She sobbed, ‘My baby’s gonna die. She’s gonna die.’
Dee took her chin gently in her hand and made her mum look at her. Glowering, she vowed, ‘No she ain’t. Not on my watch. This ain’t no one’s fault, you hear? Not Courtney’s, not yours, not mine. The only person to blame is the bastard who pulled the trigger.’
Babs’ body shuddered as if the bullets were going through her. She wished that’s what had happened. If it meant her Jen would be alright she’d take every last one of those bullets in a heartbeat.
‘Mrs Miller?’ a voice called.
Babs desperately wiped back the tears and moved out of Dee’s arms as she saw the doctor approaching her. ‘Is she going to be alright?’
The rest of the family gathered round as the doctor spoke. ‘You’re daughter is in a very grave condition. She has sustained two bullet wounds.’ Two? This was bad. Very bad. ‘One entered her arm, which we should be able to treat without many problems—‘
‘But?’ Flo punched in.
‘The other bullet is very near her spine and hit a major artery.’
Dee swore and banged her fist against the wall. It must’ve hurt but her ravaged face registered no pain.
And that’s when Babs realised she was going to have to be the backbone of this family again. If she fell apart, they fell apart. Simple.
In a calm voice she asked the doctor, ‘What does this mean?’
‘We’ve managed to remove the bullet. We don’t know how much damage it will have caused and Jennifer remains in a coma.’ The doctor inhaled deeply, a sure sign of more bad news to come. ‘If she does recover your daughter may never be able to walk again.’
There was a collective gasp, but not from Babs. If her girl couldn’t use her legs again that was better than Babs having to put her six feet under.
She took the doctor’s hand in hers. ‘You do what you can for my baby. She’s a fighter and I know she’s going to pull through.’
Dee was outside the hospital foyer, underneath a ‘No smoking’ sign puffing a ciggy like a woman possessed. She’d had to get out of there. All of a sudden it had been too stifling, too hot. Felt like she was suffocating. Her sister was in a coma and she knew it was all her fault. Plus, the last time the family had gathered in a hospital, apart from to celebrate Natty’s birth, was when John had passed over. One minute the quacks said he was on the mend, the next he was dead. Her husband hadn’t deserved to die neither did Jen.
‘Can I join you?’
Dee tightened her lips against her smoke. The one person she didn’t want to blah, blah, blah with was Kieran Scott. Typical of him to intrude on her memories of John. She’d carry the guilt of betraying John with this wanker until her last breath.
‘Suit yourself,’ she finally told him.
Kieran lit up one of his fancy fags. No doubt thought that’s what he should be chewing away on as a legit businessman. Legit, my backside! She didn’t believe a word of it.
‘You have any idea who the shooters might be?’
Dee took a final puff and ground the butt under her heel. She had her suspicions, but wasn’t about to share them with him.
‘Could’ve been anyone. I remember what club land was like from John’s days owning the Alley Club. Could’ve been a dispute between some guys or a couple of juiced up blokes who just got over excited and decided to loose off a few shots and, caught up in the moment, fired in the wrong direction.’
He stared at her in rank disbelief. ‘You’re forgetting Dee that I cut my teeth in the same club world as John, as well as owning one before it burned down. Those shooters were linked to the kids who tried to smash up your place beforehand.’
She folded her arms across her middle against the cold. ‘Were they?’
‘Those kids were a warning,’ he persisted, ‘and coz you saw them off the real deal turned up to make sure you understood what way the wind was blowing.’
Dee’s face changed as she leaned into him. ‘Butt out of my business.’
He flicked his half-gone smoke. ‘It is my business when it concerns the mother of my son.’
She almost decked him. ‘The nerve of ya to mention that at a time like this. And, for the record, my Nathan has got nish to do with you.’
He dug his fingers into her arm and breathed hotly into her face, ‘I want to see my boy. More now than ever. Whoever you’re mixed up with is a dangerous player and I don’t want Natty anywhere near it.’
She yanked her arm back. ‘Who the fuck do you think you are?’
‘Natty’s father, that’s who,’ he savagely growled at back.
Someone coughed nearby making them spring apart.
Dee turned to find a watchful Babs looking from one to the other. ‘Is there a problem?’
‘Nah,’ Kieran spat as he shook his head. ‘I’ll be seeing you Babs. If anything changes you get on the blower to me.’
Then he was gone. Babs paused as she glanced with narrowed eyes at her eldest. ‘What was that about?’
‘Nothing,’ Dee insisted.
Bollocks! Mum had better not have heard a word of it. The idea that Babs would find out whose blood heated Natty’s veins filled her with crippling dread. She would never live down the disgrace and guilt that filled her if Babs clocked who her grandson’s blood father was.
So she said the first thing that came into her head. ‘Actually, I was trying to persuade him to help me find the shooter but now he’s Mister Legit he don’t wanna know. Says he’s got his ears closed to that world now.’
‘Yeah, he said the same thing to me when…’ Babs snapped her lips shut.
Dee tilted her head and closely inspected her mum’s face. ‘Why would you need Kieran to be asking questions around for you? You in some kinda bother?’
Babs vigorously shook her head. ‘Nah, nothing like that. Someone wanted me to bend his ear with a favour but he told me the same as he told you.’ Her mum was chatting away too quickly for Dee not to be suspicious. Then again Babs was under the worst kind of stress a mother could be under.
‘I came down to tell you the Old Bill have arrived. They want a statement.’
‘Fuck ‘em.’
Babs nodded. ‘I know. But you’re going to have say something - anything really. You’re the owner of the club.’
Dee rubbed her temples. ‘You’re right. But I ain’t telling them dick. Anyways, the shooters were hooded so you can’t make them out on the security cams. I’m gonna fix this for myself.’
That was the East End way. You didn’t need the boys in blue to fight your battles.
Babs suddenly stated, ‘If you know what’s what, you need to tell me why my daughter was shot.’
This was hard for Dee but her mum deserved the truth.
‘This is between me and you, right? I can’t be certain, but a few days before launch night some cute arse turns up trying to strong arm me into giving him protection money on behalf of the thugs he works for. ‘Course I saw him off. So they sent those kids to break up the party and when that didn’t work, they sent two guys in to shoot the place up.’ Dee choked a little. ‘Gonna tell the cops I didn’t see nuthin. There won’t be any other witnesses either; they’ll all be too scared but it doesn’t matter. We don’t need the law anyway, I’ll get this sorted, find who did it and then…’
Babs took a breath. ‘So, you don’t think it was anything to do with Pearl then?’
Dee’s head reared back in astonishment. ‘Pearl? She doesn’t run rackets, does she?’
‘No, no, of course not.’ Babs waved her hand. ‘Dunno why I said that. Sorry luv. I’m all over the shop.’
Babs got back into full mum mode, trying to be cheerful with her family in the midst of tragedy. She linked her arm with Dee’s as they made the trek up to talk to the cops.
The two police officers left in a real strop. None of the family were playing ball. Babs felt light-headed and so weary all she wanted was to put her head down. A distraught Little Bea was tucked into her side. The po
or mite had cried and cried until her throat was hoarse, but she hadn’t uttered a word. The girls would stay at the hospital with Dee tonight and then Babs was taking them to hers tomorrow.
‘Mrs Miller.’
Babs took Little Bea’s hand and got to her feet. Her heart seized in her chest at the grave expression on the doctor’s face. Please no! No! Not my Jennifer! ‘
Is she—?‘
‘Comfortable.’ Thank God! Thank God! ‘She remains in a coma but I think you can see her now.’
As head of the family Babs led the way into the white, sterile hospital room. Babs made no attempt to stop the tears coating her skin like acid rain when she saw her beloved Jen unconscious in the bed, looking as frail as a China doll. She was hooked up to drips and feeds, with machines beeping and flashing.
After a few moments she wiped her eyes and looked at her family. Tiff was weeping and even hard girl Flo was choking up. Only two people were dry-eyed. Both Dee and Courtney looked on with faces like flint. Babs knew that look because she’d felt it herself.
Faces that demanded revenge and were going to get it.
28
Babs took a fortifying breath as she stood in front of the gorgeous house in North Chingford. Just after midnight her family had bundled her off home in a cab telling her that she’d be no good to Jen if she collapsed. She hadn’t wanted to go, but knew they were right. So she’d told them to stop fussing, got into the cab, but instructed the cabbie to drive her here instead. By rights this was the last place she should be, but it also felt like the most natural place on earth. She just hoped the door wasn’t slammed in her face.
The cold, early morning air chilled her to the bone when she pressed the bell. And waited. A minute later the hallway light popped on and the door opened.
‘Babs?’ Tricky Dickie’s eyes widening with twin surprise and concern.
Her heart beat like a football chant making her feel wonky and all out of shape. She was about to apologise for the late call, but instead asked, ‘you gonna leave me stood out here like a bottle of milk?’
When he ushered her inside she saw that he was holding a snooker cue in one hand.
‘Oh, sorry about this.’ He waved the cue. ‘Just my precaution against unwanted visitors.’
As she looked around the hallway Patrick couldn’t take his eyes off her. He didn’t like what he saw. Her eyes were glassy, puffy and red and her fingers were clenching and unclenching at her side. He didn’t need her to tell him that something terrible had happened. No doubt concerning her family. That family of hers were going to be the death of her.
‘Babs, what’s the matter?’ He said it gently, not wanting to rush her if she didn’t want to talk about it.
She arched a brow. ‘Thought you would know. You always know when I’m in a bit of bother.’
‘You told me to stay away and I’ll always respect what you want regardless of how it makes me feel. So I told my mates up at division to no longer call me if your name cropped up.’
Babs teared up. ‘Oh Patrick.’
Then she was in his arms sobbing her brave heart out. He locked his arms around her like she was the most precious person on this earth as her story poured out of her. He shook his head feeling her terrible pain. What a thing for a parent to have to go through. He’d seen it enough times when he was still on the Force, parents crippled and dumbstruck when they were told the next time they’d see their kid was on a cold slab in the mortuary.
He lightly pulled away from her and used a finger to wipe the tears from her face. He gazed at her intently. ‘Do you want me to find out who the shooters were?’
Babs’ heart skipped a beat. Once Tricky Dickie started digging the gold was bound to come up and what would he think of his darling Babs then? He was the one person who had always believed in her. Lord above, he’d be crushed if he found out about the gold. And what if he got hurt? How would she ever live with that?
She glanced up at him and held those beautiful, grey eyes of his. ‘I don’t want you anywhere near this.’ She grabbed one of his hands and squeezed it tight. ‘Promise me you’ll leave this alone. Promise me!’
Indecision flicked across his face. Her Tricky Dickie wasn’t a man to walk away when bad things were going on.
But he finally agreed. ‘I promise. But Babs, I swear to God, if anyone’s trying to hurt you—‘
‘They’re not. This is all down to something at Dee’s club.’
He smiled weakly at her. ‘Do you want a cuppa? Or something strong?’
For the first time in hours Babs was able to smile. ‘I want something strong, alright. You.’ She shoved her hand under his jim-jam top to feel the warmth of his skin.
Suddenly he picked her up as if she were his bride. She would’ve squealed at that normally or laughed with joy, but the mood was too sombre with Jen being in hospital. Instead she placed her arms around him and tucked her head into the side of his neck.
They made love with slow, tender sweetness in his king-sized bed. After, as she snuggled in his safe arms, it struck her that she wanted to stay here forever. She wanted to stay with the best man she’d had the honour of knowing. What had happened to Jen had bought the shadow of death closer. You only got the one life. You had to grab the good things because sometimes there were no second chances. And what would her girls say? Plenty no doubt. But wasn’t it time for them to see her as a woman with a woman’s needs? She was a person too who wanted – no, deserved - things in life.
If they could see her heart when she day dreamed about Patrick, they’d see happiness sparkling like diamonds. The sunniest day of her life. Her Tricky Dickie wasn’t just a former cop, he’s a man for crying out loud. The best man ever. Plus, she adored having her evil way with his body.
‘I love you.’
Three simple words that left her mouth like the most natural thing in the world.
‘What?’ He rolled them over until he was on top. His face shone with disbelief.
Babs threaded her fingers through his hair. ‘Will you marry me Patrick Tricky Dickie Johnson?’
He whooped and punched the air. With a sheepish grin he gazed at her. ‘I’d tie the knot with you right now—‘
She shushed his joy with a finger over his lips. ‘This has to stay between me and you at the mo. I need Jen to get better first – and she will get better - and then share the good news with everyone.’ Her finger left his mouth. ‘But until then I wanna keep this between us.’
‘Your secret toy boy?’
She tweaked his nose. ‘Sugar Daddy, more like.’
‘I love you Babs.’
‘Love you too.’
As they kissed Babs hoped and prayed he’d never find out about her involvement with the gold.
29
‘What you moping about?’ Fred asked Pearl as he plonked down next to her at the brekkie table in the dayroom the following morning.
Pearl didn’t answer. Too consumed with the gut-wrenching rage she was still feeling from the night before. It was true. Babsie had betrayed her. For once in her life Pearl really wished she could commune with the spirits because she’d cast such a wicked spell Babs would never be able to use that lying tongue of hers again. How could Babsie have kicked their friendship and trust to the kerb like that?
Greed, that’s what. Craven and red-eyed, that’s what they called it in the Caribbean; always keeping your eyes on what others had because you wanted it. If there was anyone who knew about greed it was Pearl Hennessy. She’d perfected the art most of her adult life, cosying up to gullible folk and ripping them off. And now someone had done it to her for the second time; first that con artist Saint Aubin and now Babs. She was loosing her touch.
While doing bird on a shoplifting charge no one had wanted to know her, only Babs would give her the time of day. Even when Pearl had gone against her – she was still ashamed of what she’d done – Babsie had stuck by her. Pearl wasn’t sure she would’ve done the same. She’d valued Babs’ friendship so muc
h because the truth was all her other mates had either long departed this world or turned their backs on her. Her shoulders slumped with the weight of growing old and bent without a true friend to lean on.
‘Pearl?’ She raised her face, remembering Fred was there. ‘You alright old girl?’
Some of her stuffing came back as she bit out, ‘who you calling old girl?’ She opened her flask and poured a good measure of Wray and Nephew over her Weetabix.
‘So, what’s got you looking like your world’s come to a full stop?’ He bit into his toast slathered with rhubarb jam. ‘You found out who nabbed your gold?’
The betrayal and hurt spewed out of her. ‘My so-called best mate has mugged me off.’
Fred gazed at her intently as he put his half eaten toast back in the plate and rubbed the crumbs from his hands. His eyes flicked to the door as if to make double sure no one was earwigging. ‘You talking about that woman who comes to visit you?’
Pearl’s hands curled into fists. ‘Yeah, that’s her. Babs Miller. We’ve been in this together for months now.’ Her mouth twisted with utter disgust. ‘And all the time she’s been waiting to knife me in the back.’
Fred’s brows ruffled together with such sympathy she could’ve kissed his sweet, balding head.
‘You can’t let her get away with that.’ He words were fierce. ‘That’s rank out of order, that is. Back in my day—‘
‘Yeah I know,’ Pearl rolled her eyes knowingly, ‘you’d have gone round there with a crowbar and shown her what for.’
His watery eyes narrowed. ‘Nah, that’s where you’re wrong. You wanna make sure you get a pro on the case. I’d have slipped ‘em a bit of drink money and got ‘em to go round there and doll out some street justice, know what I mean?’ he tapped a finger against the side of his nose.
‘And then what?’ She threw her hands despairingly in the air. ‘I still wouldn’t have my share of the gold.’
A crafty expression covered his whole face. “Let me tell you a story—‘
Blood Secrets_A gripping crime thriller with killer twists Page 17