Mickey's Way

by Karen Clow

  They said the name of every club they could think of in Soho, until Den finally remembered it was called the Pink Lady.

  Mickey called directory inquires and asked for the phone number then passed his dad the phone. A young woman answered. Den said he was the bookkeeper and asked to speak to Donny.

  “Fuck me, Denny Mann!” said a man’s voice a few minutes later, “this is a blast from the past; you’re the last person I expected to hear from. How are tricks, are you still cooking the books?”

  Den laughed and said he got out of the game ten years earlier. He was looking for information on a Joe Webb.

  “Fuck me Den, that was a long time ago, don’t you remember? He took the fall for one of Ronnie’s boys; it must be around thirty years ago now. One of Ronnie’s boys fucked up on a job, the Old Bill knew it was one of Ronnie’s crew. Joe Webb was the new boy; he’d only been on the payroll about a year. He had nothing to do with it, but Ronnie told him if he took the rap he would only have to serve a couple of years, whereas the one who done it would have been looking at ten to fifteen, because he had a record as long as your fucking arm. Joe agreed to take the fall, you must have made the pay off twenty grand, or thereabouts. That was a fucking lot of cash back then. If memory serves me right, Ronnie looked after him ok and his family while he was doing the stretch. Then some fucking queer stabbed him in the showers. Ronnie had the queer taken out the following week.”

  It started coming back to Den. He asked Donny, if Joe had any kids.

  “A boy and a girl I think, he married Rita Sullivan the Irish tart. I remember her, because I fucked her several times while Joe was inside.”

  They both laughed as Den said he thought he did as well. Thanking him for his help, Den would buy him a drink next time he was in Soho. Out of interest Donny asked why he needed to know about Joe Webb. Convincingly, Den said he was asking for a friend who was having a bit of bother with a Joey Webb and the name rang a bell. After ending the call, Den put the phone down and told the others what Don had said.

  Mickey would call Lenny first thing in the morning; with that information. Hopefully he would be able to dig something up. Shaun asked if they thought there was a connection with this Spider because of his dad.

  “Seems a fucking big coincidence Shaun, but stranger things have been known to happen. I wonder if his mum is still alive, maybe Lenny can look into that.”

  Mickey poured them all another drink before telling them he’d like a couple of hours on his own with Maria on Saturday, if that was ok with them. His plan was to send everyone off to MacDonald’s. Shaun grinned, he was certain they could give him a couple of hours. Then he joked and added he hoped Mickey’s intentions were honourable and there wouldn’t be any dirty goings on. Everyone laughed as Mickey said of course not. He was thinking of taking a nice walk round the grounds then having a nice cup of tea or something.

  “If it was me son, I’d skip the walk and the tea and get straight to the something!”

  “Well that’s because you’ve got a one track mind Dad and I’m a cultured gentle soul.”

  “Fuck me it must be time for bed,” said Shaun “Mickey’s delusional; he’s clearly drunk too fucking much!”

  CHAPTER 9

  They had just finished breakfast when Shaun said he’d just seen a young lass walking across the garden. Mickey enlightened him. It was Sarah; she mucked out the stables and exercises the ponies for them. Mickey wanted to see her as she’d looked after them while they were in London. Telling the twins to put their hats and coats on then they could all go and see Sarah. Melanie asked if Uncle Shaun was coming. The big Irish man smiled and said of course he was. Maria smiled and mouthed the words, ‘thank you’ to him.

  Sarah was just leading the ponies into the paddock so she could muck out the stables, when the twins ran across to her.

  Mickey asked her if everything had been alright while they were away.

  “Fine, Mr Mann, my dad came back with me in the evenings to lock the ponies up, because mum worried about me being here on my own.”

  Mickey smiled and invited her to ride with the others later that day. Thanking him, she said she could come back later, but she had to go into town with her mum to buy some new trainers. Mickey handed her some money, it was a bonus for the extra hours she’d put in. She could buy some trainers with it.

  Mickey told the twins to help her and then he asked Shaun to keep an eye on them, so he could call Lenny while Maria wasn’t there. Shaun helped the girls feed the ponies.

  Outside Mickey was on his mobile telling Lenny about the possible connection to Joe Webb. Lenny said he would see what he could dig up and he remembered Rita Sullivan from way back, long before she was married. When he was a cop he’d booked her a couple of times for rowdy behaviour and being drunk and disorderly. She was a right bad lot, but fucking sexy, she looked just like Marilyn Monroe a dead ringer in fact. He wondered what happened to her. He hadn’t had much luck at the pub the previous night, but he would try again later. When the call ended, Mickey joined the others in the stable.

  As the twins ran into the house, Maria told them Aunty Monica was on her way with the boys and would the twins like to help her ice some cakes she’d made for their friends? They were keen and a few minutes later they were ready to help. Shaun cracked a joke as he watched them.

  “Aye, I bet Fannie Craddock is turning in her grave!”

  Everyone laughed because he was referring to the mess the twins were making with the chocolate icing.

  Back in the lounge the others talked about the twins and how they seemed to be coping with what had happened. Mickey knew it was going to take time, but kids were very resilient and hopefully in time they’d forget all about it. In Shaun’s opinion it would be hard for them not to with a mother like Maria. Everyone agreed. Mickey agreed they were all lucky to have her; she certainly was a wonderful wife and mother. Mary looked lovingly at him and thanked him when he added, he had a wonderful mum.

  “Aye,” interrupted Shaun “I wish I’d had parents like you people.”

  Mickey had never heard him mention his parents; he had just assumed they were dead. Out of curiosity he asked what he meant.

  “Well, my dad wasn’t worth a bucket of cold piss and me mum was as bad. Me and me brother and sisters were scared of them, especially when me dad had been drinking, which was most of the fucking time. I suppose me mum just gave up, she rarely cooked or cleaned, she spent more time at church than with us kids. I suppose it was guilt because of the way things were, she could be dead now for all I know and more to the point I don’t fucking care, she was cruel and spiteful. I always thought she hated me because I looked just like me old man. When me old man died back in the late seventies she went back to Ireland, never heard from her since. My brother Liam was killed on his motorbike when he was nineteen. My sister Noreen married a soldier and the last I heard, they were living in Germany; she rang me a couple of years ago. As for my sister Bridgette, I don’t know where she is, she was the youngest. Last time I spoke to her was about ten years ago, she was working in a factory down the West Country somewhere; she was trying to save enough money so she could travel. She never wanted to marry or have kids; I think her childhood put her off. I tried to find her about five years ago, but she moves around a lot. Still, I’m blessed and thank God I’ve got Ann and the kids, she’s a good woman. She’s always kept me on the straight and narrow and she won’t take any lip from the kids either. Aye they broke the mould after my Ann.”

  Maria walked into the lounge with the twins. They had finished their baking Shaun grinned; he’d be sampling those cakes later. Maria giggled; the girls had put initials on each one, except for Shaun’s he’d got two as there was a spare.

  “Aye well, that’s because my girls know I like cake more than anyone else.”

  They all laughed as Melanie said, “Yes you do!”

  Mickey heard a car pull up? Maria looked out of the window, Monica and the boys had arrived. The twins ran to
the door.

  Maria hugged the boys as they came in and Harry excitedly told her they’d got carrots for the ponies. Suggesting they kept their coats on, Maria said they could go and feed the ponies. Monica walked in and on asking Mary how she was feeling, noticed the look on everyone’s faces and knew something wasn’t quite right. Looking down at the twins she asked what they’d been up to. Neither of them answered her, they both looked at their mum. They obviously thought she was referring to the kidnapping. Monica was just about to say something when Shaun appeared, she hadn’t realised he and Ann were coming down.

  “Ann’s not with me darling, I’m just staying for a few days. Now did I hear someone say they’ve got carrots?”

  Mickey could tell that she was suspicious and he didn’t want the twins saying anything in front of the boys. So he suggested them all going over to the stables with the kids, but Monica should stay and have a cuppa. Maria knew he was giving her the ok to tell her friend.

  Once the house was empty the two friends sat at the kitchen table drinking their tea.

  “Ok what’s going on Maria and don’t say nothing because I know something is I’m your best friend and I’m not stupid.”

  Maria had intended to stay focused and tell her calmly and briefly what had happened, but as she looked at her she burst into tears and blurted out, “If I tell you, you’ve got to promise not to say or do anything. The twins were kidnapped Monica, it was terrible, I was so frightened they would kill my babies.”

  Her friend listened with disbelief as Maria continued; only stopping when Monica asked her to calm down as she was becoming hysterical. As Maria slowly regained her composure, Monica said she should have called her, perhaps she could have helped. Maria confessed she had wanted to, but couldn’t take the chance. Monica wasn’t surprised to hear that Mickey had people looking for the kidnappers.

  “I know I’m a detective Maria, but I’m also your best friend, you should have known I would never have jeopardised the girl’s safety. I’ll talk to Mickey, maybe I can still be of help.”

  “But your involvement could jeopardise your job Monica.”

  “Not if I’m careful and you should know my work would never come before you and the girls.”

  Maria stood up and hugged her. They were hugging each other as Mickey walked in. Looking at them, he knew Maria had told her. Having been married to Monica he knew she was genuine when she said she wanted to help. Nodding his head he thanked her, but would fill her in on the details later as the others had just returned to the house.

  The twins took the boys into the playroom to play with their toys, under the watchful eye of Mary. It was a good opportunity for Mickey to tell Monica about the people he was trying to find. The moment he said the name Joey Webb Monica recognised it, first thing Monday morning she would look up his file.

  He told her that Lenny had a friend at the station that had already looked into it for them.

  “Ah, but he’s probably not in my department Mickey and I have access to more information.”

  When Maria suggested getting lunch ready, Mickey asked what she’d done as he was going to suggest everyone taking the kids for a MacDonald’s. Nodding she was only doing a buffet as she thought it would be easier with the boys there, but they could have it later.

  Monica said the boys would love MacDonald’s. Suddenly Maria remembered the conversation they’d had in the stable, although she never mentioned it, until he suggested them staying home and letting the others take the kids. Monica said she understood how Maria felt, but typically of Monica she giggled and said a break would do them good and nobody in their right mind would tackle Shaun. He could frighten people just by looking at them!

  They all laughed. The three of them headed to the lounge where Den and Shaun were watching the sports channel. Mickey called the kids out from the playroom, Mary was carrying Georgie. The moment he mentioned MacDonald’s they all got excited and jumped about, then Melanie asked if he was going with them. He could see she felt nervous about the prospect of going without him, so tactfully he told her they were staying behind to get a party ready for later. That seemed to please her.

  Two hours later they were ready to go. Shaun was driving their car taking the twins and Mickey’s parents. Monica was following in her car with the boys. They all waved as they pulled out of the drive. Maria noticed that Melanie looked worried as they left. When they were out of sight she questioned as to whether they should have gone with them. Mickey quickly reassured her they would be fine.

  Instantly she glared at him with a look of disbelief at what he’d just said and snapped, “I can’t believe you just said that Mickey, nothing happened! They were kidnapped for God sake! God only knows what they went through. They were terrified, how you can be so insensitive is beyond me!”

  “I didn’t mean it like that babe, what I meant was they weren’t molested or anything and it was short lived. Some kids are missing for weeks and then they turn up dead, or not at all.”

  At that moment, he knew what he’d said had made the situation worse. Her face said it all when she started to cry. Pulling her close to him, he hadn’t meant to upset her and he didn’t want to fight. She asked what he was doing when he walked away and locked the front door.

  “Just making sure we won’t be disturbed, because I’m going to make love to my beautiful wife.”

  Despite her apologising as she didn’t think she could make love, he took her hand and led her up the stairs. As they entered the bedroom; he closed and locked the door behind them. When he kissed her, she wasn’t very responsive. Kissing her again he asked her to relax, but he could feel that she wasn’t comfortable. Slowly he undid the buttons on her top, kissing her neck and shoulders as he took it off. Then he undid her jeans and put his hand down the front of them to touch her. Just standing there in front of him, again she said she was sorry but she didn’t think she could. Not about to give up that easily, he gently pushed her jeans down and asked her take them off and get on the bed. Then he undressed down to his boxer shorts and lay next to her. Although she tried to respond to him, her mind was on the twins. Telling her to relax, he slowly fondled her breasts through her bra before kissing them. Running his hands over her, he asked her to take her bra off. Sitting forward she undid it and then he removed it for her. As she lay back down, he took her nipple in his mouth and gently rolled his tongue over it, but he could feel how tense she was as he slipped his hand into her panties.

  Slowly he made his way down her body with his tongue. Unresponsive, she kept repeating that she was sorry. When she didn’t respond to what he was doing, he just said, “Sshh babe,” and carried on.

  Reaching her thigh with his tongue, he felt her tense up, but when she asked him to stop, he pretended he didn’t hear and carried on. It was only when he moved over, so he was lying in between her legs, he knew she was beginning to respond. When his tongue touched her, she ran her hands through his hair. A few minutes later, she was saying his name and pushing his head down harder onto her. At that moment he knew she wanted him, she was responding to her own bodies needs. Seconds later she was beyond control, calling out his name as she burst into orgasm. Gently he moved back up her body and she held him tightly as he entered her.

  “God babe, I’ve missed you,” he said as they made love.

  Squeezing his buttocks with her hands she pushed him harder into her as he came. Moments later they were laying in each others arms. When he told her how much he loved her, she burst into tears.

  “I’m so scared Mickey, what if those people come back? I love this house, but I don’t know if I can live here now. I never realised how vulnerable we are here.”

  He’d been thinking about that too and intended getting extra security. Even suggesting they could hire a bodyguard. Shaking her head she, didn’t want that. She wanted the girls to have a normal life, not a body guard. He talked about Tony and how he’d suggested them having a fence around the property and electronic gates at the bottom of the dr
ive. Smiling a half smile, she nodded at least then she could see who was coming to the house. He would ask Tony the name of the company he used. When he rolled over and kissed her again, she responded and told him she loved him and the girls so much. She would die without them. Kissing her cheek he felt the same way.

  Aware that she was concerned over the twins, he called Den’s mobile. Moments later he was talking to Den, holding the phone between them so she could hear. Den said everything was fine. They had just ordered their food and the kids were in the play area with Shaun and Monica.

  “I think we may need to call the fire brigade son if Madeline and Harry try and drag Shaun through anymore of those play tubes; he going to get stuck! Melanie is doing great she’s playing with Georgie. I think the other two are a bit boisterous for her. I’m going to have to go now; Mum’s just putting the grub on the table. Tell Maria she owes me a roast dinner tomorrow, this stuff looks about as appetising as an old boot!”

  They all laughed. Mickey ended the call saying, “Bon-appetite.”

  Since speaking to Den, he noticed that she seemed happier. They were kissing and cuddling when he suggested making love again. She looked surprised as it was less than an hour since they’d had sex. Kissing him as she straddled over him; taking him deep inside her. Now it was him, who was groaning with ecstasy with every thrust of her body.

  Afterwards they cuddled and talked about the twins. Finally she suggested they showered and dressed as they had party food to sort out. In an effort to spend longer in bed he said the party wouldn’t take long. Tickling him she ordered him to get in the shower.

  “Oh I love it when you get dominant babe maybe when the girls go back in their own room we should get out that little black leather number?”

  “Get in the shower stud or I may have to hurt you.”

  “See what I mean babe, you’re a natural dominatrix.”

  They had just put the last cake onto the plate, when they heard cars pulling into the drive. They opened the door, just as Shaun was about to ring the bell. The others were following behind him. The twins waved out to them. Their dad asked if they’d had a good time as they entered the house.