‘I will be fine staying at my nan’s house. Honest, I will. But, thanks for the offer anyway, Queenie.’
Queenie shook her head vehemently. ‘No, you bloody well won’t. I’m not having the father of my Bren’s baby living with a thug like Terry Smart. Go and get your bits and bobs now. You’re moving in here, and that’s final.’
Vinny Butler waited until the people walked away from the shop with their groceries, then casually approached it himself. As luck would have it, there was an Articles for Sale board in the shop window, so Vinny pretended to be engrossed in that while he tried to get a better look inside. Recognizing Donald Walker, Vinny felt an element of fury surge though his veins. How dare Michael disobey him in such a way? And how could he put their relationship in such jeopardy over some stupid tart?
Walking away, Vinny kicked a nearby wall in pure frustration. Michael might be about to open the biggest can of worms ever and he needed to put a stop to their tainted affair as soon as he possibly could.
Freda Smart was distraught as her grandson walked up the path with his suitcase in his hand. Twenty-two stitches the poor little sod had, and Freda would give her Terry what for when he finally showed his drunken face.
‘Don’t cry, Nan. You’re making me upset. I promise I will ring you every day and we can meet whenever. I just don’t wanna come back here any more because of Dad.’
Freda nodded miserably. She had been more of a mother than a nan to Dean, and now he was leaving her. When he waved one last time before he traipsed off down the road, Freda knew she had lost him for good. Once that vulgar Butler mob got their evil claws in him, Dean’s life would be all but bloody over.
Vinny was still livid when he popped into his mother’s house.
‘You won’t believe what our Michael has gone and done, Mum. He’s heading for a good fucking hiding, I’m telling ya.’ Aware that Lenny and his son were both ear-wigging, he handed his cousin a crisp pound note. ‘Take Little Vinny round the shops, Champ, and get yourselves some of them Jamboree Bags, eh? I need to talk to your Auntie Queenie about a few things.’
When Lenny and his son had left the house, Vinny explained to his mum about Michael’s secret relationship.
‘Well, it ain’t ideal, but I don’t think you should worry too much, Vinny. That unfortunate incident with Dave Phillips happened years ago, and if that Nancy’s brother was ever going to retract his original statement and blab, he’d have done it long before now. You know what our Michael is like for chopping and changing his birds. Give it a month, it will have fizzled out with Nancy and he’ll be onto his next victim,’ Queenie chuckled.
‘Well, I really ain’t happy about it, Mum. That family fled the area because of what happened and I just don’t want them to be reminded of it. If the brother finds out that Nancy is involved with Michael, I bet he fucking tells her and his parents the truth. The police re-opening the murder case is grief I really don’t need.’
‘’Ere, before I forget, I’ve been meaning to tell you, Roy is organizing a surprise engagement party for Colleen and secretly inviting all her family over from Ireland. You’re gonna have to make your one just for Brenda and Dean. Roy will be furious if it’s a joint do, I know he will.’
‘The party is just a small family celebration, and if Roy wants to organize another big bash later in the year, then he can. There ain’t even fifty people going, Mum. It’s just us and a few friends, that’s it.’
‘OK, but if Roy isn’t happy, don’t say I didn’t warn you. As for Michael, you gonna confront him with your findings?’
‘No, I’ve got a better idea than that.’
‘What?’
Vinny grinned. ‘I’m gonna pay his ex-bird a visit to get her to pretend she is pregnant and it’s Michael’s. If that don’t make Nancy Walker run a mile, then nothing will. It will also teach Michael a lesson for dipping his wick so often. Don’t worry, it’s just a bit of fun, Mum. As soon as Nancy has scarpered, Michael will see sense anyway.’
Queenie raised her eyebrows. Her Vinny was as sharp as a razor, only he could think that one up. ‘You need to sort that Terry Smart out an’ all, boy. He’s gone and glassed Dean now. It doesn’t look good on us as a family if he isn’t dealt with. We don’t want people to think they can take liberties with us and get away with it, do we?’
‘We can’t be seen to be doing anything too rash, but Terry will be dealt with good and proper this time. Smart by name that prick is, but obviously not by nature,’ Vinny replied.
Knowing that dealt with good and proper meant dead, Queenie smiled at her son. She had never liked that Terry Smart anyway.
Johnny Preston was not in the best of moods. The engine of the van he and Graeme had purchased had blown up this morning, so they were now back to square one. Part of Johnny just wanted to risk shooting Vinny, then driving back to Dagenham on the bike, but he had to think of his kids’ welfare if he got a life sentence. He knew that he stood far more chance of getting away with his crime if he put the bike in the back of the van and made his escape that way, so as Graeme had insisted earlier, they just needed to be patient.
‘Right, I’m gonna pop out and see my daughter for a couple of hours,’ Graeme informed his pal.
Johnny nodded miserably. He wanted to get the job over with, then get back to his kids. He decided to call home. ‘Hello darling. What you been up to? I hope you’re looking after your mum for me while I’m away?’ Johnny asked his daughter.
‘You’ve got some front. I know your dirty little secret,’ Joanna hissed, her voice full of anger.
Johnny immediately felt his pulse start to race. ‘What?’
‘I’m talking about having sex with women behind my mum’s back.’
‘I wouldn’t do that to your mum, Jo. If someone has told you that, they are telling you lies.’
‘No, they aren’t. That lady whose house you stayed around last week is my mate Georgia’s mum. I haven’t told Mum, it will break her heart, but I really hate you, and I never want to speak to you again.’
When his daughter slammed the phone down on him, Johnny put his messed-up head in his hands. Sod the bloody van. The quicker he killed Vinny Butler and got back to Tiptree to sort out this terrible mess, the better.
Nancy Walker had never stayed in a hotel room in her life before, and she was amazed by how plush it was compared to her poky little bedroom. Soft beige deep-pile carpet, satin bedding, even the lampshades looked like they had cost a fortune. ‘Wow, isn’t it ace, Michael?’
‘Only the best for you, my darling,’ Michael said, truthfully. He usually shagged in the back of his car, or at the club. He had never spent this kind of money on any girl in the past.
Michael looked gorgeous in his dark suit, white shirt and black tie, and when he began kissing her passionately, Nancy felt the first stirrings of unrest. Michael made her feel alive and the thought of spending the whole night in bed with him was exciting, yet frightening at the same time.
Denise Thompson was amazed to see Vinny Butler’s posh motor parked near her house. She was even more amazed when he leapt out and asked to have a quiet word with her. Surely, he hadn’t got wind of her news? She had only found out herself yesterday and, apart from her best friend, had told nobody.
‘How are you, Denise? Are you still working at the telephone exchange?’ Vinny asked, being ultra polite, when Denise got into the car.
‘I’m fine thank you, and yeah, I’m still at the telephone exchange. What do you want? Has Michael sent you?’ Denise’s face was a picture of hope.
‘No, not exactly. I’ve come to see you of my own accord, as I have a little proposition for you.’
‘What?’
‘Well, firstly you have to promise me that this conversation will never be repeated, Denise. You’re a nice girl, which is why I would like you to get back with my brother, and you wouldn’t cross me, would you?’
With his jet-black hair, menacing eyes, and fearsome reputation, Vinny Butler was the last man Denise would ever cross. ‘No, I won’t say a word, I promise.’
Vinny smirked. He had never particularly liked Denise. She was tarty, tawdry, and he knew of at least three other men she had slept with before she had dated his brother. Nevertheless, anyone was better than Nancy Walker, hence his little visit. ‘I don’t know if you are aware, but Michael has a new girlfriend, Denise?’
‘Well, sort of. I’ve heard that he was seeing someone, but no-one’s really seen him about with her. What’s she like?’
‘Not a nice person by all accounts, which is why I’d like you to do me a little favour. It will be in your best interests too, especially if you want Michael back.’
‘What do I have to do?’ Denise asked.
‘Next Monday, I am holding a family party at my club. Michael will be there without his bird. I want you to turn up and tell him and the rest of my family that you are up the spout. A few weeks down the line, you can just pretend you’ve had a miscarriage, can’t you? I’ll pay you for your trouble of course. How does a hundred pounds sound?’ Vinny enquired.
Denise couldn’t help but smirk. She had only found out yesterday that she was actually pregnant with Michael’s baby, so being paid to tell him was just a bonus. Vinny could hardly ask for his money back afterwards, could he? And from what he’d just said, he would probably be thrilled by her real news anyway.
‘Well?’ Vinny asked, impatient.
‘OK, I’ll do it. But, can you pay me the money up front?’
Vinny took his wallet out and chucked five tenners on Denise’s lap. ‘Half now, and half when you’ve done it, OK? Oh, and turn up about ten.’
‘OK,’ Denise said, scrambling out of the car.
Vinny grinned as he restarted his ignition. ‘Bye-bye, Nancy Walker,’ he mumbled.
After eating her first ever Chinese meal and thoroughly enjoying it, it was Nancy who suggested they pop into a club on the way back to the hotel.
Watching his girlfriend sway her body seductively to Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Move On Up’, Michael noticed how he wasn’t the only guy unable to take his eyes off her. Nancy’s beauty shone out like a beacon and she looked incredible in her halter-neck catsuit. ‘Shall I get us another drink, babe? Or, shall we make tracks?’ Michael asked.
Grabbing her boyfriend around the neck, Nancy treated him to a big sloppy kiss. So what if he was a Butler? Nancy knew if she lived until she was a hundred, she would never meet another guy who made her feel the way that Michael did. ‘Let’s go and snuggle up in that big bed, shall we?’ she whispered, the alcohol playing a big part in her bravery.
Grinning like his Premium Bond numbers had just come up, Michael grabbed Nancy’s hand and whisked her out of the club before she had a change of mind.
Vinny smirked as he scanned his brother’s address book and found the phone number of Colleen’s parents. He and Roy had had words earlier over Ahmed being at the club more often, but Vinny didn’t give a shit what his brother thought any more. Roy should have stayed loyal to him and the business instead of putting birds at the top of his priority list. ‘Hello, is that Mrs O’Connell?’ Vinny asked politely.
The telephone conversation continued for a good few minutes, and when the O’Connells finally agreed to attend their daughter’s engagement party, even though it was at very short notice, Vinny couldn’t help but smirk. Colleen’s family hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting the Butlers yet, and he would make damn sure they never fucking forgot them in a hurry. If his plan worked, not only would Michael be single again, but so would Roy.
Donald Walker was totally incensed. He had warned his wife that he thought his daughter was going to ignore his orders and stay out all night, but Mary had insisted otherwise. ‘Ring that Rhonda, now,’ Donald ordered, his voice booming even louder than usual.
‘I don’t want to wake the girl’s parents up, Donald. It’s gone eleven, for goodness’ sake.’
‘I don’t care if it’s three in the bloody morning. I have every right to know where my daughter is.’
‘Dad’s right, Mum. Nancy could be lying in a ditch somewhere for all we know,’ Christopher added solemnly.
Mary snatched at the phone. Fortunately, it was Rhonda who answered and not her parents. Mary hated people ringing people late at night. She deemed it unthoughtful and rude.
‘Well?’ Donald asked, hands on hips as his wife ended the phonecall.
‘Rhonda said Nancy told her that she is going to their friend Katie’s birthday party and will be home tomorrow teatime.’
A police officer in the making, Christopher was the first to reply. ‘Their friend! Why hasn’t Rhonda gone to this make-believe party as well then? Nancy is pulling the wool over your eyes, Mum. Ever since she went to that fairground she has been acting strangely. I told you not to let her go there, didn’t I?’
‘And I told you that she shouldn’t be allowed to attend such events too. If our daughter is currently shacked up with some rebel in a seedy hotel room somewhere, I will personally hold you responsible, Mary,’ Donald added.
Mary sighed wearily. She needed Nancy disobeying her father’s orders like she needed a bloody hole in the head. She now believed that her daughter was probably with some lad, but she wasn’t about to admit that to Donald and Christopher. They could light a fire without a match or petrol, those two. ‘If our Nancy said she is going to her friend’s party, then that’s where she is. I trust our daughter and there is no way she would lower herself by going to hotel rooms with some bloke, Donald.’
‘Well, I hope you are right, Mary, because if I find out that girl is lying to us, I will not allow her to darken our doorstep any more. She will not bring shame on this family. I am too proud a man.’
Nancy Walker sighed as Michael Butler made some funny noises and rolled off her for the second time that evening. Losing her virginity had had its high and low points. Having Michael on top of her and being so intimate with him had been the high point, but she hadn’t really felt much in a physical way apart from some pain. Rhonda had been telling her on their lunchbreak today that if she did do the deed she was bound to have one of them orgasms that everyone was talking about, but even though Nancy didn’t know exactly what they were, she was sure she hadn’t had one.