by Jacqui Rose
Hating having to negotiate with Lucas, Franny chewed on her lip a moment, getting her temper into check before coolly saying, ‘Because, if you beat her senseless, Christine, she’s likely to tell you anything you want to hear and it won’t necessarily be the truth. But it’s down to you of course. I want to get to the bottom of this just as much as you do but I’m interested in the truth, nothing else. Don’t forget I’ve spent a few days locked up with her – she’s more likely to talk to me than you.’
Franny kept her gaze steady, watching Lucas weigh up what she’d just said. ‘Fine, but you’ve got ten minutes, Doyle, and then it’s my turn.’ Christine winked and licked her lips and walked away, gesturing to her cronies to follow.
At the door, Christine turned and looked at Franny. ‘I’ll be just outside … waiting …’
50
The door closed and immediately Emma scrambled up and rushed to Franny. Desperate, she clung to her, holding and gripping her top as she trembled. ‘Don’t let her touch me! Please, don’t let her touch me. Please.’
Franny held Emma’s hands. ‘Calm down. Calm the fuck down, Em!’
‘I can’t! I can’t!’
‘Stop, Emma! This ain’t going to do you any good.’
But unable to stop, Emma continued to shake, and, knowing that Lucas was outside the door counting down the minutes, Franny grabbed Emma and dragged her towards the shower causing Emma to scream even more.
Holding on to a struggling Emma, Franny lifted her leg and used her foot to flick on the shower. The next minute, she threw Emma under the cold water and as Emma spluttered and gasped, Franny spoke to her firmly. ‘Now listen to me, Emma, you need to calm down, as you know Christine is right outside waiting for me to go and give her answers. If you value your life, you’ll start talking.’
‘Why are you doing this to me? Why are you doing this?’
Emma tried to run out of the shower cubicle but, blocking her escape, Franny pushed Emma back under the cold water.
She tilted her head as she looked at Emma, who was now shivering and trembling but had finally stopped crying. ‘I ain’t doing anything, Emma – it’s you who’s come in here trying to find out what’s going on. I have to admit, you were good; not many people can scam me, but you did, Em. And for some strange reason, even though you’ve tried to turn us over, I ain’t looking for you to get hurt – but if you don’t tell me, I can’t protect you from Lucas.’
The look of genuine confusion and shock on Emma’s face surprised Franny so much she flicked the shower off and listened closely to what Emma had to say.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. I swear. I came in here because my husband set me up. I told you that before – and anything else I can’t help you with.’
As Emma said the last part of the sentence, she looked away causing Franny to say, ‘You ain’t telling me the full truth are you? There’s something else, I just know it.’
Dripping wet and still not looking at Franny, Emma shook her head. ‘There isn’t.’
‘I don’t believe you and if I don’t believe you, Em, Lucas certainly won’t.’
‘I can’t tell you what I don’t know, and I really don’t understand what you want me to say.’
Franny stared at the top of Emma’s head. ‘It’s simple; I want to understand why there’s a rumour going around that not only are you a copper’s wife but you’re also a plant.’
Emma’s head shot up. She stared at Franny. ‘That’s not true, that’s not true! That’s crazy.’
‘Problem is, these rumours don’t just come from nowhere.’
Remembering what Officer Brown said about keeping her background a secret, Emma continued to deny all knowledge. ‘Well, this one does.’
Franny stared at Emma sadly and then glanced pointedly at her watch. ‘Em, I know you’re lying – or at least I know you’re not telling me everything. I’m not the bad guy here, but in less than five minutes, Lucas and her cronies are going to walk through that door. Is that what you want?’
With the look of a startled rabbit, Emma shook her head. ‘Of course, I don’t but I—’
Cutting in again, Franny said, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’ve already heard it, you don’t know anything about the rumours … Fine, Em, if that’s the way you want it, but don’t say I didn’t warn you, babe.’
As Franny got up and started to walk towards the door, Emma shouted after her in a panic. ‘Wait, no! Please, no! I’ll tell you. But it’s not what you think.’
Franny gazed at her coldly. ‘Well that all depends what I’m thinking, doesn’t it?’
Emma began to cry. ‘Please, Franny, don’t make this harder …’
‘Just say it. Your tears won’t help, and they certainly won’t make me feel sorry for you. I’ve never liked a snake and I ain’t going to start now.’
‘But that’s the point. You’ve got it all wrong. It’s nothing like that. He did the dirty on me. He set me up; I’m only here because of that. Though I wasn’t even supposed to come to this prison in the first place – or that’s what they tell me. It’s only because of overcrowding in Eastwood Park and Drake Hall, as well as someone messing up on the paperwork. But the point is they were waiting for the admin to come through to move me to Hi—’
Franny cut her off. ‘I ain’t looking for an A to Z of her Majesty’s prisons, I just want answers, Em … Is your husband the Old Bill?’
Wringing her hands in her lap and keeping her eyes on the shower room door, Emma nodded. ‘Yes … yes he is, but I hate him, you’ve no idea how much I hate him … He’s an abusive cheat and a liar – and okay, yes, my drinking got out of control but it’s only because of him and her. And I never, ever did what they say I did. I never tried to kill anyone. It wasn’t even me driving.’
Franny pushed her against the wall. ‘But you’re still married to the Old Bill.’
Emma screamed and beat her fists against Franny’s chest. ‘And I wish I wasn’t! Look at me, look at my face. You have no idea how much he hurt me! He hurt me, Franny, and I just want him dead! I just want him dead! And if I ever get out of here, I’m going to kill him. You hear me? Do you understand what I’m saying? I want him dead.’
Franny didn’t move as Emma fell weeping against her shoulder. For a moment Franny stayed frozen – rigid and emotionless – then slowly, unexpectedly, she found herself putting her arms around Emma and holding her tightly. ‘It’s okay, Em. It’s okay. Look, don’t cry … I’m sorry okay; I don’t want you to be upset. This place is hard enough already without us turning on each other.’
Emma looked up. ‘But what about Lucas?’
Franny glanced at her watch. ‘Look, I’ll sort her, but you have to trust me on this.’
‘I don’t understand.’
Franny smiled warmly. ‘You will.’ And with that, Franny raised her fist and smashed Emma in the face with lightning speed, blacking her eye before bringing back her fist to strike Emma in the mouth.
Emma shrieked and held her face, crying so much she couldn’t speak.
Moving Emma’s hands away from her face, Franny gave her another smile and quickly gave Emma a hug. ‘I’m sorry, Em, I had to do that. I’ve got to make it look realistic. I don’t want them to go after you. Trust me, okay? I’ve got to make sure Lucas believes—’
Before Franny could finish her sentence, Lucas walked in followed by her cronies. She had a huge smirk on her face. ‘Have we got our answer yet?’ She stopped in her tracks as she saw Emma’s bloody lip and her swollen and bruised black eye. ‘I’m impressed, Doyle, I see you meant business. I wasn’t sure for a minute; I thought you were all talk.’
Franny stood back and shrugged. ‘Well it’s not just you who can raise your fist. Difference is I don’t need a band of bitches behind me.’
Lucas’s cronies lurched forward towards Franny but Lucas held them back. ‘Leave her, we’re all on the same side.’
Franny shook her head. ‘We’re not, but I don’t like snakes any more
than you.’
Lucas chuckled, her Geordie accent dancing with amusement. ‘You’re a brazen bird, Franny Doyle. It’s a shame we’ll never be friends. Howay, you want us to take over?’ Lucas nodded her head towards Emma.
‘No. Turns out your source was wrong.’
‘In what way?’ Lucas frowned.
‘Turns out Little Bo-Peep here ain’t married to the Old Bill, she’s married to some fucking watchdog. A security guard from over at Poplar. That’s the problem with rumours; one minute you’re married to a dustbin man, next thing you know people are saying you’re with the getaway driver.’
‘How do we know it’s true?’
Franny shrugged casually. ‘I’m going to get someone to check it out. She’s given me the name of the place he works. If it turns out she’s lying, then I’ll be the first to let you know, because I don’t like being made a mug of. So sorry to disappoint you, but there’s no drama to be had here, Christine.’
Lucas stared at Emma and then at Franny before she shrugged and, without saying anything more, she sauntered out the showers, followed by her crew. Emma and Franny left a few minutes later.
In the corridor of the prison, Emma whispered in Franny’s ear. ‘Thank you, Franny. I owe you – and I tell you, if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to make sure my husband pays. I’m going to make sure the mighty Detective Balantyne gets what’s coming to him.’
Suddenly, Franny pulled Emma into the nearest empty cell. She stared at her. ‘What did you say?’
‘I said I owe you and—’
Agitated, Franny urged, ‘Not that, the name. The name of your husband. What did you say his name was?’
‘Balantyne. Detective Tony Balantyne.’
51
Later on that Monday evening, Charlie opened the door. It was dark and he couldn’t hear anything as he walked along the corridor of Vaughn’s flat. He’d heard Shannon go out but he wasn’t so sure about Vaughn, and yes, it was a risk, but what else was he supposed to do? He was hungry. Before she’d decided to try to kill him, Shannon had brought in a shopping bag of food, but he’d got through that, so the only option left to him was to find the kitchen and make his own food.
He chuckled at the thought of Shannon’s face if she caught him naked in the kitchen. He had a good mind to take a bath as well, because even he could smell he needed one. And what was the point of making this place his home if he didn’t treat it like one?
Scratching his large, sagging testicles, Charlie shuffled along the lengthy hallway, turning a corner to head towards the kitchen, which was situated on the far side of the sprawling apartment, but he stopped as he heard a noise coming from Vaughn’s bedroom.
He listened again, then taking another step closer, he leant towards the door, which was slightly ajar. He smiled … Snoring. He could hear Vaughn snoring.
Still smiling to himself, an idea came to him and he crept very carefully into Vaughn’s room, making his way towards the en suite. At the doorway, he glanced back over his shoulder quickly before heading into the bathroom.
Looking around, Charlie saw what he was after. He reached for the tube of toothpaste and popped off the top. Then with a huge grin on his face, he drew a love heart on the mirror with the words, I love you, written in the middle of it.
He laughed so much he broke wind and had to hold on to the sink to stop himself from stumbling about with laughter. But suddenly he heard the front door and he crept behind the black shower curtain as he heard Vaughn stir and call out very loudly, ‘Where’ve you been, Shan? Shan? Shan?’
Having missed the bus from the prison, an exhausted Shannon walked into the darkened room. ‘Hey, sorry I’m late.’
‘I was worried. Where’ve you been?’
Shannon, seeing Vaughn resting on his bed, his broken face lit up by the moonlight, smiled, and lying she said, ‘I … I just feel terrible about Mia. I just needed to go for a walk.’
Vaughn flinched as he smiled sadly. ‘I’ve tried to get in contact with Alfie again but it just keeps going to voicemail. I’ve got a good mind to go around and finish off what we started.’
‘No! No!’ Shannon sprang towards Vaughn on the bed and he looked at her strangely. ‘I mean … what I mean is look at you. You’re hurt. You could’ve been killed …’
‘He’s the one who’s going to be dead, not me. Mark my words.’
Shannon looked at him wide-eyed. ‘But it may not be him. What if it is you? I don’t know what I’d do if … if anything happened to you.’
‘Shan, you don’t have to worry about me, I can look after myself.’
‘But I do worry, cos I know you’re worried. I heard you on the phone to Balantyne … I heard you say if Alfie found out he’d kill you.’
Annoyed, Vaughn pushed Shannon to the side as he got out of bed and walked across to the crystal decanters he kept on the bedside dresser. He poured himself a large whiskey, trying once again to push the fact that Shannon had robbed him out of his mind. ‘Why are you listening to my conversations? Ain’t anybody told you how fucking rude that is?’
‘I didn’t mean to, but it wasn’t like you were keeping your voice down. I was upstairs in the games room watching TV when you were in the office. You had your door open.’
Knocking back the drink, Vaughn stared at her. ‘Maybe if you didn’t hang about out here all the time, instead of going into your room, then you wouldn’t hear anything, would you? I wanted to say something before but I think it’s odd. I mean if you don’t like your bedroom just tell me. If you want to swap to one of the bigger ones, that’s fine as well. Or we can even decorate and change the dining room into a bedroom. Just let me know, cos I don’t know what’s wrong and why you’re hanging around like a lost dog.’
Feeling uneasy not for the first time that day, Shannon looked pained. She wanted to tell him everything. She wanted to tell him about Franny and about Charlie lying dead a few feet away, but she just didn’t know how, and with the image of Charlie in her mind, she began to shake. ‘I thought you didn’t mind me being about. You said to treat this place like my own.’
‘That’s right, I did. And I mean it. But I can’t understand why you’re sleeping on the couch or even the other rooms when you’ve got a bedroom and a bit of privacy. Come on, Shan, help me out and tell me what’s going on.’
‘I just don’t like sleeping in there … cos I’m getting nightmares, that’s all.’
‘Nightmares?’
She nodded and Vaughn’s shoulders slumped. He hated to say it but Alfie had been right; the kid had come from the sort of background that he couldn’t even imagine.
The abuse she had been through was horrific to think about, let alone live through. When it came down to it, she’d been amazing; she’d broken the cycle. When so many people he knew were still caught up in it, she’d escaped – from her past and from Charlie, and if she needed to sleep on the sofa, or disappear on walks, or even squirrel some money away to make her feel secure, so be it.
‘Shan, I never knew. Why didn’t you tell me?’
Hating lying to him even more than she was already and wishing she could just tell him the truth, Shannon shrugged. ‘I dunno, I just feel better on the couch or crashing in the games room. I don’t know why, but I do, and I thought you might think it’s silly if I told you about the dreams. Like I was a baby.’
‘Of course I don’t. Fuck me, girl, I told you already, I’m proud of what you’ve achieved …’ He trailed off, deciding not to add that he was disappointed in her for robbing from him because, whilst it did piss him off no end, it wasn’t the end of the world – after all she certainly was a messed-up kid. ‘Look, how about we go and get something to eat? We could go to that nice Italian on Greek Street, take our mind off what a shitty couple of days it’s been.’
For the first time that day, Shannon felt safe, but it was short-lived as she felt her phone buzz in her pocket and saw a text from Franny, which read:
Change of plan, don’t go and
talk to Balantyne until I speak to you. Come and see me on Wednesday. Make sure you do, otherwise I’ll get Alfie to pay a visit to Vaughn and we’ll see how much Vaughn wants you then, once he knows about your secret little habit.
Shannon’s face paled and her hands shook, and she pushed the phone back into her pocket.
‘Who was that from, Shan?’
She shrugged. ‘No one … No one. It’s a delivery message. I … I just texted Alfie earlier to ask how Mia was.’
Vaughn looked at Shannon sympathetically. ‘You’re not the only one who misses her … Look, let me just jump in the shower, and we’ll hit the town, shall we?’
As Vaughn walked into his en-suite bathroom, Charlie stood naked, keeping very still behind the shower curtain. He peeked with interest through the small crack between the curtain and the grey-tiled wall and suddenly realised Vaughn was heading towards him.
Charlie breathed deeply, psyching himself up, waiting for the big showdown, excitement filling his body as he imagined what Vaughn would do when he found him there. Holding his breath he waited as Vaughn put his hand on the shower curtain, but suddenly he saw Vaughn catch sight of the mirror and freeze. Charlie watched with curiosity.
Shock crossed Vaughn’s face as he saw the toothpaste heart on the mirror with the words, I love you, scrawled on it. He frowned and then shook his head, remembering what Alfie had said about Shannon having a crush on him.
He hadn’t believed it but the evidence was right in front of him, and not only that, he had to admit it gave him a weird feeling, knowing that Shannon had come into his bathroom and written a message to him … It made him feel uncomfortable because, besides anything else, the last thing he wanted was to lead a kid like that on … Fuck.
Quickly, and angry with himself for being so stupid, Vaughn rubbed the toothpaste off the mirror before stomping back through to the bedroom. Maybe having Shannon stay wasn’t the cleverest thing he’d done. He thought he’d been helping her but perhaps all he’d done was put ideas into her head. Well, he was going to put a stop to it. Draw the line … Fuck, he had no idea what he was supposed to do in this situation. He wasn’t sure if he was meant to be angry? Understanding? Cold towards her? Who knew?