by D. S. Butler
“What happened?” Freddie asked straightaway. He’d been trying to speak to Babs alone for the last few days, but she’d been avoiding him.
“You know what happened, Freddie. Someone put a bomb in the car, and Martin got blown to smithereens.”
Freddie inclined his head and then said. “Yes, but who was responsible?”
Babs didn’t let her gaze drop from Freddie’s. “It could have been one of any number of people, Freddie. Martin had a lot of enemies.”
“He did. But it was my car, maybe they got the wrong man…”
Babs smiled. She admired Freddie. He knew just as well as she did that Martin had been the target. But he was using this as a way to wheedle more information from her.
“You don’t have to worry about that, Freddie. You were not the target.”
Red-haired Freddie’s lips quirked up in a smile. He’d been out of the real game for a while, and he had missed it. With Martin, practically losing his mind, things had been slow for a while, and Freddie was eager to jump back into the middle of things. Now that Martin was out of the way, he had high hopes that the Mortons would be back on top before long.
“It’s very strange that you wanted me to go to Walthamstow and leave the Jag behind that night. I suppose I have you to thank for a watertight alibi.”
Babs didn’t comment.
“The police have been around, asking questions about the car.”
“I wouldn’t have expected anything less. I trust you told them nothing.”
“Of course,” Freddie said.
“Now, we both know where we stand, why don’t you escort me back to the front of the church so I can play my role as the heartbroken widow.”
Freddie did as she asked, and as soon as Babs arrived at the front of the church, a number of people made a beeline for her. There were hundreds of the buggers who hadn’t wanted to give Martin Morton or Babs the time of day for the past few years, but now Martin was gone, they were here putting out feelers to see whether they could take advantage of the situation.
Freddie didn’t have time for parasites like that. He patted Babs’s hand and walked away. He caught sight of Tony standing only yards away.
He had a stony expression on his face and hadn’t noticed Freddie. He was staring at Babs. Interesting, Freddie thought, and he wondered just how much Tony had known about Babs’s plot to get rid of Martin. From the sour look on Tony’s face, Freddie thought they might be in for some fireworks over the next few months.
Standing together, close to their uncle, were Ruby and Derek. He supposed it was only right that both Martin’s children showed their face at his funeral, but it was a bit of a joke. Derek could never be much bothered with his father while he was alive. Freddie had always had a soft spot for Ruby, probably because in many ways she reminded him of his own daughter, Jemima, but Derek had always had a darkness about him, similar in many ways to Martin.
Freddie did what was expected of him and paid his respects to Derek when he’d arrived. He had done his duty. But there had been something in the young man’s eyes that chilled Freddie. Derek had the best education money could buy, and he spoke like a bleeding toff, but despite the superficial differences, there was no doubt that Derek was Martin’s son. Freddie was glad Derek had made his life away from East London because if the lad decided to stick around that could only mean one thing: trouble.
* * *
This was the worst day of Ruby’s life. She felt like her heart was breaking. She had cried herself to sleep for the past few nights, but she was determined not to cry and let the side down today. Her throat ached with the effort to hold back her tears.
No one else understood. They had all tolerated Martin Morton, but she had loved her father. Ruby had seen a side of him that no one else had, not even Derek. She’d known, even when she was a small child, that her father was unstable, but despite everything he had done, she had never been in any doubt that her father loved her.
She most certainly hadn’t agreed with his plans for her future, but she understood enough about him to realise he only wanted what was best for her.
There were so many people at the funeral, faces Ruby didn’t remember ever seeing before in her life, all laughing and telling stories, talking about a man Ruby didn’t recognise from their descriptions.
She glared angrily at the crowd of people around her and wanted to tell all of them to piss off and show some respect.
Derek put his hand on his sister’s shoulder. “It won’t be long now. We can leave soon,” he said as though he could read her mind.
She nodded and tried to smile at him. Thank, God, he had come today. She felt better just having him around.
Ruby looked around, scanning the groups of people around them. “Have you seen Grandma Violet?”
Ruby had been trying to keep an eye on her grandmother but had lost sight of her after the funeral service. If Martin had been able to see the effect his death had on his mother, he would never have doubted her love for him. Ruby had seen first-hand how Violet had always favoured Tony, but Martin’s death had devastated his mother in a way no one had expected. She had barely spoken a word since she’d been informed of his death.
Derek frowned. “She was with Uncle Tony just a moment ago.”
Ruby sighed. “I suppose we’d better go and look for her. She’s very fragile at the moment.”
Derek nodded, and they began to move through the crowds of people, looking for their grandmother.
In the next moment, although they couldn’t see her, they most definitely heard her.
“What the bleeding hell are you doing here?” she screeched.
The people around Grandma Violet stepped back, as the diminutive lady flushed with outrage.
In front of her, stood Mary Diamond and Jimmy.
“Oh, bleeding hell,” Ruby muttered and started to move towards her grandmother.
Mary Diamond had a smirk on her face. “We’re here to make sure the bastard is well and truly dead.”
Mary then started to laugh with delight as Violet leapt forward, attempting to scratch her eyes out. Luckily, Derek had made his way to his grandmother quicker than Ruby and easily restrained her with one arm.
He glared furiously at Mary and Jimmy.
“This isn’t the time or place, Nan,” Jimmy said firmly, grabbing onto his nan’s arm and escorting her away from Violet.
What on earth had Jimmy been thinking? Ruby hadn’t thought he was the type to rub their noses in it. She’d always felt sorry for Jimmy and believed if things had been different, perhaps they could have been close.
Derek tenderly guided Grandma Violet towards Ruby, who felt her own eyes fill with tears. Violet’s face was etched with pain as she looked at her grandchildren.
“My boy,” she muttered. “What am I going to do without my boy?”
Derek gathered his grandmother to him as she clutched his suit jacket and sobbed into his chest.
Despite her promise to herself to stay strong, Ruby felt tears begin to roll down her cheeks.
* * *
“What was all that about?” Babs demanded as they walked away from the church towards the cars.
Uncle Tony had a comforting arm around his mother’s shoulders, and Derek walked arm in arm with Ruby.
“It was just Mary Diamond sticking her nose in and trying to upset Grandma Violet,” Ruby said.
“That vindictive old cow! Why on earth did she come to Martin’s funeral?”
Ruby didn’t reply. She thought Mary Diamond’s reasons were obvious enough. Everyone knew that Mary Diamond had some weird vendetta and believed Martin had murdered her daughter. Personally, Ruby believed she was a little unhinged and felt sorry for Jimmy. He had definitely been at the back of the queue when they were handing out families.
Ruby noticed a look pass between Uncle Tony and her mother. They hadn’t been getting on too well recently, which was odd. They had always been so close, and Uncle Tony had been the one visiting her mot
her regularly in prison. Something was not quite right between them, though right now, Ruby was too preoccupied to wonder what it could be.
“Can we give you a lift to the station, Derek?” Uncle Tony asked.
“He isn’t going back to Southampton yet, are you?” their mother demanded. “You have to at least come back to the house for a little while.”
Derek squeezed Ruby’s arm. “Of course, in fact, I’ve been thinking about sticking around for a while.”
Ruby felt her spirits lift. That was the best news she had heard in ages. She looked up at her brother, but he was staring off into the distance.
Ruby followed his gaze, trying to see who or what he was looking at.
Jimmy Diamond stood on the opposite side of the road to the parked cars. There was no sign of Mary Diamond.
“Oh, that’s lovely news,” their mother said, beaming at Derek, oblivious to Jimmy’s presence. “Isn’t that wonderful, Tony? I’m sure you could use a hand running the businesses.”
“Great news,” Uncle Tony said, although he sounded less than impressed.
Derek was still glaring at Jimmy as he said, “I can’t wait.”
Chapter 53
Late that night, Jimmy stood on a hired fishing boat. The wind had picked up, and rain dashed the deck. Jimmy had realised he wasn’t cut out for life on the open sea pretty quickly, although at least he had managed to keep his dinner down, unlike Trevor, who had already thrown up twice in the short time they’d been on board.
The fisherman Jimmy had paid for this trip, was at the helm and cowering under the small amount of cover the boat provided. He had been paid enough to keep his mouth shut.
Jimmy glanced at Trevor. “Are you all right?”
Trevor, who had been leaning over the side of the boat, straightened up and nodded. “I will be just as soon as we get back on solid ground.”
The rain water was dripping off the oilskins both young men wore. Jimmy nodded at the wrapped up object on the deck.
“Are you ready?”
Trevor looked like he might throw up again, but he nodded. “Let’s get it over with.”
Jimmy took the head, and Trevor grabbed hold of the feet, and together they threw Gary Carter’s body over the side of the boat and watched it disappear beneath the waves and sink down to the seabed.
Trevor hadn’t wanted to be part of Gary’s punishment, but Jimmy hadn’t given him any choice. It was a crucial part of their agreement. Gary Carter had committed the ultimate betrayal, and this was justice. It was what he deserved.
It had been the first time Trevor had seen a man murdered and known he was responsible. But it wasn’t Jimmy’s first murder. He considered his first to be Geoff Blum, the evil bastard who used to beat Linda. Although Jimmy hadn’t been physically responsible for his murder, he had fed Dave Carter false information, which had resulted in the man’s death. As far as Jimmy was concerned, Geoff Blum was the first man he had killed.
Trevor stared at the sea for a long time, not tearing his eyes away even when the wrapped body of his uncle sank out of sight.
When eventually he turned to face Jimmy, he held out his hand.
They looked at each other eye to eye, and Jimmy shook Trevor’s hand. “Here’s to a new era.”
Trevor took a deep breath and repeated Jimmy’s words. “A new era.”
* * *
The following morning, Linda opened the front door to be greeted by Tim with a bunch of violets in his hands. So much had happened in the last couple of weeks. They’d spent a great deal of time talking, in the hope that they could get past their problems.
Linda couldn’t help smiling at Tim’s hopeful expression and invited him indoors. “We can have one quick cup of tea before I have to get to work,” she warned him.
He grinned happily and followed her inside.
As Linda poured him a cup of tea, she couldn’t help noticing how nice it was to be in Tim’s company again. She’d missed him. Although she could never forget the evil deed he had done, now that Martin Morton was gone for good, it felt like a weight had been lifted and they could have a chance to make things work.
They’d spoken in-depth about Kathleen’s death and how much Tim regretted it. That didn’t make it right, of course, but Linda did understand how he had been caught in an impossible situation.
Linda brought two cups of tea over to the kitchen table and sat down beside Tim. “How is Dave?”
Tim picked up his cup of tea and took a sip. “Pretty good. It looks like he’ll make a full recovery.”
“That is good news. Do the police know who was responsible?”
Tim hesitated. “Do you really want to know?”
Linda shifted uneasily in her chair. They’d talked about how important honesty was to them both, but Linda wasn’t sure she wanted to know the intricate details of absolutely everything Tim was involved in. She considered it for a moment and then nodded. “Yes, I do want to know.”
“Well, I don’t think the police have got the first idea, but it’s not a coincidence that Gary Carter is missing.”
“Surely he wouldn’t have tried to murder his own brother?” Linda said, looking shocked.
“It looks like he did.”
Linda picked up her cup of tea and shook her head. She couldn’t believe it.
“And have they found out who was responsible for the bomb that killed Martin Morton?”
Tim gave Linda a sideways glance and raised an eyebrow.
She quickly shook her head. “Forget I asked. I really don’t think I want to know.”
They chatted a little more about more mundane things, and Linda began to relax. Maybe they could make this work. If only she could forget about the kind of things Tim did for a living, she could be happy.
She said goodbye to Tim and gathered up the teacups to quickly wash them up before work. It felt nice to have Tim back in her life, maybe she owed it to herself to give him another chance.
* * *
As Linda was saying goodbye to Tim, Jimmy was at the convalescence home visiting Dave Carter. When his life was out of danger, Dave had been moved from the hospital to a small nursing centre near Hounslow. He was recovering well, and the doctors had said he would soon be allowed to return home.
A young nurse had led Jimmy to Dave’s private room. Dave sat in a high-backed armchair, wearing a dressing gown and slippers. It seemed odd for Jimmy to see the great Dave Carter like that.
“You are looking well, boss,” Jimmy said, cheerfully.
Dave looked up, folded the newspaper he’d been reading and placed it on the nightstand.
“Jimmy, it’s good to see you.” He nodded in dismissal at the nurse, who obediently left the room and shut the door behind her.
When they were alone, Jimmy moved closer to Dave and said, “You don’t have to worry about anything. It’s all been dealt with.”
Dave’s mouth formed a hard line as he stared at the floor.
“Gary has been dispatched,” Jimmy confirmed.
Dave looked up at Jimmy. “And Trevor?”
“He knows what he did was wrong. I really think Gary was behind it. He…”
Dave put up a hand. “Don’t. Don’t try to defend him.”
Jimmy fell silent. He waited for Dave to speak, but he said nothing, just stared at the floor.
Jimmy perched on the end of Dave’s empty bed. “He wants to come and see you, to explain.”
“I’m not sure he will be able to do that,” Dave said bitterly.
“He’s easily led,” Jimmy said. He wanted to add that Trevor craved attention from his father, but he didn’t dare go that far. “He’s desperate to please you.”
“He’s got a funny way of showing it. I don’t want to see him just yet, Jimmy. I’ve made a decision. I’m going to take a little holiday. Just to Spain to visit a mate of mine. I want you to keep an eye on things for me.”
You could have knocked Jimmy down with a feather. “Don’t you want Brian or Charlie to d
o it?” Both men had far more experience than Jimmy.
Dave shook his head. “No, I want you to do it. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, and you’ll go far. Do you know why I think that?”
Dumbfounded, Jimmy could only shake his head.
“All this business with Trevor. You kept your mouth shut. You’re good at reading people and handling delicate situations. That’s important.”
As Jimmy tried to process what Dave was telling him, he got an uneasy feeling. “I’ll do the best job I can, but how do I get in touch with you in Spain?”
“You don’t,” Dave said firmly.
“What do I tell Georgie?”
“You don’t have to tell him anything. He is coming with me.”
Jimmy nodded slowly. “You are coming back, though, right?”
Dave simply smiled.
Chapter 54
Babs Morton pushed open the doors and strode confidently out of the solicitor’s office.
An inquest had been held for Maud Montgomery’s death, and the coroner had ruled accidental death. Babs could hardly believe her luck. Of course, Red-haired Freddie’s visit to the pathologist who’d carried out the post-mortem had certainly helped. His testimony had convinced the coroner that Maud must have slipped and hit her head on the oven, matching Babs’s witness statement.
Not content with her success on that front, Babs had now turned her attention to getting Gertie out of prison. So far, work on Gertie’s appeal was going well.
If their luck held, Gertie would be home within months. The legal team Babs had employed had worked tirelessly to unearth problems in the original police investigation into Gertie’s attack on her nasty ex-husband.
Life couldn’t be better for Babs. She certainly wasn’t short of money now that Martin was dead and she had inherited the lot.
Tony had been a little standoffish at first, and who could blame him? He had caught her trying to poison his brother, so it was only natural he would suspect Babs of playing a role in Martin’s death.