Читать книгу Life of Crime: The gripping, epic new thriller from the No 1 bestseller - Kimberley Chambers - Страница 16

Having barely slept a wink, Jason got up at dawn, pocketed the envelope with the five grand in it that Johnny had given him, and drove towards his grandmother’s house in Dagenham. He’d agreed to marry Melissa in the end, hadn’t had much choice with Johnny’s tactics. He really was up the creek without a paddle and all he could do now was pray Melissa knocked him back. They barely knew one another after all.

‘That you, boy? What you doing ’ere at this unearthly hour? Not been nicked, have ya?’ Peggy Rampling asked, putting on the pretty pink dressing gown she’d pilfered out of Marks and Spencer’s the previous day. A doddle to rob, M&S was. They exchanged stuff without a receipt, so all you had to do was shove something small in your handbag, then take it back and get what you wanted. She’d usually flog whatever she got at half the marked-up price to the women down the bingo hall, but now and again would choose something for herself.

Jason paced up and down his nan’s front room. ‘He wants me to marry her. Given me an address in Hatton Garden of a pal of his and the dosh to buy her a ring today. I don’t love her. She ain’t even my type. What the hell am I meant to do, Nan?’

‘For Christ’s sake, boy, calm down. You sound like you’ve inhaled helium. Who wants you to marry who?’

‘That Melissa I told you about. Put it right on me, her father did. He’s even got me a job with a mate of his on a building site. A proper job. I can’t do that. I don’t do proper jobs. Reckons he’s gonna buy us a house to do up and put it in mine and Mel’s names. But I don’t love the girl. I barely know her.’

‘Bit hasty, ain’t he? Why the rush?’

Jason flopped on to the armchair and put his head in his hands. ‘Mel’s mother’s dying and apparently it’s her wish to see her daughter married off. Why me, eh?’

‘How much did he give ya to buy the ring?’ Peggy enquired.

‘Five grand.’

‘Well, the way I see it, you got two choices. You either do a runner with the five grand. Or you marry the tart, stay with her a couple of years and cop for half the house. Is she that bleedin’ ugly?’

‘No. Well, I dunno. More plain than ugly, I suppose.’

‘Any brothers or sisters?’

‘One brother. But the old man don’t get on with him.’

‘Sometimes in life, Jason, you gotta look at the bigger picture. If the old girl’s on her last legs, you’re one death away from a wonderful inheritance.’

Johnny put the mug of tea on his wife’s bedside cabinet, smiled and kissed her on the nose. ‘How you feeling? I thought I’d cook a fry-up this morning. Bet poor little Shay will think it’s Christmas, bless her.’

‘Aww, my little mate.’

Desperate to make his wife as happy as possible, Johnny said, ‘If I tell you a secret, you got to promise me you’ll keep schtum about it. We don’t want to spoil the surprise.’

‘I won’t say anything. What surprise?’

‘When we was in the pub last night, Jason asked for my permission to propose to Mel.’

Carol sat up and put her hand over her mouth. ‘Really! What did you say? I mean, they haven’t known one another long. But it’s so romantic. Did you tell him it was a bit too soon?’

‘No, love. I gave him my permission. I hadn’t been with you that long before I proposed. When you meet the right one, you just know, don’t you?’

‘I’m so pleased he asked your permission, but it’s a bit quick – we were together five months, not weeks. I’m not sure she’ll say yes, you know. It’s a big step, but oh wouldn’t it be wonderful.’

‘We will find out soon enough. He’s proposing this Friday.’

‘Not again. What am I meant to have done now?’ Jason asked, as the police ordered him to step out of his XR2. This was the third time he’s been pulled over along Dagenham Heathway in the past six months.

‘We know it’s you peddling filth, Rampling. Only a matter of time until we catch you red-handed,’ an officer informed Jason as his colleague searched the car.

Jason looked at his watch. He never argued with the police. It wasn’t worth antagonizing them. They’d once planted drugs in Lenny Anderson’s car because they couldn’t catch him outright. Lenny had given them a load of gyp whenever he got tugged, the silly boy. A three-stretch he’d ended up with because of that.

The van Jason used when carrying anything illegal was kept in a mate’s garage and wasn’t registered to him. A local headcase, Mickey Two Wives, had sold him the vehicle and it was registered to an address in Wolverhampton. Following Mickey’s advice, Jason had never sent off the logbook. It was easy to get a bent MOT and insurance certificate to tax the van. Mickey lived in a caravan just off the A13 in Purfleet and would get his gypsy mates to sort the paperwork for a oner a pop. The van was sign-written, had once belonged to an electrician and still had the company’s details plastered down both sides. Jason always wore a dark baseball cap when driving it to cover up his distinct blond hair and not once had he ever been tugged. The Old Bill thought they were so clever, but they weren’t. He had always been one step ahead of them.

‘All done, guv,’ the second officer said, slamming Jason’s boot in disgust at finding it empty of anything untoward.

The other officer handed Jason his licence back. ‘Watch your back, Rampling.’

Jason smirked. ‘Thank you, officers. Have a nice day.’

Darlene Michaels had just returned from the shops when there was a knock at the door.

‘Oh, it’s you. Got a fucking cheek, turning up ’ere unannounced, seeing as you blank all my calls these days. Fourteen times I rang you yesterday, ya no-good bastard.’ Darlene’s heart was beating like a drum as it always did when she and Jason argued. She loved him so much it bloody hurt at times.

‘I was proper busy yesterday. Sorry. Come ’ere,’ Jason said, holding his arms out. He was dying to get his end away, could feel his penis throbbing with anticipation.

Darlene pushed him away, her eyes glinting angrily. ‘I ain’t stupid. Been round the block a few times meself, ya know. Who is she? And don’t pretend there is no she, ’cause I know there fucking is.’

Knowing this was his chance to come clean, Jason chose his words carefully. ‘It’s not what you think. I’m in shit-street, Dar. Had a massive bust-up with me mum and I’ve moved out. I needed help with Shay, so I’ve got a pal helping me out. She’s a bird, but a proper plain Jane. I swear on Shay’s life I’m not banging her. I don’t look at her in the way I look at you. I’m just sort of using her, to be honest.’

‘Do I look simple? Well, do I?’ Darlene screamed. ‘No way is some tart gonna look after Shay without getting something in return. Got money, has she? You’re a slippery snake, Jason, that’s what you are. I knew you were up to no good, can always tell. Fuck off, go on. Get out my flat and life.’

‘Dar, please don’t be like this. You know as well as I do, sometimes in life we gotta put our kids first. That’s why me and you can never live together or be seen out, ’cause you don’t want Andy finding out. This bird means nothing to me – unlike you, who means the world. You gotta believe me.’

Screaming abuse and throwing punches, Darlene pushed him out the front door. ‘And don’t come fucking back,’ she bellowed.

‘Can I have another cuddle?’ Shay asked Carol. This woman was nice and Shay hoped she was her new nan. She was friendly and smelled lovely. She was nothing like her old nan, who swore constantly and smelled nasty.

Carol chuckled. The child had almost a feral look about her. ‘Go upstairs and look in the bathroom. There’s a black brush on the sink unit, you’ll be able to reach it. Go get it and I’ll give your hair a good brush for you. Would you like that?’

When Shay nodded and skipped off happily, Melissa shared her concerns with her mother over Shay not liking her.

‘She’s only a little girl, love, and it’s probably strange for her to see her father with a girlfriend. She’ll come round in time. You just need to be patient and persevere.’

Johnny entered the room. ‘How’s my two favourite girls?’ he asked, scooping Donte off the floor and lifting his giggling grandson above his head.

‘We’re fine, Dad,’ Melissa beamed. She was so pleased her father had finally accepted her son. ‘I don’t know what time Jase will be back. He said he had some things to sort out today.’

‘I know. We had a little chat last night,’ Johnny replied. ‘I can’t see him and Shay on the streets so I told him they can stay here until he sorts something.’

Melissa leapt off the sofa and hugged her father. ‘Thanks! You’re the best dad in the world.’

Jason Rampling pulled up on the Mardyke Estate and studied the ring again. It was simple, but nice. A bit like Mel in a way. He wasn’t looking forward to putting it on her finger though. The very thought gave him the heebies. Getting married was such a big deal and even though he planned on telling nobody, if Mel did accept the proposal, Darlene was bound to hear it on the grapevine, then chop his bollocks off.

Two years ago, Jason’s previous motor had been stolen off the Mardyke, so no way would he chance leaving the ring inside the car. He picked up an empty crisp bag off the floor, put the box inside and shoved it at the bottom of the carrier bag that held the bottle of drink he’d bought from the offie. He dropped his phone in the bag as well, then picked up the second box, the one he’d purchased in a different jeweller’s. He had to win Darlene over. His cock was urging him to.

Jason took the stairs two at a time and banged on Darlene’s door. He’d been ringing her all afternoon, but she’d been blanking his calls. He knew she would forgive him though. She always did.

Darlene flung open the door. She’d had a good cry earlier before tarting herself up to the nines. She’d known by how many missed calls she’d had that Jason would be back. ‘What d’you want? Said all I had to say to you earlier.’

‘You look nice. You going out?’ Jason knew she always pretended she was going out when they rowed, so decided to play along with her.

‘Yes. But where I go and what I do has sod-all to do with you any more. You worry about Plain Jane.’

Jason pulled the box out of his pocket and handed it to Darlene. She wore massive gold hoop earrings and had been vexed when she’d lost one last week. ‘An olive branch,’ he said.

Darlene glanced at the earrings, then handed them back to him. ‘I’m not being bribed, Jase. Neither am I being the other woman. You either knock things on the head with Plain Jane or it’s over between us, for good.’

Jason could tell she was warming, so told Darlene what she wanted to hear. ‘I can’t lose you, Dar, so I’ll knock her on the head. I love you, babe. You know that.’

Putting the bolts across the inside of the front door in case her son came home, Darlene grabbed Jason’s hand and literally dragged him into the bedroom.

‘Jason’s phone is still switched off. I hope he’s OK. He didn’t say he’d be this late,’ Melissa stated worriedly.

Carol looked at the clock. It had just gone eight and she was ready for bed. The tiredness and lack of appetite were becoming more difficult to hide from her family, and Carol hated them looking at her with worried eyes. ‘I bet he’s had a lot of things to sort out, love, and his battery has died. Might even be checking on his brothers and sister. Don’t worry. He’ll be home soon,’ she yawned.

Johnny was none too impressed. Jason had left here at dawn this morning and it didn’t take fourteen hours to travel to Hatten poxy Garden and back. Thank God they were looking after Shay, else Johnny would now be thinking his daughter’s wide boy of a bloke had run off with his five grand.

‘Your mum’s right, Mel. Jason told me earlier he had lots to sort out and wouldn’t be home until tonight,’ Johnny fibbed. He suddenly felt anxious. Had he put his wife’s happiness in front of his daughter’s?

‘Babe, I really do have to go now,’ Jason repeated, unclasping Darlene’s hands from around his neck.

‘So you’re definitely gonna tell Suzie tonight you won’t be seeing her any more?’ Darlene asked again.

‘Yes. Already told you that ten times. Same as I told you I rang my nan and she said she’d look after Shay for me.’ Suzie Smith was the first name Jason had thought of to blurt out, but his lies were now spiralling out of control. Sex with Darlene was always even more mind-blowing after an argument, but now his ball bags were emptied, he just wanted to leave.

‘When you coming round again?’ Darlene asked, pure desperation in her voice.

Jason gave her one last peck on the lips. ‘Soon. I promise, babe.’

‘Where have you been? I was worried about you, Jase. I thought you’d had an accident,’ Melissa gabbled, throwing her arms around her boyfriend’s neck.

‘I’m sorry. My sister rang me earlier, crying her eyes out. Kyle fell over and cut his head open so I had to take him up A and E. Then me phone died,’ Jason said, kissing Melissa on the lips. He’d luckily found some Juicy Fruit chewing gum in his car to get rid of the taste of Darlene’s vagina.

Johnny was stony-faced when Jason sauntered into the lounge holding his daughter’s hand. ‘Help your mum up to bed now, love. She can barely keep her eyes open, but was determined to stay awake to make sure you were OK, Jason,’ he said, his voice laden with sarcasm.

Donte and Shay were already in bed, so as soon as Carol and Melissa left the room, Johnny stood up and kicked the door shut with his Dealer boot. ‘Where’s the ring?’ he barked.

Jason took the box out of the carrier bag and opened it. He handed Johnny an envelope. ‘The receipt and a grand is in there. I looked at dearer rings, but thought Mel would like this one more.’

Johnny stared Jason in the eyes. ‘I am warning you one last time. If you do have other bits of skirt on the go, you need to sack ’em off. Because if I find out you are cheating on my daughter, I will not only cut your cock off, I’ll ram it down the back of your throat and get great pleasure in watching you choke to death. Now, do we understand one another?’

Jason Rampling could not sleep. He had got himself into such a predicament and Johnny’s threat kept swirling around his brain. He did love Darlene, but they were hardly the next Romeo and Juliet. He supposed, in a way, she was the mother figure he’d never had. He’d always felt safe at her home, loved and wanted. All the things he’d never felt with his own mother.

Sighing, Jason turned on his other side. Darlene was becoming more clingy of late, which was worrying. She didn’t seem to give a shit if the neighbours heard them arguing, whereas in the past she’d always turn the music up. And she’d threatened to tell Andy about their affair last time she’d caught him cheating on her. Jason doubted she’d ever carry out that threat, but he’d hate Andy to find out. They weren’t as close now as they’d been at school, but Jason would still feel guilty for betraying his one-time best pal in that way.

Juggling a double life was not going to be easy. As Jason twisted and turned the night away, he weighed up his options. Darlene was eighteen years older than him, fast approaching forty. Would he really yearn for her in ten years’ time? He doubted it. Women didn’t age as well as men. He would always want her in his life though, and that was where the problem lay. Darlene was as much as a drug to him as he was to her. He could not live with her, but living without her seemed almost unthinkable.

But, on the other hand, this was a big opportunity for him. No way was he destined to live the rest of his life on a council estate, he had too much going for him. Melissa might not be Miss World, but she was a path to a better future. Love or money? That was the choice he had to make right now. His heart told him Darlene, but his head told him not to be so stupid.