Kimberley Chambers 3-Book Butler Collection

by Kimberley Chambers

  ‘Are you going to pop straight round your mum’s house? I think you should,’ Joanna said, as Vinny opened their front door.

  Vinny had a nose like a tracker dog and the distinct smell of stale smoke hit him immediately. ‘That little bastard has been back home,’ Vinny said, darting up the stairs.

  Positive that the smell that hit him when he opened the bedroom door was in fact cannabis, Vinny began searching for evidence. The wastepaper bin was empty so Vinny started going through his son’s drawers. When he walked towards the bedside cabinet, he spotted the piece of paper immediately. The name Shaz was written on it and it had a phone number with a loveheart drawn underneath.

  Vinny ran down the stairs and flicked through his address book. Most of the names and numbers were written in code as you could never be too careful. He found the number he was looking for and picked up the phone. ‘George, so sorry to bother you on a Sunday, but I really need your help to trace an address, mate.’

  Queenie Butler handed her sister a glass of sherry, then sat down next to her on the sofa and sipped her own. Viv had been ever so quiet all day and Queenie could do little but hope and pray that this latest bad news did not send her sister back into a depression and the loony bin.

  ‘Please eat a couple of them sandwiches, Viv. You’ve eaten sod all since yesterday and you’re worrying me now.’

  ‘Look, I ain’t fucking hungry and, as I told you earlier, I just want to be left alone, Queen. I’m fine, and don’t be worrying about me going back into the nuthouse because I have no intention of doing so. I’m more angry and tired, if you want to know the truth. Didn’t sleep a bloody wink last night.’

  Queenie had never felt more useless in her whole life. Being the older sister, she had always felt it her duty to protect Viv, but how the hell was she meant to deal with this terrible situation? What Vinny had done beggared belief, and even if he did have some kind of a viable excuse, Queenie was not sure if she could ever forgive him herself.

  When Queenie said she was going back to her own house for a while but would pop back later, Vivian waited until the front door shut before she trudged up the stairs.

  Lenny’s bedroom was the shrine to the son that she had loved so very much, and thanks to Queenie rescuing all his belongings before the dustmen had taken them away, it still looked the same as when Lenny was alive. Even his clothes were back in the wardrobe. The only change to the room was the massive framed photo of her son that was hung above his bed.

  Taking the sweater Lenny had worn the day before he died out of the drawer, Vivian laid on her son’s bed and hugged both the sweater and his favourite toy. It was only then the tears came, and when they did there was no controlling them.

  Vinny Butler decided to walk round to his mother’s house rather than take the car. A bit of fresh air might help him to prepare for one of the worst conversations he would ever have to face.

  Joanna had promised to stay indoors and wait for George to ring back. She had no idea who George was, but assumed he was a friend of Vinny’s.

  Vinny felt physically sick as he approached his mother’s front door. He had his own key, but for once it didn’t seem appropriate to let himself in the way he always did, so he knocked instead.

  Much to Vinny’s dismay, it was his sister who answered the door.

  ‘Is Mum in?’ he asked awkwardly.

  Brenda glared at her elder brother. Scotty had been the first bloke she had fallen in love with since Dean and thanks to Vinny, she was now single again. Without saying a word, she stomped into the lounge and grabbed Tara and Tommy by the hand. ‘I’m sorry, Mum. I know I’ve only just got here, but no way am I being in his company. I’ll pop round tomorrow instead.’

  Vinny waited until the front door slammed before he sat on the sofa next to his mother. ‘Go and sit over there, Vinny. I don’t want you close to me.’

  Moving over to the armchair, Vinny knew he was in shit-street when he saw the look of hatred. His mum had never looked at him that way. ‘I’m so sorry, Mum. How is Auntie Viv?’

  ‘How do you fucking think she is? I am so disappointed in you. How could you cover up something as awful as that? And why would you? Where had you been? Was you pissed?’

  Vinny stared at his hands. No way could he look at his mum. ‘Ahmed and I had been drinking at the club. Champ overheard us saying we were heading off to some strip joint and he begged to come too. If you want the complete truth, I had taken Champ there a few times before. Loved it, he did,’ Vinny explained, before pausing. He hated talking about the cousin he had loved so much. It upset him greatly.

  Usually when she saw her son’s eyes fill up with tears, Queenie’s heart would melt, but today it did not. ‘Carry on then,’ she spat.

  Vinny took a deep breath to compose himself. ‘Well, I felt a bit merry, so Ahmed offered to drive us to the strip joint. We had planned to leave his car there, get a cab home, but by the time we were ready to leave, I had sobered up and felt OK to drive. I would never have driven with Champ in the car had I not thought I was in complete control, you know that, Mum. Anyway, all of a sudden this van appears out of nowhere with its full beam on and I just lost control of the vehicle. I must have knocked myself out, not sure if it was for seconds or minutes, but when I came round, I looked in the back and Champ was dead,’ Vinny wept.

  Queenie pursed her lips. ‘And then what did you do?’

  ‘I panicked, Mum. I opened the back door to see if there was anything I could do to save Champ, but I couldn’t. His injuries were far too bad. Ahmed was also in a mess. He had metal sticking out of his head and chest and when I felt for a pulse, I couldn’t find one.’

  ‘So, then you thought, if Ahmed is brown bread, you might as well drag his body into the driver’s seat and let him take the rap. Am I right?’

  Vinny stared at his hands again and nodded dejectedly.

  Queenie tutted repeatedly. ‘No wonder you nearly fainted when you found out Ahmed was still alive. I never thought the day would come when I saw you as a coward, Vinny, but it has, boy. What you did was disgraceful. How that Ahmed has stayed friends with you, I will never know. He must be a much more forgiving person than me, that’s for sure. Running away like some fucking wuss, that’s what you did. Why didn’t you just call an ambulance, eh? All you had to do was find a phonebox or knock on some bastard’s door. You might be a lot of things – liar being one of them – but a doctor you ain’t. If you thought Ahmed was dead and it turned out he weren’t, how do you know Lenny was gone? Maybe he could have been saved if you’d acted like the man I brought you up to be, eh?’

  ‘Champ’s head was hanging off, Mum. No way could he have been saved. As I said, I just panicked. I’m so sorry. If I could change what I did, I would.’

  ‘But why? You already said you was sober enough to drive. What were you so scared of, eh? There must have been something – and don’t bastard-well lie to me again, because I will find out the truth if it’s the last thing I do.’

  Vinny rubbed his eyes with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. He knew his mum was going to be so disappointed with his reply, but he had to tell the truth in case Michael blurted it out at a later date. ‘Even though I felt sober, Mum, I would have still been well over the limit if the Old Bill had breathalysed me. I also had a bit of a drug problem back then. I swear I don’t touch drugs now, but I’d had some cocaine that night. I’d never touched the stuff until I became pals with Ahmed, but he was a user, so I’d sometimes take it with him. I wasn’t bothered about the Old Bill locking me up, just you and Auntie Viv finding out the truth. I love you both so much and I couldn’t have handled it if you both hated me.’

  Queenie leapt off the sofa, darted towards her son and slapped him as hard around the face as she could. ‘Your crocodile tears don’t wash with me, boy. You were bang out of order even taking poor Lenny to strip clubs. No wonder your Auntie Viv caught him with his dingle-dangle in his hand mumbling obscenities. As for driving that beautiful boy abo
ut while out of your nut on drink and drugs, that is totally unforgivable. Now, get of my house before I do you some proper damage.’

  With tears streaming down his face, Vinny stood up. ‘Please, Mum, don’t be like this. I loved Champ with all my heart, you know I did. And he wasn’t a boy, he was twenty years old. All you and Auntie Viv ever did was treat the poor little sod like an infant. He was a man, not a kid, and he had urges like every other bloke his age. Why do you think he loved to hang out with me all the time, eh? Because I treated him as normal, that’s why.’

  ‘And didn’t you do a good job of taking him under your wing, eh? You killed the poor little mite while off your fucking face. No wonder that son of yours has turned out to be such a bad apple. You’ve both got your father’s genes, not mine. Albie’s a coward who would always do anything to save his own bacon, and you’re no different. Now, leave me your key and get out my house. You’re officially disowned as my son.’

  Joanna Preston opened the front door and was relieved to see Nancy and the boys. ‘Thank God it’s only you. I thought it might be Queenie or Viv wanting round two. Where’s Michael, Nance?’

  ‘He dropped us off home, then shot straight out with his dad somewhere. We’ve got little food indoors, so I thought it might be nice for us all to go out for something to eat. The boys are bored being back home already, and it’s such a nice day.’

  ‘Oh, I better not, Nance. I’ve just written an important address down for Vinny, and he might ring anytime.’

  ‘So? He’s probably only local, surely he can pop home if he gets no answer. Just leave him a note, Jo, and write the address on it.’

  ‘I’m not sure. You know what Vinny’s like, especially when he’s angry. I can’t stand the thought of coming home to another scene. I’ve had enough the past couple of days to last me a lifetime.’

  ‘All the more reason why you should start being your own person. This is your home; it’s not a prison, Jo. Anyway, I was thinking, while we’re out you can ring your parents. I bet your dad is dying to hear from you, and you must call him. You only get one dad, babe.’

  Having not heard the sound of her father’s voice for years, Joanna nodded. ‘Yeah, you’re right. Give us ten minutes to get ready.’

  Nancy grinned. ‘That’s my girl.’

  Albie followed Michael into the Blind Beggar and was horrified to see Vinny sitting at a table alone. ‘Your brother’s over there. We don’t want no more trouble, Michael. Let’s just go for a pint at the club, eh?’ Albie hissed in his youngest son’s ear. It had been Michael’s suggestion to stop off for a pint on the way to the club, and Albie had not wanted to go in the Blind Beggar in the first place.

  ‘I ain’t walking out, Dad. I’d look a right fucking mug if I did. And what about the regulars, eh? They’d know something was wrong, and you know what the rumour mill is like around here.’

  ‘Please, Michael, you know what an arsehole your brother can be. He’s certain to kick off. Besides, Big Stan is in here. He’s bound to be nasty to me after that lie I told him.’

  ‘Big Stan won’t say sod all out of line to you. People ain’t stupid, Dad. They respect me, so nobody is going to dig you out. As for Vinny, let him kick off if he wants to. I’m not a little boy any more and I am certainly not scared of him.’

  Albie sighed. Michael used to be so laid-back, but he wasn’t any more. Somewhere along the line Vinny’s thuggish behaviour had obviously rubbed off on him, which bothered Albie greatly.

  Whenever Michael walked into a local pub, he was always surrounded by well-wishers and hangers-on who wanted to chat to him or buy him drinks. Usually he played along, pretended to be interested in their conversation, but tonight he wasn’t in the mood. Everyone else was a blur as he focused on his brother, sitting across the room, drinking by himself. Even though Michael felt bad about blurting out the truth regarding Lenny’s death, there was no way he was making the first move to smooth over the situation. Why should he, when it had been Vinny’s behaviour and big mouth that had started it all in the first place?

  Albie was pleased when Big Stan approached and offered him a drink. Stan did not mention his cancer lie, so Albie decided not to either. Some things were better left unsaid.

  ‘Shall I get us a chaser as well, Albie?’

  Albie did not reply. His eyes were on Vinny, who was walking towards Michael.

  Vinny tapped his brother on the back. ‘Can we talk?’

  ‘Yeah, if you want.’

  ‘Be careful, boy,’ Albie warned, as Michael went to follow Vinny outside.

  ‘I’m more than capable of looking after myself, Dad. You stay here with Stan. I won’t be long.’

  Vinny was standing in a shop doorway, smoking a cigarette. It was a Sunday and he could not help thinking what a sorry state the Whitechapel Road looked without the hustle and bustle of the market. The properties of hardworking shopkeepers were covered in graffiti, much of it racist – ‘NF’, ‘PAKIS OUT’, ‘KEEP BRITAIN WHITE’ – along with the usual drivel: ‘SPURS RULE’ ‘ARSENAL ARE SHIT’ ‘ICF’ ‘TRACEY LOVES GLENN HODDLE’ ‘SHARON 4 JOHNNY’ and ‘MANDY NELSON SUCKS COCKS’.

  Vinny tutted and shook his head. No wonder he wanted his Molly raised in a better area. It might do Little Vinny the world of good as well. If they moved to a decent part of Essex there’d be better lads for his son to knock about with than Ben Bloggs.

  ‘Shithole round here now, eh? Look at the state of it,’ Vinny said bitterly, as he offered Michael a cigarette.

  Michael allowed Vinny to give him a light, took a deep drag, then nodded. ‘Not like it used to be, is it? Is that what you wanted to talk about? The decline of Whitechapel?’

  ‘Don’t get cocky, Michael. It really doesn’t suit you.’

  ‘Look, I’m sorry about blurting out the Champ story, OK? But, you fucking started it, Vin. You all but told Mum and Auntie Viv I was on drugs.’

  ‘Yeah, I know I did, and I’m sorry too. Mum threw me out of the house today. I admitted I’d taken coke on the night Champ had died and she said I am no longer her son. I don’t want there to be no more secrets, Michael, which is why I came clean with her.’

  Michael was not only shocked by his brother’s calmness and apology, he was also stunned that Vinny had told the truth. ‘Mum will come round. She loves you, Vin, you’re her golden boy. Give her a bit of time to get her head around it all, eh?’

  Vinny and Michael both had their backs against the wall, staring at the traffic rather than looking one another in the eye. When Vinny finally turned to face him, Michael could see the unshed tears in his brother’s eyes. ‘What am I gonna do if Mum won’t forgive me? I doubt Auntie Viv ever will, do you?’

  ‘I’ll speak to Mum and Auntie Viv on your behalf. I’ll tell them how cut up you was about everything. It might take time, but things will sort themselves out, Vin, I know they will.’

  ‘Cheers. That’s much appreciated. I was livid with you for blurting all that shit out at first, but then I thought, we’re brothers and we’ve got a business to run, so there’s no point in us being enemies. Are we cool?’

  Michael held out his right hand. ‘Yeah, we’re cool. We were both in the wrong, so let’s just call it quits.’

  Vinny pulled Michael’s arm towards him, then gave him a brotherly hug. ‘You didn’t ’arf give me a clump when you knocked me on that dancefloor. Not such a little squirt any more, are ya?’

  Michael chuckled. When he was a nipper, both Vinny and Roy used to refer to him as ‘Little Squirt’. ‘You can talk! Look at the state of my eye, and my back’s cut to shreds where I landed on fucking glass.’

  ‘Serves you right!’ Vinny joked. ‘Now, let’s get back inside that boozer, eh?’

  When Vinny sauntered into the pub with an arm around his brother’s shoulder, he immediately clocked the look of disappointment on his father’s face and could not help but smirk. He might be a lot of things, but stupid was not one of them. Vinny knew that the only way back into his moth
er and aunt’s good books was via his brother, forgiveness was a necessary evil.

  Queenie and Vivian were sitting side by side on Vivian’s new floral sofa. The sofa had been a recent present for Vivian’s fiftieth birthday and had been bought by Vinny of all people.

  Puffing ferociously on a cigarette, Queenie tried to recite word for word what Vinny had told her. The only part she opted to leave out was that her son had admitted to snorting cocaine on the evening in question. Vivian was so anti-drugs and Queenie was worried that that particular snippet of information might just push her sister over the edge.

  ‘Well, I don’t believe for one minute Vinny was sober when he got behind that wheel. He must have been well pissed to cover it up like he did, Queen. How could I have ever trusted him to take care of my boy like I did, eh? As for Lenny being dragged off to them sordid places, I’m truly appalled by that. No wonder I caught him doing you-know-what in his bedroom that time. It all makes sense now. If only I’d have acted on the signs and put a fucking stop to it … I blame myself, I really do. I was Lenny’s mother, therefore it was my duty to protect him – and I failed miserably.’

  Queenie felt a mixture of emotions as she held Vivian in her arms. Sadness, anger, but most of all guilt. As much as part of her would always love Vinny, she had no choice but to side with her sister at this moment in time and banish her son from their lives. She not only owed that to Vivian, but also to the memory of her wonderful nephew.

  ‘Please don’t be blaming yourself, Viv. Your Lenny adored the ground you walked on. You were the best mother he could have ever wished for, and you know it. As for Vinny, I’m finished with him because of all this. Don’t get me wrong, I know he adored Lenny and neither did he mean to crash that car. But it’s the cover-up and the lies that has broken my heart. What type of man drags his pal’s lifeless body into the front seat of a car while his cousin is lying dead in the back, then legs it without even calling an ambulance, eh? No son of mine, that’s for sure.’

  Joanna Preston’s hands shook as she dialled her parents’ phone number. It had been so long since she had heard her dad’s gruff voice, she had no idea how she would react when she actually got to speak to him.