Life of Crime

by Kimberley Chambers

  Donte grimaced as his dad poured petrol over his new Adidas jacket and Nike baseball boots. A hundred and twenty quid, those had set him back. Money he’d earned doing some cocaine drop-offs for Elton around the Mardyke.

  ‘Give us your phone,’ Jason ordered.

  ‘I can’t be without a phone,’ Donte complained, but handed it over anyway.

  Jason took the SIM card out and put it in his pocket. He’d get rid of that somewhere else. He chucked the phone on top of the fire and watched the plastic melt. ‘I’ll get you a new phone soon, but you’re never to call Elton, Kyle or any of them gang members on it. Understand?’

  Donte nodded sadly. Being part of a gang was the first time he’d felt he truly belonged somewhere. They were more like brothers, always watching each other’s backs.

  Satisfied there was no incriminating evidence left, Jason put his arm around Donte’s shoulders. ‘Come on. Let’s go. And whatever happens, you must never tell your mother or the Old Bill I helped you. That’s our secret.’

  Donte’s big brown puppy dog eyes looked into his father’s bright blue ones. ‘I won’t, Dad. I promise. Thank you for helping me. I’ll never forget it.’

  After dropping Donte off, Jason went to meet Henry. He shook hands with his art dealer pal, then grinned like a Cheshire cat as he listened to what he had to say. Finally, the sale of his painting was going ahead and he could not wait to get his hands on the cash and start afresh. That’s what had got him through his prison sentence, the thought of his future being bright.

  ‘I will accompany you to meet Hans, obviously. I have dealt with him in the past and cannot foresee any problems. I think it is in our best interests to hire a newish van.’

  Jason had first met Henry at an auction house around nine years ago and they’d hit it off immediately. They were chalk and cheese. Henry was an ex-public schoolboy, who’d been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but they shared a similar sense of humour and both loved to sail close to the wind when it came to business. ‘Yeah, good idea. Is Hans flying the helicopter himself or bringing an entourage with him?’ Henry had informed him Hans would be arriving in his own helicopter and they would be meeting him on private land belonging to a farmer in Great Dunmow.

  ‘Hans has a pilot. I should imagine his business partner will accompany him also. I have dealt with his partner in the past too. He’s a jolly nice chap.’

  ‘Cool. Shall I sort the van and meet you at the usual spot, say eleven thirty?’

  ‘Perfect. I take it you will have the painting with you when we meet?’

  ‘Sure will.’

  Henry grinned. ‘Tomorrow it is then. I have my eye on a red Aston Martin. I think I’ll treat myself to it out of my cut.’

  Jason winked. ‘As Del Boy used to say, “This time next year … ”’

  ‘Police, open up,’ boomed a loud voice.

  Kyle looked at Elton in horror. Both were extremely stoned as their pal had turned up earlier with some emergency supplies.

  ‘Don’t open it,’ Kyle urged when his brother stood up.

  ‘We have to. Makes us seem guilty if we don’t. Besides, we can’t escape, can we – ’less you fancy jumpin’ out a tenth-floor window? Better we open it than have them booting it down. Anyway, we done nothing wrong. Remember what Jase told us to say, OK?’

  As Elton opened the door, two coppers grabbed him and another two ran inside the flat and grabbed hold of Kyle.

  ‘Elton Rampling, Kyle Rampling, I am arresting you both on suspicion of the murder of Tyrone Dark. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. We also have a warrant to search these premises. All understood?’

  Kyle glared at the officer who’d handcuffed him. Apart from a small amount of weed, there was nothing incriminating to be found. Elton never kept the cocaine he sold at home, he hid that elsewhere. ‘You got the wrong lads. We ain’t done nothing, man.’

  Grabbing Kyle by the shoulders, the fat copper pushed him on to the sofa. ‘We’ll be the judge of that, Sonny Jim.’

  Jason stared at Darlene’s grave. She hadn’t wanted to be buried in Rainham, so had been laid to rest in Pitsea.

  The photo on the front of her headstone was a beauty. It looked as though it must have been taken when she was in her late thirties; she looked so radiant and pretty. Jason kissed his hand and rested it on the image of her. ‘So sorry I couldn’t make your funeral, Dar. It wasn’t through lack of trying,’ he said. ‘I still think about you, ya know. Lots. I drove past your old flat on the Mardyke yesterday and all I could think of was you bopping around in those baggy denim dungarees, singing away to Bob Marley with a spliff on. Those were the days, eh?’

  The grave was well kept and Jason wondered if that was down to Craig. She had been one of the loves of his life too. Putting the flowers he’d brought in the plastic vase, Jason filled it with water. ‘I gotta go now. My sister’s having grief with her boyfriend and I’m gonna sort it. I’ll be back soon though, sweetheart. I can come and visit you regularly now. Love you. You’ll always be my girl.’

  A lone tear running down his cheek, Jason took one last look at Darlene’s grave before walking away. He still couldn’t believe she was gone.

  By the time he arrived at his sister’s flat, Jason had cheered up a bit. Melissa was right, it was bound to fizzle out with Shay and the Sugar Daddy and, when it did, he’d find the nonce and give him the hiding of his life. Visiting Darlene had comforted him somewhat. It had been freaky when he’d switched on the Land Rover stereo and the O’Jays’ ‘Use Ta Be My Girl’ was playing. He’d always loved that tune and so had Darlene. It was definitely a sign she was still with him.

  Armed with gifts for young Britney, Jason took the stairs two at a time. He’d treated Babs to a pair of gold hoop earrings too. He’d been well chuffed when he’d found out Babs had been allocated a low-rise flat in Ongar Way. He would have hated her to have been given a high-rise on the Mardyke.

  ‘Hiya. Come in. Look who’s come to visit us, Britney. It’s Uncle Jason,’ Babs beamed.

  ‘Nice gaff, Sis,’ Jason said as he poked his head around the bathroom and bedroom doors. It was very basic, but tidy and clean with some nice little touches. Unlike his sloth of a mother, Barbara had always had the qualities of a homemaker.

  ‘Lee, this is my brother, Jason.’

  Glued to the TV screen, Xbox controls in his hands, Lee grunted, ‘Let me just finish this game first.’

  Jason picked Britney up and tickled her until she giggled. She was a pretty little thing, had tiny Afro ponytails, big eyes and an infectious smile. ‘Did your daddy’s mum never teach him any manners, Brit?’

  When Lee turned around snarling, Babs started to panic. She’d been desperate for her brother and boyfriend to get off to a good start, even though she knew deep down Lee would not be Jason’s type. Her boyfriend could be an idiot at times. However, she was a big girl, and no other lad had ever taken an interest in her, so for that she was grateful to Lee. He’d also given her the most precious gift ever, her beautiful daughter. ‘Stand up and say hello properly to Jason, please Lee,’ she said bravely. She knew full well she’d probably get a clump for speaking out later, as Lee often lost his temper if she said the wrong thing.

  Lee stood up and in a sarcastic tone drawled, ‘Hello Jason. A pleasure to meet you.’

  Jason weighed up the skinny big-nosed weasel. He looked even worse than he had in his photo, one of life’s no-hopers without a doubt. His face was spotty and he looked like he could do with a good soak in the bath.

  ‘Tea, coffee, biscuits anybody?’ Babs gabbled. She could sense this wasn’t going well.

  ‘Got any beer?’ Jason asked, hoping she didn’t.

  ‘No. Lee drank the last two yesterday.’

  Jason put his hand in his pocket and handed Babs a tenner. ‘Pop to the shop, sweetheart, and get some beers for
me and Lee. Men bond better over a lager than tea. Take the little ’un with you. Kids like the fresh air.’

  ‘OK. But please don’t argue yous two, will you?’

  ‘Course not,’ Jason grinned, slapping Lee on the back.

  Suddenly realizing Jason was a lot taller than him and looked a bit of a handful, Lee stared at his Admiral trainers. ‘Get carried away with Xbox sometimes. Sorry about that.’

  As soon as the front door closed, Jason grabbed Lee by the neck and pushed him against the wall. ‘You might’ve got away with treating my sister like shit while I was away, but things are very different now I’m out, sunshine. Babs ain’t said nothing. For some strange reason, she’s very protective of you. But I’ve clocked lots of cuts and bruises on her. Nobody walks into doors that frequently, do they now?’

  Lee’s eyes bulged with terror as Jason lifted his feet off the floor by his neck. ‘I haven’t laid a finger on Babs, honest I ain’t,’ he lied, before starting to choke.

  ‘Glad to hear it. Only if I ever find out different, I won’t just be squeezing your neck, I will break it in two. Now, do we understand one another?’

  Absolutely petrified, Lee croaked, ‘Yes.’

  Jason let go of the lad and watched as Lee fell to the carpet, gasping and spluttering. ‘Oh, and not a word to Babs about our little chat, eh?’

  Lee nodded fearfully.

  ‘Right, get up and man up then. Show us your Xbox game or something. Babs’ll be back soon and it’s very important to her to see us getting along.’

  When Babs returned a few minutes later she was amazed and totally thrilled to see the two men she loved playing Xbox together. ‘I got Foster’s, is that OK?’ she beamed. She knew Lee preferred Stella, but he sometimes got nasty when he drank that.

  ‘Foster’s is fine thanks, babe,’ Lee replied.

  Babs was taken aback but elated at the same time. It had been a long time since Lee had called her ‘babe’.

  Jason smirked as he cracked open a can. His next mission would be to force lazy Lee to get a job. You have kids, you support them, was Jason’s take on life. He wouldn’t mention that today though, doubted the lad would survive another shock.

  ‘That your phone ringing?’ Jason asked his sister.

  Babs took the call. ‘Oh no. When? OK. Thanks for letting me know. Jason’s here with me. I’ll tell him.’

  ‘What’s up?’ Jason enquired.

  ‘That was Debbie Lane. Her brother reckons Elton and Kyle have been arrested. He saw them being taken in handcuffs about an hour ago.’

  ‘Shit!’ Jason stood up. ‘I gotta go. There’s presents in those two bin liners in the hallway. I’ll pop round again soon.’

  The last thing Jason heard as he bolted out the flat was Lee shouting, ‘Bye, Jason. Nice to meet you, mate.’

  Fearing for Donte’s welfare, Jason headed towards home. On the journey he rang Simon. ‘I don’t suppose you could drop that key off to me at some point today rather than me coming to you, could ya? I’ve just been informed my brothers have been arrested.’ Unbeknown to Simon, the key Jason had told him to keep in his safe was the key to his safety-deposit box in Hatton Garden. Inside the safety-deposit box was the key to the storage unit where the painting was stored.

  ‘Yeah, no probs. I’ll drop it round this evening. What your brothers been arrested for? Drugs?’

  ‘No idea, mate,’ Jason lied. With a bit of luck it was drugs, but surely it was too much of a coincidence that they’d been hauled in today of all days.

  Nervously putting his key in the door, Jason was relieved when Melissa cheerfully called out to him. He had wanted her badly when he’d been banished to the sofa again last night, was half tempted to go upstairs and climb into bed next to her. But he didn’t want to chance his luck, so had satisfied himself with a wank in the bathroom instead. Six years was a long time without sex, and if Mel didn’t succumb to his charms soon he might have to visit a brass. To say he was gagging for it was an understatement.

  ‘You all right, love?’ Jason asked, pecking Melissa on the lips. ‘Where’s Donte?’

  ‘Upstairs, but he seems better today. More cheerful. We had a nice chat earlier and he’s eating again.’

  ‘Great stuff. Told you he’d be OK, didn’t I?’

  When the doorbell rang, Jason’s heart sank. ‘I’ll get it,’ he said, praying it wasn’t the police.

  ‘All right, Jason? I heard you were out. How you doing?’

  Unable to believe Craig Thurston had the brass neck to knock on Melissa’s door after everything that had happened, Jason hissed, ‘Mel will go apeshit she sees you here. Wait round the corner and give me five minutes.’

  Busy cleaning the kitchen, Mel turned to Jason with the mop in her hand. ‘Who was it?’

  ‘Some dickhead from the Labour Party. Do you need anything from the shop? I got a real urge for a cigar. Not had one in years.’

  ‘Get us some Diet Coke, Jase. Two bottles, please.’

  Jason left the house and walked around the corner. Craig’s brand spanking new Range Rover Sport stood out a mile on this estate and he was aware of a group of lads nearby admiring it. He got in the passenger seat. ‘Drive,’ he ordered.

  ‘You OK?’ Craig asked, putting his foot on the accelerator.

  ‘You got some fucking front, turning up ’ere. And no, I’m not all right. I’ve just done a six-stretch for a crime I did not cunting-well commit.’

  ‘Yeah, sorry about that. This is for you,’ Craig said, chucking the duffle bag at Jason.

  Jason looked inside. It was full of money.

  ‘Hundred grand in there. A goodwill gesture for your trouble. Cheers for keeping your trap shut an’ all.’

  Jason debated whether to tell Craig to shove his money where the sun doesn’t shine, but he quickly decided against it. The geezer did owe him and as much as he wanted to hate Craig, he couldn’t. He had some decent qualities which included being very good to Darlene in the past. ‘Thanks. This’ll come in handy.’

  Craig pulled up outside a pub. ‘Let me buy you a drink.’

  ‘I gotta get back. I told Mel I was only popping to the shop.’

  ‘Let’s have a swift one. You’re not under lock and key now, ya know.’

  ‘Go on then.’

  Craig ordered two brandy chasers and two pints of lager. He sat at a table and knocked the brandy back in one. ‘What’s your plans? Gonna open another pawn shop?’

  ‘Not sure yet. Got a few ideas that need checking out. I went to Dar’s grave today. You did her proud. How was she? You know, at the end?’

  ‘Do you want the truth?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘She went really downhill the last couple of weeks, was unrecognizable. The cancer was in her bones and everywhere by then. Bastard disease. She wasn’t alone though. She spent her last three weeks in a hospice and I visited her every day. I don’t think she even knew I was there the last couple of days, but I still chatted away to her while holding her hand.’

  ‘Thanks, Craig, for what you did. It comforts me to know you were there for her. Heartbroken, I was, when the guvnor refused me permission to go to the funeral.’

  ‘She truly loved you, ya know.’

  ‘She thought the world of you too,’ Jason replied.

  ‘Yeah, but not in the same way. I always loved her, but she never wanted me. Her heart belonged to you.’

  Jason’s eyes welled up. ‘I’ll never forget her. She was my saviour.’

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Jason was awake early. Today was the big day and he prayed everything would go smoothly. He had no back-up plan, so if this Dutch geezer had him over, he was well and truly in shit street.

  Jason’s thoughts turned to his brothers. He hadn’t heard a dickie bird from them, so guessed they were still being questioned. They knew a decent solicitor, one who’d represented Elton in the past, so Jason assumed they’d called him.

  Understandably, Donte was still panicking. Jason had ha
d a long chat with him last night and did his best to calm the lad’s fears. ‘If the police knew it were you, they’d have been round here hammering on the door by now. Just act as normal as you can so your mother doesn’t get suspicious, and pray to God you’ve got away with it.’

  Shay was still refusing to have anything more to do with him. Melissa had called her yesterday. She was staying round her mate’s house and had told Mel she would pick the rest of her things up when he was out. He would visit her soon, apologise for flying off the handle.

  Jason jumped in the shower, got dressed and wandered downstairs. ‘Morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?’ He walked up behind Melissa, put his arms around her waist and nuzzled his face into her neck. She flinched. ‘What’s a matter?’ he asked. He was getting a bit sick of her coldness.

  ‘I’m cleaning, Jason. These worktops don’t tidy themselves, you know. What time are you meeting your friend?’

  ‘Half eleven.’ Jason leaned against the fridge. ‘Are you sure your heart is in this marriage? Only if it isn’t, now’s the time to tell me. I won’t see you short. You can still have half of what I’ve got coming.’

  Melissa put her cloth down and dried her hands on the tea towel. She walked over to Jason and draped her arms around his neck. ‘You know how much I love you. I would never have stuck by you had I not wanted our marriage to work.’

  ‘Well, you’ve got a funny way of showing it. I thought it weird you invited that posh counsellor tart to my party. What was that all about? You’ve not been having sessions with her, have you? Only, how you affording that? She was charging you a bullseye a session before I went away, so fuck knows what she charges now.’

  Melissa removed her arms from Jason’s neck. ‘Oh, don’t talk so stupid. I barely have enough money to put fuel in the car most days, let alone pay for counselling sessions. Eleanor trains at the same gym as me and we’ve become friends. Sorry, I should have mentioned that.’

  ‘How you been affording your gym membership? And your massages? And Roy, your personal trainer you seem so fucking friendly with? I bet those hair extensions weren’t cheap either. And who bought the kids computers?’ Jason asked suspiciously. ‘You haven’t been reefing around Steve the mechanic again, have you?’