one could see him.
He ran across to a tree on the far side, which was covered in ivy, and once again, Kieran knelt in the mud. His small fingers scrambling through a loose mound of earth which he’d placed over the hole in the tree.
With ease he pulled the earth away and put his hand inside the hole before bringing out a ragged hessian brown cloth. Then sitting cross-legged and leaning against the tree he unwrapped it and smiled.
Gazing down at the contents, his fingers gently touched the skeletal remains wrapped up in a knitted cardigan.
After a moment, Kieran carefully wrapped it up again, pushing it back into the hole in the tree. Unlike the other one he’d found, Kieran Dwyer was determined that this time, no one was going to take it away from him.
22
‘So how did you know I was here?’ Alfie stared at Eddie, thinking how ill he looked since the last time he’d seen him, although granted, that had been over six years ago. But it was clear age or marriage certainly wasn’t treating him well. And Alfie could guess which one of the two it was.
‘Your sister told me, so I thought the least I could do was come round and offer my congratulations to you and Vaughn on becoming Reginald’s successors. Though I must say, I was rather surprised when I found out. I had no idea you were so close.’
Alfie glanced at Eddie, who was trying to hold a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He could see Eddie struggling to be anywhere close to happy for them, he could hear the resentment sticking in his throat.
Reginald
had already told him that Eddie had had ambitions of grandeur. He’d also told him that he’d rather give his business away to the first stranger he came across than let Eddie Styler be in the driving seat.
Tempted but resisting rubbing salt into the wound, Alf turned the subject to his sister.
‘How is Sandra? I’ve been meaning to get her to come round now I’m back.’
‘Wonderful, as usual. You know Sandra,’ Eddie said with a tight tone.
He did know Sandra. Very well. And it wasn’t the way he’d describe her. But Eddie was sensible enough not to say anything different, because even though he and Sandra hadn’t been as close over the past few years as they’d once been, she was still family. And there was no way he was ever going to allow anyone, especially a jumped up little prick like Eddie, to say anything about his nearest.
Flicking on the kettle in the kitchen, Alfie stared suspiciously at Eddie. ‘I’m surprised Sandra didn’t call me to tell me you were coming. Does she know you’re here?’
‘In a roundabout way.’
Alfie shook his head, already losing his patience with him. ‘Don’t talk in riddles, Ed. And don’t bother lying to me.’
Eddie Styler, humiliated and hating every minute of having to chat small talk with Alfie, shrugged, trying to look and sound as casual as possible whilst hating his brother-in-law as much as he ever did. ‘Well, she knows I’ve gone out.’
‘Come again?’
Shuffling in his seat, Eddie, wishing he was anywhere but there, said, ‘I’m looking for Barrie. I wondered if you’d seen him?’
The laughter that came out of Alfie Jennings was exactly what he’d needed, along with the bellyache from hysterics and the streaming tears of amusement that ran down his face. The same, however, could not be said of Eddie as he sat red-faced and brimming with seething hostility.
Leaning on the work surface and exhausted from laughter, his words breathless from amusement, Alfie grinned. A dazzling handsome grin. ‘She’s got you under proper manners, Eddie. I thought I had problems, but when I’ve got to pretend to the missus I’m looking for a cat, just to be allowed out, I know I’ve hit rock bottom.’
The roar of hilarity from Alfie was too much to bear this time for Eddie. He got up, swinging his fist and knocking the vase of flowers off the table. ‘This ain’t funny. None of it’s funny. I’m in trouble Alf, which means so is your sister. Sandra’s in trouble too.’
The laughter was silenced and Alfie stepped nearer to Eddie. His tone was dark and cold.
‘I hope you’re fucking kidding me Eddie, because if you’ve put my sister at risk because of some muppet scheme or some stupid deal gone wrong, then you’ll have me to answer to.’
Arrogantly, Eddie looked up at Alf who stood well over a foot taller. ‘Once upon a time I’d be bothered about that, but you’re the least of my troubles. I got Jason Robinson on my back, and he’s threatening us. Me and Sandra.’
Alfie grabbed Eddie, shaking him hard, causing his head to flick backwards and forwards.
‘What the fuck have you done?’
Realising his attitude towards Alfie might’ve been a mistake, Eddie changed tack. ‘I just owe him money, that’s all.’
Alfie stared at him hard. ‘How do you end up owing Jason? Of all the people.’
Sheepishly, Eddie said, ‘Look, when I was working for Reggie, I may have run up a few debts but how was I supposed to know he was going to drop dead?’
‘You really are something, Eddie. No wonder Reggie didn’t want you to have anything to do with his business.’
Eddie smarted. ‘I gave everything to that man! And the tight bastard couldn’t even leave me a few quid in his will.’
‘No, Eddie, what you did was go around thinking you were the dog’s bollocks and spending his money like it was your own. But you’ve always been a ponce, ain’t you?’
‘Think what you like, but it ain’t going to get me any closer to paying off Jason.’
‘Why can’t you just pay him and be done?’
‘I ain’t got no money. Not a penny.’
‘What?’
Eddie sat down hard. His whole body slumping as he heard his own words, the reality hitting him like a herd of cattle. ‘Maybe in the past, I might’ve spent a bit too much. I like a flutter on the horses, play a few card games, a bet here and there on the dogs, you know how it is. And there’s the lifestyle, I got to keep up appearances, don’t I? But then I had this pucker deal, Alf. It was sweet as. It would’ve solved everything. And I’m talking everything, and I put all me money into it. But then it all went Pete Tong. Let’s just say never put your money in horses.’
Alfie looked at Eddie strangely. ‘So, what was this deal?’
‘If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not say, but I will tell you, I’m well and truly screwed.’
‘Then you need to remortgage that big old house of yours, Ed. Jason Robinson isn’t a man that likes to be kept waiting for his money. Go to the bank and get it sorted.’
Eddie stared at Alfie blankly.
‘Oh no. No. Tell me you ain’t already done that. Tell me that ain’t the money you lost.’
Eddie nodded. ‘What was I supposed to do? I owe a lot of people money and now I owe on the house so I can’t use that. I ain’t got anywhere to turn, and I’m on the clock.’
‘And Sandra knows about this, does she?’
‘A bit, she was there when Jason came, but she don’t know about the house … I didn’t think she needed to.’
‘But that was her house, Eddie. From the money I gave her.’
Seething, Eddie’s words were clipped. ‘I know, and she never lets me forget it.’
Alfie glared at him. ‘Be careful what you say, Ed. That’s my sister you’re talking about.’
‘The point is, I thought I could sort it out before she was any the wiser, and I’d appreciate it if you’d keep it to yourself. I don’t want her to worry … Look, Alf, I wouldn’t normally ask you, but I’m desperate. I need you to give me some money. A few hundred thousand would sort me out. I could work it off. Work for you and Vaughn like I did Reggie.’
Coldly, Alf said, ‘I can’t help you, Ed.’
Full to bursting with resentment, Eddie got up from the table. He snarled. ‘More like, won’t. I don’t know how much you’re paying for the Reynolds business, but I know it won’t be small change.’
Not wanting to let on to Eddie of all people that they were screwed themselves, Alfie chose his words carefully.
‘Look, if I could Ed, of course I would, though it wouldn’t be for you, it’d be for Sandra. But like you say, I’ve got Reggie’s business to think of. I’m piling all me money into that, setting up and recruiting people, takes a lot of dough. If you want me to speak to Jason, I will. Maybe I can get him to give you a bit more time.’
Eddie stared at Alfie scornfully as he got up. ‘The man’s a psycho, he ain’t gonna listen to anyone. So, thanks for nothin’, mate. I’ll make sure I remember this, just you wait!’
As Eddie stormed off, Alfie picked up the phone. Eddie was right, Jason was a psycho. And if there was ever a good reason to sell the diamonds, it was this. He had to help Sandra no matter what.
‘Hey, it’s me. Your big brother. I think we need to talk.’
23
Sneaking out of the bedroom with his clothes under his arm, Eddie Styler tiptoed down the stairs. He’d had to wait until Sandra had gone to sleep, which had taken well over an hour, in addition to a couple of sleeping pills slipped into her tea.
But now the deep, grunting snores reassured him that only a freight train steaming through the room would wake her up.
In the hallway, Eddie grabbed hold of Barrie, shoving him in the cat carrier, coming away with only a small scratch to his right hand. He would show Sandra not to treat him like dirt, let her feel what it was like to lose something precious. She cared more about the damn cat than she did him. Well, he was sick of it, and like Alfie, she was going to pay,
one way or another.
Giving a quick glance back up the stairs and feeling satisfied with himself, Eddie picked up his car keys in one hand and a caged Barrie in the other.
Outside in his car, Eddie went into the driver’s glove compartment, pulling out the cheap bottle of whiskey he’d purchased earlier. Unscrewing the top quickly, he took several long gulps before putting his foot on the accelerator and driving off into the moonlit night.
Alfie Jennings was wide awake. But not just because of the rain lashing on the window sounding like someone was outside throwing buckets of water at the glass. Nor was it because of Vaughn’s rumbling snores. How any bird could lie next to him, he didn’t know. But he did know what held him awake … Bree. He couldn’t get her off his mind. Her face. The way she’d looked and sounded.
He’d wanted to ask her why she’d been running through the woods that day, looking terrified, looking like someone was after her. But it hadn’t felt right, and it wasn’t any of his business either. He’d also wanted to ask why she’d looked so nervous when they were talking. But he hadn’t and now he wished he had. Because he wanted to know that she was alright.
Bree had been the first time he’d cared about someone other than family. But not in the romantic way. She was just a kid; a friend of his sister’s.
Each day when he’d picked Sandra up from school – because her mother had been too busy in bed with some punter and the father they shared had been a violent deadbeat – Bree had always been hanging around. Nobody to pick her up. Nobody to care for her. Not wanting to go home to the abusive foster family she’d been placed with. And even though back in the day he’d been selfish and ruthless, his heart had gone out to her. Recognising something in her that was so like him.
So, he let her tag along. She’d been shy at first, blushing each and every time he spoke to her. But over time she’d opened up. Stopped looking at him from underneath her fringe and eventually she’d begun to smile. And he’d begun to care.