by Kerry Kaya
Jimmy lifted his hand in a greeting and took the stairs two at time. “Nice to see you, mate,” he grinned, shaking McKay’s outstretched hand.
“Come in.” Danny ushered him inside the office. “How’s it going?”
Taking a seat, Jimmy kicked out his legs. “As well as can be expected, I suppose.”
Danny raised his eyebrows. “Still bad then, I take it?”
Where should he even start. “The old bill are doing my nut in wanting to know this, wanting to know that. Why the fuck ain’t they out there looking for Tommy’s killer, instead of questioning me nonstop?”
“They’re as useless as chocolate fucking teapots, mate.”
“You can say that again.” He blew out his cheeks. “Stacey has had a breakdown. My niece, Karen, is on the missing list, and as for me brothers, they’re at each other’s throats. No prizes for guessing who the instigator is?”
“Gary.”
“Got it in one.”
Shaking his head, Danny didn’t know how best to answer. It was no secret that Gary was the Carter family’s weakest link, and after, as far as he was aware, at least two spells in a psychiatric unit, he was surprised they hadn’t locked him up and thrown away the key. “So what’s happening with your niece? I thought she was tight with the family?”
“She is.” Jimmy rubbed at his temples. “That’s what makes it even stranger. She wasn’t at the funeral; she’s just upped and left. No one’s seen head, nor hide of her since Tommy was murdered.”
“Bit strange that, isn’t it?” Danny could see the worry etched across his friend’s face and he narrowed his eyes.
“Tell me about it,” Jimmy answered. “If only I could get her to come home. I think it would do Stace the world of good.”
“Have you tried her bank? If you find out where she last used her bank card, it might give you an idea of where she is.” He’d watched the tactic used on a TV show once, and even as he said the words, he wasn’t so sure if it was possible.
Jimmy shook his head. “We’ve already thought of that and we’d have to go through the old bill, and that’s something we can’t do. She’s old enough to do as she pleases, and she chose to leave, left a note behind and everything.”
Danny was thoughtful, as he chewed on his lip. “I might be able to help you out there.”
“How?” Jimmy was all ears.
“Let’s just say, a certain Superintendent Gibbs is on my hit list.” He gave a laugh. “It’s about time I had some new filth in my pocket.”
Jimmy raised his eyebrows before laughing. “Are you being serious? You want Gibbs in your pocket?”
“Deadly serious.” Danny’s expression was deadpan as he spoke. “You didn’t think I was gonna let that nonce off scot-free, did you?”
“Nah, true.”
“Anyway,” Danny said. “What is it I can do for you, Jimmy?”
Jimmy took a deep breath. “I’m after shotguns.”
Grinning, Danny nodded his head. It was time to get down to business. “In that case, you’ve come to the right place.”
* * *
Bethany was taking a trip down memory lane. She’d driven by the Soho club and was now on her way to the scrapyard. She still couldn’t believe that in all the years she had been away, hardly anything had changed. She could still recall the heady scent of cheap perfume mixed with sweat that hit you as soon as you entered the strip club.
It was there that her Tommy had kissed her for the first and only time. She could still taste his lips on top of hers—could still feel his strong hands as he pulled her body close to his.
She would give anything to be able to relive those moments. Only this time, she would make sure that she made him hers.
She pulled the car over to the kerb outside the scrapyard. If she closed her eyes tightly enough, she could see Tommy in her mind’s eye as he went about his business. She had often come to watch him as he worked, that was before her father had dragged her kicking, screaming, and pregnant, to Spain.
Her mobile phone rang, and she delved inside her handbag, searching for the device. It was Gary.
“What?” she snapped. She looked around her, checking that he couldn’t actually see her parked outside the yard. “What do you want, Gary?”
She listened intently and could feel a bubble of anger inside of her begin to grow. That fucking Stacey! If they weren’t careful, she would ruin everything. “Well, sort it out,” she barked.
Rolling her eyes in irritation, she switched off the call and threw the phone down beside her. With one last glance toward the scrapyard, she started the ignition and pulled away from the kerb. She had a good mind to have it out with the woman. Stacey may have taken her Tommy away from her, but if she thought she was going to take the businesses, too, then she had another thing coming.
* * *
How was he meant to sort it out? That was the question Gary repeatedly asked himself. How was he supposed to stop Stacey from having a claim to what was rightfully hers?
“Have you sorted out the getaway car?”
Gary looked up. “Not yet.”
“Well, you’d best make it soon, and make sure it’s in tip-top condition. The last thing we need is for it breakdown on us,” Jimmy said.
“Yeah, I will do.” He turned his mobile phone over in his hand, thinking. Maybe that was the solution to his problems—a faulty car? He began to warm to his idea. Yes, maybe Stacey’s car could be faulty? Perhaps the brakes could give way on her?
He smiled to himself. It was the perfect plan—the perfect way to get rid of her.
* * *
Curled up in a foetal position, Stacey opened one eye and groaned. She could hear mother-in-law pottering around in the kitchen below, and she gingerly sat up, clutching at her head. Oh, the shame of it all. Her cheeks turned pink at the mere thought of her strolling into the scrapyard and telling her brothers-in-law that she was going to take over. She closed her eyes tightly. How would she ever be able to look them in the eye again?
Climbing out of bed, she threw her silk robe across her shoulders and pushed her feet into her pink fluffy slippers. She paused beside the doorway to gather her thoughts, then threw back her head and began to make her way downstairs.
“Hello, darling.” Janet smiled brightly. “I didn’t hear you get up.” She walked across to the kettle. “How do you fancy a cuppa, and maybe a bit of toast? I could boil a couple of eggs, if you like?”
“Just tea, please.” She sat down at the table and rested her chin on her hand.
“You have to eat, darling.” Janet pulled open the fridge door. It was virtually empty. On the bottom shelf was some limp leftover salad and a small block of cheese. “How about we go shopping later? Fill the fridge up with food. I could even cook us all a family meal?”
Stacey shook her head. What family? There was only her and the boys left, and even they didn’t want to spend any time in her company, not that she blamed them. She wouldn’t either if she was in their shoes.
“You have to have something. How about if I make us a beef stew? That was always your favourite.”
“Okay,” she gave her mother-in-law a sad smile. Beef stew had been her husband’s favourite, too. “I’ll have a small bowl.”
“It’ll do you the world of good.” Janet busied herself making a pot of tea.
“They think I’ve gone mad, don’t they?”
Janet spun around. “No, darling, of course not,” she lied. “It’s been a tough few weeks. It was bound to have taken its toll on you.” She nodded around the kitchen. “And rattling around in this bleeding house all by yourself doesn’t help matters. Too many memories.”
Nodding her head in agreement, Stacey sighed.
“So …,” Janet said, as she pulled out a chair and sat down, “… I’ve decided, that just until you are feeling better in yourself, I’m going to move in. Let me take care of you for a bit, give you a bit of company.”
Stacey’s eyes widened. “Move in?” s
he gasped. “But what about Frank?”
Janet flapped her hand. “That silly old bugger doesn’t need me.” If truth were told, her and Frank had hardly said two words to each other since the funeral. “So what d’ya reckon?”
“I think it’s a lovely idea.” Stacey gave her first genuine smile in weeks. “It could be exactly what I need.”
“There, that’s settled then,” Janet said as she returned to making the tea. Her moving in would do them both the world of good, she was sure of it.
* * *
Parking her car in the supermarket car park, Bethany climbed out. She only needed to buy a few toiletries, and with her handbag slung over her shoulder, she pulled her cashmere coat tighter around her slender frame and made her way inside.
She made her way down the aisles, picking up various lotions and bubble baths. Opening the screw lids, she gave each one a quick sniff and then placed the items into her shopping basket. A nice hot, steamy, candlelit bubble bath was exactly what she needed, and she made her way toward the candle section, blissfully unaware that Stacey and Janet were also in the supermarket.
* * *
In her hand, Janet held a shopping list. Despite Stacey telling her they didn’t need one, old habits die hard, and after having to raise and feed six boys, her shopping lists had been huge when the boys were young. More often than not, they had eaten her out of house and home. To this day, she still wrote down everything she needed to buy, even if it was only a couple of items.
They wandered across to the meat counter. “We’ll buy a bit of braised beef, eh, Stace?”
Stacey nodded her head. “I’ll go and find some pearl barley.”
“Okay, darling.” Janet turned back to the display counter.
Wandering off, Stacey was on the lookout for where the pulses and beans were housed. She entered an aisle and froze. At the far length of the supermarket was a woman she would recognise anywhere. She inched her way forward, taking in the woman’s dark curls, cashmere coat, and expensive handbag and shoes. There could be no mistaking who she was.
She could feel her heart begin to thump inside her chest. A bubble of anger began to grow, and her expression turned to a snarl. It was Bethany fucking Johnson. The woman had been a thorn in her side for as long as she could remember. She had even had the audacity to try and steal her Tommy away from her once.
“Oi,” Stacey called out. “I want a word with you.”
* * *
Startled, Bethany looked up. She looked around her and her eyes fell upon Stacey Carter. Ever so quickly, she composed herself. Surely, the woman wasn’t talking to her? She took in Stacey’s deranged expression, her unkempt appearance, and wondered, not for the first time, what on earth it was that Tommy had ever seen in her.
She replaced a bottle of wine back onto the shelf and briskly walked away.
“Oi,” the woman called after her.
Bethany quickened her pace.
“I said, I want a word with you.”
Aware that other shoppers were staring toward her, Bethany swallowed down her embarrassment and swung around. “What do you want?” she hissed.
Standing just feet away from her adversary, Stacey breathed deeply, and her nostrils were flared as she looked the woman up and down. “What are you doing back here?”
Bethany shrugged her shoulders.
“I asked you a question. What are you doing here?” Her voice began to rise. “You’re supposed to be in Spain.” As always, whenever she was in this woman’s presence, her fears and insecurities came flooding back to her. Had Tommy known that she was back? Had they met?
“I came back for my son, so he can see his father.” Bethany glanced around her and lowered her voice before she spoke. It was a lie, and they were both aware of that fact.
“So, Gary knows that you’re here?” It was on the tip of her tongue to ask her if she’d met up with her husband at any point before his death. It was only the fact that she was afraid of what the answer might be that she remained silent.
“Of course he does,” Bethany bristled. “Like I said, my son wanted to see his father.” She turned to walk away.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Stacey roared. “I ain’t finished with you yet.” A sense of dread filled her. Deep down, she had always wondered if Tommy had been the real father of Bethany’s son. After all, he had lied about them having a fling. What else could he have lied about? She grabbed a fistful of the woman’s hair and tugged on it, hard. “In fact, I ain’t even started on you yet.”
* * *
Hearing the commotion, Janet raced down the aisles, looking for her daughter-in-law. What the bleeding hell was going on? She followed the screaming and shouting, and turning the corner of an aisle, she gasped. “Stacey!” she yelled. “What’s going on here?”
It took two security guards to separate the women. Huffing and puffing, Stacey’s hair was sticking up on end. Her eyes were wild, and her cheeks were flushed scarlet as she panted from the exertion.
“What’s going on?” Janet repeated. She turned to look at Bethany and did a double take. So the trollop was back, was she?
Bethany smoothed down her hair and placed the back of her hand across her cheek from where Stacey had sent her a stinging backhander.
“Well, well, well. Look who’s back in town?” Janet crossed her arms over her chest as she looked the woman up and down with distaste. “You’ve no right to be here,” she warned, stabbing her finger forward. “So steer clear of my family.”
Throwing her head back, Bethany began to laugh. “Don’t talk to me about your precious family. What about my son, your grandson? Not once have you ever enquired after him, let alone attempted to meet him.”
Janet swallowed down her shame. It was true. She had never met her second eldest grandson, and wasn’t likely to, either. How could she, when she blamed his mother for her son’s downfall? Her Gary had been of sound mind until she had got her claws into him.
“Well?” Bethany smirked. “Cat got your tongue?” She stabbed her finger forward. “Your own grandson, and you’ve never bothered with him.”
With one last glance at the woman, Janet placed her arm protectively around her daughter-in-law’s shoulders. “Come on, Stace,” she said as she began to lead her away. “There’s a bad smell in here.”
* * *
Outside in the car park, Stacey came to a halt. The colour had drained from her face and her eyes were wide.
“Do you think Tommy could have met up with her before he died?”
“No, darling,” Janet was aghast. “Of course he didn’t. What on earth would make you think otherwise?”
With a shrug of her thin shoulders, Stacey sighed. She turned to look behind her. She couldn’t rid herself of the fear that there was more than meets the eye where Bethany Johnson was concerned. Why now, after all these years, had she turned up? And as for her son wanting to see his father, had she meant Gary, or Tommy?
“Come on,” Janet said. “Let’s go home. We’ll have a fish and chip supper instead of the beef stew.”
* * *
Two days later, Jimmy was in the scrapyard office going through the accounts. He glanced up in time to see Stacey walking across the forecourt, and groaned. Not again, he thought to himself.
Hovering beside the open doorway, Stacey held in her hands two Styrofoam cups filled with coffee. She gave a nervous smile. “Peace offering,” she said, nodding down at the cups.
“Come in, Stace.” He gestured for her to take a seat, and held his hand out for one of the cups. Pulling off the plastic lid, he took a sip of the scalding liquid.
Stacey mirrored the action, and quickly swallowing the hot liquid down, she cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. I haven’t come here to cause trouble.”
“Good.” He gave her a warm smile. “I glad to hear of it.”
“I wanted to ask you something, actually.” She shifted her weight in the chair and took another sip of coffee. “You’re the only one who will know the tru
th, so please, no matter how bad it is, be truthful with me, Jimmy.”
Raising his eyebrows, Jimmy studied her over the rim of the cup. “Go on, what’s on your mind? Whatever it is, it sounds serious.”
She took a deep breath, stalling. She had to get it off of her chest. She had to know the truth, no matter how much the truth might break her heart. “Was Tommy the real father of Bethany Johnson’s son?”
Jimmy almost choked on the coffee. Of all the things she was going to ask, he hadn’t expected that. “Tommy?!” he exclaimed. He gave a huge laugh. A laugh that began in his belly, and forced its way up out of his throat. “No fucking way! He couldn’t stand the bitch. He wouldn’t have touched her with mine, let alone gone in there himself.”
Stacey sighed with relief. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She watched her brother-in-law as he fell about laughing, and couldn’t help but laugh along with him.
“Where the fuck did you get that idea from?” he asked, holding onto his sides.
“I don’t know. I’ve always wondered, I suppose. After what happened with her and Tommy, I just thought maybe it was possible.”
“No.” Jimmy got his breath back and he swiped the tears of laughter from his eyes. “He loathed her as much as he loathed her old man. And trust me, that kid is definitely Gary’s.”
She took a sip of her coffee. “Sounds like you’ve met him?”
“Yeah.” He became serious. “I have, just the once.”
“And there was nothing of Tommy in him? I mean, he doesn’t look similar to the boys, or anything?” Even as she asked the question, she knew there was a strong possibility that he could look like her sons. All the Carter boys looked alike. She sat up straight in the chair and held her breath, waiting for his answer.