by Jacqui Rose
‘You know I can’t do that.’
Huang examined his nails, which were beautifully manicured. ‘I don’t know why you bothered paying his debt in the first place. Surely Mr Jennings’ death would be a loss to no one.’
‘You know exactly why. How would Alfie being dead help me get out of this place? I need to keep him alive, so you nearly battering him to death isn’t on the table. You understand?’ Franny said, spitting her words.
‘Ms Doyle, I don’t like your tone. I’d be careful if I were you; you’ve got a lot to lose. I take it he’s agreed to your little plan?’
Franny’s eyes were full of hatred. The only reason she’d told Huang of her plan was because he’d refused to help her otherwise. ‘Not yet, but he will do. Once he realises that I’m his only option to get you off his back, then I’m sure he’ll do what I want. He’ll bring Vaughn down.’
Huang smiled. ‘You really are ruthless, Ms Doyle, and it’s a good job I’m a man of my word … otherwise you might be in trouble.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Well, Mr Jennings is running around terrified for no reason because you’ve already paid off his debt. When was it? Two months ago?’
‘What’s your point?’
‘The point is, you’ve pretended you couldn’t afford to pay me off when you always had the resources to do so. You pretended there was a trust fund set up by your father that you couldn’t get your hands on, didn’t you, Ms Doyle?’
Franny seethed. Her face was flushed red as she spoke. ‘You know I did, but I want to know why you’re bringing this up now?’
Huang smiled. ‘All I’m saying, Ms Doyle, is that I don’t think he’d be too happy to find out about all the lies you’ve been telling him, would he?’
‘He’s not going to find out though, is he?’
Huang stood up. ‘That all depends.’
‘Depends on what?’
‘It depends if you see fit to pay me a little extra for my time and discretion.’
Infuriated, Franny banged her fist down on the table. ‘You said that once I paid Alfie’s debt and interest then that’s it.’
Huang laughed, his beady eyes narrowing. ‘I did say that but I think I’ve changed my mind.’
‘You bastard!’
‘You make a deal with the devil and you should expect to burn in hell, Ms Doyle.’
At which point Huang left Franny sitting at the table.
32
Inside Shannon’s bedroom, Charlie, hearing something, suddenly sat up. He took off the headphones and listened. Shit, there was somebody trying to get in. Not bothering to wrap a towel around himself, Charlie stood up and waddled naked towards the built-in wardrobes, his prosthetic leg – stained and dirty from where he’d never cleaned it – making his body tilt slightly to the left.
Realising he wouldn’t make it in time to the wardrobe, Charlie with his heart racing threw his obese body onto the floor, trying to fit his large, hairy, spotty buttocks under the wooden frame of Shannon’s king-size bed.
As the door flew open Charlie only just managed to squeeze himself under, as Vaughn stalked around the room.
The minute Vaughn entered, he shook his head. The place was like a pigsty and stunk of sweat. He wasn’t sure what had happened but something had changed. Only a few weeks ago, Shannon had taken pride in her room, taken pride in the small things, like arranging her make-up tidily and organising her clothes with pride, but now everything was strewn all over the place.
He looked around, sadly. He hadn’t known what he was expecting to find but it wasn’t this. Or maybe he had thought he’d find this and was just hoping he wouldn’t.
He moved her clothes, which were piled up on the chest of drawers, not sure what he was even looking for. A crack pipe perhaps. A needle to prove she’d been jacking up? It certainly looked like a junkie’s room.
Angry at the sense of betrayal, he pulled open the drawers, riffling through each and every one of them before he ran to the wardrobes, flinging open the doors. He pulled the clothes he’d bought her off their hangers, still not knowing what exactly he was going to find.
Swivelling around, his eyes darted across the room. He ran to where the photograph of the three of them sat on the bedside table. With his heart beating he ripped it out of its frame, praying he didn’t find a rock of crack or a wrap of heroin.
He breathed out a sigh of relief as his eyes glanced on the floor and saw a sponge and an empty bowl discarded to the side. What was she hiding? He knew there was something but what?
He sat down on the bed heavily, unaware that his feet were inches away from Charlie’s naked body, which was squashed and sweating underneath the bed frame.
Sitting and thinking, Vaughn twirled the screwdriver in his hand as he tried to work out what was going on.
Absentmindedly he dropped the screwdriver on the floor, it rolled under the bed, and bending over Vaughn went to retrieve it. As he did suddenly a shriek filled the air.
‘Why are you in my room? Why are you snooping about?’ Shannon rushed into her bedroom, charging at Vaughn, who stood back up. He watched as she flung herself towards him with wild eyes that were full of terror.
Shocked and partly ashamed for being caught, Vaughn turned to Shannon. ‘I ain’t snooping and anyway, what are you doing here?’
Her heart beat so fast, Shannon felt dizzy. She didn’t have any idea what had happened to Charlie and where he was and she was too scared to glance around the room. Her voice trembled.
‘It looks like you’re snooping to me. And for your information, Mia was grizzly – she’s teething – so I brought her back. She’s in her cot … So if you don’t mind, get out.’
Vaughn shook his head. He grabbed her arm. ‘Just tell me, are you using again? Are you? Because I ain’t fucking having it.’
Shannon shook and couldn’t get her words out. Hurt rushed to her eyes.
‘What’s wrong with you, Shan? For fuck’s sake just talk to me.’
‘How can you say I’m using again? How can you think that?’
‘Well look around you, it’s a fucking pigsty in here. What am I supposed to think?’
Shannon shook her head furiously. ‘Not that! You’re supposed to trust me!’
Vaughn, losing his cool, yelled back at her. ‘And you’re supposed to trust me too! You’re worrying me. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.’
Shaking, Shannon raged, ‘There ain’t nothing to tell. The only thing I know is that I’ve come home and I’ve found you in my room.’
‘I’m sorry, okay! I’m sorry. I’m just worried you’re going to fuck up and that’s the last thing I want, because I like you, Shan, and I want the best for you, but I can’t have you around if you’re using – you know that.’
Almost unable to get her words out from crying Shannon nodded. ‘I know, I know and I promised you, didn’t I?’
‘Well if it’s not that, what is it? What is it you can’t tell me? Is it a boy? Has something happened with a boy? Has someone touched you?’
‘No. No.’
Mystified, Vaughn shook his head. ‘Then, is it me? Have I done something? Cos I ain’t used to teenage girls and I know that I can be rough and insensitive sometimes and if I’ve hurt you, Shan, I’m sorry. But I wish you’d just talk to me.’
‘Please, Vaughn, it ain’t nothing … I just get like … I never had any nice things before, and I never had anyone to show me and sometimes … sometimes it just gets a bit much. You know, trying to make you happy. I’m scared I won’t be good enough for you.’
Vaughn let out a long sigh. ‘What are you talking about, Shan?’
‘The pressure, it sometimes feels so much pressure.’
Sadness filled Vaughn’s voice. ‘I had no idea you felt like that. You don’t have to impress me. Is that why you kept the door shut – because it was a mess?’
Hating lying to Vaughn, Shannon shrugged. ‘I guess, and also it’s just nice to have a bit
of privacy. This is the first place I’ve had where I could lock the door if I wanted to. Before, I wasn’t allowed anything near privacy.’
‘And here’s me banging on your door, reminding you of what your life was like with that piece of shit uncle of yours.’
Shannon bristled, feeling uncomfortable. ‘You weren’t to know.’
‘Don’t let me off that easily. I’ve been a wanker. Thinking the worst of you. Look, I can see you’re tired. Get some rest. I’m no Mr Sheen, but I’ll help you tidy up if you like.’
Still not knowing exactly what had happened to Charlie, Shannon smiled. ‘It’s okay, I’ll do it … but thanks all the same.’
Vaughn turned to go but then he stopped and began to walk towards the bed. ‘I nearly forgot – I dropped my screwdriver.’
‘I’ll get it.’ She smiled again and knelt down, but as she did her smile froze. There in the dark under the bed, grinning inanely was Charlie, who winked at her.
Beginning to shake again, she grabbed the screwdriver and stood up quickly, trembling so much she was almost unable to hold it in her hands.
‘Shan, you all right?’
Terrified and incapable of speaking, Shannon just nodded.
‘Are you sure?’
Again Shannon nodded her head.
‘Look, we need to talk more, cos I ain’t convinced that you’re all right, so that’s going to be the first thing I do when I get back.’
Shannon’s face paled. ‘Get back? You’re going away? You can’t!’
‘What are you talking about?’
Fighting back the tears at the thought of being left alone with her uncle, Shannon raised her voice. ‘What about Mia? You can’t leave me here with her. You’ll just have to cancel going.’
Looking at her strangely, Vaughn, hurt at Shannon’s reaction, shrugged. ‘Don’t worry, I wasn’t going to leave Mia with you, I wouldn’t expect you to do it all on your own. It’s just I’ve got a bit of business to sort out. Nothing much – I need to sign a few papers and I don’t trust the toe rags I’m working with, so I like to do it face-to-face. I’ll back in a couple of days though … Just think, you’ll have the place all to yourself. You can just lie back and relax.’ He kissed her gently on her head.
And as she shut the door behind him, Shannon promptly collapsed on the floor.
33
It had been over three hours he’d been waiting, but finally it was dark and Detective Balantyne carefully made his way along the wall, pressing himself against the bricks.
The large warehouse where a lot of the cars that were being held as part of ongoing investigations was based on the north side of Kent and luckily, he’d been here on a number of occasions, so he knew the place pretty well.
There were cameras on the left side of the building and at the back as well as the front but rather than police officers guarding the warehouse, the place was manned by a private security firm. From what he remembered the staff were more interested in watching their phones or having a crafty nap.
Keeping his ear out for any noise, Balantyne continued to creep along the side of the building, which stood next to a sloping bank that ran into a stream.
Not hearing anything apart from the rain that was beginning to fall, he sprinted down the overgrown path, feeling the thorn bushes snag his trousers as he stumbled and tried to keep his footing.
Halfway along the wall, with his heart pounding, he came to the steel door he was looking for: a side door, which was always kept unlocked. Making sure that the coast was still clear, Balantyne put on a black pair of gloves and slipped into the warehouse.
Knowing there were no cameras inside, Balantyne made his way quickly along the rows of cars, keeping his eye out for Claire’s grey Land Rover.
His gaze darted along the cars and each time he heard a noise he froze in his tracks. There were hundreds of cars and after ten minutes Balantyne was beginning to despair.
He stood in the shadows and suddenly his gaze came to rest on a car over on the far side of the warehouse … There was Claire’s car, or he thought it was. He moved slightly to try to get a better view. And yes, yes there it was. He recognised the Reg number; a private number plate her parents had given her on her thirtieth birthday.
Looking around the dimly lit warehouse, Balantyne – feeling a surge of nervousness and excitement – rushed quietly towards the car.
He kept his body low and getting to Claire’s car, he stopped, looking around again, listening for any noise. Certain there was nobody about, Balantyne tried the passenger-seat door, cursing as he found it locked. Then he made his way around to the other side and tried the driver’s side … He smiled to himself. Bingo! The next moment Balantyne quietly opened the door.
He could feel the sweat dripping down his neck, and leaning over to the dashcam, he pulled back the cover of the card slot. Using the paper clip from out of his pocket, he gently popped it open allowing him to easily remove the SD card.
With trembling hands he let out a deep sigh, a rush of relief washing over him. Then ensuring everything looked exactly as it had before, Balantyne silently slipped back out of the car, placing the SD card in his pocket.
Suddenly his phone went off, echoing around the large chambered building … Shit! Shit! Shit! He silenced his mobile as quickly as he could but a moment later Balantyne heard a voice coming from the front of the warehouse.
‘Hello? Hello? Anyone there?’
Crouching down, Balantyne scurried along the row of parked cars as quickly as he could, his heart racing. To the side of him he saw some tools. He snatched up a crowbar that was lying on one of the shelves as he listened to the person getting nearer.
‘Hello? Hello?’
The voice called out again and Balantyne pushed himself into the shadows as he heard the footsteps getting ever closer. His whole body was shaking and his mouth was becoming dry as he inched himself further back, pushing himself along the wall, hoping whoever it was would eventually give up.
As he made it to the back of the building, passing dozens of cars, he froze again; it sounded as though his pursuer was right on top of him. He gripped on to the crowbar, holding it tightly in his hands, willing the person not to come any nearer.
‘Hello? Is anybody there?’
The person was only inches away and deciding he had no other choice, Detective Balantyne lifted the crowbar into the air and with one heavy swing he brought it down, smashing it with a loud crunch onto the security guard’s head.
Immediately blood and grey matter oozed out of the man’s broken skull, and as he dropped into a pool of his own blood, Balantyne ran out of the warehouse and into the rain-filled night, without turning back and without a moment’s hesitation.
34
Two days later on Thursday morning, Franny was pacing her cell. Her mind was rushing between Alfie and Mr Huang. She’d been desperate when she’d paid off Huang, desperate to be able to get Alfie to do what she wanted. Needing him without question to help her get out.
She’d paid almost three-quarters of a million pounds to Huang, which had been Alfie’s original debt of half a million pounds plus the exorbitant amount of interest Huang charged. And as much as she hadn’t believed him when he’d said there were no strings attached, at the time it had been her only option. But if he wanted more, she didn’t have the sort of money he’d demand just lying about.
And the trouble was he was right; if Alfie realised that she’d paid Huang off a couple of months ago, and kept quiet about doing so for her own gain, she knew he would walk away without even a goodbye.
So the bottom line was: there was just no way Alfie could find out before he’d dealt with Vaughn and Balantyne, otherwise she’d be likely to rot in this place forever – and that thought kept her awake at night.
Rubbing her head and feeling more stressed than she had done in a while, Franny, unable to stay in the confined space any longer, marched straight out of her cell and right into the arms of Christine Lucas.
&n
bsp; ‘Franny! Now this is a nice surprise.’
Not in the mood for Lucas at the best of times, Franny snarled, clenching her fists as she did so, ‘What do you want, Lucas?’
‘For a start not to be spoken to like that.’
Franny stepped forward and with her face inches away she shook her head, her eyes darkening. ‘Lucas, I’m only going to talk to you any other way when I have some respect for you, and that’s never going to happen.’
Christine’s eyes flashed with anger but she stopped herself launching at Franny as a group of officers stood nearby. The tallest officer shouted across, ‘Don’t even bother starting trouble, ladies, otherwise the whole wing will be on lockdown until Monday morning. So think on, unless of course you want to spend forty-eight hours banged up.’
Christine Lucas spun around and faced the officer. She pulled up her top, exposing her large, saggy breasts. ‘Trouble? Us? We’re lovers not fighters, miss!’ She cackled.
The officer, not impressed in the least, said, ‘Well make sure it stays that way, Lucas.’
Under her breath, Lucas murmured, ‘Fuck you, bitch.’ Then immediately she turned her attention back to Franny. ‘We’re going to pay a visit to one of your friends.’
Franny frowned. ‘What are you talking about now?’
‘Jessie. She and I need to finish off our conversation we were having in the showers … Why don’t you come along for the show, pet?’
Without waiting for an answer, Lucas barged past Franny and marched along the corridor followed by four of her cronies. For a moment Franny thought better of it – she really didn’t want to get involved in any agg – but thinking of how Christine had cut up the young girl in the shower, Franny found herself walking speedily down the corridor towards the others.