Life of Crime

by Kimberley Chambers

  ‘Nothing, darling. Just looking for something I dropped earlier in your toy box. You carry on watching CBeebies. There’s a good boy,’ Melissa replied, shoving a fluffy toy dog up her top.

  Melissa walked out into the garden. The police had searched the house earlier under Ann’s watchful eye. They’d concentrated mainly on Donte’s bedroom, Ann had informed her. Obviously looking for evidence to connect her son to Tyrone Dark’s murder. They had taken some items away in a bag, including Donte’s computer.

  Putting her hand inside the toy dog, Melissa pulled out the key and folded-up paperwork. Thank God Jason had agreed to her looking after both. He hadn’t told her where the safety-deposit box actually was and she had no reason to ask. Incriminating evidence was all she’d been worried about. The police could have tugged Jason at any time and she would have been beside herself had he gone back in prison.

  It was beginning to get dark now, so Melissa had a good look around to make sure none of the neighbours were watching. Satisfied they weren’t, she took a lighter out of her pocket, held the paperwork over a plant pot and promptly set fire to it.

  ‘Wow! This is nice. It’s much bigger than our Repton Park house,’ Shay gushed.

  ‘It’s nice and secluded too. I don’t think your dad’s here, love. I can’t see any lights on.’

  ‘Well, he can’t have gone far. Mel’s got your Land Rover, so unless Dad got a cab he must be within walking distance.’

  Simon took the spare key out of his pocket. He’d had to stop off at his house on the way to get it.

  ‘The door isn’t shut properly,’ Simon said, pushing it open.

  ‘Dad, Dad!’ Shay yelled.

  Simon switched the hallway light on. ‘Jase. You about, mate?’ he shouted.

  As Shay went to dart past him, Simon put his arm out to stop her. ‘You wait in the car while I have a look around, just in case, love.’

  ‘In case of what? There’s nothing to burgle,’ Shay replied, ignoring Simon’s advice and running up the stairs.

  ‘He’s not down here,’ Simon shouted out. Seconds later he heard a bloodcurdling scream.

  Simon ran up the stairs. Jason was lying on the floor of the main bedroom with a big gaping hole in the front of his head, and a pool of blood surrounding him. ‘Oh no. God, no,’ he mumbled.

  ‘Dad, Dad! Wake up. Please wake up,’ Shay shrieked. She fell to her knees next to the man she had always been able to rely on and put her arms around his waist. ‘Please wake up, Dad. I’m sorry I was horrible to you the other day. I didn’t mean it. I love you.’

  Tears rolled down Simon’s cheeks. He’d always liked Shay, she was a good kid. He lifted her off Jason. ‘You can’t touch him, love. This is a crime scene. We need to ring the police.’

  Shay looked at Simon with confused eyes. ‘What about an ambulance? Dad can’t be dead, Si. He can’t leave me.’

  Simon bent down and checked Jason’s pulse. Standing up, he held Shay close to his chest. ‘I’m so sorry, Shay. I truly am. But your dad has already left us, sweetheart.’

  Unable to relax, Melissa was busying herself by packing some more personal belongings. She didn’t want to take any of the furniture or ornaments with her. They would always remind her of bad times. She wanted a completely fresh start.

  ‘My friend has got a real dog. Can I have one too?’ Toby asked, out of the blue.

  Melissa sat beside the boy and stroked his beautiful face. No way would he ever end up like Donte had, she wouldn’t allow it. The boy deserved so much better than having Tracey as a mother. She wasn’t fit to look after a dog, her. ‘Dogs need lots of walks and care. We’ll ask Daddy when he gets home, shall we?’

  ‘Can I call it Peter?’

  As stressed as she felt, Melissa smiled. When she was with Toby she always felt happy, no matter what.

  Glancing at the clock, Mel scrolled down her phone and found Simon’s number. He and Shay must be at the house by now. The call went to voicemail. ‘Si, it’s me. Is Jase there? I’ve tried ringing him again, but his phone’s switched off now. Call me. I’m ever so worried. It’s getting late.’

  Simon drove back to Melissa’s house in silence. Shay was lying on the back seat, whimpering like an injured animal and her obvious distress was heartbreaking to witness.

  ‘I feel so guilty. I never even hugged him when he came round Nat’s. He told me he loved me and I wouldn’t say it back. But I did love him, more than anything,’ Shay wept.

  ‘You mustn’t beat yourself up, Shay. Your dad knew how much you loved him and the feeling was mutual.’

  ‘He was so nice, and funny. Who would want to hurt him, Si?’

  ‘I have no idea, Shay, but the police will get to the bottom of it. Poor Mel. She’s going to be devastated too. Donte getting charged with murder this morning and now this. I’m gonna miss him so much, ya know. Your dad was my best mate by a long shot.’

  ‘I know he was. Are the police still behind us?’

  ‘Yeah.’ The police had turned up swiftly and cordoned the house and driveway off with tape. Two of the officers were now following them back to the house to ask some questions. Simon had insisted on taking Shay home ASAP and being the one who told Melissa the news. He’d explained he was Jason’s accountant, best pal and a close family friend.

  ‘What am I going to do without him? I’m an orphan now. I’ve got no one,’ Shay cried.

  ‘Yes, you have. You’ve got me and Mel. We’ll be there for you, darling. Always.’

  Staring out the window, Melissa’s thoughts turned to Donte. Were they treating him OK? Had he been fed? Where would they place him after his court appearance if he didn’t get bail? Jason’s brother had been sent to Feltham when he’d got into trouble. Would they send Donte there too?

  Melissa sighed. She hadn’t even told her father the horrific news yet, would have to call him tomorrow. Bound to go ballistic, he was. A month or so ago he’d pleaded with Donte to go and live with him in Spain for a while. Her son hadn’t wanted to and Melissa hadn’t pushed the subject. How she wished she had now. Donte’s behaviour of late was always going to end in tears, one way or another.

  When she spotted Simon’s Range Rover pulling up outside, Melissa’s heart began to beat wildly. The police were right behind him; they parked outside Ann’s house.

  Melissa yanked open the front door. ‘Did you find Jason? What are the police doing here? Is it about Donte?’ she shrieked at Simon.

  Shay got out the Range Rover and clung to Melissa like a limpet. ‘Whatever’s wrong? Where’s your father?’ Mel asked her step-daughter.

  Gesturing to the police to follow him inside the house, Simon held Mel’s arm and led her into the lounge. ‘Sit down, lovey,’ he ordered.

  ‘No. Why? What’s going on? Is it Donte? It is, isn’t it? Please don’t tell me he’s topped himself,’ Melissa cried.

  Simon took a deep breath to compose himself. ‘I’m so sorry, Mel, but there’s no easy way to say this. Jason is dead.’

  ‘Dead! Don’t be so stupid. He can’t be. I only spoke to him this morning.’

  Simon grabbed Melissa’s hand and led her to the sofa. He looked her in the eyes. ‘I’m so sorry, mate. Someone shot Jase. The police are at the house now. They will catch whoever did this.’

  ‘It’s true, Mel,’ Shay sobbed. ‘There was loads of blood and Dad had a big hole in his head.’

  Melissa stood up and promptly fell to her knees. ‘No. Not my Jason. He can’t leave me. We’re moving home. No, nooo, nooooo.’

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  Melissa dabbed her eyes with a tissue, then blew her nose. She could hear Shay crying again and that had set her off. If only she’d insisted on going to the house with Simon instead of letting Shay go. No child should have to witness their parent with a bullet in the head, and Mel just hoped in time the girl would be able to move on with her life.

  Deciding to wear a black dress as a mark of respect, Melissa got showered. How she appeared in court was impo
rtant to her son’s welfare and surely if she told the judge her husband had been murdered the previous day, he would take pity on herself and Donte? He’d have to be a hard-hearted bastard not to.

  Thoughts turning to the impending police visit, Melissa applied some mascara. Simon had answered most of their questions last night after she’d informed them she was in shock and in no fit state to talk or even think straight. Simon had finally left about three in the morning and had promised to pop back later today. The police wanted to question him again also. They were going to his house first.

  When the landline rang, Melissa ignored the call. It was Tracey again and she really couldn’t be dealing with telling her about Jason’s death just yet. That no-good selfish cow would find out soon enough anyway.

  ‘Mr Champion, I’m DI Noakes and this is my colleague, DS Fenton. Is it convenient to ask you some questions now?’ asked Noakes.

  ‘Yes, fine. Come in and make yourselves a cuppa. I’m just getting my son dressed. I’ll be with you in a tick. The kitchen’s through there,’ Simon pointed.

  Fenton looked around and whistled. ‘Nice gaff. Must’ve cost a few bob. Obviously pays well, having villains as clients.’ He had done his homework on Simon late last night at the station.

  ‘Keep your voice down,’ Noakes urged. ‘And don’t be mentioning any of his other clients. We need him on side to help crack this case.’

  Minutes later, Simon entered the kitchen with Toby in his arms. ‘Go and play in the garden, boy, while Daddy has a chat with the policemen.’

  Toby stopped in his tracks and pointed at the two men. ‘Why they not got policemen hats on, Daddy?’

  ‘Because it’s hot,’ Simon fibbed, unlocking the back door. ‘Now out you go. There’s a good lad.’

  ‘Cute kid,’ Fenton grinned. ‘He looks roughly the same age as my youngest.’

  ‘Did you want a cuppa?’ Simon asked, flicking the kettle switch. He’d had a crap night’s sleep and needed a strong coffee to liven himself up a bit.

  ‘No, we’ve not long had one, thanks,’ Noakes took a notepad out of his pocket. ‘We’d like to ask you some more questions about Jason. You mentioned to a colleague yesterday that he’d been in prison up until recently and I’ve done a bit of digging. Craig Thurston, had Jason heard from or seen him recently?’

  ‘No. Not to my knowledge.’

  ‘What about any of the other men who Jason was sentenced with? Do you know if he’d been warned or threatened by anybody?’

  ‘Jason got banged up for something he wasn’t part of, yet he still kept his trap shut throughout the trial and in prison. He was a bit of a wide boy, but he certainly wasn’t a grass. So there’s no valid reason for any of the other lads to have any beef with him, in my opinion,’ Simon replied honestly.

  ‘Would Jason discuss such problems with you?’ Fenton enquired.

  ‘Yeah, always. We were very close. I knew him better than he knew himself at times. He was like a brother to me. Jase was a very popular guy and I’m baffled by what’s happened, to be honest. I didn’t sleep at all last night. It just doesn’t make sense.’

  Noakes cleared his throat. ‘I know this must be difficult for you, but you’re doing great. The property that Jason was decorating belongs to you, and Jason and Melissa were going to move in at the weekend, is that correct?’

  Simon nodded. ‘I bought the property as an investment. It previously belonged to an elderly couple, had been left to rot. So I had it all done up and Jason and Mel were to be my tenants. Better the devil you know when you’re renting out a property, eh?’

  ‘I suppose it is,’ Noakes replied. ‘Any idea how Jason would have afforded the rent?’

  ‘Jase was skint, but he’s a go-getter. It wouldn’t have taken him long to get back on his feet. I planned to let him have the gaff rent-free for the first few months as a coming home present. He was trustworthy and so is Mel. She looks after my son quite a lot, helps out with childcare and stuff.’

  ‘How do you think Jason would’ve got back on his feet, so to speak?’ Fenton probed.

  ‘Pawn. Not as in tits and fanny. As in pawning jewellery and valuables. Jase had already asked me if I’d lend him a bit of dosh so he could open another shop and I’d agreed. He knew the business like the back of his hand and, as I’ve already stated, was thoroughly reliable. I’d have got my money back, plus a decent drink on top. That was Jase all over. A gentleman.’

  ‘When did you last see Jason alive?’ Fenton asked.

  ‘The day before yesterday. He popped over to mine to discuss in more detail his plans to open another shop. We discussed areas and possible locations. He always trusted my advice. Then we popped out and grabbed a bit of lunch in a local pub. I also saw him a couple of nights before that. Melissa arranged a small dinner party and I took my new lady friend, Sally-Ann, along. That didn’t end too well though, to be honest. The mother of my son was there and she started kicking off. She was drunk; upset Sally-Ann and Jason. He was fuming, stormed out and stayed at mine. He’d calmed down a lot by the next morning, mind.’

  ‘So, was Jason involved in an actual argument?’ asked Fenton.

  ‘Well, yeah. Sort of. It was nothing major though. Tracey, the mother of my boy, is Melissa’s best pal. She can be a bit of a handful and a bitch at times, between me and you. Jason always said she had it in for him since day dot. They’d known one another way before I came on the scene; Mel and Tracey were knocking around together when Mel first met Jase.’

  ‘What started the argument? Can you remember what was said?’ Noakes probed.

  Simon paused. ‘Erm, I think it was when Melissa mentioned she and Jason were moving to Upshire that Tracey started to go on the turn.’

  Fenton furiously scribbled away in his notebook. ‘Can you remember what was said?’

  ‘I didn’t hear all of it. Jase had a go at Mel for inviting Tracey and Tracey overheard it. Sally-Ann insisted I take her home immediately after Trace had laid into her, so I took her out to the motor, then ran back for my jacket. Melissa was restraining Tracey from following Jason outside. He’d stormed out behind Sally-Ann. “Tell your mate he’ll fucking regret speaking about me like that. He’ll get his comeuppance,” were Tracey’s parting words as I left, but that’s to be taken with a pinch of salt. As I said earlier, Tracey was very drunk.’

  Noakes glanced at Fenton. Something had been found at the house. Evidence that could prove to be crucial. ‘What is Tracey’s surname?’

  ‘Thompson. Tracey Thompson. But listen, she ain’t no murderer. She’s a pain in the arse, but also the mother of my son.’

  Eyes brimming with tears and dressed in black, Melissa Rampling marched into Barkingside police station with Shay by her side. ‘I need to speak to my son, Donte Brooks, in private,’ she told the duty sergeant.

  The duty sergeant stared at his computer. ‘No. Sorry, but that won’t be possible.’

  ‘His dad has just been shot in the head,’ Shay shouted. ‘And our mum needs to tell him before he hears it through the grapevine.’

  The duty sergeant picked up his phone. He spoke to a colleague, then told Melissa, ‘OK. Someone will be here to take you to him soon. Sit back down in the meantime, please.’

  As Melissa and Shay did so, then clung to each other, there were no step-mother/daughter barriers any more. They were the real deal.

  Donte Brooks strutted up and down his cell. The lad in the next cell was laughing. He’d overheard the Old Bill saying his mother and sister needed to see him and Donte felt a right mug. He was only pleading guilty because his stupid mum had forced him to. His dad wouldn’t have done that. Jason was cool, but unfortunately he hadn’t been there when he’d needed him the most.

  ‘What do you want now?’ Donte spat, as his mother and Shay appeared, flanked by two officers.

  Melissa urged her son to sit down.

  ‘Just do one, will ya? Leave me alone,’ Donte shouted, determined to be the big man.

  ‘Stop acting lik
e a prick,’ Shay yelled. ‘Dad’s dead. He’s been murdered.’

  Donte stared at Shay. ‘Don’t talk shit, you stupid cow. She told you to say this, has she?’ he asked, pointing to his mother.

  Tears were streaming down Melissa’s cheeks. ‘Your sister isn’t lying. I’m so sorry, son. Your dad got shot, yesterday. I know it’s a shock, but when you go to court, you need to show the judge how upset you are. I have told your solicitor to tell him what’s happened. They will give you bail then. You’ll be able to come home with us.’

  ‘You stupid cunt. Can’t you see what you’ve done? You forced me to confess and now Tyrone Dark’s gang have murdered Dad. I fucking hate you!’

  ‘Don’t talk to Mel like that,’ Shay wept. Her beloved dad, she hadn’t slept at all last night. She could not believe she would never see or speak to him ever again. Each time she’d closed her eyes she’d visualized him, so she’d got up and sat downstairs in the armchair.

  ‘I very much doubt it had anything to do with Tyrone’s gang,’ Melissa said. ‘It happened at our new house in Upshire. They wouldn’t have known your dad was there, would they?’

  His face like thunder, Donte leapt up and pummelled his fists against the bars that were separating him from his thick mother. ‘They know everything, you dumb motherfucker. Why do you think I wanted to say nothing in the first place? Fuck off. Go on; get the hell away from me. You got Dad’s blood all over your hands. I fucking hate you and I never wanna see your face again.’

  ‘Sit down, Peggy. You’ll wear the carpet out, pet,’ said Irish Ted.

  Peggy peered out of the window again. She knew her grandson like the back of her hand. He always returned her calls, would never leave her in limbo, worrying about him. ‘Something’s happened, Ted, I’m telling you. Frantic, I am. So unlike my Jason.’

  ‘Can’t you ring Melissa?’

  ‘Not got the new landline number, nor her mobile.’

  ‘What about Shay?’

  ‘Not got her number either. Never had much to do with his family, have I? He’s my world though, that boy.’

  Irish Ted stood up and put a comforting arm around Peggy’s shoulder. ‘Shame they took my driving licence away. I’ll tell you what we’ll do. If you’ve not heard from Jason by this afternoon, I’ll work out the bus route and we’ll go over to his house.’