About to argue his point, Dean noticed the dangerous glint in Vinny’s eyes and quickly shut his mouth. He was doomed to a life of misery and unfortunately there was no way out whatsoever.
Roy took another swig of brandy as he re-read his father’s letter. Michael had given him his dad’s phone number approximately twenty minutes ago, and he was still building up the courage to make the call, fearing he was probably about to hear things that would upset him greatly.
Roy picked up the receiver and held it between his chin and cheek while he used his only able hand to dial.
‘Hello, son. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you want to speak to me. I’ve been sitting by the phone since Michael rung me earlier willing you to phone me,’ Albie said sincerely.
‘It is good to speak to you too, Dad, but you must be patient with my speech. I talk very slowly now as you can probably tell.’
‘I don’t give a damn how you speak, or if we are on the phone all night, Roy. It is just so wonderful to hear your voice again. How are you doing? Michael tells me you’ve moved to a lovely place near the sea now?’
‘To be honest, Dad, my life isn’t so great, so I would rather hear about yours, if that is OK with you?’
Albie took the hint, and told Roy all about his new life in Ipswich. He didn’t mention his new lady friend though in case it upset his son. He went on to describe how living with his brother Bert had been a godsend and spoke enthusiastically about his allotment, and how much healthier he felt for having cut his drinking down immensely.
‘I am really pleased you are happy, Dad,’ Roy said. He was genuinely thrilled that his father had turned his life around and seemed so content.
‘Son, I must apologize about that terrible cancer lie I told. I wasn’t thinking straight at the time, but I swear on the Bible that the only reason I said it was because of my desperation to have contact with you, Michael, and Brenda again. I missed you all so much, I would have said or done anything to be part of your lives once more.’
‘Why haven’t you mentioned Vinny, Dad? I want to know the truth of what has happened.’
‘I really don’t want to talk about your brother, Roy. I have nothing nice to say about him.’
‘Dad, I will forgive you for you lying about your cancer if you tell me the truth about Vinny. I hate him with a passion, and I swear whatever you tell me I will take to my grave with me. On my Emily-Mae’s life, I will never tell another living soul any of this conversation that we have tonight.’
Trusting his son completely, Albie then spilt the beans. He told Roy all about how he had been pushed out of his children’s lives the moment they had been born, and then went on to describe in detail how Vinny had tried to ruin the engagement with Colleen by bribing him to tell her parents a pack of lies. ‘I just couldn’t do it to you, son. I looked around and saw you and Colleen kissing and cuddling, and I refused. That is why Vinny jumped on the stage and told everybody I had lied about my cancer. He then threatened to kill me if I didn’t leave the area immediately. I was scared of him, son. You know what he did to me all them years ago when he found out about my affair with Judy Preston. You was there.’
Roy was gobsmacked. He had always known that Vinny had an evil streak, and had remembered how his brother had tried to ruin his engagement party. But, how could he threaten to kill his own father? Roy had thought Albie had left Whitechapel because his cancer lie had been exposed. Vinny really was the lowest of the low at times.
‘You OK, son?’ Albie asked anxiously. He had necked a couple of cans while talking to Roy. His nerves were frayed just relaying the story, and the past brought back awful memories.
Still in a state of shock, Roy decided to change the subject completely. ‘Did you ever find out if Judy Preston kept your baby, Dad?’
‘No, son. I did hear a rumour that she was living not too many miles away from where I am now, but I doubt that is true. I swear, I have never seen or heard a peep out of her since the day she visited me in that hospital and your mother turned up.’
‘I am so glad we had this chat, Dad. I always wondered why you spent so much time at the pub when I was a kid, and I never knew that Mum and Auntie Viv pushed you out of the family circle the way they did. Don’t get me wrong, I love my mum. She has always been good to me, but I do believe you, as I know how domineering her and Auntie Viv can be at times.’
Albie rubbed the tears away from his eyes with the sleeve of his jumper. It had been both lovely and emotional talking to Roy, but it broke his heart that his son sounded like a shadow of the man he once was. ‘When can I come and visit you, boy? Michael said he will drive me down there.’
Roy took a deep breath to stop himself from crying. ‘Soon, Dad. I hope you don’t think I’ve turned into a softie for saying this, but I want you to know that I forgive you for everything, and I love you very much.’
Unable to stop himself, Albie then burst into floods of tears. ‘And I love you too, son, much more than you could ever imagine.’
Choked up beyond belief, Roy knew it was time to end the call. ‘Dad, somebody else needs to use the phone now, but I’ll speak to you again soon, I promise,’ he lied.
Nancy Walker walked over to the wardrobe and put a coat on over her nightdress. The long hot summer had now come to an end, and she didn’t want to get wet. She could hear the torrential rain banging against the window.
Her handbag with her purse inside was in the lounge, and there was no way Nancy was venturing in there. She could hear Michael laughing, and her sons joining in with whatever stupid game they were playing. Then, she heard Lee’s voice. The boy who had been dumped on her even though he wasn’t her bloody child.
Tip-toeing down the stairs, Nancy opened the front door as gently as she could. Christopher had been taken to Upney Hospital which wasn’t that far away, and even if it took her an hour or so, she would be able to walk there.
When Nancy quietly shut the front door, she suddenly realized she had her carpet slippers on rather than her shoes. Cursing herself for being so dipsy, she had no choice other than to walk on. Her key was in her purse.
When Vinny arrived in Eastbourne, he decided to take Joanna for a bit of lunch in the Moorings before dropping her off at Kings. Jo had been worryingly quiet throughout the whole journey and he needed to find out why. ‘I just need to make a quick phonecall. Order what you want, and I’ll have the scampi, and a pint, babe,’ Vinny said, handing over a twenty-pound note.
‘Where the bloody hell you been? Three times I rang that club yesterday, and three times Lenny said you were busy. Ain’t you got time for your poor old mum now you’ve got some young tart on the firm?’ Queenie asked coldly.
‘I’m sorry, Mum. I barely had a moment to bleedin’ breathe yesterday. I meant to ring you back last night, but it totally slipped my mind.’
‘So, where are you now? Me and Vivvy have decided we want to go back to Kings until it shuts for the winter. When can you drive us down there?’
Vinny usually spoke to or saw his mother every single day, and he could tell she had the hump with him. Telling her he was currently in Eastbourne would only make her even more cross, so he had no option other than to lie. ‘I’m in the West End, Mum. I have a business meeting arranged with an old pal of mine. I promise you faithfully I will pop round to see you later today, and I will drive you and Auntie Viv back down to Eastbourne on Wednesday morning. What about Little Vinny though? I ain’t got no-one else to look after him.’
‘He can come to Kings with us. Teaching him a load of old bollocks at that school anyway,’ Queenie said bluntly.
‘I’ve got some really good news, Mum. Roy rang me yesterday and he wants to build some bridges. We’re going out for a drink on Wednesday.’
Queenie’s eyes welled up with tears of pure joy. She had been thrilled when Michael had informed her that Roy had seemed bubbly and had enjoyed a few pints in the pub, but that was nothing compared to how she felt about Roy and Vinny going out together. Her eldest two had been inseperable as kids and throught their teenage years and it had broken Queenie’s heart that they no longer communicated. ‘Oh Vin, I’m so bloody pleased. What exactly did Roy say then?’
Aware that Joanna was staring at him, Vinny decided the details could wait until later. ‘I’ve got to go, Mum. My pal’s just turned up. I’ll explain all when I come round,’ he said, as the pips started to bleep.
‘Who was that you were on the phone to?’ Joanna asked, when Vinny returned to the table.
‘Only me mum. I’ve been so wrapped up with work and you, I had forgotten to ring her. What’s up, babe? You’ve not been your usual jovial self today. Is something bothering you?’
Joanna stared at her hands rather than look Vinny in the eye. ‘My period is two weeks late. I think I might be pregnant.’
Michael Butler was beside himself. He hadn’t realized his wife was missing until late last night, and she still hadn’t returned. He had scoured the streets for approximately four hours in his car looking for Nancy, but he hadn’t been able to find her. He had also rung his wife’s best friend, but Rhonda had sworn to him that Nancy hadn’t been in contact and she had no idea where his wife was.
At his wits’ end, Michael had now driven to Nancy’s parents’ café. He knew if Donald was there, he would get anything but a warm reception, but for once he didn’t care. Surely his wife’s safety was more important than her father’s shitty attitude?
Over at Wormwood Scrubs, Johnny Preston was pacing up and down his cell muttering expletives and threatening to murder Vinny Butler. They had kept him in solitary for twenty-four hours, and he’d had to pretend he had calmed down to be allowed back onto his wing.
‘Sit down, John. You’re making me feel dizzy,’ said Phil, Johnny’s cellmate.
Johnny punched the wall. He hadn’t told Phil why he was in pieces; he couldn’t bring himself to tell anyone. If he was on the outside, he would have marched straight down to Butler’s club and killed him stone dead. Doing life would be preferable to allowing that bastard to touch his baby girl again. ‘I’m going off my head here, Phil. That shit you inject, does it chill you out?’
Phil nodded. He had done two long stretches in prison now, and had got through both thanks to heroin. He now provided a service and supplied to other inmates too.
‘Give us a bull’s-eye’s worth,’ Johnny demanded, putting his hand inside his pants to pull out some damp pound notes.
‘Take it steady, John. You ain’t used to it. I’ll inject some for you if you like?’
‘Just give us the gear and the needle, Phil. I ain’t a fucking child, you cunt.’
When Michael walked into the café, he was relieved to see Mary standing behind the counter rather than Donald. Because of the seriousness of his visit, Michael had felt it innappropriate to ring ahead. He was hoping Nancy might be there, but if she wasn’t, then he really didn’t want to shock poor Mary by phone.
‘Michael! What are you doing here? Is Nancy with you?’ Mary asked, rather bemused. Her son-in-law had never visited the café before, and Mary was relieved that Donald had left ten minutes ago to visit Christopher in hospital.
‘Have you seen Nancy, Mary?’ Michael asked.
‘No, not today. Why? Did she say she was coming here?’ Mary replied, now anxious.
‘No. Nancy didn’t say she was coming here, but she went out last night and she hasn’t come back yet, so I was rather hoping she was with you. I’m worried sick about her, Mary, she didn’t even take her handbag or purse with her.’
Mary put her hand over her mouth and totally ignored the customer who had just walked up to the counter and asked for an egg and bacon roll. ‘Oh my God, Michael! We need to find her quickly. Nancy really hasn’t been well lately.’
Alan Briggs lived in Upney and rarely used the alleyway that gave him access to the back of his house. However, he was having a new sofa delivered today which would probably not fit through his small hallway so, along with his dog, Spot, Alan trotted down the alley to check there were no obstacles blocking the delivery men’s paths.
Spot bounded on in front of him and began barking manically, but it wasn’t until Alan chased his Dalmatian that he spotted the girl lying curled up in a foetal position in the long grass. She had on what looked like a nightdress with a jacket over the top, and she was barefoot with grazes, blood, and dirt covering the soles of her feet. Alan felt his whole body shake from head to foot. His first impression was that the girl was dead, but when Spot licked her face, the girl’s eyes seemed to flicker open which made Alan gasp. ‘Don’t try to move. I will ring an ambulance. I’ll be back in one minute,’ he gabbled, before grabbing his dog by its collar and running back down the alleyway. He had no idea if the girl had been raped, attacked or what, but thank God she was still alive. Finding a corpse was not something that Alan could have dealt with.
Chloe glared at Joanna as she let herself into their chalet. Working at Kings for the summer was meant to have been a once-in-a-lifetime giggle for the two best friends, and it had been until Vinny bloody Butler had turned up on the scene.
‘You all right, mate? I’m so sorry for dashing off to London like I did. Were work OK about it? Did you tell them that I had a family crisis to deal with like I told you to?’ Joanna asked awkwardly. She could tell she was in the doghouse just by the unfriendly expression on Chloe’s face.
‘Yes, work were fine and believed your little lie. Wasn’t much fun for me though. Not only did I have to work doubly hard to cover up for your absence, I’ve also been stuck here on my own. I think you owe me a favour, so I want you to do something for me for once.’
‘Of course. What?’ Joanna replied.
Chloe delved into her handbag and handed Jo the letter her mum had written. ‘I want you to read this. I promised your mum that you would read it in front of me.’
Guessing the letter was about Vinny, Joanna ripped it open and pursed her lips as she read the scathing words. It explained how her father’s best pal Dave Phillips had been murdered by Vinny back in 1965, which according to her mother was why her dad had sought revenge and ended up in prison himself. It also informed her that Roy Butler had been shot by accident. The bullet had been meant for Vinny. The letter then ended with her mum begging her to get away from Vinny at the first opportunity and return to Tiptree. She also described Vinny as a vile piece of work who would stop at nothing to heap revenge onto her heartbroken father. The PS at the bottom told Joanna she was being used as a pawn in a very dangerous game, and would live to regret not taking her mother’s advice if she chose to ignore it.