Taken (38 page)

She’d also made a statement to the police telling them it was Oscar who’d killed Jake, and the solicitors had told them the CPS would probably drop the case against her dad. He’d got bail and was allowed back to his flat in Soho as long as he adhered to the bail conditions set out whilst he waited for the CPS’s final decision, which her uncle had said was really just a matter of course. Her Uncle Vaughn had told her there was no way they’d pursue her dad on the murder charge; the CPS just liked to make people sweat. The most he’d get charged with would be possessing a firearm without a licence, which her uncle had told her with a good brief and the right amount of pressure leant on the right people, he’d get off.

But as much as she was pleased her dad wasn’t going to go down for a crime he didn’t commit, Emmie knew she didn’t want to see him again now she’d said her goodbyes.

She’d gone to see him after he’d been released from Pentonville Prison. Emmie had walked into Whispers and seen her dad sitting at the empty bar drinking a bottle of Stella. To Emmie he’d looked like a broken man. She could see he could still turn on the charm and his cheeky smile, but Emmie had thought it felt desperate and his eyes seemed to have aged.

When she’d walked into Whispers his face had lit up and he’d wolf whistled at her as he always had done when she’d walked in a room. She remembered how it used to make her feel special, but now it only made her feel sad.

‘Hello darlin’, glad you could come; your old man’s been missing you.’

‘I’ve missed you too.’

He’d smiled and stroked her face, taking in how surprisingly well she looked after her ordeal.

‘It’s good to see you, Emmie. I’m glad you didn’t come and see me when I was inside, I wouldn’t want you seeing your old man banged up like that. I was thinking maybe we could go to Harrods
,
have a bit of a spending splurge to put a smile back on your face. What do you say, babe?’

‘No thanks, Dad. I’ve actually come to say goodbye.’

‘What you talking about? Don’t tell me you’re off to see your cousin Lucy in LA? Bleedin’ hell, Em, you’ve just got out of hospital; do you think it’s wise? I bet your frigging mother has something to do with this.’

Emmie had looked at her dad and her heart had broken. She loved him so much, but after what she’d been through and seeing what he’d indirectly put the other women through she couldn’t have him in her life.

‘No Dad. I’m saying goodbye to you. I love you and always will, but I don’t like you or what you do, and I can’t have you in my life.’

She’d seen tears in his eyes for a moment and then his face had hardened.

‘Is this because of the stuff with Casey? Because let me tell you, it might be her bleedin’ DNA bobbing around in your body, but that’s all it is, Em; DN fucking A. I’m your dad; it doesn’t change a flipping thing.’

‘I know it doesn’t; I’ll always see you as my dad and you know I love you, but it’s not because of that; it’s
you
, and what you do, and what you stand for.’

‘Fuck’s sake, Em, what did they do to you? Shove a frigging Bible down your throat? Come on babe; it’s business. How the fuck do you think I paid for all the designer clothes you and your mum wanted? All the holidays to America, not to mention the school fees and the big house – they didn’t appear from nowhere.’

Emmie had said nothing but it’d hurt to see her dad still justifying his actions after everything she’d been through.

She’d kissed him on his cheek and walked away. The tears had streamed down her face and hadn’t stopped until she’d got home as she’d listened to him pleading for her to go back.

She was happy now; her Uncle Vaughn had told them she and her mum could move in with him after they’d gone back to the family house in Essex to discover her dad had changed all the locks.

The moment she’d walked through his front door, she’d immediately felt at home. Emmie knew there was a long way to go to get over what she’d been through, but she felt safe, and ironically it was the first time in her life she hadn’t hated who she was. What had happened had changed her, she’d had to grow up overnight and she knew she’d never be the same again – but that was fine with her.

Vaughn smiled and walked out of the room, leaving Janine to chat ten to the dozen to Emmie. He’d invited them to stay as long as they liked. He’d wondered if he’d regret his invitation but it was the best decision he’d ever made. All his life he’d kept relationships and women at a distance but now he had three women to look out for, and three to look out for him.

He walked into the master bedroom and stood for a moment as he watched Casey asleep in his bed.

After he’d rescued them he’d left Casey and Emmie at the house and made his way through the woods and back to the car before the police had arrived. He’d done what he needed to do and he hadn’t been going to wait around for a medal. He certainly hadn’t been going to wait around to get a life stretch.

He’d half expected to find Josh at the car waiting for him, and when he wasn’t he’d stayed there until dawn hoping he’d appear, but as each minute had ticked by and the sun had begun to rise Vaughn had known something had gone terribly wrong. He’d been tempted to stay and continue to wait but he’d known all he would be doing was kidding himself; he’d been in the business long enough to know if a person hadn’t arrived back by sunrise, they were never coming back. He’d got in his car and driven slowly home.

And then a couple of days later he’d got the call which had made him laugh out loud.

‘Mr Sadler, I was hoping you’d bring me some grapes; and maybe some of those flowers of yours which you seem to be struggling to grow.’

He’d walked into the hospital unit and seen Josh lying all tubed up and looking like he’d been hit with a ten-tonne truck; but he was alive, and for some reason that had made Vaughn very happy.

‘You look like shit.’

He grinned as Josh managed a smile and he sat down on the chair next to his bed. They’d sat watching the football together on the television, having come to a silent understanding.

Casey had called from the hospital where they’d kept her in for a few days for the injuries she’d sustained. He hadn’t gone to visit her; he’d wanted to keep a distance in case the police were sniffing around her.

When she’d been discharged, he’d sent a driver to bring her to him, and he had no intention of letting her go. But Alfie had been another matter. He’d known he’d been released from prison, but he’d been surprised to get a call from him.

‘Vaughn, it’s Alf.’

He’d hesitated before he’d greeted him, not quite knowing what to say.

‘I wasn’t expecting this, Alf.’

‘I haven’t had a chance to thank you.’

‘I don’t want your thanks, Alf; I didn’t do it for you.’

‘I know but I want to do something for you. Being banged up and all the shit with Emmie gave me time to think. You know the thing with Casey and me …’

‘Stop, I don’t want to hear it, Alf.’

‘I think you will; nothing happened between us. I took her back to my flat, and all she talked about was you and then she passed out on me. I was pissed off with you about the money, so I made you believe I’d fucked her.’

Vaughn had been shocked beyond belief at Alfie’s revelation, but he’d also been more relieved than he’d ever been before. He loved Casey no matter what, and maybe he was wrong, but knowing she hadn’t actually slept with Alfie made it even more special. All that time he’d treated her badly and pushed her away for something she hadn’t done and didn’t even know about; no wonder she’d seemed confused by him.

‘I can’t believe you did that to me.’

‘Don’t start getting on your high and fucking mighty, Vaughn, I was doing you a favour.’

‘And how do you make that out?’

‘She’s a lush, and no better than the brass who stands at the end of my street every night.’

‘Enough, Alfie. What’s wrong with you – even after everything you still don’t get it? I love her and hopefully I’ll get the chance to spend the rest of my life with her.’

‘You’ve been eating fucking marbles, mate, you’ve gone soft.’

‘Maybe, Alf, and you’re entitled to your opinion; but for now I don’t want to hear it and I don’t want you around my life.’

‘You can’t cut me off.’ Alfie sounded panicked.

‘I can, Alfie, and I’m going to. I love you, god knows I do. I made my promise to Connor and I’ll stick to it, so if you ever need me, Alf, you know where I am, but for now I’ve got to say goodbye.’

With that, Vaughn had clicked off his mobile before deleting Alfie’s number from his phone. If Alfie wanted to get hold of him, he knew how.

Walking back out of the room, Vaughn closed the door quietly behind him, smiling at Casey curled up in his bed.

The minute Casey heard the door shut, she opened her eyes, truly happy for the first time in years.

She’d been terrified when Janine had said she was going to tell Emmie about who she was – the thought of being rejected by her daughter was too much to bear.

‘What if she hates me once she knows who I am, Jan?’

‘She won’t. How could she? You saved her life, and apart from that, you’re her mum; well, one of them anyway.’

Casey had squeezed Janine’s hand, she was so grateful for her emotional generosity. When Emmie had walked into the room, she could feel her legs shaking.

‘We’ve got something to tell you.’

Emmie had looked worried and had glanced at Janine as if she’d done something wrong. Janine had spoken to her softly with so much love in her voice.

‘Sit down baby; there’s a bit of a story you need to know.’

Janine had told her story and after she’d finished Casey had been too scared to look at Emmie. But then she’d felt someone sit next to her on the couch and take her hands: the same soft hands which had helped save her from the roof.

‘I knew you were special.’

Casey had looked up into her daughter’s eyes as Emmie spoke the words to her. ‘Thank you for coming back for me, Mum. Grandpa said in his letters that you’d always loved me and not a day would go by without you thinking about me.’

They’d held hands and Janine had burst into tears, running over to join in on the emotional reunion.

From being lost for so long, Casey had now gained a wonderful family and found her daughter. Emmie was going to be part of her life from now on, as was Janine and even Lola, and Casey was more than happy to share her life with them all. She was going to get help and work her way through her demons with Vaughn by her side. She was ready to start to live life again, and not just exist. Turning over in the bed, Casey smiled as she realised she could finally stop running. What had been taken, she’d found.

Thurs 15th March 2012

Happiness at last

The End

You make a deal with the devil; you pay your dues …

Franny Doyle has always known that her father Patrick has been up to no good. After all you don’t become one of London’s number one gangsters without ruffling a few feathers along the way. Still, she adores her dad and she knows that he would lay down his life for her – she is his number one girl and he has taught her everything she knows.

But when something terrible happens to Patrick, Franny realises that he has some very dangerous enemies. Delving into Patrick’s past, Franny becomes involved in a high-stakes game. She’s not afraid. Patrick has taught her to be a fighter and she’s determined to make him proud, even if it means paying the ultimate price – her own life.

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My name might be on the cover but without the people behind me who’ve believed in me, encouraged me and saved me from falling I could never have made it here today. So in order of appearance I’d like to acknowledge my mum, Patricia, for the sacrifice she had to make all those years ago – we made it back together. Love to Lisa, Lee and Darren who I know have always loved me no matter how far away we’ve been. Love too to my other mum, Hilda who bandaged my knee when I fell, tucked me up in bed at night and told me I was special, and of course my dad, Gordon who is the kindest man I’ve ever known. A big love to my sister, Rosemary, who let me use half her name and whether she likes it or not is on this crazy journey with me. And of course, not forgetting my other dad Phil, who came out of the wings not because he had to but because he wanted to.

I want to send my deepest thanks also to Sanja, for everything she did to help me free myself of the life I had. But a special eternal thanks must go to Fatima, who lifted me up when I thought I couldn’t go on, took my hand to guide me through the darkness and showed me how to live, without you I wouldn’t be here. Thanks to all my friends who over the years I had held away at arm’s length but when I could finally let you in, you were still all there to meet me with your friendship and love. To all the people who’ve ever showed me kindness, whether for a fleeting moment or for a lifetime, you’ll never know how much it meant to me.

And lastly, thanks once more to Judith, my agent, Keshini my editor who is amazing – we had so much fun with our editing notes didn’t we, I’ll never be able to look at a pair of 501 jeans in the same way now, and to the whole wonderful team at Avon who gave me such a warm welcome I was truly overwhelmed. Thank you everyone from the very bottom of my heart; I didn’t think I’d make it, but I did.