Life of Crime

by Kimberley Chambers

  ‘I don’t get what you’re trying to say, Jase, Shay needs a mum. What do you mean by that exactly?’

  Jason held Charlotte’s gaze. He felt sad now, but had to see this through. ‘It means rather than being in love myself, I got to look for a woman to love Shay. One day when you have kids, you’ll understand.’

  ‘I can help you with Shay. We can take her out for days and …’

  Jason silenced Charlotte with a passionate kiss. He then opened the car door. ‘It’s best you don’t ring me any more, Char. Be lucky in life, sweetheart. You deserve to be.’

  ‘Jason! Jase!’ Charlotte screamed as he got in his own car and started the engine.

  Ignoring Charlotte’s pleas, Jason drove off into the night. There was always Darlene. He was never seen out in public with her, their relationship was secret; therefore he could keep her on the firm without Johnny finding out.

  Turning the volume of his stereo up, Jason sang along with Barrett Strong. ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’ was the song and whoever had written the lyrics must have been clued up like him, he reckoned. Money got you everything and this was his first step to a new life.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Jason Rampling glanced at his watch. He’d already called Melissa to explain he was running late, but he hadn’t said he’d be this late. ‘No. Not that one,’ he said, exasperated. ‘That’s dirty and scruffy. Put on the new pink jacket I bought you,’ he ordered his daughter.

  ‘Don’t like it.’

  ‘Don’t mess me about, Shay. I’m really not in the mood today. Do as you’re bloody well told for once.’

  ‘He wants to make a good impression for your new mother, Shay. That’s who he’s taking you to meet. He’s not taking you, Elton, or you, Kyle. You’re not important enough to meet her, neither is Barbara,’ Debbie Rampling spouted.

  Seeing the wounded expressions on his young siblings’ faces, Jason glared at his mother. ‘Don’t say horrible stuff like that to ’em. Of course they’ll meet Mel, just not today. Instead of lying there like a beached whale, why don’t you get off your arse and cook ’em some grub? Eighty quid I spent in Asda this morning. You got no excuse now the fridge is full.’

  Debbie lit a cigarette. ‘Getting far too big for your boots lately, you are, boy. You can fuck off and live with your posh bit of totty, you talk to me like that again.’

  ‘She isn’t posh. Mel’s just a normal girl, I keep telling you that,’ Jason argued.

  ‘Johnny Brooks is cake-o, everyone knows that. Dunno what she’s doing with a lowlife like you. Must be desperate.’

  ‘Can I come, Jason?’ Elton asked.

  ‘And me. I’m coming,’ Kyle insisted.

  Jason put his hand in his pocket. ‘Not today, lads, but get yourself some sweets,’ he replied, handing each a pound coin.

  ‘Have a nice time,’ Barbara said.

  ‘Have a nice time,’ Debbie mimicked.

  Thoroughly annoyed with his nasty bitch of a mother, Jason grabbed his whingeing daughter’s hand and dragged her out the door.

  Johnny Brooks handed his wife a menu. He’d taken her out for lunch so they could speak about her illness in private. But not only did Carol not want to talk about it, she was still refusing to tell Melissa.

  ‘I wonder how Mel’s getting on. So nice to see her so happy, isn’t it? He’s a cracking lad, is Jason. I do hope they stay together.’

  ‘I wouldn’t build your hopes up, love. They’ve only known one another five minutes and he’s a bit of a chancer, by all accounts.’

  Johnny had done some asking around. Jason had the reputation of being one for the girls and he sold pornography. He’d learned other stuff about the lad too. His grandmother was a notorious shoplifter and gambler who lived in Dagenham, and his grandfather had been a bookie’s runner who’d been bumped off for robbing money.

  ‘Well?’ Carol urged.

  Not wanting to burst his wife’s bubble, Johnny played his findings down. ‘I did a bit of digging. Nothing too bad, but he has had lots of girlfriends. Bit of a heartbreaker, by all accounts, so he better not be leading our Mel up the garden path or he’ll have me to answer to.’

  ‘I wish you wouldn’t poke your nose in, Johnny. Say the lad finds out? And so what if he’s had lots of girlfriends? You courted others before you met me, didn’t you?’

  Johnny felt his face flush. He’d heard nothing from Shirley since ending their relationship. ‘Well, yeah. But that’s different.’

  ‘No, it isn’t. Men will be men and I’m glad he’s sowed his wild oats before meeting Mel. She’s had boyfriends, hasn’t she?’

  ‘Yeah. Wonderful taste our daughter had,’ Johnny replied sarcastically.

  ‘Did you find anything else out about him?’

  ‘Not really. Got the impression he has a reputation of being a bit of a wide boy, but I guessed that when I met him.’

  ‘I don’t want you asking no more questions about him. Always have to put a spanner in the works, you do. And don’t you dare tell Melissa any of this. I don’t want that girl’s happiness spoilt.’

  Johnny squeezed his wife’s hand. ‘Don’t be angry with me. Melissa’s my daughter and checking out the latest boyfriend is what decent dads do. Like yourself, I only want her to be happy. She deserves the best in life, the very best.’

  The girl was a skinny, scruffy little urchin. Her long brown hair looked like it could do with a good brush, and her shoes were tatty and worn. She had a cute face though, even if it was currently sullen, with a sprinkle of freckles across her nose. ‘Why don’t you play with Donte, Shay? Look, he’s enjoying himself and so are all the other children. You don’t want to miss out on having fun, do you?’ Melissa smiled. The child had so far refused to talk to her, was acting shy and sidling up to Jason.

  ‘Answer Melissa,’ Jason urged, prising his daughter’s arms from around his waist. It had been his idea to have lunch at a pub with a play area, and he’d driven out to Wickford to do so. He didn’t want Darlene to get wind of his relationship with Melissa. Thankfully she had no idea who Johnny Brooks was when he’d casually mentioned his name last week.

  ‘Don’t want to. Donte’s a baby and I’m a big girl now.’

  Jason picked his four-year-old daughter up and swung her around. She was ever so thin, Melissa thought. Definitely underweight for her age. Mel smiled as Jason gently placed Shay in a pit of shiny balls next to a girl of a similar age. Donte was having a whale of a time playing with another little girl.

  ‘Sorted,’ Jason grinned as he sat back down. ‘She’s not usually shy. Probably acting up ’cause she’s only used to playing with her brothers and sisters,’ he explained.

  ‘Aww, she’s lovely, Jase. Who did you tell her I was – a friend?’

  ‘No. I told her you were my girlfriend. Best to be upfront from the beginning, eh?’

  Melissa felt a warm glow envelop her. Jason must really be serious about her if he’d told Shay that. He still hadn’t tried it on with her. The furthest they’d got was a kiss and cuddle, but they both lived at home, so it was awkward. ‘Do you fancy going away for a weekend on our own? My mum mentioned it earlier, said if I wanted a break she’d have Donte for me.’

  ‘Awkward for me ’cause I work Sundays. And, to be honest, I’d rather save up to rent a gaff than waste money on hotels. Be great if one of us got our own place, wouldn’t it? We’d have loads of time alone then. So expensive though, what with all the bills and that.’

  ‘Yes, I should imagine it is expensive. My dad’s always said when I’m ready to move out, he’ll find me a decent place. He wants Donte to go to a nice school in a good area.’

  Jason nodded approvingly. This conversation was going exactly the way he’d hoped. ‘That’s what I want for Shay too. Gotta get her away from the Mardyke soon, preferably before she starts school in September. Call me a dick if you think I’m being presumptuous, but how about we get a gaff together? I know we haven’t been seeing one another long, but we get on well, do
n’t we? Be nice to have some independence – what do ya reckon?’

  Melissa was stunned. She was sure she was in love with Jason, but it felt a bit too soon to be moving in with him. She felt safe around her parents, even though her dad got on her nerves at times. On the other hand, she fancied Jason something rotten, and the thought of going to bed with him every night and waking up with him every morning sent shivers down her spine.

  ‘Forget I said anything. I can tell you’re not interested,’ Jason mumbled.

  ‘No. It’s not that. Of course I’m interested, I’m just a bit taken aback as we haven’t been together that long. Surely people will think we’re rushing into things?’

  ‘Who cares what people think? We both want the same things and we get on well.’ Jason leaned across the table and held Melissa’s hands. ‘You’re not average. You’re different, Mel. Decent, proper girlfriend material. That’s why I really like you.’

  Melissa grinned. Those butterflies were doing somersaults in her stomach again. ‘I’ll speak to my parents, see what they say. But yes, I think you’re right. We can make it work. I really like you too, Jason.’

  ‘Mummy, look. Watch me,’ Donte shouted out.

  When Melissa walked over to her son, Jason smirked. He didn’t love her, probably never would, but she was respectable and likeable. And if the gaff Johnny Brooks rented was big enough, she could look after his brothers and sister too. They could stay over at weekends; give them a break from his mother. He was a forward thinker, had it all planned out.

  ‘All right, Nan. I got you some Guinness, look. A whole crate.’

  ‘Me stomach’s playing up at the moment, I can’t drink ’em. Didn’t you get me any fags?’ Peggy asked, a disappointed look on her face.

  Knowing full well his grandmother wouldn’t be satisfied even if he brought her the crown jewels, Jason grinned. ‘Nah, but I’ll bring some next time. Got something to tell ya. I’ve met a girl. Family have got a few bob an’ all.’

  Peggy clapped her hands together like Bill Sykes out of Oliver Twist. ‘Tell me more. What’s her name? How old? Where’s she from?’

  ‘Melissa Brooks. She’s twenty-one and her father owns a builders’ merchants. Not the small one in Rainham that Andy Michaels used to work for. The other one off the A13 heading towards Aveley.’

  ‘I’m not sure of it, boy. Me memory ain’t so great these days. What’s she like? Is she pretty?’

  Jason shrugged. ‘Passable. She’s a nice enough girl, though. Mother material for Shay.’

  Peggy patted the sofa next to her and when Jason sat down, she squeezed his hand. ‘Looks fade in time anyway. A ravishing beauty, I was, when I married your grandfather. Even that mother of yours was a pretty child. It’s the ones who are ugly when young that improve with age, you know. Doris Shipton’s daughter was forty last week. Looks far better than she did when she was in her early twenties. Same goes for Clara Hedges’ girl. Ugly as a pig, that one, when it was born, but she has an attractiveness about her now.’

  ‘So what you trying to say, Nan?’ Jason chuckled.

  ‘Ya know. As long as she’s got a few bob, just put a bag over her head and hope for the best, lad.’

  Melissa Brooks was incredibly excited.

  Desperate to tell somebody her breathtaking news, she looked at the clock. Tracey was now speaking to her again and should be home from work by this time. She picked up the phone and was relieved when Tracey answered immediately.

  ‘Trace, you’ll never guess what! Jason only wants us to move in together.’

  ‘You what! Why? What exactly did he say?’

  Melissa repeated parts of the earlier conversation. ‘He doesn’t want me to tell my mum and dad it was his idea though, so whatever you do, mate, don’t put your foot in it. How’s it going with Barry?’ Barry was Tracey’s new gangster boyfriend. ‘I spoke to Jase and he said we should go out in a foursome. We might have to cut down going out a bit now though. Not cheap moving in together, is it?’ Melissa gabbled. Her mother had always been a homemaker, had exquisite taste, and she took after her. She could almost picture her and Jason’s love nest already. It would have long cream curtains and big chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The sofa would have to be dark though, because of the kids’ mucky paws, and they could buy one of those big four-poster beds. That would be so romantic.

  Having had her reservations about Jason since day one, Tracey decided to air them. ‘Not being funny, Mel – and please don’t think I’m jealous, ’cause I ain’t – but something about all this doesn’t ring true to me. I find it ever so weird he’s not even tried it on with you yet. That isn’t normal. Just be careful and don’t rush into stuff. I would hate to see you get hurt.’

  ‘The only reason he hasn’t tried it on, Trace, is ’cause we’ve got nowhere to go. We can’t do it in my house, or his flat. That’s why he wants us to get a place, you muppet. Then we can be together properly, all the time. He’s so romantic, Trace. Honest he is.’

  Tracey sighed. She still found it hard to believe that Jason had fancied her friend over her. Unless he had problems with his eyesight, it made no sense whatsoever. As for Mel, she wasn’t as experienced or streetwise when it came to blokes as she was. She’d made a complete idiot of herself over Donte’s father and Tracey didn’t want her pal to make the same mistake again. Even though Tracey had a new man she liked, she could not help feeling a tad jealous over this latest news. ‘No man is perfect, Mel, always remember that. You don’t want to throw yourself in at the deep end like you did with Joel. You have to learn by past mistakes. Once bitten, twice shy.’

  ‘So, you don’t think I should move in with him then? Is that what you’re trying to say?’

  Imagining Melissa and Jason cuddling up together on a shagpile rug in front of a burning log fire, Tracey’s lip curled. ‘No. Let’s be honest, Mel. You hardly know the bloody bloke.’

  Johnny Brooks’s lip wobbled as he drove along in silence. Carol had finally opened up about her illness, the journey they faced, and it was breaking his heart. He wished he had the tumour instead, would swap places with his wonderful wife if he could. What had Carol ever done to deserve this? She was such a kind, loving, good woman who would fall over backwards to help others. How could life be so cruel?

  ‘I don’t want to die in hospital. I want to be at home with you. Can you make sure that happens for me? Even if they have to bring in one of those awful hospital beds and send in carers, I don’t mind. As long as I’m at home.’

  Johnny bumped his Jaguar up a kerb and held his amazing wife in his arms. ‘You’ll be at home, my darling, where you belong. I can promise you that faithfully.’

  Melissa Brooks paced up and down the lounge. She’d psyched herself up about what she was going to say, but was still dreading the words leaving her mouth. So much so, she’d decided to blurt out the news the second her parents walked through the door. If she didn’t and decided to leave it until tomorrow, chances were she wouldn’t have the guts to say it at all.

  Five minutes later, Melissa heard her father’s Jaguar pull up on the drive and she braced herself for the inevitable. Donte was fast asleep. He’d had a wonderful time in the play area at the pub and had literally worn himself out. Melissa sat on the sofa twiddling her fingers as she always did when she was nervous. ‘All right? You’ve been gone ages. Where have you been? I’ve got something I need to talk to you about.’

  ‘Sit down, love. I need to speak to you about something important. You can tell me your news afterwards,’ Carol said. She had finally decided to take Johnny’s advice. Melissa had to be told at some point.

  ‘I’ll leave you to it,’ Johnny muttered, shutting the lounge door. He didn’t want to keep breaking down in front of Carol.

  Melissa wasn’t stupid. Both her parents looked shell-shocked, so something bad had happened. ‘Is it Jason?’ Mel panicked. ‘Has he got another girlfriend?’

  Carol sat on the sofa next to her daughter. She held Mel’s hands tig
htly in her own, and bit her lip to stop herself blubbering. She had to be strong now, it was the only way. ‘I’ve got cancer, love. That’s why I was getting those headaches.’

  Melissa snatched her right hand away and put it over her mouth. The mother of one of her schoolfriends had died of cancer. ‘You got to have an operation? You’re going to be OK, aren’t you?’

  This was the hardest part for Carol, so she tried to dress it up as best she could. ‘Unfortunately, the cancer is too far advanced for them to operate on me, Mel. But you know me, I’m a fighter.’

  Melissa was startled. ‘You’re not going to die though, are you?’

  Carol held her daughter in her arms. ‘I’ll try my very best not to. But we all die one day, sweetheart. And that’s a fact.’

  CHAPTER SIX

  Jason Rampling was too busy having his penis sucked to answer the phone.

  ‘Who keeps ringing?’ Darlene Michaels hissed. Jason brought out a jealous side to her that only her ex-husband had in the past.

  ‘Don’t stop. Carry on,’ Jason groaned, grabbing the back of Darlene’s head.

  Darlene waved Jason’s phone in the air. ‘Who the fuck is Mel?’

  Cursing himself for forgetting to turn the poxy phone off, Jason snatched it out of Darlene’s hands. ‘Mel is short for Melvyn. Mel lives in Barking, buys loads of films off me.’

  ‘I don’t believe you. Ring the number back, go on,’ Darlene spat.

  ‘Getting sick of you not trusting me, Dar. I ain’t seeing no one else, how many times I gotta tell you that?’

  Darlene leaned back against the pillow. She tossed her long hair backwards and lit a cigarette. ‘I will find out if you’re messing me about again, Jase, and I swear, if I do, you’ll fucking regret it this time. So will the silly tart you’re seeing. I’ll have both your guts for garters!’

  Melissa was all in a panic. If she wore the low-cut white top, would Jason think she was a slapper offering herself on a plate to him? He’d called her back about an hour ago and said he’d be round by one. Her parents had taken Donte to the seaside and would be out till late. Six outfits she’d tried on and still she could not make her mind up. She’d lost weight, but was nowhere near as skinny as Tracey. Would he think she was fat if she got undressed? Mel hoped not. It wasn’t as if she could even turn the lights off.