by Jacqui Rose
His first thought was that they’d found Claire and made the connection, or even linked him with the killing of the security guard, but then his friend had gone on to tell him it was to do with a compromise in the Doyle case.
He hadn’t known what it was, and his friend had been unwilling to share any more information, but the call had still made him feel uneasy. Made him feel paranoid, making him feel like it was only a matter of time before they did link him to the killings. And he wanted to get a head start, get out of the country, before they came looking for him.
‘The thing is, Tone, I wanted to come and tell you myself, or rather show you myself, how you helped me get out of prison.’
‘What are you talking about?’
Franny walked across the room to where Balantyne was standing. She grinned and blew him a kiss. Her tone was dark and nasty. ‘Thank you, Tony, I couldn’t have done it without you. I mean, if I didn’t think you were a lowlife piece of scum that I absolutely hate, I’d give you a hug. But hey, we can’t have it all, can we?’
Anger surged through him. ‘What the fuck are you talking about, you stupid bitch?’
Franny winked, pulling out of her pocket some printed photos before slamming them on the table. ‘These … Take a look.’
In horror, Balantyne stared at the naked photo of himself with Shannon. For a moment he couldn’t get his breath, his chest felt tight and his mouth went dry, making it hard for him to get out any words.
Franny narrowed her eyes as she glared at him. ‘Shocked? You don’t remember a thing, do you? It’s amazing what Rohypnol can do.’
Balantyne’s face screwed up. He trembled with rage. ‘You bitch! You fucking bitch! You set me up.’
‘That’s what happens when you try to play games with me, Tony. You’ll always lose, so what this is, is my big, sweet box of revenge.’
Unable to hold back any longer, Balantyne suddenly lunged at Franny, taking her by surprise and knocking her back into the wall. She stumbled and lost her grip on the gun, dropping it onto the floor.
Then scrambling for it at the same time as Balantyne, Franny reached forward but was dragged back by him grabbing hold of her hair.
He pulled her neck backwards before slamming her face into the floor. The pain rushed through her but she managed to twist her body around enough to send her elbow crunching into Balantyne’s face. The cracking of his broken nose filled the air.
‘Bitch!’ Balantyne rolled over, clutching his bleeding nose, and, taking the opportunity, Franny crawled along the floor, clasping her fingers around the gun. But, as she did so, Balantyne, having now got himself together, jumped up and stamped down on her fingers, causing Franny to let go. She yelled out in pain but pushing on, she threw herself at his legs, knocking Balantyne down onto the ground where they began to grapple.
Then in the distance, Franny heard the sirens and as they became louder Balantyne, not wanting to wait to see if they were coming for him or not, suddenly let go of Franny and scrambled up, running for the door. In the doorway, he turned to look at her as he wiped the blood from his nose. ‘This isn’t over; it’s far from over. I’m going to come after you. I’ll be back, make no bones about that, Doyle, and when I come, you better start running.’
As she watched him race down the stairs and out of the house, she started making her own way out. But as she got up she noticed Balantyne had dropped something out of his pocket when they’d been fighting.
Quickly she bent down and picked it up and saw it was an SD card. Frowning she slipped it into her pocket as she heard the sirens getting closer. The last thing she could afford was to be spotted here. The next moment, Franny began to run.
It was the early hours of the morning and, unable to sleep, Franny switched on her computer. She put the SD card in the slot and waited for the window to open, feeling curious. A moment later she found herself listening to two familiar voices. Tony and Emma Balantyne …
‘I hate you! I hate you! How could you do this to me?’
‘I said get off me! For fuck’s sake, you crazy bitch!’
‘Well if I am, it’s you who’s made me like this!’
‘Oh yeah, it’s so easy to blame isn’t it, Em? Because if you do that then you don’t have to look at yourself – and let me tell you it isn’t a pretty sight. You’re nothing but a drunk. Do you wonder why I ended up in bed with her? Do you wonder why I thought it was such a joke you wanted to start a family? Who wants a drunk for a mother?’
‘Stop the car, Tony, stop the car! I want to get out. Let me out!’
At that point Franny pressed pause and she rewound the clip slightly to listen to Emma’s last words again. ‘Stop the car, Tony, stop the car! I want to get out. Let me out!’
Franny smiled to herself. So Emma was telling the truth after all. With that thought, Franny picked up the phone and dialled a number.
‘Hey, Em, it’s me. Guess what, I think I’ve just got your get out of jail free card.’
68
It was still early on Friday morning and Franny stood in the basement of the Chinese restaurant on the corner of Gerrard Street, speaking to Huang. ‘This is the final piece in the jigsaw. I want this finished; I want it over. Alfie’s arranged to meet Vaughn later at the warehouse in East Tilbury – it’s the disused shipping site, you know the old motor factory by the river? And I want you to end it. Today.’
Huang nodded and stared over his glasses at Franny. ‘Ms Doyle, have you forgotten the last conversation we had? You didn’t want to pay what you owe me, but now you want me to do something for you.’
Franny stared hard at Huang. ‘I paid you everything already. Two months ago, I paid you what Alfie owes you, plus the exorbitant interest you charge. So, I’d say I had a clean slate. I don’t owe you anything else – you know that, and the fact that I didn’t pay you for something that was never in the contract can’t be held against me. In actual fact it’s to my credit I didn’t pay you any more money, otherwise you might see me as a pushover, and I’m far from that.’
A smile slowly appeared on Huang’s face. ‘It’s true what they say about you, Ms Doyle. You really do have balls of steel, and for that I respect you.’
Franny continued to stand tall. Her voice was firm. ‘I don’t need your respect, I just need to know that you’ll do what I’m asking you to.’
Huang tilted his head as he looked at Franny. ‘As someone who has balls, why don’t you do it yourself?’
‘Because I’ll be the obvious suspect. I need to keep my hands clean.’
‘Ms Doyle, your hands are dirtier than mine.’
‘Like I say, I can’t be involved, so I need to know you’ll do it.’
Huang looked up at the clock on the wall. ‘What time did you say Mr Jennings was meeting him?’
‘Not until much later. They’re meeting at 5pm.’
Huang asked, ‘Why at the warehouse?’
‘Because Vaughn thinks it’s neutral ground. They’ve met there before over the years – it’s the perfect place to do business away from prying eyes and ears. And it’s the perfect place for us to do what we need to.’
Huang went to sit down on the chair in front of a large table. ‘Have you got the money?’
Franny pulled out a large envelope from her bag. ‘Of course.’
She tipped the money onto the table. ‘There’s five hundred thousand pounds there. I think I’d call it enough, wouldn’t you?’
Huang stared at the money and then up at Franny. ‘You certainly want him dead, Ms Doyle … But I don’t see the rest of the money. What about the money you owe me for keeping my mouth shut with Mr Jennings?’
‘We’ve just been over this. I paid you all that you’re going to get.’
Huang smiled. He didn’t say anything for a while and then he said, ‘Okay, Ms Doyle, message heard loud and clear … Yes, we have a deal. I’ll do your job, and there’ll be no mistakes. And as of this moment, you can begin the countdown of the hours Mr Sadler has left on this earth.’
A chill of fear ran through her. She’d thought she was frightened before, but this was different. She’d never felt this scared in her life and her fear wasn’t for herself – it was for Vaughn.
She glanced around for a moment, peeking around the sofa, to check that no one was about. Then standing up, Shannon bolted for the door.
At the entrance of Vaughn’s flats, Shannon pressed the buzzer. She held her finger down on it, and then, not getting a reply, she pressed the buzzers of the other flats, but again she wasn’t let in. About to give up, Shannon saw one of Vaughn’s neighbours coming out of the building and as they opened the door she rushed through.
Speeding along the corridor and not bothering to wait for the lift, Shannon raced up the stairs, running harder than she’d ever done in her life.
On Vaughn’s landing she charged along to his front door, hammering on it loudly.
‘Vaughn! Vaughn! Vaughn! Please, I need to speak to you! Vaughn!’ There was no answer and Shannon, panicked, looked around.
From her jeans pocket she brought out the front door key that she still had. But putting it in the door, Shannon realised that Vaughn had changed the locks.
She pulled out her phone and dialled Vaughn’s number, but it went straight to voicemail, and with that, Shannon started to run back out of the block of flats. Whatever she did, she needed to find Vaughn before it was too late …
69
Alfie sat in the car, heading towards the warehouse. It was still raining and his thoughts were bouncing between Shannon and Vaughn.
He was worried about Shannon and he couldn’t help thinking that Franny was behind some of what had happened – but perhaps that was just him not trusting Franny. He didn’t know what to think and, as usual, his head was a mess.
He’d really wanted to phone Shannon, but he wasn’t sure what Franny had been saying to her or what was going on with the retraction of the statement. Jesus, he didn’t even know how Franny had been allowed out of prison.
He was in the dark about the whole situation and it pissed him off. It felt like he was being played. But what choice did he have? If anything happened to him – if Franny didn’t pay his debt – then Mia would have no one.
He’d tried to get in touch with Franny to ask her what exactly was happening with Vaughn, but his call had just gone to voicemail. The only thing he knew was he’d arranged to meet him at 5pm. But the problem was he didn’t know for certain if Vaughn would show up or not.
He wasn’t sure if Vaughn would be suspicious that they were going to meet at the warehouse. Not that they hadn’t met there before; they had, on many occasions, when they’d needed to sort things out on neutral territory. But, knowing Vaughn as well as he did, he hadn’t wanted to leave it to chance, so he’d left another message in addition to the original one about Shannon being in trouble.
He just hoped it would be enough to entice him to come. Because if it was, after that – after doing what Franny had ordered him to do – she would pay off Huang and he’d finally be a free man.
But, although it was cause for celebration, although being free of Huang was something he didn’t think was possible, he couldn’t help wondering why he had the sense something wasn’t quite right.
With a sigh and a sinking feeling in his stomach, Alfie looked at the car clock and accelerated, heading towards the docks.
Twenty minutes later, Alfie turned left, driving along the uneven track that took him across the wasteland to the derelict warehouses. It was five to five and in the far distance he could just make out Vaughn’s black Range Rover.
He parked up behind some old rusting oil drums, then pulled out his phone, dialling Franny’s number. Again it went to voicemail.
‘Franny, for fuck’s sake it’s me. Where are you? I’m here already, up by the old moorings. I can see Vaughn’s here, but I don’t know what you want me to do. Do you want me to speak to him first, or do you want me to wait for you? Just call.’
Needing to stretch his legs, Alfie lit a cigarette and got out of the car, but he was surprised to see three more black Range Rovers heading his way. Apprehensively, he looked around, wondering what the hell was about to happen.
The cars pulled up in front of him, blocking his path, and he spun round and stepped backwards, cursing the fact he’d left his gun in the car.
The blacked-out window of the first car opened. ‘Hello, Mr Jennings, it’s good to see you again.’
Alfie’s heart raced and he could feel the sweat beginning to run down his back. There was nowhere to run. There was nowhere to go.
Huang laughed. ‘Don’t look like that, we’re not here for you … well, not really.’
Refusing to let panic overwhelm him, Alfie asked, ‘Then why are you here? What game are you playing?’
‘Not me, Mr Jennings, Ms Doyle. I’m here because of Ms Doyle.’
Alfie’s gaze darted from Huang to his men. ‘What are you talking about?’
Huang stepped out of the car as he spoke. ‘Ms Doyle feels you can’t be relied on, so she’s recruited me to carry out my services.’
Alfie shook his head. ‘No … no, you’re lying.’
Laughing again Huang spoke quietly. ‘Mr Jennings, ask yourself why I would lie. I mean, I’m here, aren’t I? Ms Doyle wanted us to finish off a job. Extinguish the problem.’
‘That wasn’t the deal. No one said anything about killing Vaughn.’
Yawning, Huang stared at Alfie. ‘No, Mr Jennings, no one said anything to you, which is an entirely different thing. Now, if you’ll excuse us.’
Huang gestured to three of his men who came over. ‘Make sure Mr Jennings is looked after.’
The tallest of the men grabbed hold of Alfie’s arms and the other two held on to his body as he struggled. ‘What the fuck are you doing? Get your fucking hands off me.’
He tried to fight but he was no match for the three of them as they began to tie his hands behind his back and his legs together. Alfie, panicking and afraid that any moment they were going to throw him into the river, glowered at Huang. ‘Tell your dogs to get off me. You’ll get your money, it’s all been arranged. Franny’s going to pay you; call her if you don’t believe me.’
‘Mr Jennings, I’ve already been paid. Two months ago in fact. Ms Doyle made sure of that. She wanted to keep you alive.’
The fight fell out of Alfie. His face dropped. ‘What?’
‘Oh yes, she needed you alive to make sure that you’d do her bidding. Rather clever I think, but sadly Ms Doyle neglected to pay me for keeping my mouth shut. But then that was her choice. I did give her every chance to rectify that situation.’
‘I don’t believe you,’ Alfie growled, still in shock.
Huang shook his head. ‘Not this again, Mr Jennings. I have no reason to lie, no reason whatsoever. Why do you think you’re not dead? Did you think it was because I liked you?’ He chuckled as he gazed at Alfie’s shocked expression.
‘But then if she’d paid you, why did you come and—’
‘Give you a warning? Well, I had to make it look authentic, didn’t I? Though I must say she was very cross with me when I did that to you. She wondered why I had to hurt you so much.’
To himself Alfie muttered, ‘Fucking bitch.’
Huang smiled and said drily, ‘My sentiments entirely.’
Alfie stared at Huang; hurt and angry by Franny, but most of all wanting payback. He would get payback. Oh God, he was going to get her all right. But this time there’d be no let-off, no second chances; this time Franny Doyle had dug her own grave.
As Alfie considered everything, Huang turned to his men and nodded and they proceeded to bundle
Alfie into his own car, tying him tightly to the steering wheel.
‘Don’t worry, Mr Jennings, you won’t be here long. Ms Doyle just wanted you out of the way. She wanted to make sure you didn’t do anything stupid like warn Mr Sadler what we were going to do to him.’
Watching Huang’s men get a briefcase and a huge rectangular bag out of his car, Alfie asked, ‘And what’s that? What are you going to do to him?’
Huang smiled as he put on a pair of black leather gloves. ‘Oh, Mr Jennings, we’re going to have fun … Lots of fun.’
70
Along the riverfront, the harsh chill of the air cut through Vaughn’s clothing as he walked down the path of the warehouse, hearing the crunch of his feet on the stony gravel. Looking at his watch, he saw it was just gone five and he hurried through the long grass, making his way into the crumbling, derelict warehouse.
He pulled up his jacket, feeling the rain getting heavier, and wandered into the darkened warehouse he knew well. Over the years, he’d had meetings here, done drug deals here, got into fights here, bought and sold guns here, so it was the perfect place to get the mess with Alfie sorted or at least call a truce.
He walked along the abandoned corridors, which were strewn with rubbish; cans of beer and bottles discarded on the floor and broken glass and rusting metal sat along the floor. At the end of the corridor, which was pooled with water, Vaughn turned into the main area of the warehouse.
He shivered and pulled his jacket tighter around him. Behind him he heard a noise.
‘Alfie? Alfie?’ He walked forward, peering into the darkness but he heard no reply. ‘Alfie?’
‘Hello, Mr Sadler.’ Huang stepped out of the darkness and Vaughn swivelled around to run, but as he turned, he saw a group of Huang’s men blocking the entrance. He looked to the side and again, it was blocked by one of Huang’s men.
With his heart racing he began to back away towards the wall as Huang walked closer to him, his footsteps echoing around the warehouse.
Vaughn screwed up his face. ‘You fucking bastard, I’ve been set up.’