Jason obeyed her orders and walked into the lounge.
‘You’ve got a face like a smacked arse. What’s a matter?’ Peggy asked.
Jason sat on the sofa next to his nan and squeezed her hand. ‘I’ve got some bad news. Mum fell down the stairs in her block on Saturday and got rushed to hospital. I didn’t want to tell you over the phone. I was hoping she’d be OK. She isn’t though. I’ve just come from Oldchurch after speaking with the doctors and they reckon she’s done her spine in. The vertebrae or something. They don’t think she’ll ever walk again.’
Remembering her Debbie as an innocent ponytailed child, Peggy’s eyes momentarily welled up. They soon dried though as Peggy reminded herself of what an embarrassing humungous beast her daughter had become. ‘Pissed, was she?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Oh, well. Not as if she hasn’t asked for it over the years, is it? Your mother’s lifestyle was always going to end in tears. Where are the little ’uns?’ Peggy asked. She never referred to Barbara, Elton or Kyle as her grandchildren, and had only laid eyes on them once, at Jason’s wedding.
‘They’re staying with me and Mel for the time being. It’s only temporary, though. Mel won’t have ’em live with us and, to be honest, we haven’t really got the room. I’ve booked a meeting with Social Services next week. Mum’s gonna need twenty-four-hour care by the looks of it and no way am I allowing Babs to be her carer. That poor little cow has been Mum’s drudge for years as it is, and she deserves to have a life of her own. I’m hoping the authorities will let Babs look after the boys and keep the flat on, though. She’ll be eighteen next birthday and is certainly mature enough. She’s brought them up virtually all their lives anyway, and I don’t want ’em going into care.’
‘Well, I hope it all works out, Jason. I know how you worry about those kids.’
‘Will you do me a favour, Nan?’
‘Don’t be asking me to look after ’em, boy, because the answer is most certainly no.’
‘I know that and I wouldn’t ask you anyway. Will you come round mine for dinner to meet ’em though? They’re at a low ebb at the moment, Babs especially. It will do ’em good to meet you, I know it will.’
Peggy squeezed her grandson’s hand. She loved Jason very much and was extremely proud of the man he’d become. ‘OK. But I’m only doing this for you. I’ll go out thieving, chore ’em some presents. Don’t arrange it for a weekend though. That’s when the big money’s up for grabs at the bingo. How about Christmas Day? That’ll suit me. Don’t want your old nan spending Christmas on her own, do ya, boy?’
Melissa Rampling flung open her son’s bedroom door. He immediately stopped dancing, so did Elton and Kyle. ‘Turn that racket down, now! I can’t hear my bloody self think.’
‘Always moaning, you are. You told us to amuse ourselves in the bedroom and we did as we were told,’ Donte answered back. He loved having Elton and Kyle around. They were exciting and far more fun than Shay.
‘I never told you to play loud music and jump up and down till you come through the floorboards, did I? You sound like a horde of elephants from downstairs.’
When Elton and Kyle started to giggle, Donte decided to answer back again: ‘Thought you were going out anyway. Why you still here?’
Melissa grabbed her son by the arm and marched him out of his room and into hers.
‘Get off me. You’re a loony,’ Donte complained.
‘I’ll give you loony in a minute, you keep giving me cheek.’ She hated the change in her son’s behaviour whenever Jason’s brothers were around. He acted far older than his years and cocky, one of the very reasons she’d banned Elton and Kyle from her house in the first place.
‘What we done wrong? We was only dancing.’
Melissa pointed a warning finger in her son’s face. ‘Skating on very thin ice, you are lately, which is why I’ve decided to send you to a private school. You’ll have to learn some manners then, won’t you? They don’t put up with rude little boys.’
Praying that Elton and Kyle were not earwigging, Donte put his hands on his hips. ‘I’m eight, not two. And I don’t wanna change schools.’
‘Tough. You are not growing up like those other two. I will not allow it.’
‘Frank, Gary, this is my pal, Jason Rampling. It’s his first time at the club today and I am sure you will view him as a worthy member. Jason’s a car dealer like myself, which is how we first met,’ Craig lied.
Jason shook hands and chatted amiably to the men. ‘They seem all right,’ he said when they walked away.
Craig grinned deviously. ‘Regional Crime Squad, Gary is. I’ve often wondered if he’s bent, seein’ as he drinks with a few faces down ’ere. He might come in handy one day if we need a favour. You never know.’
Apart from thieving, drinking and shagging, golf was Craig’s only other real passion in life and it had been his idea that Jason join the club. ‘You can never cover your backside enough, mate. Ian’s the man you wanna have a word with. He’d cover for me all the time when I was out shagging behind Mandy’s back. She was always ringing or turning up ’ere. Just bung Ian an occasional drink and he’ll put Mel off the scent if she starts prying. He’s a damn good liar an’ all.’
Jason nodded. He liked the club; it had a good feel to it. He’d played his first round earlier and enjoyed that too. ‘So, what do you reckon? Is it possible I could be the next Tiger Woods?’
‘You got a good swing, I’m telling ya. Get a few lessons under your belt and you’ll be able to give me a run for me money.’
Jason chuckled. ‘I don’t think so, mate. I couldn’t hit a barn door, let alone a hole in one. So what’s occurring with Randy Mandy? You dumped her yet?’
‘Nah. I’ll wait till I get to Thailand and do the honours over the phone. She’s bound to go psycho, so that’ll give her time to cool down. I ain’t taking no chances though. I’m hiding me motors and Darlene is house-sitting for me, so she can’t trash that.’
Jason raised his eyebrows. He knew Craig kept in occasional contact with Darlene, but last he’d heard she had sub-let her flat on the Mardyke and moved in with a bloke in Grays. ‘How’s Dar doing? Not told her we’re working together, have you?’
Craig shook his head. ‘My word is my bond. Don’t think it’s working out with Dar and that geezer. She rang out the blue the other day asking if there was anywhere she could rent near me. Told her I was sodding off on holiday for a month. Give her a bit of time to sort herself out, won’t it? She still asks if I’ve seen or heard anything of you. You and her should bury the hatchet now. Time’s a good healer.’
Jason shook his head. ‘Some things are best left in the past. I’d rather stick with the memories. I can’t wait to see that Charlotte again though. She’s hot with a capital H, her.’
‘Good-looking bird, I’ll give you that much.’
‘Booked a restaurant and hotel up town earlier today. I won’t be able to stay out all night again, mind. Mel won’t suffer that twice in a week.’
Craig nudged Jason. ‘See that geezer just walked in, got a blue Pringle jumper on. If you’re ever thinking of getting yourself a top accountant, then he’s your man. You remember when Billy Jacobs got off that gold bullion charge? Well, he was his accountant and he backed Billy in court. Had every answer going. He also gave him an alibi for the robbery.’
Jason studied the bloke in question. He was a tad overweight, tall, and wore glasses. ‘Looks like a vicar in golf clobber. What’s his name?’
‘Simon. Simon Champion.’
‘You look like I feel. I had another row with my delusional mother this morning. That’s her lot now. Let the toyboy rob her blind, the silly old slapper,’ Tracey Thompson moaned as she plonked herself opposite Melissa. The Bluebell Restaurant in Chigwell was a regular haunt of theirs.
‘Thanks for meeting me at such short notice. Been pulling my hair out all morning. I had to get out the house before I punched someone.’
‘His brothers and
sister driving you mad again?’
‘They do my head in. My home doesn’t feel like my home while they’re stopping with us. It’s like a bomb’s hit it and I’m a bundle of nerves waiting for ’em to break things. I rung the cleaner up and asked her to do four hours while I’m out. She’ll keep an eye on Donte for me an’ all.’
‘Donte not at school?’
‘No. Shay’s off with tonsillitis, so Donte woke up this morning telling me he had a sore throat too. There’s nothing bloody wrong with him and he’s going to school tomorrow. I just want the other three out. Babs is harmless enough, all she does is eat. I looked in my cupboard this morning and it was virtually bare.’
Tracey burst out laughing. ‘On that note, I think we’ll order. Shame Jason’s brothers aren’t a few years older. They could’ve moved in with my mother.’
Jason looked at Simon Champion’s card, then put it back in his pocket. ‘Cheers for that introduction, Craig. I’m gonna call him tomorrow to arrange lunch. I got to get my finances and paperwork sorted properly. He was telling me he can invest money for me in Jersey, hide it, like. What a nice guy. Funny bastard too.’
‘Yeah. He’s a good bloke. But be warned, he isn’t cheap and whatever he does for you, he’ll want a cut for himself.’
Jason felt relieved more than anything. Hiding cash in his nan’s cupboard had started to worry him since they’d nearly got caught on this latest robbery. The story had now died down in the press, and they’d set fire to the bike. Both he and Craig had strong alibis lined up for the day in question if needed.
‘Where we going now?’ Jason asked. The golf club was in Brentwood and he knew they were travelling in the opposite direction to the way they’d come.
‘You’ll see. I want to show you something. Your paperwork and finances aren’t the only thing you need to get in order. I am gonna show you a new way we can earn money. Lots of it.’
Over at the Bluebell, the wine was flowing nicely and Melissa had finally admitted to Tracey that Jason hadn’t come home last Friday night.
‘Where do you reckon he stayed? I bet he wasn’t at Craig’s and I find it really fishy he turned up in the morning with a set of golf clubs. Sign of wrongdoing that is, trust me.’
Melissa shrugged. ‘He’s gone golfing again today. Wherever he stayed, I can’t prove anything. He has been acting a bit distant, but that might be because of his mum. Even though he can’t stand her, he was upset she might never walk again.’
‘Well, I would never put up with Kieron staying out all night and he knows it. When men stay out it’s usually for one thing and one thing only.’
‘I agree. But I did piss him off and I think he wanted to prove a point. I won’t be happy if it happens again though, believe me. And I’ll tell you something now, Trace. If he ever did to me what that arsehole of a father of mine did to my poor mum, I would kill him, stone dead.’
‘We visiting someone?’ Jason asked, bemused. It had started to get dark now and they’d just turned off a rural road and were approaching a massive mansion.
Craig put his foot on the brake. ‘I don’t want to go no further in case the security lights come on. But I want you to take a good look at that gaff.’
‘It’s special, I’ll give you that. You haven’t bought it, have you?’
‘You’ve come straight to the point with that question, Jase. No. Of course I haven’t bought it. I wouldn’t be able to afford it with the measly cash we earn. But we could both be living in gaffs like this if we moved with the times.’
‘What the hell you on about, mate?’
‘Tommy Beezley recently bought this gaff. I was in nick with him. He was treading the same path as us, the hold-ups, the blaggings. Did a five-stretch for armed robbery and gave me a valuable piece of advice. “Blagging is a thing of the past now. DNA and technology have seen to that. When I get out this shithole I am going to earn myself a fortune.” Those were Tommy’s exact words to me the day before his release. And now he lives here.’
Jason was interested now. The gaff was lit up like a palace and obviously had many acres surrounding it. ‘So what does Tommy do?’
‘OK, this is where I know you are gonna balk, but think before you do. Last week was a bit of a close shave for me too, pal, and I’m too old to go back inside.’ Craig lowered his voice, even though it was just the two of them in the car: ‘Tommy supplies drugs. He brings ’em over from Holland. Cocaine, to be precise. I had a long chat with him the other day and he’s offered to set us up. You in or out?’
Jason held his hands up. ‘Count me out. Not my scene at all. I have seen too many people’s lives ruined where I grew up.’
Even though he’d expected this reaction, Craig wasn’t about to give up. Jason was top drawer and he didn’t want to lose him as his partner in crime. ‘Just think about it. Promise me that much at least.’
Remembering the time he had seen one of his mother’s friends convulse then die in their home at a young age, Jason shook his head. ‘Nah, mate. You’re on your own with this one. But I wish you all the luck in the world with it, I truly do.’
As Elton, Kyle, Donte and Shay all rushed towards him talking nineteen to the dozen, Jason held his hands up. ‘Whoa! Slow down, one at a time.’
‘The boys broke the TV in the lounge, Jason. They were mucking about and it fell off its stand and smashed. It was an accident, but Melissa says we have to leave tonight,’ Barbara explained.
‘We hardly touched it. It just fell,’ Elton lied.
Jason poked his head around the lounge door and winced. No wonder his wife was peeved. The weight of the TV had cracked their new laminated flooring too. ‘Where is Mel?’
‘She popped to the shop. Shall we pack our things?’ Barbara asked.
‘No. Accidents happen. Please try and be more careful in future though, and stay out of Mel’s way for a bit. I’ll talk to her. You go upstairs. I’ll give you a shout when we order some food.’ Melissa had flatly refused to cook while his siblings were staying there, so they were currently living on takeaways.
Melissa arrived home minutes later with a face like thunder. ‘Seen the damage, have you? I want them out, Jason. Tonight! Had it up to here, I have,’ she yelled, raising her arm.
‘I can’t just kick ’em out, Mel. Not after what’s happened with their mum.’
‘Why can’t they stay at their own flat? Barbara’s an adult, can take care of the other two. Your mother was never bloody in anyway.’
‘Just let ’em stay until I’ve spoken with Social Services. Please, Mel. I’m all they’ve got.’
‘No. Enough is enough, Jason. Those boys are a dreadful influence on Donte, and my son is my priority from now on. I want ’em gone before any more damage is done. Bad enough I got to suffer ’em at Christmas, along with your nan. Best you book a restaurant because no way am I cooking.’
Jason’s lip curled. ‘You leave my nan out of this. I ain’t taking ’em home tonight and that’s final. I pay the fucking mortgage ’ere, not you.’
‘Fine! Enjoy looking after them then,’ Melissa screamed, stomping up the stairs.
Jason was amazed when his wife reappeared minutes later with Donte and a suitcase. ‘What you doing?’
‘Booking into a hotel with my son. Let me know when they’re gone.’
Donte was crying. ‘I don’t want to go to a hotel. I want to stay here, Dad.’
About to tell Melissa what a selfish cow she was, Charlotte flashed through Jason’s mind. If his wife wasn’t around, he could spend the whole night with her at the hotel on Thursday. He stroked Donte’s head. ‘Do as your mum says, boy.’
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
As Christmas beckoned, Jason felt as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Craig was still adamant he was embarking on a new career and Jason had no idea where his next bit of work would come from. Having a wife and mistress wasn’t cheap and he was spending money like water.
‘Oh, Jason. Look at that. Isn’t it e
xquisite?’ Charlotte Rivers said, pointing at a necklace in the window of a jeweller’s in Bond Street.
It had been Jason’s idea they spend the day up town so Charlotte could choose her own Christmas present. Now he wished he hadn’t as he clocked the price. ‘Do you want to try it on?’ he asked.
Charlotte beamed and squeezed Jason’s hand. The necklace was white gold with a diamond-studded heart. ‘Three grand is a lot of money. I really don’t expect you to spend that much. I do love it though. Beautiful, those diamonds. Look how they sparkle.’
Yet to tell Charlotte he would have to cancel their plans over the Christmas period, Jason hoped the necklace would act as a sweetener. ‘You’re worth every penny. Go try it on.’
‘Are you ready to order, Melissa?’ asked Eleanor Collins-Hythe. When Melissa had called her, it was her husband who’d insisted she go out with the woman. This was the first time they’d seen each other since they’d met at the hairdresser’s.‘You’ll never guess what,’ Melissa beamed.
‘Go on.’
‘I’m four days late and I’m never late.’
‘Wow! How exciting. Did you visit Dr Kazim?’
‘No. I booked an appointment, but had to cancel it. My husband and I had a bit of a falling out. I rebooked the appointment, but I might not need it now, fingers crossed.’
‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful, Melissa? What a fabulous Christmas present for you and hubby. When will you take a test?’
In a hotel room in Mayfair, Jason was performing cunnilingus on Charlotte Rivers.
‘Oh, Jase. Jesus fucking Christ! You’re the best,’ Charlotte groaned as she was brought to a shuddering orgasm by her lover’s expert tongue.
Deciding this might be as good a time as any to break the bad news, Jason slithered up the bed and stroked Charlotte’s hair. ‘We’re gonna have to cancel our day out on the twenty-eighth, babe. I’m sorry. Mel has gone behind my back and arranged for us to visit her brother, and there’s nothing I can do to get out of it.’
Charlotte propped herself on her elbow, a stony expression on her usually pretty face. ‘But I thought you and your wife were no longer a proper couple.’
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