Poison

by Jacqui Rose

  Feeling completely out of his depth, he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door with Shannon following a few feet behind.

  ‘That was quick, you ain’t going to have a shower?’

  With his embarrassment over the situation turning to anger, Vaughn decided acting uncaringly would be the way forward, because at least then she would soon go off him and think he was just an idiot. He snapped, putting his plan into action, ‘No I ain’t. I’m going out.’

  ‘I thought we were going to the Italian?’

  ‘Sorry, darlin’, I’ve gone off the idea now … so I’ll see you later.’

  Like she had done with Alfie, Shannon ran after Vaughn. She grabbed him by his arm, wanting Vaughn to see how much she needed him to make her feel safe. ‘Have I done something wrong?’

  He turned to look at her, trying to figure out why he hadn’t seen this coming. He hated being hard towards her, but he was certain being this way would snap her out of it and in the long run it would be doing her a favour. ‘You haven’t done anything, Shan, I just changed my mind … after all you’re just a kid and I’m a grown man. I’m sure you can think of better ways to spend your Monday night. I know I can.’

  Tears came to Shannon’s eyes and Vaughn had to turn away to stop himself giving her a hug.

  ‘But that’s the thing, I couldn’t think of anything better. I like your company, Vaughn.’

  ‘Oh well, c’est la vie, as they say. I’m sure you’ll find another way to spend your evening.’

  At which point Vaughn, thinking he was doing the right thing, walked away, leaving Shannon fighting back tears, knowing exactly how she was going to spend her Monday night.

  52

  It was late as a scared and troubled Shannon made her way down the concrete stairs, and the busy streets of Chinatown had mostly become deserted, save for the few late clubbers and the old, drunken man at the corner of Gerrard Street, shouting at the top of his voice to no one in particular.

  Still upset from earlier, Shannon knocked on the basement door but it was a few minutes until one of Huang’s men opened it.

  ‘Hello, Shannon, I knew we’d see you again. Couldn’t keep away. Come on in … Don’t look so hesitant, Mr Huang will be delighted to see you.’

  Shannon hurried inside and followed the man to where Huang sat, playing, as he always did, a game of poker.

  Putting down his handful of cards, he nodded, peering at her over his rimless glasses. ‘This is a nice surprise.’

  Sounding distressed, Shannon shook as she blurted out the words she never thought she’d have to say again. ‘I ain’t got any money, but if you want me to work for you I will. I’ll do anything. I just need a hit.’

  Huang nodded and observed her for a moment before gesturing to a large man in his early seventies, who had a rotund, red nose, a huge stomach bulging over his ill-fitted jeans and was sweating profusely.

  ‘That gentleman over there has been waiting for one of the other girls to finish with their client. But seeing as you’re here and so willing – and from what I remember you were good at your job – why don’t you go over and pleasure him?’

  ‘And you’ll give me what I want?’

  Again, Huang nodded. He went into his pocket and placed a rock of crack cocaine on the table. ‘Yours for the taking, like it always was when Charlie left you without money.’

  Shannon reached out for it but Huang slammed his hand across it and smiled a sickly smile.

  ‘Yours for the taking after you’ve done what you need to do … He’s waiting.’

  Slowly Shannon turned and, feeling numb and like everything was beginning to spin out of control, she walked towards the man who began to fumble with his belt.

  As she knelt down in front of him, as she’d done with thousands of men before, she watched him unzip his trousers pulling out his swollen penis and she shuddered, choking back her tears as she opened her mouth in anticipation. And, not for the first time in her life, she wanted to forget who she was and the feeling that no one could ever love her.

  It was nearing midnight and Balantyne stood in the hospital room and shook his head as he stared down at Claire coldly. ‘That’s ridiculous, Claire, nothing like that happened.’

  ‘But I remember there was an argument, and you said you were going to take Emma home.’

  Balantyne’s face turned red. ‘No, you think you remember, that’s a different thing entirely.’

  Claire stared at Balantyne. ‘But I’m so sure about it. I can remember—’

  Balantyne interrupted, grabbing Claire’s hand hard. A little too hard for comfort. ‘Do you know what’s going to happen if you carry on saying things like that? I’ll tell you, shall I? People are going to start believing you, and then where will that leave me?’

  Claire looked down at her hand. She eyed him strangely. ‘Tony, you’re hurting me.’

  Balantyne gave a tight smile as he let go. ‘Am I? I didn’t realise. You must be feeling sensitive … I obviously don’t know my own strength.’

  Rubbing her hand, Claire gave Balantyne a small smile back but there was a flash of doubt in her eyes. ‘It’s fine, don’t worry about it … Look, are you sure that you didn’t say anything to Emma about driving her home? It’s just so clear in my head.’

  Balantyne slammed down his hand on the table, knocking the jug of water onto the floor. He raised his voice, his whole body shaking as he pointed at her. ‘I don’t know if it’s your bloody hormones or you’re just deliberately trying to be difficult, but you need to stop this talk, Claire. I told you what happened and that’s all there is to it. Continue like this and you’ll be sorry.’

  Shocked by Balantyne’s outburst, Claire turned her head away from him, staring out of the hospital window, which looked out over the field of the nearby cricket ground. Uneasily she said, ‘What’s going on, Tony?’

  Suddenly realising what he was doing, Balantyne rushed around to the other side of the hospital bed. ‘Nothing, nothing. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. What I meant was, you don’t want people to start questioning either mine or your judgement. Think of your job. You need to look like you’re still as sharp as you were before.’

  ‘I know, but if—’

  ‘If nothing, Claire. What I told you about the accident is how it happened. I don’t know why you keep on thinking about it.’

  ‘I just keep having these flashbacks.’

  Trying to keep his temper in check, Balantyne rubbed his temples before clenching his fists together. He hissed through his teeth, ‘There you go again. I don’t need this. I’m under enough pressure already without you making up stories in your head … I’ve got Emma to worry about and you, and then there’s work. I even had a call from that Mulligan girl – you know, the one who gave the statement against Doyle. She left a message telling me to call her back, but she’s got her phone turned off. I can’t get through …’ He suddenly stopped and gave an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry, you don’t want to hear my rant do you? The point is, it’s all getting a bit much – but of course I’ve got no right to take any of this out on you.’

  The room fell into a strained silence, save for the monitors, which beeped rhythmically in the background. Eventually, Claire nodded. ‘I understand, and you’ve been so good to me. You’ve been here day and night. Look, why don’t you go home and rest? Go on, it’ll be fine.’

  Feeling uneasy and agitated, Tony tried to keep his voice light. ‘If you’re sure? Maybe I could do with some sleep.’

  ‘I am, now go … and, Tony? You’re right, I can’t trust my memory.’

  Ten minutes later and certain that Balantyne had left the hospital, Claire reached for her phone and called a number. It rang twice before it was answered.

  ‘Hello, is that Officer Gibbs? This is Inspector Claire Martin. I was wondering if you could come over and talk to me … I wanted to have a chat to you about the accident again; I think I remember something else. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything – especia
lly not to Detective Balantyne … For the time being I want to keep this between ourselves.’

  53

  It was Tuesday morning and Alfie sat staring at Franny across the prison table. He didn’t want to be there and his mood was only made worse by the fact he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep. In truth, he hadn’t had one for the past couple of days.

  Mia had been grizzly and although Julie had offered to stay, he wanted to be the one who was there for her when she went to sleep and when she woke up – and boy didn’t she just constantly wake up.

  It was strange though – even after this short space of time, he wouldn’t have it any other way. He wouldn’t have Mia with anyone else now.

  Though that hadn’t stopped every single box in his head opening up. All he could do was think of Bree and everything that had happened to get them all where they now found themselves. And, yes, it was tempting to hand the reins over to Julie for the night and take a bottle of whiskey to bed along with a couple of grams of coke and a hooker too. But he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. And the anger he felt today towards both Franny and Bree sat on his shoulders like a raging monster.

  ‘Tell me how Mia is. I know you said on the phone Vaughn kicked off when you went to get her, but how is she?’ Franny smiled at Alfie, her face lighting up as she thought about Mia.

  Unlike Franny’s face, Alfie’s certainly didn’t light up; only a scowl appeared. ‘You really are something else. How the fuck do you think she is? She’s been pulled from the place and people she knows …’ Then sounding like a worried parent he added, ‘And on top of that I think she’s teething.’

  ‘But you’re coping?’

  Incredulously, Alfie said, ‘It’s a bit late to worry about that now, ain’t it? And let’s say I wasn’t coping. What then? You want me to take her back? What string are you going to pull now? Cos I’m only the fucking puppet, ain’t I?’

  Franny’s eyes narrowed. ‘You’re lucky I’m helping you.’ Then lying through her teeth she continued to say, ‘I paid Huang to back off, but he’ll only do that for so long because he wants what you owe him. So yes, Alfie, I am pulling the strings – because I’m helping you and don’t you forget that.’

  Alfie slammed down his plastic cup of water. ‘Let’s have it right, Fran, I’m the one helping you because if I walk away, you’re going to rot in here.’

  ‘If you walk away, you’re a dead man.’

  Alfie clenched his jaw. He wanted to throttle her; he wanted to wring the smugness out of her. ‘You’d like that wouldn’t you?’

  ‘Grow up, Alf, this will help both of us. I’m innocent and you’re desperate for three quarters of a million quid and counting.’

  Alfie stared at her for a moment. ‘Oh I’m desperate, all right, but let me tell you something: you ain’t innocent. Far from it. It’s like you’re playing a game of chess with us all. One day, Fran, you’ll really get yours. Be careful.’

  Franny leant towards Alfie and sensually stroked his face. She smiled as she whispered, ‘I hope that’s not a threat, Alfie, because if it is, that would be very silly of you.’

  Wanting to but unable to hate the fact that Franny was touching him, Alfie sneered. ‘Now who’s threatening?’

  ‘Oh I am, Alfie, and I’m warning you that I have another player in the game now and I’ve got big plans for them.’

  As Franny’s fingers caressed his neck, Alfie stopped her, grabbing hold of her hand. ‘Who are you talking about?’

  ‘Work it out.’

  Seeing one of the prison officers looking across, Alfie brought his voice down even lower than it already was – though he kept it firm. ‘I hope you’re not talking about Shannon.’

  ‘Who else?’

  ‘I ain’t saying I’m her biggest fan after her giving that statement, but we both know that Vaughn was behind it. So, once she retracts it, keep away, Fran. You hear me?’

  ‘Oh I’ve got bigger plans than that for her.’

  Alfie shook his head. ‘For fuck’s sake, she’s a kid. She’s sixteen, and she’s been used enough in her life without you doing the same. You know as well as I do the kind of life she led with Charlie. I’m just pleased he’s gone AWOL – means he can’t hurt her anymore, which doesn’t mean that you need to step into his shoes.’

  ‘Then she should’ve thought about that when she decided to go up against me.’

  ‘Fran, have you heard yourself? What happened to you?’

  Franny sat back in her chair, taking a sip of her coffee. ‘You sound like a broken record, Alf. Ain’t nothing happened to me. This is who I am, especially if I’m cornered. What do you expect me to do?’

  ‘I expect you to leave Shannon alone. I won’t let you hurt her.’

  Ignoring him, Franny changed the subject. ‘Tell me more about Mia.’

  ‘I said, leave her alone.’

  Franny’s eyes darkened. ‘Keep out of it, Alfie. You really think I’m just going to sit back in this place when I’ve done nothing wrong? I’ll do what I have to and if you’re wise, you’ll do what you have to.’

  Everything in Alfie told him to get up and leave, but how could he? How could he just tell Franny to go to hell? If he backed out, Huang would have him buried alive before the end of the day. That wasn’t even an option, because now he had someone apart from himself to think of … Mia … His daughter.

  ‘I hate you, you know that, Fran?’

  Franny gazed at Alfie. Even though his face was battered and bruised, he was still so strikingly handsome. She smirked. ‘But that’s the thing, Alf, you don’t hate me. You want to, but I’m in your head and your heart, so you might as well stop fighting it.’

  Incensed not only by Franny’s arrogance but by the fact that what she was saying was true, Alfie growled, ‘Just tell me what you want me to do now because the sooner this is over with, the quicker I can get on with my life.’

  Taking another sip of her coffee, Franny continued to stare at Alfie, her big brown eyes gazing intently at him. ‘There’s a safe deposit box in a jeweller’s, the diamond shop on the corner of Hatton Garden. As long as you’ve got the pass card – which you’ll find at my house in the bedroom safe – and the PIN, you’ll be able to access the room and deposit box. The deposit box has a PIN code itself; that one is your date of birth.’

  Alfie shook his head at the irony as he listened to Franny.

  ‘Anyway, you’ll find what you need in the box. You’ll know what to do with it. Let me know when it’s done.’

  ‘What’s done? For fuck’s sake, Fran, you’re speaking in riddles.’

  Franny began to stand up but she stopped and leant over, kissing Alfie gently on his lips. ‘You’ll know what I mean when you see it.’ Smiling she paused and knowing she had already paid Huang but needing to keep Alfie thinking she hadn’t, Franny added, ‘I’ll make sure that Huang gets his money once you’ve done this. Then you’re a free man and hopefully, I will be free as well … But don’t mess up, Alf, otherwise we’re all in big, big trouble.’

  54

  Having been to Franny’s to pick up the pass card, Alfie walked through Leather Lane Market, pushing his way through the crowds of city workers and tourists who were lining up outside the various cafés and stalls to get their lunch. He barged past the market traders who were chatting and laughing with each other as he made his way to Hatton Garden.

  Nearing the corner he felt his phone buzz. Sighing, Alfie pulled out his mobile and saw that it was Vaughn again. He had no wish to speak to him and had only half listened to the dozens of angry voicemails he’d left, which veered between asking about Mia and threatening to come around to shoot him.

  Tucking his phone back in his pocket, Alfie arrived at the diamond shop. The place reminded Alfie of the old-fashioned porn shops that had once taken centre stage in Soho; a black shop awning with blacked-out windows and a black door with a camera and buzzer entrance.

  Not knowing quite why he was feeling so uneasy, Alfie straightened his clothes and took
a deep breath before pressing the buzzer.

  The door clicked open, allowing Alfie into the store. There were four – no, five – security guards standing around the empty room and Alfie suspected the diamonds were all kept in the vault or various safes throughout the building.

  He shivered slightly; the air conditioning had been turned up slightly higher than it needed to be, causing a chill to sit in the air.

  As Alfie walked further into the room, he could hear his footsteps tapping on the marble floor and echoing around the silent chamber.

  ‘Can I help you, sir?’ A small Jewish man, dressed in an expensive suit, appeared at the entrance of a door on the far side of the room. He smiled, but Alfie could see it wasn’t reaching his eyes.

  ‘Yeah, mate, I’ve come to get something out of a safe deposit box.’

  The man looked Alfie up and down. ‘Certainly, sir, if you’ll come this way.’

  Without waiting for Alfie to say anything else, the man turned and went back the way he’d come, and Alfie found himself having to jog down a long white corridor to catch up.

  At the end of the corridor the man gestured to an electronic entrance door. ‘If you swipe your pass card and put in your PIN code, it will give you access to the safe deposit room. Once you’re in there, there’s another swipe machine. If you swipe or touch your card again, your safety box locker will ping open.’

  ‘A bit like the Amazon pick-up lockers then.’ Alfie winked.

  The man, clearly not amused, simply said, ‘Quite.’ And with that he left Alfie to enter the room.

  The safe deposit box room was even chillier than the shop had been. It was tiled floor to ceiling with large, cream marble slabs, along with row upon row of variously sized silver lockers. The only thing that stood in the room was a small table in the centre.

  Not wanting to wind himself up, Alfie tried not to think of Franny coming here along with all the secrets and lies she’d hidden from him, but feeling the familiar rush of anger, Alfie slammed the pass card against the swipe machine on the wall.