Having always been instructed by his father to give an answer of ‘No comment’ if arrested, for once Little Vinny ignored that advice. It was awful, reliving the horrid mistake he’d once made, but he had his wife and kids to think about. They were his priority now and as much as he wished Molly was still alive, she wasn’t. ‘I ain’t signing nothing. I know what all this is about, and I’m innocent. I loved my little sister, would never harm a hair on her head.’
DS Terry leaned forward, elbows on table, and locked eyes with Little Vinny. ‘Tell me about Ben Bloggs. So you got him to help you, eh? That’s why he killed himself, wasn’t it? Unlike you, Ben couldn’t live with the guilt of killing an innocent child. It was you that throttled Molly though, wasn’t it?’
Little Vinny shook his head vehemently. ‘You’re talking shit. Ben killed himself because of his terrible home life. His mother was a whore and a druggie. Ben loved kids, virtually raised his brothers and sisters on his own. He also loved Molly. Ben wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone a nipper.’
DS Terry smirked. ‘I get what you’re saying, which makes me even more positive something terrible must’ve happened for Ben to take his own life. He wouldn’t have wanted to leave his brothers and sisters to fend for themselves, would he now? My guess is you told Ben you were only taking Molly for a little adventure somewhere. I bet he was as shocked as anybody when you put your hands around that poor child’s throat and throttled the life out of her. Am I right?’
‘Wrong,’ Little Vinny hissed.
‘Well, I must be getting warm as all of a sudden you’re looking decidedly clammy yourself, Vinny lad.’
‘No I ain’t. And I know what the evidence is. My dad knows all about it too because I told him as soon as I was set up. He’ll tell my brief, then you’ll know I am telling the truth, and you’ll have to let me go. If I had anything to hide, I certainly wouldn’t be talking to you until my brief arrived.’
‘I know you killed Molly, son. And I’m determined to lock you up for a very long time, unless you play ball.’
‘Jamie Preston killed Molly. You know that as well as I do. He even rang the Old Bill at the time to say he’d abducted her, and he kept all the newspaper cuttings. Your mob’ve always hated my family. That’s why you’re picking on me. You know I never touched Molly. You wanna lock me up ’cause my old man has always been one step ahead of ya.’
‘DNA testing has come a long way in the last eleven years. Back when Molly was found, we had no way of knowing that Jamie Preston hadn’t come into contact with your little sister.’
‘I dunno what you’re on about.’
Terry grinned. ‘We were savvy enough to keep hold of her clothes, you see. One of the officers had their suspicions about your story at the time. I should imagine you must remember what Molly was wearing? Things like that tend to stick in your mind, so most child killers tell me. There’s no match for Jamie Preston’s DNA on any of the prime exhibits from your sister’s case. But I’d put my house on it that your DNA’s all over ’em. If I was you, I’d start talking before your brief arrives. Telling us the truth will go in your favour in the long run. Was it a moment of madness? Or was it an accident? Accidents do happen, I know that. Did you not mean to kill Molly?’
Knowing that it was probably time to shut his big mouth, Little Vinny kept talking. What was the alternative? He would rather focus on how he was going to word his answers than let his mind dwell on the sight of his petrified sister’s eyes bulging out of her head as he’d strangled her.
Giovanni D’Angelo was annoyed. Vinny had talked the fatherly talk on the phone the previous day, but he certainly hadn’t walked the fatherly walk.
After her son had bolted, Queenie had vaguely explained that something terrible had happened and Vinny needed to go to the police station to help his other son, who’d been arrested by mistake.
‘Will we see Daddy soon? I need a wee-wee,’ Camila said.
Giovanni sighed. He’d thought the element of surprise would work in his grandchildren’s favour and could only hope that turning up at Katy’s house unannounced wouldn’t turn out to be another disaster. ‘You OK, Antonio? Things will be different next time you meet your father, I promise.’
‘I don’t want to meet him again. I didn’t like him.’
Giovanni ruffled his grandson’s hair. ‘But you have not had a chance to speak with him properly yet. I am sure once you do, you will like him.’
‘No I won’t. He didn’t even shake my hand. I hated him. I want Michael to still be my dad.’
Katy Spencer had lived a daydream for years. She’d always convinced herself that one day Michael would be hers, which was why she’d taken cookery lessons with the mother of Nathan’s best friend.
‘This is nice, Katy. The parsnips are lovely and crispy, like my mum cooks ’em,’ Michael lied. They were actually burnt and the dinner wasn’t a patch on what he was used to, but he knew Katy had made a real effort today.
Katy beamed from ear to ear. Michael had slept in Nathan’s bed last night, but things were going so well between them she hoped tonight he would sleep in hers. She longed for his touch again. He was more than just an amazing man; Michael Butler was also an incredible lover.
‘Someone’s at the door!’ Nathan grinned. This was his best Christmas ever, spending the whole day with his father.
‘I’m not expecting anyone. Perhaps it’s the boys arriving early?’ Katy said happily. Seeing as she’d helped raise Dan and Lee as kids, she was looking forward to playing a surrogate mum to them again.
‘Daddy!’ Camila screamed, excitedly throwing herself at her father.
‘Hello, Michael. I know the situation and am not here to cause trouble. The children were desperate to see you. They are missing you greatly.’
Katy stood behind Michael, smiling. ‘Do come in. I will put the kettle on. Say hello to your little sister, Nathan. Go on, don’t be shy,’ she urged her son.
Antonio felt like a spare part. Michael hugged and kissed Cami, yet blanked him just like his real dad had. This was all his mother’s fault and he hated her for it.
Gary and Meg Allen didn’t know what to do for the best. Gary had rung a few local police stations to try and find out what was going on, but Little Vinny wasn’t being held at any of them. ‘I dunno where else to ring. Some Christmas this is turning out to be. You don’t think he could’ve done it, do you?’ Gary whispered to his wife.
‘Don’t be so stupid. You know how he loves children. Don’t you dare let Sammi hear you say that. She’ll never forgive you. Is she still in tears?’
‘Yeah. So is Ollie. Millie’s consoling both, bless her. She’s been an angel today. The little ’uns don’t seem to have clocked on, which is good. They’re playing. I’m not being funny, Meg, but the police must have something concrete-ish to have carted our son-in-law off like they did. Don’t jump down my throat – I’m not saying he’s guilty. But he would’ve only been young around the time Molly died. Many a time, he’s admitted he was a bad boy in his youth and meeting Sammi changed his life.’
‘Being a bad boy does not equal murdering your own sister, Gal. We know he was a bloody tearaway. Remember the time he turned up at ours drunk that Christmas? That’s the type of behaviour Little Vinny probably means when he talks about being a tearaway. He took a swipe at you an’ all, if I remember rightly?’
‘Yeah, he did. Oh well, what will be will be. But I’m telling you now, Meg, if they charge him, our lives are over round ’ere. Mud sticks, sweetheart, especially when a kiddie has been topped.’
DS Terry could’ve quite happily smashed the truth out of Little Vinny. Back in the old days, he’d probably have got away with it too, if all the tales he’d heard were true.
Terry had fully expected the cocky little bastard to have gone down the ‘No comment’ road and had been delighted when he hadn’t. But he’d yet to slip up, which was annoying Terry immensely. Did he have no remorse whatsoever?
‘Why don’t we liste
n to the evidence then? Or shall we wait until my solicitor arrives?’ Little Vinny asked brazenly. He kept forcing himself to think of his sons’ innocent faces rather than Molly’s. Every single time the police asked him a question, he pictured Ollie, Calum or Regan. It was the only way he could get through this. Those boys needed him and so did Sammi-Lou. As for his father and grandmother, he could never allow them to know the truth. It would kill both, if they didn’t kill him first.
‘Listen to the evidence? How do you know there is evidence to listen to? We could have anything on you. Even a witness,’ Terry taunted.
Little Vinny wasn’t stupid. If a witness had spotted him and Ben with Molly they would’ve come forward ages ago. As for his DNA, of course it would be all over Molly’s clothing. Not only did he live with her at the time, he’d also supposedly been looking after her that day. ‘As I’ve already told ya, I know what evidence you think you have. But you haven’t got jack-shit as I was set up to say stuff. My dad and brief will explain all.’
About to interrogate the lad further, Terry was called outside the interview room. ‘The cocky little bastard’s father and brief are here. They know about the tape,’ he was informed.
‘Have you eaten, Antonio? Would you like me to make you a turkey sandwich?’ Katy asked. Michael and Giovanni were chatting in another room, Nathan and Camila were playing nicely, and Katy could tell Antonio felt awkward.
‘No thanks. I’m not hungry. Is it OK if I use the bathroom?’ Antonio asked.
‘Of course. It’s the door in front of you at the end of the hallway.’
Antonio shut the lounge door. He could hear voices in another room and wanted to listen to what was going on.
‘I know this is an awful situation, but Antonio is very fond of you. You’re the only father he has ever known and none of this is his fault. He is a good boy, who you’ve raised for many years as your own,’ Giovanni reminded Michael. ‘Please, don’t punish him.’
‘I’m very sorry, Giovanni, but my decision is final. I need to move on with my own life, and Antonio being part of that will be a constant reminder of how your daughter has ruined me and ripped my family to shreds. Cami, I want to see as often as possible, but not Antonio. He’s Vinny’s baggage now, not mine.’
Antonio burst into the room, tears of pure hurt in his eyes. He threw his arms around Michael’s waist. ‘I don’t want Vinny to be my dad. I want you to. I love you, Michael.’
Tears welling up in his own eyes, Michael gave the child one final hug. All he could feel were Vinny’s son’s arms around him, so quickly shrugged him off. ‘I’m so sorry, Antonio, but this has to be goodbye. You’re not my son, and never will be. You’re my brother’s, end of.’
Queenie could not remember a more terrible Christmas. Even when there had been a death in the family, the rest of her brood usually pulled together to make the most of it. But this year there truly was little else that could go wrong. Even Tara and Tommy had cadged a lift and sodded off back to Dagenham.
‘Can I have some more potatoes, Nan? Destiny needs more turkey an’ all. So does Fred,’ Ava added.
‘You’ve got hands, haven’t you? Everything’s in the kitchen. Help your bleedin’ selves. No other bastard is going to eat it,’ Queenie replied. She had been unable to swallow a morsel all day. Her stomach was in knots.
Vivian put her knife and fork down. ‘I can’t eat no more, Queen. Gonna go back to mine and have a lie down, see if I can get rid of this headache. I’ll pop back later, see if there’s any more news.’
Queenie looked at her sister in disbelief. ‘You can’t leave me, not with all this going on. Take some tablets, eh? You’ll be OK.’
Vivian sighed. She’d been going to tell her sister that Michael had asked her to pop in to see Albie after the visit. Somebody was bound to recognize her and she didn’t want another fall-out. She could hardly leave Queenie now though, could she? The visit would have to be put on hold until tomorrow.
DS Terry sat opposite Vinny Butler and the brief. Darren Fitzgerald was the protégé of Vinny Senior’s solicitor and both were insistent on Vinny making a statement before the solicitor was allowed contact with his son.
‘Fire away then,’ Terry ordered.
‘I take it you’ve got your hands on a taped confession where my son admits to killing his sister?’ Vinny asked. He knew it couldn’t be anything else. It was madness to even think his son was capable of killing Molly, let alone arrest him on Christmas Day.
‘You wanted to make a statement, so make one. I’ll answer your questions afterwards,’ Terry ordered.
‘OK. I know you are in possession of a tape where my son admits to killing his sister. Little Vinny was set up by somebody I thought was my friend. He actually had a gun held to his head while recording what you think is evidence. He told me straight away afterwards and I went looking for the bastard who had put him through such an ordeal. My so-called friend must have realized I was on to him though and had disappeared. My guess is he returned to Turkey with a false passport. Ahmed Zane is the man you’re looking for. Find him and I guarantee he’ll admit the truth. He won’t want me knowing where he is, that’s for sure. I’ll kill him if I ever get my hands on him,’ Vinny bluffed. He knew Ahmed and Burak had been properly disposed of as Eddie Mitchell had sorted that side of things. However, he still didn’t want to open another can of worms.
Terry stared defiantly at Vinny Butler. ‘Let’s listen to the tape then, shall we? Only in my humble opinion, if your son was being held under duress while it was recorded, then I’m Inspector Clouseau.’
With Nathan tucked up in bed, Katy poured herself and Michael another drink, then sat next to her man on the sofa. He’d been a bit quiet since Giovanni had visited, but it had still been the best Christmas ever. ‘Shall we watch a film? If there’s nothing watchable on TV, I have lots of videos,’ Katy suggested.
Michael yawned. ‘I’m wiped, to be honest. That stressed me out, Giovanni turning up with the kids earlier. Cami cried as she left and I shouldn’t have said what I did to Antonio, but I can’t help the way I feel. Every time I look at him now I picture Bella and Vinny having sex.’
The mention of the word ‘sex’ made Katy’s clitoris tingle like never before. It had been so long, but she was glad she’d waited for Michael. ‘Let’s go to bed,’ she whispered, before leaning in for a kiss.
Michael pulled away the moment Katy’s tongue connected with his. Nevertheless, he still allowed her to lead him up the stairs and into her bed. There was no kissing, foreplay or warmth in the cold-blooded shag that followed. All Michael could think about was Bella as he lifelessly pumped away. Katy was all about revenge for him, not love.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Queenie Butler was awoken early Boxing Day morning by the sound of the front door opening then closing. She put on her dressing gown and ran down the stairs. ‘Well? Have they let him go?’
Vinny Butler shook his head in despair. ‘He’s still being held, but they can’t question him for that much longer, not without a court order. I wish Colin wasn’t on fucking holiday. He would’ve sorted this crap by now.’
‘Bloody scandalous. Poor little sod must be terrified. What evidence have they supposedly got?’
Explaining that Ahmed had forced his son to record a confession which Little Vinny had then told him all about, Vinny put his head in his hands. ‘I couldn’t listen to it all, Mum. Made a right mug of meself when I ran out the room, crying. It was like reliving Molly’s death all over again. I couldn’t handle it.’
‘That’s natural, boy. I’d have done the same. So how comes the filth have suddenly got their dirty paws all over this? You sure Ahmed’s definitely dead?’
‘Of course I am. Dead as a dodo. The Old Bill wouldn’t say how they came across it, but it’s obvious the bastard kept a copy and some undesirable got their hands on it.’
‘I told you never to trust that Turk from day one, didn’t I? It’s all in the eyes, and his were more than
shifty. What I can’t understand is why he would make Little Vinny do something like that? Was it solely to get at you?’
‘Ahmed planned to play me the confession on my deathbed. He told me that much before I ended his sorry existence. You were right, I was wrong, but I can do without the “I told you, son”s right now, Mother, thanks very much.’
‘Sorry. So I take it you told the Old Bill you knew about the confession and it was forced?’
Vinny put his head in his hands. ‘That’s the fucking problem; it doesn’t exactly sound like a forced confession. If I didn’t know my own son better, I’d say it was real. Well, the bit I listened to sounded genuine anyway. Obviously it isn’t, but Darren listened to the whole lot and said the same. That’s why they’re still holding him. They reckon it will stand up in court.’
‘That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Have they forgotten they locked Jamie Preston up?’
‘That’s another problem. They kept Molly’s clothing and there was no DNA match to Preston.’
‘Bastard must’ve worn gloves.’
‘Yeah, and Little Vinny was pissed when Ahmed forced him to confess. I only listened to about twenty seconds, but he sounded out of his nut. I know Ahmed had plied him with drink and drugs ’cause he told me. I forgot to tell the Old Bill that bit though. My head was all over the place, to be honest. I can’t believe this is happening.’
Queenie lifted Vinny’s chin. ‘Keep your head up, boy. Little Vinny is gonna be fine, I can feel it in my bones. It’s absurd to even suggest he was capable of killing his own sister, and the filth know that. They’ve only dragged him in to get at you. He’ll be released later today without charge, I’d put my house on that.’
‘I fucking hope so, Mum. I really do. Be the end of me if they charge him. Be the end of us all.’
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