Life of Crime

by Kimberley Chambers

  Peggy treated Ted to a look of pure distaste. ‘I’m not getting on bus after bus with my bleedin’ arthritis. You can fork out for a cab, you tight old bastard.’

  Melissa Rampling had her heart in her mouth as she waited for the all-important verdict. Surprisingly but rather pleasingly for Melissa, the judge turned out to be a woman. Surely she would show some compassion? Mel prayed.

  Donte hadn’t done himself any favours on the video link. Instead of sitting up straight, he’d been slouched in a chair and when asked to confirm his name, had stared defiantly at the camera rather than looking regretful, scared or upset. He actually had a look of hatred on his face and Melissa was sure that was aimed at her.

  The judge had a thin pair of glasses perched on the end of her nose and was staring at some paperwork. Donte was no longer looking at the camera, was staring at his hands. Melissa could barely breathe. Donte needed to be at home, where he belonged.

  ‘After careful consideration, bail has been rejected,’ the judge barked, her voice sounding stuffy and lacking any real emotion.

  Melissa stood up in the gallery. ‘No. Please. He’s only a little boy. He has to come home,’ she shrieked. ‘He has just lost his daddy.’

  The judge eyed Melissa over the rim of her spectacles. Donte wasn’t a little boy in her eyes. He was an unruly teenager, a gang member, who had taken another’s life. ‘I am very sorry for your loss, but my mind will not be changed. Bail application rejected.’

  After leaving the court, Shay borrowed Melissa’s Mini and drove towards Rainham. Somebody had to tell her relations the news and it was better coming from her. No way did she want Melissa blurting it out over the phone.

  Barbara Rampling opened the door with Britney in her arms. ‘Hello, Shay. What a lovely surprise,’ she beamed. She’d thought it was Lee. He had gone to the shop ages ago. She had got her money off the Social this morning and he’d borrowed some to buy cans of lager and cigarettes. She knew he’d come back with weed too and she wouldn’t get her money back, but she didn’t mind. Lee had been so nice to her since Jason had got out of prison, had even promised to look for a job soon.

  Shay burst into tears the second she stepped into the hallway.

  Babs put Britney down, fear immediately flowing through her veins. ‘Whatever’s the matter?’

  ‘It’s Jason,’ Shay stuttered.

  ‘Has he been arrested again?’

  Shay put her hands over her face and shook it from side to side. ‘Worse.’

  Alarmed, Babs asked,‘Where is Jase? What’s happened?’

  Mascara streaking down her pretty face, Shay let out a huge sob. ‘Jase is dead, Babs. Some bastard murdered him.’

  As the reality of Shay’s words hit home, Babs screamed so loudly and manically, the whole street could hear her.

  Noakes and Fenton stepped out of the unmarked vehicle and introduced themselves. Both were in plain clothes and it was Noakes who asked Melissa if it was convenient to ask some questions.

  Melissa agreed and invited the officers inside the house. ‘I don’t know how much help I’ll be to you. My son was refused bail and I don’t know if I’m coming or going. I’m totally lost without Jason. He was my rock.’

  ‘I’m so sorry for your loss. But believe me, we are determined to catch whoever did this to your husband,’ Noakes promised.

  ‘Thank you.’

  Noakes and Fenton asked Melissa similar questions to the ones they’d asked Simon earlier and were not surprised to receive very similar replies. Mel didn’t mention any arguments at the dinner party though, just said Jason had the hump and had gone home with Simon that evening.

  ‘Why was your husband in a mood? Had you had words?’ Fenton pried.

  ‘No. Well, not really. Jason and my best friend don’t get on. They’ve always clashed and he wasn’t happy I invited her. Tracey, my pal, said some stuff to Jason and he took the bait. She was out of order, but she’s always like that when drunk. She had a dig at our friend Simon’s girlfriend too.’

  ‘Was there any particular reason why Jason and Tracey didn’t get along?’ Noakes enquired. ‘Had they once been in a relationship? Or fallen out over something in particular?’

  ‘Goodness, no. They’d never got on since I first met Jase. Tracey set her sights on him first, you see. He worked on Dagenham Market at the time and Tracey wasn’t amused when it was me Jase asked out. If I remember rightly, she didn’t talk to me for days afterwards. We were only teenagers back then though. It was donkey’s years ago. Why are you asking about Tracey? Surely you don’t think she had anything to do with what happened to Jase?’ Melissa asked, dabbing her eyes.

  ‘We have to explore every avenue. It’s our job to,’ Fenton explained.

  ‘Have you seen your friend Tracey since the police broke the news to you yesterday?’ Noakes enquired.

  ‘No. She’s called the landline and left a couple of messages, but I can’t be doing with her at the moment. I only want to be around family, people who loved Jason like I did. Tracey isn’t nice-natured. She’ll probably be secretly pleased Jase is dead. I haven’t even told her the news yet. I can’t bring myself to.’

  Fenton scribbled something down in his notebook, then asked what time Tracey had arrived and left.

  ‘I didn’t get home until after two, so Tracey must have arrived about three. My neighbour Ann was here with me at the time – she’d come over earlier, while the police raided my house, and stayed with me. She shut Tracey up for saying something nasty about Jason, then left.’

  ‘What exactly did Tracey say?’ Fenton asked.

  ‘Something about Jason being with another woman. She reckoned that’s why he wasn’t answering his phone. Some years ago, Jason and I lost a son, Bobby. He was stillborn,’ Melissa explained, tears rolling down her cheeks. ‘I was overcome by grief, pushed Jase away and he ended up having an affair. I slung him out for six months, but I was still in love with him and forgave him. Tracey didn’t though. She would never let the subject go. She would always bring it up, so that’s what she was probably referring to yesterday.’

  ‘To your knowledge, was that the only affair Jason had, Melissa? I know these are upsetting questions, but we need to build a picture of Jason and his lifestyle,’ Noakes said, apologetically.

  ‘Yes. That was the only affair and Jase was genuinely sorry. It was horrible at the time, but if anything, it made our marriage stronger. We spoke about going abroad to renew our wedding vows only last week, and we planned to try for another baby soon,’ Melissa wept. ‘I cannot get my head around the fact he’s dead. I keep expecting him to walk through the front door and give me a big hug like he always did.’

  Noakes laid a see-through plastic bag on the coffee table. It contained a large gold-coloured earring. ‘Does this belong to you, Melissa?’

  ‘No. I don’t wear dangly earrings, only hoops or studs.’

  ‘Have you any idea who it might belong to? Could it be Shay’s?’ Fenton enquired.

  ‘I doubt it, but I can’t say for certain. It’s not really Shay’s style. She goes for the rock-chick look.’

  ‘Could it be Tracey’s, do you think?’ Fenton probed.

  ‘Erm, I suppose so. She always wears big dangly earrings. Jase used to say she was trying to give Pat Butcher a run for her money. He was so funny, bless him. Why do you ask? Where did you find it?’

  The two officers glanced at one another, but said nothing. It was too early to jump to conclusions.

  Elton Rampling answered the front door. ‘All right?’

  ‘Can I come in?’ Shay asked.

  ‘Whatever you wanna say ain’t gonna take long, is it? Only me and Kyle gotta be somewhere soon,’ Elton replied, surreptitiously glancing around the front door. There’d been no word from the other gang yet, but Elton was still expecting some kind of retribution. Donte was part of their gang, therefore revenge would be sought at some point. They couldn’t stay holed up for ever though, had to brave it and be seen not to be sca
red. As Jason had always said, ‘What will be will be.’

  Babs had been inconsolable, so much so, she’d collapsed holding her chest and Shay had been forced to call an ambulance. Shay hadn’t wanted to leave her, but was too grief-stricken herself to face sitting up a hospital. Lee had stayed at home to look after Britney and Shay would visit Babs later if she ended up being admitted.

  ‘Whassa matter?’ Kyle asked, as tears poured down Shay’s face.

  Shay perched herself on the edge of the filthy sofa. ‘It’s Jason. He’s been murdered.’

  ‘No way, man.’ Elton gasped. ‘Where? When?’

  ‘Yesterday. He was at a property in Upshire. I was the one who found him. Someone shot him in the head.’

  Kyle’s face drained of colour and he stared knowingly at his brother. ‘Fuck, man. They gonna get it big time now.’

  Elton booted the door. ‘Motherfuckers. No way, not Jase.’ This was the exact kind of retribution they’d been expecting.

  Melissa opened the front door and was horrified to see Jason’s nan standing there. ‘Oh hi, Peggy,’ she said awkwardly.

  ‘Where is he?’ Peggy barked.

  ‘Erm, you’d better come in. I take it you haven’t already spoken to Shay?’

  Peggy marched inside the hallway. ‘No. Spit it out then. What’s happened? Been nicked again, has he?’

  ‘Come in the lounge and sit down, please.’

  ‘Just cut the crap, will ya? We’ve got a cab waiting outside.’

  Melissa took a deep breath, then burst into tears. ‘He’s dead, Peggy. I’m so sorry.’

  ‘Dead! Don’t talk such bollocks. I saw him only the other day and he was fine. Full of the joys of spring, if anything.’

  ‘If this is some kind of wind-up, it isn’t very funny,’ Irish Ted warned.

  Melissa glared at the man. ‘I would hardly be joking about my husband dying. Jason was my world. I loved him dearly.’

  The colour drained from Peggy’s face. ‘When? How?’

  ‘Yesterday. He was shot. Some bastard murdered him. I’m in bits and so is Shay. She was the one who found him, bless her.’

  ‘He got shot here?’

  ‘No. He was in Upshire.’

  Peggy eyed Melissa with suspicion. ‘Where was you?’

  ‘At the police station with Donte. He had a fight, stabbed a lad and has been charged with murder,’ Melissa wept.

  ‘Where’s the money?’ Peggy snarled.

  ‘What money?’

  ‘The money from that painting.’

  Completely thrown that Peggy even knew about the painting, Melissa grabbed the door frame for support. ‘I don’t know. Not being funny, but the last thing on my mind at the moment is bloody money. We were going to renew our marriage vows, try for another baby. We had our whole future mapped out, and now he’s gone.’

  Peggy pushed Melissa hard in the chest. ‘Your crocodile tears don’t fool me, you gold-digging tramp. Come on, Ted. Let’s go.’

  ‘How dare you speak to me like that,’ Melissa yelled.

  Peggy turned around and pointed a finger. ‘I’ve got your number, don’t you worry. I’ll be speaking to the police me fucking self.’

  Depressed and inebriated, Tracey Thompson flicked through the Sky channels. ‘Fucking good luck to her. I’d do the same given the chance,’ she said out loud, as she clocked the title of the documentary she’d found: I Murdered My Boyfriend.

  Thoughts of Greg tormenting her mind, Tracey started to weep. She had convinced herself earlier that Greg was genuine and would be in touch as soon as he could, but deep down she knew the longer she didn’t hear from him, the less chance there was of that happening. Perhaps he’d been caught carrying out his big job? was the latest story Tracey had invented in her overactive mind. She’d already planned to stand by Greg if the sentence wasn’t too long and even visualized their reunion in prison. He would get down on one knee in front of the other inmates and proclaim his undying love to her.

  The thumping on the door startled Tracey. It was obvious Mel was avoiding her. Her mobile was switched off and she hadn’t answered her phone all day, so it couldn’t be her. Nobody ever visited this time of night apart from Greg so, wondering if it were him, Tracey quickly put some lipstick on and, full of optimism, yanked open the front door.

  ‘What the hell! What do you think you’re doing?’ Tracey yelled, as a horde of policemen barged inside her property. There were dogs as well, two of them, and she hated dogs, they scared her. ‘Get them beasts away from me. I don’t want them in my lovely home,’ she screamed hysterically.

  Noakes grabbed hold of Tracey and marched her into the lounge. He waved a piece of paper in her face. ‘This is a warrant to search your property. Sit down and be quiet, otherwise I will have to handcuff you.’

  ‘Greg’s not here. I haven’t seen him, I don’t know where he is,’ Tracey shrieked.

  ‘Clock the programme,’ Fenton grinned.

  Noakes glanced at the television screen. ‘Very apt,’ he mumbled.

  ‘Guv – up here,’ one of the team yelled within minutes.

  ‘Watch her,’ Noakes ordered Fenton. He could hear the dogs going ballistic.

  ‘Not very well hidden. Found under a loose floorboard in the walk-in wardrobe,’ an officer said, triumphantly patting his canine companions who’d led him straight to the haul.

  Gloves already on, Noakes peered inside the black dustbin sack. It contained a gun, blood-splattered clothes and shoes. He turned to his colleague and grinned. ‘Bingo.’

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  Melissa was in bed, dozing, when she heard the doorbell chime. She’d lain awake most of the night, worrying.

  ‘I’ll get it,’ Shay shouted out. She hadn’t slept either. Every time she shut her eyes all she could see was her father with a gaping hole in his head. ‘Mel, it’s the police,’ Shay bellowed.

  Melissa put on her dressing gown and glanced in the mirror. She looked awful, every inch the grieving widow.

  ‘We think it would be best if you sit down, Mel. You too, Shay,’ Fenton urged. This was bound to come as a big shock to both women, Melissa especially.

  Melissa’s heart pounded against her chest as she sat on the sofa. ‘What’s happened?’

  Noakes sat on the armchair opposite the two women. ‘Late last night, we charged somebody with Jason’s murder. They are denying any wrongdoing, but we have ample evidence and are confident of a positive outcome.’

  ‘Who is it? Who killed my dad?’ Shay cried.

  ‘I’m so sorry to have to inform you of this, but the person we’ve arrested is Tracey Thompson. We found what we believe to be the murder weapon hidden inside her house, along with other incriminating evidence. The evidence is currently with forensics and we are hoping to have some answers by the end of tomorrow at the latest. We have marked our findings as extremely urgent.’

  ‘Tracey! No. But why?’ Melissa asked, her voice tinged with bewilderment.

  ‘This is all your fault. She was your mate. I never liked her in the first place,’ Shay screamed at Melissa.

  ‘I know this is an awful shock, but we will need to take statements from both of you as soon as possible. The more evidence we gather, the less chance Tracey’s defence will have,’ Noakes explained.

  ‘Well, she can’t be innocent if you’ve found the gun, can she?’ Shay spluttered. ‘And she was acting weird round here the other day. That was the afternoon of the day Dad was found. She kept going on and on about him, the murderous evil slag. I’ll fucking kill her. If I ever see her again, I’ll throttle her with my bare hands.’

  ‘I can’t believe it,’ Melissa wept. ‘We’ve been best friends since school. I knew she had a nasty streak, but this! Jason didn’t like Tracey, but he never stopped her coming into our home and being part of my life. I’m even godmother to her child. Poor Toby. How do you tell an innocent child that his mother has committed a murder? Has Simon been told the news yet? Only, he’ll have to take full parental
responsibility for that poor little mite now. How could she do such a thing? I’ve always been there for her, always.’

  Tracey Thompson lay in her cell in Chelmsford police station, her mind running amok. Jason was dead, so the police reckoned, and they’d had the audacity to charge her with his murder. It was ridiculous, beyond ridiculous in fact, and she could not wait to make them look like the stupid arseholes they were by proving her innocence.

  Last night had been awful. She’d just finished her second bottle of wine when the police had turned up. Apart from going ballistic when they’d handcuffed her, she could remember very little. Had they marched her upstairs and shown her a gun? Tracey mused. Or, had she dreamt that bit? It was all a blur, but she could recall kicking out at a dog and the officer who’d handcuffed her.

  Visualizing Jason, Tracey shut her eyes. She didn’t believe for a minute he was dead. If anything, he’d probably faked his own death and run off with another woman. It wouldn’t even surprise her if he’d tried to implicate her in some way before doing so. He looked at her with hatred. She’d seen the way he looked at Toby too. What’s the betting he couldn’t handle being around his son, so had done a moonlight flit? She wouldn’t put anything past Jason Rampling.

  When her cell was unlocked, Tracey sat bolt upright. She couldn’t remember being questioned last night, had been thrown straight in this cell if her memory served her correctly. ‘About bloody time. You found Jason? Can I go home now?’

  Having been warned she was a violent one, the officer handcuffed Tracey. ‘The way it’s looking, you won’t be going anywhere for a long time, love.’

  Simon Champion shook his head in disbelief. Two officers he’d not met before had come to tell him the news. ‘Nah, that can’t be right. Tracey’s a fantasist, makes stories up. She’s no psycho though. I dated her twice.’

  When Dennings, the male officer, explained they’d found incriminating evidence at Tracey’s house, including what they believed to be the murder weapon, Simon flopped back on to the chair with a thud. ‘That house belongs to me. I bought it especially for Tracey and Toby to live in. She can’t be guilty. She wouldn’t murder Jase. She was always round his place, eating his food and drinking his wine. Why the hell would she want to kill him? I know she was always jealous of his and Mel’s marriage, but that was only because she couldn’t find happiness herself. She was married once, her husband died in a collision on his motorbike. I think it was because of that she was very bitter towards others.’