by Jacqui Rose
Jeff’s face was tight with fear, tears beginning to turn his eyes glassy. ‘Please.’
Ma chuckled. ‘Tears, Jeff? Johnny and Ryan used to get in trouble for tears, I used to teach them a lesson, but it made them strong, made them into who they are now. Looks like you need to be taught a lesson, Jeff.’
She drove her foot between Jeff’s legs, kicking him hard in the testicles. ‘I need to know that your loyalties lie in the right place, Jeff. That you had nothing to do with the lorry going walkabouts. Is that what you’re saying? That you had nothing to do with it?’
Unable to speak from the pain, Jeff attempted to nod as Ma sat back down and continued to bite into her sandwich as Johnny turned his attention to the other driver, who sat shivering from a mixture of terror and cold.
‘What about you? You going to tell me you weren’t in on it as well? You do understand that I’ll find out one way or another.’
The other driver, his bald head glistening with large beads of sweat and streaks of blood, squinted up at Johnny. His voice was more confident than Jeff’s had been. ‘Jon-Jon, you and me go back such a long way. I’m insulted. I weren’t in on it, that’s the God’s honest truth. And unless Jeff was doing a De Niro, I don’t think he was in on it neither. He weren’t acting when they pulled us up and put a gun in his boat race. He was proper bricking it. I swear.’
‘Yeah, but you could just be giving some right old baloney. How do I know you’re not in this together?’
‘You don’t. So, crack on with what you’re going to do with me, but it won’t change the truth.’
Johnny drew back the cosh, then smacked it hard against the driver’s ear, causing it to explode with blood. The driver screamed, his body shuddering with pain.
Smiling, Johnny said, ‘Cocky bastard, ain’t ya? But for some reason, and call me a mug, I actually believe you … So, come on. What do you remember? There must’ve been something. An accent? The way they walked? What about their height. Were they tall? Small … For fuck’s sake I’m talking to you.’
The driver moaned in agony. Johnny raised his eyebrows, letting out a long sigh. ‘Oh do me a favour mate, cut the wailing bitch act, cos you’re beginning to piss me right off.’
‘There … there … there was something.’
Johnny turned to look at Mick. ‘What?’
Mumbling through his swollen lip and knocked out front tooth, Mick repeated what he’d said. ‘There was something, I … I just remembered.’
‘Go on.’
‘A name.’
Johnny burst into laughter. ‘Turn it in.’
‘I swear.’
‘Maybe you’re hearing isn’t as good as it once was. Maybe being a low-down piece of shit has an effect on the old King Lears.’
‘I don’t think so, I know what I heard.’
‘Go on then.’
‘Andy. He said Andy.’
Johnny sniffed, then spat on the floor. ‘Don’t mean nothing, and besides, no one does names. They were probably just taking the piss out of you, and like a muppet you fell for it.’
Tired, Johnny sighed and shook his head at Ma, before he headed for the door. He’d had enough. He’d come back later, but he needed to have a word with one of the racing drivers before he left, and it looked like he was going to draw a blank with Jeff and Mick at the moment. Though it was abundantly clear they hadn’t been involved in jacking the lorry, although he’d already suspected that before, it was still good to keep them on their toes. A session like this was always good, especially as it kept his mind off Bree.
‘Wait! Wait, Johnny! I remembered wrong, it wasn’t Andy … It was Alfie … The fella said Alfie.’
29
‘That can’t be right.’
‘I’m telling you Vaughnie, it is. Alf, I heard it with me own two ears.’
Alfie and Vaughn sat listening to Sandra in the overheated kitchen as Lola and Janine made a pile of cheese and pickle sandwiches.
‘I don’t know anything more about it, apart from he wanted this Jason Robinson to help him score the diamonds back.’
Alfie stared at his sister. A thousand thoughts running through his mind. ‘Does he know that you heard him?’
‘I don’t think so. And as much as he’s a prick, usually he knows whatever goes on I won’t grass on him.’
‘Until now.’
‘Yeah, but until now I didn’t think he had his fingers near that kind of money.’
Alfie took a bite out of a sandwich. He grinned. ‘So, you’ll grass on him if the price is right?’
‘After what you told me Alf, I’d grass him out for a flymo strimmer. How he has the front to look at me knowing he’s spent all me money, I’ll never know. Problem is though, where the fuck are these diamonds?’
Alfie glanced towards Vaughn. He shrugged. ‘Who knows, Sandra. They could be anywhere.’
‘Yeah, but they’re my diamonds and I want them back. I’m sick of Essex, I need a bit of Marbs. I don’t care about the house. If I can get me hands on these stones, the bank can take it. I want sunshine all year round. That will suit me right down, thanks very much, but I need me diamonds to do it. So what do you say, Alfie? Vaughn?’
‘What are you on about?’
Sandra threw her arms up into the air. ‘I’m on about getting my big brother to help me get the gems back. I ain’t asking for free either. I’ll give you ten per cent.’
Janine Jennings scowled. ‘Hang on a minute Sandra, that ain’t right. Ten per cent is just a sniff of a cockerel’s arse.’
Sandra Styler looked at Janine in disgust. Her ex-sister-in-law had always got on her wick.
‘You’ve always been a greedy bleeder, Janine, and you’ve got a cheek to talk about a cockerel’s arse when you took our Alfie here for everything he’s got. My brother wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place if it wasn’t for you.’
Janine saw red. ‘Me? Do me a favour! Your brother wouldn’t be in this mess if he’d stuck with me, but instead he wanted to go off and shag every pussy between here and Middle-earth. I’m surprised he didn’t come back with a hobbit on his bleedin’ dick … So no, it ain’t my fault, it’s his, and Alfie is not going to go looking for Eddie’s diamonds just to be mugged off for ten per cent.’
Raising his voice, Alfie shouted over the two of them. ‘Just shut it, Janine. What’s wrong with you? This is none of your business.’
He stared hard at his ex-wife. He wasn’t sure what the hell she was trying to do. Janine knew full well they had the diamonds in their possession, so for her to be arguing over getting a certain percentage was crazy. He’d have to have a serious word with her later.
Alfie turned back to his sister and shook his head. ‘Sorry, Sandra. No can do.’
Sandra’s eyes darkened over. ‘Fine. How about twenty per cent then?’
‘Don’t be silly. It ain’t about the money, girl. It’s about the man- power. There’s only me and Vaughnie. It’ll be too big a job to try to get rid of them without the whole of gangland thinking they can have a piece of the action. I’m sorry … But Sandra, I swear, when I sort this deal out with Reenie, I won’t see you go short. After all, we’re family.’
‘Janine Jennings, what the fuck was that all about?’ Alfie roared, red-faced, as Vaughn and Lola watched on as if it were a spectator sport.
Standing in the games room after saying goodbye to Sandra, Janine, with her hands on her hips, shouted just as loud. ‘It was about saving your bacon as well as yours, Vaughnie. You two must be losing it. How do you know that Eddie ain’t sent her?’
‘Cos she’s my sister.’
‘When did that make any difference. Ain’t you heard of Cain and bleedin’ Abel?’
Alfie lit up a cigarette. ‘Sandra ain’t like that. I told her all about Eddie’s money problems, so it’s him who she’s got a beef with not me.’
‘But hold on, look what you’re doing. You’re deceiving her by not telling her that you’ve got the diamonds, so why should she
be any different? Why wouldn’t she mug you over and pretend she’s an innocent party but all along she’s got Eddie’s back?’
‘She wouldn’t, I just know.’ But as Alfie said it, he knew what Janine was saying was true. He wasn’t being honest, so why on earth should he expect somebody else to be.
‘Whether you want to admit it or not Alfred, you and your sister ain’t been close for a long time, which means you can’t trust her. Not now anyway. I ain’t saying never, but believe me darlin’, it’s better she thinks you don’t have a clue about those diamonds than her to be suspicious. We don’t want this deal going wrong.’
Vaughn, who until this moment had kept out of it, looked baffled. ‘I thought we agreed that we were leaving those diamonds well alone, and that we were going to look for something else as well as try to get in touch with Franny. So you need to start talking and tell me what deal you’re talking about.’
Janine snapped at Vaughn. ‘It’s the deal where you take your finger out of your arse and see that selling them rocks is the only option you’ve got. Alfie agrees, don’t you, Alf?’
Nose to nose, Alfie leant towards Janine. ‘Anyone told you that you got a big fucking mouth?’
A loud knocking on the door stopped Janine saying anything else and she walked out of the room, leaving Alfie and Vaughn staring at each other in hostility. A moment later she popped her head round the door. ‘Say hello to my visitor, everyone. Let me introduce you to your new partner in crime.’
Alfie stared in disbelief. ‘Now this is a fucking joke.’
There standing larger than life was Frankie Taylor, an old friend and associate of Alfie and Vaughn’s they’d known for years, growing up and working in Soho together. The three of them were always a tight crew, always had each other’s backs, but of course, like everyone, they’d had their moments of hating the very sight of each other. Still, the long, rich history they had ultimately bonded them together.
‘Hello gentlemen. I must say when Janine called and asked me to come over and help you boys out, I was a little surprised, but then she told me just what had happened.’
Annoyed, and butting egos, Vaughn shook his head. ‘You’ve had a wasted trip, Frank. We’re fine, we can do without your help.’
‘I don’t think so. I mean, when I heard about what Franny had done …’
‘Why did you tell him?’
Frankie smiled at Vaughn. ‘She had to, didn’t you Janine?’
Vaughn looked at him, puzzled. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘I’m talking about me money. Didn’t Alfie tell you?’
Vaughn glared at Alfie. He almost couldn’t bear to hear anything else. Anything else that Alfie had done behind his back. Slowly he said, ‘Tell me what?’
Frankie shook his head, amusement in his voice. ‘Alfie, Alfie, Alfie. You were born ducking and diving. How can you not tell him?’
Alfie snapped. ‘Because you were supposed to be a silent fucking partner, that’s why.’
The rage Vaughn felt had become a familiar sensation as of late. ‘Hold up, what are you talking about, Frank?’
‘The two million Franny took. Some of that was my money. Alfie didn’t have what he needed, so he asked me to go in with him. Which means, you and me are business partners, Vaughnie. I’ve always fancied running a betting empire. Now all we need to do is sell them diamonds so we can make it happen, cos now, I ain’t going to be silent anymore. In fact, you are not only going to hear me, you’re going to feel me right up your fucking arse until we get our money back and sort this shit out.’
As was his habit, Eddie Styler was pacing. He was raging. He was furious. He was seething. But most of all he was out for revenge. Alfie. Alfie. Alfie. The name played like a sick tune in his head. The drivers, Jeff and Mick, hadn’t known or heard anything else, but his gut was saying it was him. It had to be Jennings because there was only one Alfie that could screw up his life so badly, who could take everything he had and come and shit on it in immeasurable proportions.
There was no way it was a coincidence that a few weeks after Alfie and Vaughn turned up on home turf, a lorry got jacked and his life went down the carzey.
He didn’t think that Alfie had known that it was his lorry, his goods before he’d gone out and ambushed it, but what he did think was he was one big joke to Alfie Jennings.
He couldn’t believe he’d gone around to Janine’s gaff, pleading and begging Alfie to help. When all along it’d been Alfie himself who’d mugged off the diamonds. And Alfie and Vaughn must’ve laughed about it. Seeing him as some funny cunt. Seeing him as no better than what they’d find on the bottom of their shoe. Well, he’d show them, especially Alfie. Because this time it was personal. Alfie had stepped over the mark and he was sick of people seeing him as a pushover. He was sick of every Tom, Dick and prick taking the piss out of him when not too long ago they wouldn’t have even been brave enough to look him in the eye.
He sighed, then checking Sandra wasn’t about, Eddie went into his closet, pushing his expensive tailored suits aside to get to the back of the large wardrobe to the hidden drawer. Pulling out a half-bottle of whiskey, Eddie took a large, bitter gulp before carefully putting it back and pulling out a small loaded hand gun. Oh yes, if Alfie wanted a joke, then he’d make sure he got one. Alfie Jennings would soon be laughing on the other side of his face.
30
In the remote countryside of north-west Essex, Johnny Dwyer sat at the dining room table in his mobile home with Ma serving him up a large bowl of beef and vegetable casserole. The smell of it irritated Johnny. Everything at that moment irritated Johnny, because he had Alfie on his mind.
That name had been coming up too much lately for his liking. He, like Eddie, was certain that the only Alfie it could’ve been was Jennings. Alfie fucking Jennings.
He’d always known of Alfie, and although he’d only had dealings with him via other people, a lot of the big jobs they’d done in the past, and a lot of the coke they’d supplied or bought, had Alfie’s name written all over it. Alfie Jennings, the number one face. Mr Big … Fuck! Johnny threw the bowl of casserole hard against the wall.
‘What the bleedin’ hell do you think you’re doing?’
Johnny stared at his mother, his eyes dark and full of hatred. ‘Shut up, Ma. The last thing I need is you in me head.’
Ma wiped away the small piece of carrot that had been precariously balancing on her lip for the last couple of minutes. She pointed at the thick brown gravy covering and slowly creeping down the wall. ‘And who’s going to clear this up?’
Absentmindedly, Johnny answered, ‘What?… Oh for fuck’s sake, get Bree to do it.’
Bree.
Bree.
Bree.
That little whore.
He pressed the palm of his hand into his throbbing eye. The slag was laughing at him behind his back. With him. His Bree and Alfie, thinking he was one big joke.
‘Bitch!’ Johnny shouted as he overturned the table, sending plates and food and cutlery flying everywhere. All he could see was them together. Alfie’s hands over his woman. His dick inside his woman.
‘Oh fuck! Oh fuck!’
Ma yelled back, ‘What on earth is going on with you?’
Wide-eyed, Johnny didn’t answer. She was probably thinking about him right now. Breathing hard he lifted his shirt, exposing the top of his jeans. He ripped out his belt from the loops. Well he would show her. God would he just.
Ma squawked again, ‘What is the matter? You best calm down, son. I don’t want me casserole plastered everywhere.’
Speaking through his teeth, Johnny snarled, ‘I told you to shut it! Now get out of me way.’
‘Where are you going! Johnny! Johnny!’
Johnny ran down the corridor in a blind rage, white noise filling his head. He swung open the lounge door.
‘Get out, kids! Now!’
Kieran and Molly gazed up at their father before running out of the room as Bree, who’d been sit
ting on the floor playing clap hands with Ryan, looked up at Johnny, terrified.
He walked slowly towards her, swinging the belt he held in his hand. ‘You can stay there, Ryan. You need to watch this. Because Bree’s going to be in trouble. Big trouble.’
Bree began to scramble back, her legs moving quickly underneath her. ‘What’s going on? Johnny, what’s wrong with you?’
‘Ain’t nothing wrong with me, it’s what’s wrong with you. What is it that makes you such a whore, Bree?’
Pushing herself into the corner, Bree’s eyes darted to Ryan then to Ma, then back to Johnny, fear dripping in the beads of sweat. ‘Please, I don’t understand.’
Playing with one of his new kittens, Ryan stared at Johnny, his head tipping to one side as he rocked back and forth. ‘Leave. Johnny leave. Johnny should leave. Johnny leave.’
‘Shhh Ryan, no!’ Bree scrambled towards Ryan, trying to comfort him. Before she could get to him, Johnny grabbed hold of her hair, yanking it as hard as he could. She screamed, trying to pull his hand away whilst he lashed the belt across her back.
‘Leave. Johnny leave. Johnny should leave.’
Spitting his words, Johnny bellowed at Ryan. ‘Shut up, you muppet, unless you want some of this as well!’
Dropping Bree’s hair, Johnny turned towards his twin brother, raising the belt above his head ready to whip it down on him, but as he did so, Bree leapt forward, throwing herself between Ryan and the belt.
‘Don’t touch him! Don’t you touch him!’
The leather belt hit hard and quick. Cracking across Bree’s face, cutting her cheek like a knife on silk. Johnny roared, bending down to pick up Bree, fury running through him as her blood ran down.
‘I’m going to kill you!’
‘Stop, Johnny!’ Ma’s voice was firm and loud as she stood behind her son.
Raging, Johnny yelled at his mother. ‘Stop? I ain’t going to stop this time.’
‘I said, stop!’
Johnny shook his head. ‘It’s a bit too late to start fucking caring about her now.’