Life of Crime

by Kimberley Chambers

  ‘You look nice. You going out?’ Jason knew she always pretended she was going out when they rowed, so decided to play along with her.

  ‘Yes. But where I go and what I do has sod-all to do with you any more. You worry about Plain Jane.’

  Jason pulled the box out of his pocket and handed it to Darlene. She wore massive gold hoop earrings and had been vexed when she’d lost one last week. ‘An olive branch,’ he said.

  Darlene glanced at the earrings, then handed them back to him. ‘I’m not being bribed, Jase. Neither am I being the other woman. You either knock things on the head with Plain Jane or it’s over between us, for good.’

  Jason could tell she was warming, so told Darlene what she wanted to hear. ‘I can’t lose you, Dar, so I’ll knock her on the head. I love you, babe. You know that.’

  Putting the bolts across the inside of the front door in case her son came home, Darlene grabbed Jason’s hand and literally dragged him into the bedroom.

  ‘Jason’s phone is still switched off. I hope he’s OK. He didn’t say he’d be this late,’ Melissa stated worriedly.

  Carol looked at the clock. It had just gone eight and she was ready for bed. The tiredness and lack of appetite were becoming more difficult to hide from her family, and Carol hated them looking at her with worried eyes. ‘I bet he’s had a lot of things to sort out, love, and his battery has died. Might even be checking on his brothers and sister. Don’t worry. He’ll be home soon,’ she yawned.

  Johnny was none too impressed. Jason had left here at dawn this morning and it didn’t take fourteen hours to travel to Hatten poxy Garden and back. Thank God they were looking after Shay, else Johnny would now be thinking his daughter’s wide boy of a bloke had run off with his five grand.

  ‘Your mum’s right, Mel. Jason told me earlier he had lots to sort out and wouldn’t be home until tonight,’ Johnny fibbed. He suddenly felt anxious. Had he put his wife’s happiness in front of his daughter’s?

  ‘Babe, I really do have to go now,’ Jason repeated, unclasping Darlene’s hands from around his neck.

  ‘So you’re definitely gonna tell Suzie tonight you won’t be seeing her any more?’ Darlene asked again.

  ‘Yes. Already told you that ten times. Same as I told you I rang my nan and she said she’d look after Shay for me.’ Suzie Smith was the first name Jason had thought of to blurt out, but his lies were now spiralling out of control. Sex with Darlene was always even more mind-blowing after an argument, but now his ball bags were emptied, he just wanted to leave.

  ‘When you coming round again?’ Darlene asked, pure desperation in her voice.

  Jason gave her one last peck on the lips. ‘Soon. I promise, babe.’

  ‘Where have you been? I was worried about you, Jase. I thought you’d had an accident,’ Melissa gabbled, throwing her arms around her boyfriend’s neck.

  ‘I’m sorry. My sister rang me earlier, crying her eyes out. Kyle fell over and cut his head open so I had to take him up A and E. Then me phone died,’ Jason said, kissing Melissa on the lips. He’d luckily found some Juicy Fruit chewing gum in his car to get rid of the taste of Darlene’s vagina.

  Johnny was stony-faced when Jason sauntered into the lounge holding his daughter’s hand. ‘Help your mum up to bed now, love. She can barely keep her eyes open, but was determined to stay awake to make sure you were OK, Jason,’ he said, his voice laden with sarcasm.

  Donte and Shay were already in bed, so as soon as Carol and Melissa left the room, Johnny stood up and kicked the door shut with his Dealer boot. ‘Where’s the ring?’ he barked.

  Jason took the box out of the carrier bag and opened it. He handed Johnny an envelope. ‘The receipt and a grand is in there. I looked at dearer rings, but thought Mel would like this one more.’

  Johnny stared Jason in the eyes. ‘I am warning you one last time. If you do have other bits of skirt on the go, you need to sack ’em off. Because if I find out you are cheating on my daughter, I will not only cut your cock off, I’ll ram it down the back of your throat and get great pleasure in watching you choke to death. Now, do we understand one another?’

  Jason Rampling could not sleep. He had got himself into such a predicament and Johnny’s threat kept swirling around his brain. He did love Darlene, but they were hardly the next Romeo and Juliet. He supposed, in a way, she was the mother figure he’d never had. He’d always felt safe at her home, loved and wanted. All the things he’d never felt with his own mother.

  Sighing, Jason turned on his other side. Darlene was becoming more clingy of late, which was worrying. She didn’t seem to give a shit if the neighbours heard them arguing, whereas in the past she’d always turn the music up. And she’d threatened to tell Andy about their affair last time she’d caught him cheating on her. Jason doubted she’d ever carry out that threat, but he’d hate Andy to find out. They weren’t as close now as they’d been at school, but Jason would still feel guilty for betraying his one-time best pal in that way.

  Juggling a double life was not going to be easy. As Jason twisted and turned the night away, he weighed up his options. Darlene was eighteen years older than him, fast approaching forty. Would he really yearn for her in ten years’ time? He doubted it. Women didn’t age as well as men. He would always want her in his life though, and that was where the problem lay. Darlene was as much as a drug to him as he was to her. He could not live with her, but living without her seemed almost unthinkable.

  But, on the other hand, this was a big opportunity for him. No way was he destined to live the rest of his life on a council estate, he had too much going for him. Melissa might not be Miss World, but she was a path to a better future. Love or money? That was the choice he had to make right now. His heart told him Darlene, but his head told him not to be so stupid.

  CHAPTER NINE

  ‘Feast your eyes on these beauties, Jase. Straight off the back of a lorry heading for JJB Sports. A score a pair I want, but you can get forties on ’em all day long.’

  Jason glanced at the trainers. The bulk were Nike and Adidas, which always sold well. ‘I’ll have a think, got other stuff on at the moment.’

  Terrence Arnold looked at Jason quizzically. He was ten years older than the lad who ran the shoe stall on a Sunday for him. But they were good mates and he’d never known Jason to look a gift horse in the mouth before. Terrence, or Tel as his pals called him, often received hot property and as a rule Jason was salivating at the mouth to flog it. ‘What’s up with you?’

  ‘You really don’t want to know, mate. Listen. I got to dash. Will bell you about the trainers later.’

  ‘When we having a girlie night out? Don’t want to know me now you’re all loved up,’ Tracey Thompson taunted. She and Mel hadn’t had a night out since Melissa had met Jason, and Tracey had no other real friends to hang out with. Tracey had just been dumped by a local villain, Barry Higgins. She was heartbroken, loved the glamour and attention of being on his arm. Now he was history, no one gave a shit about her.

  Melissa picked up the menu. She and Tracey were having lunch in Romford. ‘We’ll arrange a night out soon, I promise. It’s a bit awkward at the moment, with Jase and Shay living at my mum and dad’s. I can’t just sod off out and expect my mum to look after Shay and Donte.’

  ‘I still can’t believe your parents allowed him to stay there. So, have you done it with him yet? He must’ve tried it on by now, surely?’

  ‘He has tried it on, but just as we were about to do it, my mum and dad came home,’ Melissa fibbed. No way was Mel admitting Jason had been unable to perform. Tracey would dine out on that bloody story for years.

  ‘I don’t wanna piss on your parade, mate, but something definitely ain’t right. Any normal bloke would’ve shagged you senseless by now. Barry tried it with me on our third date. That’s what normal men do. You sure he’s not seeing someone else? Is his phone switched on or off when he’s with you?’ Tracey was still baffled why Jason picked Melissa over her and alarm bells had star
ted to ring. Was he a con man? He obviously had the gift of the gab to worm his way around Johnny Brooks. Mel’s father was an ogre when he wanted to be.

  ‘He has his phone switched off most the time. But he does turn it on to call people when I’m with him.’

  ‘Men are men, Mel. They think with their trousers. If he isn’t pestering you for sex, then he must be getting it elsewhere. Switching his phone off is well dodgy. I tell you what, next time he plans to go out of a night, ring me beforehand and I’ll follow him for ya.’

  Melissa suddenly did not feel hungry any more. She’d been in such a bubble since meeting Jason, she’d chosen to ignore his lack of physical interest in her. They hadn’t even kissed properly for weeks. A squeeze of the hand or peck on the lips was as intimate as they’d been. And why did he always switch his phone off when he was with her? He said it was because his battery was on the blink. But was that the truth? Or was he lying?

  Melissa arrived home with a new outfit, only to be told her mother wasn’t well enough to go out tonight. ‘She had a headache this morning, love. Was sick and now wants to spend her birthday at home,’ Johnny explained.

  Jason was in the lounge playing with Donte and Shay, and when he stood up and gave her the briefest of pecks on the cheek, Melissa could not help but think of Tracey’s words. Her friend was right, something was definitely amiss.

  ‘I need to pop out for a bit to pick your mum’s present up. The kids can come with me. Be nice if they chose a present for her too. She’d like that,’ Johnny said.

  As soon as her father’s car pulled off the drive, Melissa chose to confront Jason. ‘You’re seeing someone else. I know you are.’

  ‘Don’t be daft. Course I’m not. Your mate Tracey been putting silly ideas in your head again, has she? Surely you can see she’s jealous.’

  ‘This has got nothing to do with Tracey. I’m not stupid, Jase. You don’t even act like you fancy me.’

  ‘Of course I fancy you, ya nutter. What bloke wouldn’t? I just want our first time to be special, ya know. We can’t be having sex while your mum’s ill in bed upstairs. That’s disrespectful.’

  ‘Excuses, excuses. I think it’s odd how you switch your phone off when we’re together an’ all. I’m not being taken for a fool, Jase. Perhaps we should call it a day?’

  Jason tilted Melissa’s chin, forcing her to hold his gaze. ‘I’m not mugging you off, ya doughnut. Got a surprise lined up for you. A big surprise. You’ll see what you mean to me then.’

  ‘What is it? Tell me.’

  Jason silenced Melissa with a passionate kiss. Aware of his erection rubbing against her, all Melissa’s worries were temporarily forgotten.

  Later that evening, Jason Rampling felt like a lamb being led to the slaughter as he followed Johnny Brooks into the kitchen.

  ‘Ready?’ Johnny asked.

  ‘Erm, no. I think it’s best I put Shay to bed first in case Mel says no.’

  ‘OK. Get your skates on then.’

  Reminding himself that providing a better future for his daughter and siblings was far more important than his own happiness, Jason carried Shay up the stairs.

  ‘Story,’ Shay mumbled.

  ‘Once upon a time there was this cute little princess who lived in a nasty tower block in Rainham. Her nan was a fat stinking evil witch who—’

  ‘Like Nanny Debbie?’ Shay interrupted.

  ‘Exactly.’

  When Shay’s eyes closed, Jason continued the story anyway. ‘So thanks to the gallantness of her wonderful father, the little princess moved into a posh house with a big garden and lived happily ever after,’ he ended.

  Jason picked up the ring and with his legs feeling as though he was trudging through treacle, made his way down the stairs.

  ‘What you doing?’ Mel asked as Jason dropped to his knee in front of her.

  Jason opened the box. ‘Will you marry me?’

  ‘You what! Is this some kind of a joke?’ Melissa spat.

  Johnny grinned at Carol. ‘Put the lad out of his misery then, Mel. He’ll get cramp kneeling there,’ he chuckled.

  Realizing that Jason was actually serious, Melissa put her hand over her mouth. Gobsmacked wasn’t the bloody word. ‘I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting this.’

  Johnny had told Jason earlier that if Mel thought it was too soon for them to get married but still wanted to live with him, then the offer to find them a property still stood. That option suited Jason down to the ground. No commitment, a nice gaff, and he’d be free to swan off round Darlene’s whenever it took his fancy. ‘I know it’s a bit soon, so I don’t mind if you say no,’ Jason mumbled, looking into Mel’s eyes, willing her to do so.

  ‘I’ve already given Jason my blessing, love,’ Johnny butted in. ‘Be lovely for your mum to see you get hitched, wouldn’t it? It’s always been her dream to see you happy and settled.’

  ‘Shut up, Johnny,’ Carol ordered. ‘Don’t you be worrying about me, Mel. You decide for yourself, love. It’s a big step is marriage.’

  Not one to be easily shut up, Johnny added, ‘I’ve told Jason I’ll buy you a nice house as a wedding present.’

  ‘Leave ’em to it, for goodness’ sake,’ Carol snapped.

  The doorbell brought an end to Jason kneeling in front of Mel like an absolute lemon. He gratefully leapt up. ‘I’ll get it.’

  A tall bloke with dark hair stood on the doorstep. He looked vaguely familiar and Jason wondered where he’d seen him before. ‘How can I help you, mate?’

  ‘I’m here to see Johnny. It’s urgent.’

  ‘What’s your name?’

  ‘What’s yours? You Melissa’s new bloke?’ the man asked, his gold tooth glinting in the dark of the night.

  ‘Why d’ya wanna know who I am? Got nothing to do with you.’

  ‘Just go and get Johnny will ya, mouth almighty. I ain’t got all fucking night.’

  Jason opened the lounge door. ‘’Ere a minute, Johnny,’ he said, not wanting to alert the women that anything was amiss. The bloke at the door certainly wasn’t paying some friendly social call.

  ‘Who is it?’ Carol asked.

  ‘Watch your DVD, love,’ Johnny replied, releasing the pause button. That had been his surprise present to his wife. The old videos he’d taken of them and the kids over the years he’d had transferred on to a DVD.

  Johnny flung open the front door and locked eyes with Craig Thurston. ‘Fuck off, else I’m calling the police,’ he hissed.

  ‘Nah, you won’t. I know too much about ya for you to be involving the Old Bill. I want my money, and I want it sharpish. You’ve got a week to weigh me out, or I’m telling Carol you’ve been knobbing Shirley Stone for years. I’m sure she’d also be keen to hear how you got the money to start your business up in the first fucking place an’ all,’ Craig said quietly.

  Jason’s ears pricked up. This was an interesting conversation.

  Mel poked her head around the door. ‘Mum wants to know who it is, Dad.’

  ‘Business,’ Johnny barked. ‘Make sure the girls stay inside. I won’t be a tick,’ he told Jason before bundling Craig out the door and down the pathway.

  ‘I mean it, Brooksy. One week you’ve got – or Carol gets to know what you’re really like.’

  ‘Look, it ain’t my fault Robbo had you over. I didn’t know he was planning a moonlight flit, did I?’

  ‘You roped me in on the job. So it is your fucking problem,’ Craig argued. ‘Got your cut OK, didn’t ya?’

  Desperate for Carol not to have her heart broken, Johnny decided to make Thurston an offer. ‘I’ll give you half of my cut, OK? Twenty-five grand.’

  ‘Fuck off! I want the full fifty I’m owed. Plus interest.’

  ‘I haven’t got fifty-plus grand lying around.’

  ‘Don’t fucking lie. You’re minted now,’ Craig spat.

  Johnny sighed. He really didn’t need this crap. ‘Thirty. That’s all I can get my hands on. Take it or leave it.’
/>   Craig smirked. ‘I’ll take it.’

  ‘Was that that bleedin’ Craig Thurston?’ Carol shouted as the front door slammed.

  ‘No, love. It was a bloke I did a bit of business with recently,’ Johnny lied.

  Carol eyed her husband suspiciously. She hadn’t heard the man’s voice, but had looked out the window and seen him walking up the path. ‘What business? Only it looked like Craig Thurston to me.’

  ‘OK, it was Craig. But there’s no problem. He’s got a load of timber he wants to flog me on the cheap, that’s all. You got a minute, Jason?’ Johnny said, gesturing for the lad to follow him into the kitchen.

  ‘Everything OK?’ Jason asked.

  ‘Anything you heard, take no notice. Trying to wangle a few bob out of me, the bastard is. Don’t be saying nothing to the girls though. I don’t want ’em worrying. Word of advice, lad: never let them indoors know about your business.’

  ‘I didn’t hear anything he said to you, Johnny,’ Jason lied. He would make some enquiries tomorrow to find out who Shirley Stone was.

  Johnny slapped Jason on the back. ‘Good lad. Has my daughter given you her answer yet?’

  ‘Erm, no. I think we should leave that for tonight. She didn’t look too keen.’

  ‘Nonsense,’ Johnny replied, dragging Jason back into the lounge. ‘This man’s having kittens, Mel, awaiting your answer. You going to keep him waiting all night?’

  Melissa grinned at Jason. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Yes, what?’ Jason mumbled.

  ‘Yes. I will marry you.’

  Carol’s eyes filled with tears of joy. ‘Aww, Johnny. Open a bottle of bubbly. Congratulations to you both. I can’t wait to help you look for the perfect dress, Mel.’

  Johnny shook Jason’s limp hand. ‘You got a good ’un there, girl,’ he told his daughter.

  ‘Do you want a church wedding?’ Carol asked. Even if she died before the actual wedding, it would be lovely to be involved in all the arrangements.