The Downfall Series Box Set

by Edie Baylis

  Then he’d deal with Digger and find out why he’d said Jane was dead when she wasn’t. He unscrewed his hip flask and gratefully swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of whisky.

  “Are you ok, Jim?” Barry’s deep voice boomed.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” Seth lied. “Just tired, mate.”

  Barry nodded, unconvinced. He’d sensed something was up last night, although he admitted it hadn’t been his priority what with everything else. But the atmosphere between Jim and Marie had been so cloying it could have been cut through with a knife.

  He couldn’t put his finger on what was occurring between the pair of them, or exactly why. For God’s sake, the last thing the firm needed at a time like this was Jim going soft in the head over a woman.

  Barry glanced back at Jim and couldn’t help noticing the slight shaking of his hand as he raised the flask to his mouth once more. “Are you sure you’re ok?” he pressed. “Things seemed a bit strained between you and Marie last night. Is there a problem? I didn’t think you’d met her before?”

  Seth glared at Barry, his eyes flashing menacingly. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to say. I don’t even know Marie.” Well, it was true. She was Jane, not Marie.

  Barry nodded once more. “I wasn’t trying to insinuate anything, mate. It was a pretty strange night all round wasn’t it?”

  “You can say that again,” Seth muttered. He knew he’d been unable to veil his shock and would have to make sure that from now on he gave nothing away.

  Seeing the Glint come into view, he sparked a fag up and readied himself, whilst trying to ignore his racing heart.

  FORTY EIGHT

  IT HAD BEEN A DIFFICULT morning to say the least. Digger glanced across the table at Seth and watched him staring at nothing, concentrating on something he was unlikely to willingly divulge.

  He tipped the remains of his pint into his mouth, deciding he’d just have one more before giving it a rest until later. He couldn’t afford to get on it now, not when things were so much up in the air in more ways than one.

  Pulling his cigarettes from his pocket, Digger lit one, not bothering to offer the packet to Seth knowing he wouldn’t get a response. His own brain was working overtime and felt like it was actually rattling around within his skull. How could all of this have happened? It defied logic.

  When he’d turned up at the Glint this morning Digger had found Seth and Barry sitting solemnly outside Bill’s office in silence and immediately knew something had gone down. Admittedly he’d been shocked to hear what had happened to Sheila, but even that hadn’t been as shocking as what he’d learnt afterwards.

  Bill had emerged from his office very briefly to instruct them to make themselves scarce until 4pm when he wanted them back for a meeting. He’d then shut himself away after taking the envelope Digger had passed him that had been deposited in the letterbox.

  Barry had some work to do, but he and Seth had walked down to the pub on the corner. He’d thought Seth unusually quiet, even with the unfortunate news of Sheila, until he learnt that Jane was here and he’d been with her last night. Not with her of course, but she’d been at Bill’s when all the shit had come to light about Sheila.

  It was only when the initial disbelief had passed did Digger realise the situation, from his point of view, was at the very best, dire. He still couldn’t believe it. First Eliza shows up and now Jane.

  Seth hadn’t said too much about it, which was even more disconcerting because Digger couldn’t work out what he should say to the man. He’d forced himself to continue looking shocked being as far as everyone else knew, he’d thought Jane to be dead too.

  He ran his hand over his stubbly chin. Of course it would all have to kick off now wouldn’t it? Digger scowled inwardly. So Jane was out and he hadn’t found her in time. God, if he’d have known, he’d have jacked this lot off and spirited her away somewhere where there would have been no possible chance of her ever bumping into anyone. Especially Seth.

  Feeling Seth turn his stare on him, Digger smiled. “You ok, mate?”

  Seth paused before answering. “Not really.”

  Digger tried to smile. “Yes, I suppose it was a huge shock to see Jane, sh...”

  “Why did you tell me she was dead, Digger?” Seth hissed, his voice failing to hide his frustration.

  Digger returned Seth’s stare. Fuck. FUCK! “Because that’s what I was told,” he replied calmly.

  “Yes, but did you check?”

  Digger leaned forward onto the sticky wooden table. “Check? How could I have checked? It was prison.” The prison which he hadn’t even stepped foot, nor spoken to anyone in. “Why on earth would I have thought it wasn’t true? They must have got the wrong person that’s all I can think of.” Oh no, that was lame. Totally lame...

  Seth laughed coldly. “They wouldn’t have got the wrong person. Who did you speak to in there?”

  Feeling sweat forming at the back of his neck, Digger glanced over to the bar, wishing he’d got a fresh pint in before this conversation had started. “Oh Christ, how do I know?”

  “Well was it the Governor or who?” Seth pressed.

  “No, no one like that, just one of the screws I think. I’m not sure. For God’s sake, Seth, it was nearly five years ago. I can’t remember and I was upset.”

  Seth’s eyes narrowed. “You were upset? Besides, the Governor would usually be the one to give out new like that, not a screw.”

  “Well maybe it was the Governor then. I don’t know, I just remember that was what I was told.” You’re not doing a very good job of this, Digger. Think, THINK!

  “Well you must remember who you spoke to?”

  Digger shook his head, his stomach clenching nervously. “I’m sorry, I can’t remember. What does it matter now? They’re all a bunch of bastards anyway. They ship people out to different prisons and don’t even inform the fucking families, so it’s hardly surprising they’d pull a stunt like this.”

  Seth smashed his fist down on the table. “You call that a fucking stunt? Telling you someone’s dead is hardly the same as moving someone to a different prison!” he roared.

  “I’m lucky they told me anything. I wasn’t next of kin.”

  “No, I was,” Seth growled.

  “But you weren’t in a fit state, remember!” Digger snapped defensively. He needed to nip this in the bud. “Listen. I have no idea why they said that if it wasn’t true. All I know is what they told me. I’ll see if I can find out who gave me that bullshit and then we’ll go and rip his fucking head off, ok?”

  Seth’s eyes glazed over. “All this time...”

  Digger breathed a bit easier sensing the danger of being exposed had passed. For now.

  He rested his hand on Seth’s arm. “What’s she like now?” He couldn’t help it. He had to know and there was a tiny part of him that wanted to hear Jane had become horribly fat, ugly and old, then maybe he wouldn’t be feeling quite so gutted.

  Seth trained his eyes back to Digger, a wistful expression on his face. “She’s beautiful, Digger. Just like she always was.”

  Digger swallowed nervously. “And what are you going to do about her?” Had Seth reclaimed her yet?

  “I’m going to do nothing about her.” Seth’s eyes were cold. “She’s dead remember and that’s the way it’s got to stay.”

  Nodding, Digger quickly got up and walked to the bar. He desperately needed another drink.

  MAGGIE HURRIED DOWN the road, trying to stop her shallow breathing turning into full-blown hyperventilation. She’d got to get to Sally’s fast.

  Jane had left after an impromptu visit this morning and she was still struggling to get her head around what she’d been told.

  Maggie had been meaning to go and see Sally for days after her revelations the other night, just in case she was planning on acting without her knowledge now she knew where Jim worked, but she hadn’t got round to it. Her head had been swimming too much with all this stuff with Jane, but after this morning she
’d no choice and just hoped she’d be in time before Sally did something stupid.

  Today when Jane had dropped the nuclear bomb that not only Seth wasn’t dead, but he was Jim, everything with Sally made sense and therefore she’d had even less choice but to tell her in no uncertain terms to steer well clear.

  If Sally went down the Glint and Jane found out who she was, she’d get ripped to pieces and Maggie didn’t want to be in any way responsible for that. For all Sally’s faults and irritations she loved her to bits and Jane was far too dangerous to be fucked about with.

  Maggie quickly shoved a cigarette into her mouth, struggling to light it as she almost jogged along the road.

  It had been obvious Jane was still shell-shocked. She’d looked ill and almost grey. She could also tell she’d put away a fair few drinks. She hadn’t been filled in with any details as to where and how she’d managed to bump into her dead ex-husband, but that didn’t matter right now.

  Maggie could already feel the icy tentacles of fear creeping around her heart. It was like the past had come back to haunt her. Ok it had been great to find Jane here and well, but for Seth to be here also... That only spelt trouble.

  She’d been almost able to taste Jane’s pain. She’d been visibly shaking and she didn’t think she’d ever seen her so agitated. She’d also come to the conclusion it was probably not a great time to ask when she was planning on telling Seth about the baby.

  Finally reaching Sally’s place, Maggie ran up the path and banged on the door. After the second attempt of knocking with no response she got impatient. For God’s sake, please don’t tell me she’s gone out!

  Maggie stood there, unsure as to what to do for several minutes and eventually resorted to peering through the letterbox. “Sally?” she shouted into the gold rectangular opening.

  “She’s not there love,” came a voice.

  Turning around, Maggie saw the voice belonged to a woman standing at the door of the neighbouring flat. “Oh!” she said, surprised. She didn’t think Sally was at work today. “I don’t suppose you know where she’s gone do you? It’s really important.”

  The woman shook her head. “Sorry love, I don’t. All I know is that she left very abruptly the other day. Said she needed to get away.”

  Maggie felt sick. She’d gone? Where? “When’s she coming back?”

  The woman shrugged. “She didn’t say love, but from the impression I got, she won’t be. She’d got several suitcases and boxes with her.”

  Maggie leant against the doorjamb unsteadily in shock.

  “Are you Maggie by any chance?” the woman asked.

  Seeing Maggie nod, she smiled. “Wait here a minute. She left something for you.”

  The woman disappeared back inside her flat and Maggie waited nervously, unsure of what to think.

  After what seemed like an age, the woman reappeared with a brown envelope. “There you go love. Sorry I can’t be of more help. Maybe that fella of hers came back and she’s gone off with him.”

  Maggie took the proffered envelope with shaking hands and sincerely hoped that wasn’t where Sally had gone. Forcing a smile and a muttered ‘thanks’, she quickly retreated down the path and back along the road.

  Shakily sitting on a seat in the bus stop, she opened the letter with trembling fingers.

  Dear Maggie,

  I wanted to see you before I left, but decided it best I didn’t. After what you told me the other night I’m taking some time out to get my head together. I genuinely had no idea I was involved with people like that, which includes you.

  I need to decide whether to do something about what I know. I refuse to be involved with anyone who could do the sorts of things you told me about. You should have been honest with me about what you’ve done from the start.

  Don’t try to find me otherwise I will have no choice but to inform the police about everything you’ve said for my own safety.

  Sally

  Maggie stared at the piece of paper in her hand and blinked back a tear in disbelief. It wasn’t her who had done any of that stuff. This was awful.

  What was even worse was if Sally did go to the police, then she’d be the one who’d be in the shit for opening her mouth, not Sally.

  An iron fist began to clench around Maggie’s heart once again. Could she never escape from this grief she’d never wanted to be party to?

  Unsure where to go or what to do, Maggie shakily got up from the seat and was slowly continuing down the road when a car pulled up.

  Hearing Dan’s voice as the electric window opened she got inside the car, altogether unsure whether she was making yet another bad mistake, but at this precise moment in time she needed to talk to someone. And get very drunk.

  FORTY NINE

  BILL REALLY DIDN’T NEED this on top of everything else. Hadn’t he got enough to deal with without being told he’d got yet another usurper? He didn’t want to believe it and to be honest, wasn’t sure he did, but whatever happened he needed to check it out and that he would be doing.

  He looked at Marie as she sat at the table in his office and could feel the tension in the room like it was a neon light. Everyone seemed on edge, apart from Barry, who just looked uncomfortable.

  Bill was finding it hard to even take it as a possibility that the woman was an undercover cop. He usually picked up on them straight away and he hadn’t been wrong yet. Neither had Sheila and she obviously hadn’t either, but it wasn’t like he could ask her opinion on this now was it?

  Feeling a lump in the back of his throat and tears threatening to burn in his eyes, Bill quickly blinkered his mind to the tumult of emotion and anger churning through his system. Not until Carter had been dealt with and this had been avenged remember? Not that it would bring Sheila back. His precious and beautiful Sheila whom he’d waited so long for.

  He already desperately missed everything about her even though the full reality of what had happened had not yet sunken in and he was dreading the point when it did because it would floor him harder than a tidal wave.

  Bill stared at Marie again. She looked pale and drawn. Shaken. Could she sense her cover had been blown, or was it because of Sheila? They were very close after all.

  He prayed the letter he’d received this morning was a wind up. A disgruntled ex-boyfriend or something. Anything rather than this would be preferable. Marie was perfect for the club and he’d trusted her, but nothing had been proved yet and it could all be untrue.

  Sheila had mentioned before she’d left last night that Marie had requested a meeting with them both today. Well here it was - just without Sheila and with a few others instead.

  Bill gritted his teeth, feeling the anger over this horrible unjust situation rise rapidly once more from within him.

  And that cunt had raped her. Carter had stuck his mouldy fucking cock in his beautiful Sheila and he could do nothing to take it away and never could. The bastard had been trying to hurt him and by hell, he’d succeeded.

  Bill forced his thoughts back in, well aware all eyes were on him and that he’d been stood in silence in front of all of them for the last God knows how long.

  Taking a deep breath, he sincerely hoped this was bullshit. Marie would be torn apart by these guys if she was a cop. Woman or no woman, a traitor was a traitor.

  Just to be on the safe side, he’d called the boys in a couple of hours previously to run through and discuss what was going to happen to Carter and now it was time for Marie to answer his questions. He’d be able to tell from her reactions alone as to whether she was lying or not and if she was, then God help her.

  JANE SAT AS POISED as possible given the circumstances. Her lungs were tight and her breathing shallow. She was well aware her palms were sweaty and she felt like she might pass out.

  When she’d arrived for the meeting she’d moved to hug Bill and ask how he was, but he’d cut her short, coldly gesturing her to sit down. Something was afoot.

  Seth sat opposite and although he was making no eye con
tact, his close proximity burned into her skin with a searing heat. Digger had also clearly been briefed about her presence and the tension in the room was palpable. Only Barry seemed to be out of the loop.

  Jane admitted she’d been disappointed the main part of the meeting had occurred without her. She’d wanted to be involved in discussing Carter’s demise and needed to be part of his suffering for what he’d done.

  She also knew she looked a mess. She hadn’t slept and had drunk too much this morning in an effort to subdue her haywire nerves.

  “So Marie,” Bill’s loud voice snapped her from her thoughts. “I’d just like to thank you for your help last night.” He forced a smile. “As you’ve probably guessed, we’ve been discussing what will happen next.”

  “Yes,” Jane spoke as clearly as she could muster and tried to ignore the shake she could hear in her own voice. “I’d hoped I’d be privy to wh...”

  “There’s something very important I need to ask you,” Bill interrupted.

  Jane nodded, unsure of what else she could possibly add to their knowledge of Carter. They knew far more about him than she did.

  Bill held his unblinking gaze. “I received information this morning and you need to tell me whether it’s true or not.”

  Jane blanched and felt a rush of cold flood her. Ben. He’d fucking done it. He’d only gone and done it, the piece of shit.

  She could sense the growing restlessness and suspicion brewing around the room and began to feel horribly alone, but managed to nod slowly. “Ok...”

  Sitting down at his desk, Bill retrieved a piece of folded paper from his top drawer and opened it. “This letter arrived for me this morning. It states you’re not who you say you are and that you’re a cop. An undercover cop.”

  Jane’s jaw very nearly hit the floor. Police? She rapidly glanced around the room. Barry was staring at her with open hostility, Digger looked worried and Seth wasn’t reacting at all, just looking straight through her like she didn’t exist.