‘But it’s none of your business what I do.’
‘I know, but it
is
my business who I give my money to.’
‘And what the fuck am I supposed to do once Oscar finds out his gear is missing and I haven’t got the money to pay him back?’
‘One word, Alfie. Run.’
Oscar sat in his car behind the coach full of kids giving V signs out of the back window. What he really wanted to do was pull out the gun which was safely hidden in the panel under his seat and give the little fuckers the shock of their lives when he shot one of them through the window. He didn’t fancy serving a life term for a snotty-nosed kid though, so instead he tried to ignore them as best he could.
He was off to meet Alfie at his house in Essex. He usually met him in the club or at one of his other properties but this time Alfie had insisted on him coming to Essex. He’d never been invited to the family house before but Oscar suspected the reason for that was because Alfie had been trying to hide his whale of a wife.
As the traffic crawled forward, Oscar’s mind moved to Lola. He reckoned it’d be a couple of weeks or more until anyone discovered her. The cafe would of course be shut, but he hoped people would see it as a blessing in disguise – or at least their stomachs would. She was the only one who lived on the top floor of the block, so the neighbours wouldn’t complain of the smell for some time, and she’d no family to speak of. She had three kids but they’d been taken into care a long time ago. They were all grown up now and no doubt popping out unwanted kids of their own.
He thought it best not to tell Alfie about Lola; let everyone think it was some punter or pissed-off drug dealer. As long as he kept it to himself, he was sure everything was going to be fine; he was hardly going to grass on himself.
The traffic started moving and Oscar sped off, overtaking the coach and moving into the fast lane of the motorway. The only other problem was Vaughn; he wasn’t sure what he was going to do about him. If it was anybody else he would’ve taken his men and put a hammer to his head, but with this man it was different. He was going to have to think very carefully what to do with him.
Oscar drove along the motorway towards the Jennings house. He hated the countryside, though he suspected not everyone would call Essex the countryside. As he slowed down behind another queue of traffic, he noticed the flowers on the verge moving hypnotically in the cool breeze. He saw the cows in the lush green fields and he smelt the manure of the farmer’s field – and he detested everything about it.
Parking in the large white pebbled stone driveway of the Jennings’s Essex mansion, Oscar saw Alfie’s anorexic daughter walking into the house. He beeped his horn and waved but she turned round and scowled and continued to go inside. Oscar was annoyed, and he could feel a slight throb to his head. Even if she didn’t remember him from the club, it was still disrespectful to ignore him, and one thing Oscar hated was bad fucking manners.
Getting out of the car he stretched his legs, admiring the house and the grounds they stood in. It was located within an exclusive private estate. He remembered Alfie had told him it had eight bedrooms and the same number of bathrooms, as well as four receptions and a conservatory which at first he hadn’t got planning permission for, but he’d given a large backhander to one of the men on the board and the next day he’d got the green light.
Oscar reckoned it must have cost at least four million plus. He knew Alfie had always done alright for himself and was a shrewd businessman, but he’d no idea just how alright. This house was very nice indeed.
Oscar noticed the two empty glasses on the table next to the chair and wondered who Alfie had been entertaining. He doubted he’d been cosying up to his wife, not from the way he’d spoken to her when she’d shown him through.
‘Thank you Janine, you can piss off now.’
‘Do you want me to bring you some biscuits through? Or I could always rustle you up a bit of dinner.’
‘What the fuck part of “you can piss off now” don’t you understand?’
She’d said nothing else and quickly closed the large panelled door.
‘It’s a pukka place you’ve got here, Alfie.’
‘It suits us.’
Oscar noticed how edgy Alfie looked as he spoke. He was pacing up and down and had poured himself two large brandies in the space of ten minutes.
‘A bit jumpy aren’t we?’
‘There’s been a little bit of a problem,’ Alfie spoke quickly as Oscar stared at him. ‘Nothing that can’t be fixed mind, but a problem nonetheless.’
‘Go on.’
‘The packages. There are a few less than expected.’
Oscar continued to stare hard at Alfie. He couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. He didn’t think Alfie was the sort of man to try and rip him off; he wouldn’t be so stupid.
‘When you say “a few less”, how few?’
‘Seven. Fuck knows, for the life of me I don’t know how. I can’t understand it.’
‘But you took the money; you nearly chewed my fucking hand off to take it. I paid you because I thought you were good for it.’
‘I know you did, Oscar; but you know me, I wouldn’t try to pull a fast one on you, I wouldn’t do that.’
‘You better not, Alf, because it doesn’t take a lot for me to think someone’s taking advantage of my good nature.’
‘Give me till the end of next week and I’ll come up with the money or the goods.’
‘Too long I’m afraid; I want the money by Friday.’
‘But I won’t be able to get it by then.’
Unblinkingly, Oscar spoke coldly.
‘That’s not my problem, it’s yours.’
Emmie leant on the door and listened to her father talking. She was terrified both for herself and for him. She’d no idea he would discover the packages were missing so soon; they’d been there for ages behind the fake fireplace and she really hadn’t thought he’d notice. But now it sounded like her dad was in trouble.
She’d been stupid, and she didn’t know what she’d been thinking; she’d wanted to please Jake because she’d thought he’d loved her, even though nothing she seemed to do made him happy, but mainly she’d wanted to get back at her mum and dad. Why hadn’t they told her? She loved them so much, but when she’d read the letters she realised she didn’t know them at all.
Emmie could feel her legs shaking; there was no way she could tell her dad what she’d done and why. Perhaps Jake might give her the packages back if she told him her dad was in trouble.
The door was opened and Emmie jumped back. Alfie looked surprised to see Emmie but he said nothing and introduced her to Oscar.
‘You met my daughter at the club; this is Emmie.’
‘Nice to meet you, Emmie. I’m Oscar, a good friend of your dad’s.’
Oscar glanced at Alfie and gave a tight smile.
‘You’ve got till Friday. I’ll let myself out. Nice meeting you, Emmie.’
Casey was cold with sweat. She’d fallen asleep in the chair and had a bad dream, with images of the past whirling round in her head. When she’d woken up she hadn’t known where she was until she heard the beeping of the monitors and saw Lola lying unconscious on the hospital bed in front of her.
She’d gone round to Lola’s to try to get the keys but she hadn’t got an answer. Casey had been ready to give up but a man had come out of the block of flats leaving the security door unlatched, and she had taken the opportunity to slip inside.
When she’d got to Lola’s landing Casey had hammered on the door, hearing the sound of the radio blaring out from inside the flat.
‘Lola, open up, it’s Casey.’
Guessing Lola wasn’t able to hear her over the sound of the music she’d looked through the letterbox. In front of her Casey had seen the bathroom door slightly ajar, with the body of a naked woman lying motionless on the floor.
‘She’s lucky to be alive. You probably saved her life. Any longer I doubt she’d have made it.’
Casey turned round to the voice of the nurse coming into the room to check the monitors.
‘When do you think she’ll come round?’
‘I’m not sure; it’s early days yet. You should go home and get some sleep.’
The nurse smiled at Casey and left the room. She hated hospitals but she was loath to leave in case Lola woke up. From what she’d seen she didn’t have anyone who cared for her, and Casey wanted to be there for her when she regained consciousness. Taking out her phone from her bag, she dialled a number.
‘Vaughn, it’s Casey.’
‘Hello you, what do I owe this wonderful pleasure to?’
‘I’m in the UCH, the hospital on Euston Road.’
‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine but Lola isn’t. She’s been attacked.’
There was a long pause on the phone before Vaughn spoke.
‘I’ll come over straight away.’
‘No, really it’s fine, I …’
The phone was put down at the other end and Casey guessed he was on his way.
‘Jesus, Cass. How can you live in this dump?’ Vaughn spoke as he walked into the front room after picking Casey up from the hospital. She wasn’t sure if she should be insulted or not. Vaughn’s question just echoed what she thought every time she came back to the flat in Dean Street, so she guessed it’d be hypocritical to take offence.
She
knew why she was here, but she wasn’t about to start telling her life story to Vaughn.
‘I can’t afford to be choosy, and it won’t be forever; but do yourself a favour, don’t use the bathroom.’
‘Why not?’
‘Just trust me. Can I make you a cup of tea?’
‘Thank you. I didn’t mean to be rude.’
Casey smiled at Vaughn. Each time she was around him, he made her feel good about herself; safe even. It was stupid because she hardly knew him, and the small amount she’d heard about him through the gossip in Lola’s cafe would usually have her running a mile.
‘She doesn’t look good does she? The nurses said she’s lucky to be alive.’
Casey talked as she made the tea, and saw her diary lying on the top of the work surface. She quickly hid it behind the torn wallpaper, making sure Vaughn hadn’t seen her do it. She knew it was silly but the idea someone would read her thoughts frightened her.
Finished with the tea, Casey turned round to speak to Vaughn seriously.
‘I wanted to talk to you about something else. You’ll probably think I’m stupid, but it’s been playing on my mind – and after what’s happened with Lola, well …’
Casey trailed off, wanting to be careful how she approached it. ‘The night of the fight in the club, I know I told you I was waiting on the stairs but I actually went up them to keep out of the way. Anyhow, I tried one of the rooms and it was locked, and then I tried another,’ Casey rushed out her words as she spoke, not knowing what his reaction would be, ‘and admittedly maybe I shouldn’t have gone in the storeroom but …’
Vaughn laughed nervously. ‘You saw a whole lot of televisions and electrical goods which would put Comet out of business.’
Casey’s face stayed serious and Vaughn started to get a bad feeling. ‘Yes, but that’s not it. When I was in there I heard some voices and I hid and I saw a guy with two women.’
Vaughn interrupted, trying to make light of it. ‘So you saw a guy and two women. No big deal, Cass.’
‘It
is
because the guy they were with was pushing them about and they looked frightened. I can’t explain it, but I know something wasn’t right. Then the night Oscar bundled me into the club, I saw Alfie with some women as well. I don’t know what it is but something doesn’t feel right.’
Vaughn stayed quiet for a while. There was no way he was going to tell Casey what was going on, but he wasn’t quite sure what to say to persuade her what she saw was harmless. He didn’t know what Casey would do if he didn’t convince her there was nothing to worry about. It was doubtful she’d go to the police with just a feeling something wasn’t right, but it was as well to be cautious. As much as he didn’t want to, he needed to warn Alfie and tell him to move the girls. He didn’t agree with what his friend was doing but he didn’t want to see him banged up either.
‘Alfie’s a bit of a player when it comes to women; always has been. Keeps his wife and family in the dark about it though. It’ll be something like that. He’s a bit shady is our Alfie when it comes to ladies. Just forget it.’
‘I know what I saw, Vaughn. I know my instincts.’
‘Casey, listen to me. Whatever your instincts are telling you, don’t listen to them. Take my advice and steer clear.’
She tilted her head and looked at him. ‘You know something don’t you?’
Vaughn sighed, wondering why women always thought he was hiding something. Granted he was, but she wasn’t to know that. What was it about the female sex that grasped on to something and wouldn’t let it go?
He remembered this was one of the reasons he’d always sidestepped long-term relationships; women’s perverse ability to incessantly flog the same subject until you gave them the answer they wanted. When you just fucked them and left, they hardly had time to catch their breath, let alone talk.
‘I don’t know anything about it, Cass, but I do know Alfie and Oscar, and they wouldn’t appreciate it if they thought you were snooping in their business.’
‘Oscar? Why did you say Oscar? I didn’t say anything about him. What’s he got to do with it?’
‘Christ woman, Oscar was there with Alfie wasn’t he? He was the one that grabbed you. What is all this?’
Casey quickly put her head down and flushed, becoming embarrassed by her own persistence. Vaughn watched her and wondered if the woman he’d fallen for was about to cause trouble.
It was one thing him beefing up to Alfie about it and disapproving, but it was another thing altogether someone from the outside, albeit Casey, poking around; it made all his defences go up and made him shut off. Old habits died hard and no matter how much he liked her, if she started to ask too many questions, he’d have to forget her.
It was well into the morning, and Vaughn and Casey had spent the last couple of hours talking and laughing about everything apart from the club, which they were both avoiding talking about.
‘Have you decided if you’re going to stick around yet?’
‘I guess I’ll have to now with Lola in hospital. I want to keep the cafe going for her and then she’ll have something to come to when she gets better. After that I’ll probably move on.’