Читать книгу Kimberley Chambers 3-Book Butler Collection: The Trap, Payback, The Wronged - Kimberley Chambers - Страница 41

The day after he got engaged to Nancy, Michael surprised her by renting them a house of their own. The house belonged to a pal of his and was situated in a turning just off the East India Dock Road. Nancy had been thrilled by the gesture and since they’d moved in a few days ago, the intimacy had more than returned to their relationship. The only fly in the ointment had been Karen’s unexpected death. Nancy had been terribly upset and had sworn blind that there was some kind of skulduggery involved.

On the morning of Karen’s funeral, Michael was awake at five a.m. He had driven up to Suffolk the previous day to visit his father. Albie seemed to be doing well living with his brother. He had cut down his booze intake, put on weight, smartened himself up a bit, and was beginning to resemble the handsome man that he had once been. He even had a twinkle in his eye once again.

Albie’s twinkle had unfortunately disappeared when Michael explained that Karen had been found dead in a back street in Poplar after an overdose of heroin. ‘Something not right there, boy. I spoke to Karen at your sister’s engagement party, and she was a lovely girl with a fun personality and a real zest for life. No way was she a smackhead. If you ask me this has your brother’s evilness stamped all over it. I bet Vinny wanted rid of the poor girl,’ was Albie’s take on matters.

Michael had already had similar thoughts himself, but wasn’t about to admit that.

Before leaving Ipswich, Michael had given his father another couple of hundred pounds’ pocket money, and his dad’s parting sentence was the reason he had been unable to sleep properly. ‘Michael, I know you said with Roy waking up that you haven’t felt it was the right time to burden your mum with my letter, but seeing what has happened to Karen, I now feel you should give it to her sooner rather than later. Like it or not, Vinny is a loose cannon, boy.’

Nancy leaning over and kissing him snapped Michael out of his morbid thoughts.

‘I didn’t wake you, did I? I’ve had a crap night’s sleep, couldn’t stop tossing and turning,’ Michael said.

‘I was the same. I’m dreading the funeral, Michael. I know I didn’t know Karen for long, but I really clicked with her. I didn’t tell you this, but I went out for lunch with her last week. I was so upset over the Denise escapade, and Karen was so supportive. She even stuck up for you. She said you was a lovely person and that I shouldn’t end it with you over something that happened before we even got together. She told me something else as well, but I promised I wouldn’t repeat it. It was about what happened to her at your Auntie Viv’s party.’

Intrigued, Michael propped himself up on his elbow. ‘Tell me, babe. It might be important.’

‘Only if you promise not to say anything? I don’t want to cause any trouble amongst your family.’

‘I swear I won’t say nothing.’

‘Karen said she got her drink spiked with LSD at your mum’s house. Vinny told her that it was Lenny that did it. He even got Lenny to apologize to her in person. Now, I don’t know about you, Michael, but seeing as what has happened to Karen since, I really don’t believe that story.’

Suddenly feeling nauseous, Michael’s blood ran cold.

Vinny gestured to Ahmed to follow him into his office, then shut the door and poured them both a large Scotch. The Old Bill had been sniffing around like there was no tomorrow since Karen’s death, making Vinny feel both anxious and cautious.

Vinny and Ahmed had foolproof alibis for the night of Karen’s death. Vinny had stayed at the restaurant until one a.m. and had then gone back to the club with Nick. As planned, Ahmed had been at the club all evening and he also stayed all night to participate in a card game with Vinny, Nick, and four other regulars. Two of the regulars were not only respected businessmen but also Freemasons, which was a bonus in Vinny’s eyes.

Ahmed’s cousin, Burak, had been the cab driver who had picked Karen up and driven her to Poplar on the night she had died. She had then been handed over to two pals of his who had been paid three thousand pounds between them to carry out her murder. Burak was actually a cab driver who was employed by a firm in Canning Town, so he had gone straight to work from Poplar, therefore also had a rock-solid alibi. The police had questioned Burak, and he insisted that Karen had woken up in his cab and demanded to be dropped off along the Westferry Road near the Anchor and Hope pub. Burak had also informed the police that Karen was abusive, and seemed to be either drunk or drugged up. Vinny knew Burak was to be trusted, as it had been he who had employed the men who had killed Terry Smart.

Ahmed knocked back his Scotch in one. ‘Well?’ he asked Vinny.

Paranoid that the Old Bill might have bugged his phone, Vinny would only discuss the situation with Ahmed in person now. Karen had told him when she had first come back on the scene that she’d made a statement to the police in case anything untoward happened to her. She’d admitted to Vinny a few weeks afterwards that she had only been bluffing, but Vinny didn’t want to take any chances. ‘Sniffing around again they were yesterday. I rang Geary last night and he rang me back this morning. Apparently, that nosy cunt of a neighbour of Karen’s has been making herself busy. She has been to the Old Bill and made a statement saying she suspects foul play.’

‘Look, we have a firm alibi, so no need to panic. What about the nosy neighbour? Shall I speak to Burak and make her disappear?’

‘No. We need to lay low, mate. What with Terry Smart going AWOL and now this, we definitely need to rein it in a bit. As much as I would like to see the nosy neighbour propping up a flyover somewhere, we are just going to have to let her do her very worst. As you said, our alibi is watertight so what can the pigs do? They have questioned Nick again as well, and he has vouched that Karen was fine in the restaurant until she disappeared into the toilets alone.’

Vinny jumped as he heard a knock on his office door. ‘Who is it?’ he shouted.

‘It’s me. The police are at the door, Vinny. They want to speak to you,’ Edna, the cleaner, informed him.

Cursing the fact that the bastards had turned up yet again, Vinny ordered Ahmed to stay in his office. He then composed himself and went to greet the boys in blue. ‘And what can I do for you today, gentlemen?’ he asked, half-politely, half-sarcastically.

One of the officers had been at the club the previous day, and it was he who answered Vinny’s question. ‘It’s about Karen’s funeral. Her mother has requested that under the unusual circumstances neither you nor your family attend. They agreed that if you want to pay your own respects, then you can do so after the service.’

Vinny knew that the nosy neighbour must have spoken to Karen’s mum. Maureen had been fine with him when he had rung her the other day. He also knew he had to put on an act to show his innocence. He smashed his fist against the wall, then turned back to the two police officers. ‘Karen was very dear to me and also the mother of my only child, as you well know. If you think that myself, my son, and my family will not be attending her funeral, then you have another think coming. What have we done wrong, eh? And what do you mean under the unusual circumstances? Karen had a drug problem and was found dead due to a heroin overdose. What the hell has that got to do with me or my family attending her funeral?’

The officer doing the talking immediately tried to pacify Vinny. Like most East End Old Bill, he hated Vinny Butler with a passion, would love to see him banged-up for life, but was also slightly wary of the man. Vinny was clever, too clever for his own good, and one day he would take an almighty tumble was the overall feeling down at the station. ‘As far as we are aware, you haven’t done anything wrong, Mr Butler, but Karen’s family are very upset over her death and would rather her service be kept small and personal.’

‘Well, I am very sorry, officers, but you can tell Karen’s family to go fuck themselves. My son has been in bits all week. He loved his mum very much and if I told him he couldn’t say goodbye to her, it would break his little heart even more. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do. We are holding a small wake here afterwards, so we can toast Karen’s memory. Me and her may not have been properly together when she died, but I will always love her. She gave me the most wonderful son, so how could I not?’ Vinny explained, his eyes brimming with fake tears.

When the officers said they would also be attending the funeral to ensure that there was no unpleasantness, Vinny thanked them, shut the door, leant against it and smirked. He was far too clever for the likes of the Old Bill. Always had been and always would be.

As was to be expected, Karen’s funeral was a sad affair where plenty of tears were shed. Karen’s mum and aunt sobbed uncontrollably throughout the whole service, and when Karen’s Uncle Pete got up to say a few words, he got halfway through his speech, then broke down and was unable to continue.

Michael surreptitiously studied Vinny throughout. He genuinely looked as upset as anyone. If he was guilty of organizing Karen’s murder, Michael couldn’t help but think what a bloody good actor his brother was.

Michael put a comforting arm around Nancy, then handed her his handkerchief to dry her eyes. ‘Oh, Michael. It’s so sad. Karen was such a nice girl,’ Nancy whispered in his ear.

‘I know, babe,’ Michael whispered back, while clocking his nephew. Little Vinny’s face was devoid of any emotion. If anything he looked extremely bored. Perhaps he was too young to understand the finality of it all?

Knowing that the police were bound to have their beady eyes on him when the mourners left the church, Vinny made a beeline for Karen’s mum, Maureen. ‘I know you wasn’t particularly keen on my family attending the service, but we all thought the world of Karen and there was no way we could stay away. I just wanted to say how sorry I am for your loss. My son has been denied many happy years with his wonderful mum and I am as gutted about Karen’s death as anybody.’

‘You lying bastard. You killed her, I know you did,’ shouted Debbie Ryan, who happened to be standing just behind Maureen.

‘Don’t spout such rubbish. I wasn’t even with Karen when she died. I was playing cards at the club, and I have many witnesses to prove that,’ Vinny spat at the nosy neighbour.

‘How very convenient for you, Vinny. My brother is a known tea-leaf, so I do know a thing or two about having the perfect alibi,’ Debbie spat back.

When Maureen screamed at both Vinny and Debbie to stop arguing, the police stepped in and led Vinny away by the arm. ‘I think it would be better if you and your family left now rather than attend the actual burial,’ an officer urged Vinny.

‘My son has done sod all wrong, so why should we have to leave?’ Queenie yelled, waving her umbrella dangerously close to the policeman’s face.

When Vivian and Brenda both joined in the argument, Michael chucked his keys at Dean and ordered him and Nancy to go and sit in his car while he calmed the situation down.

‘Hold my arm in case you slip in those heels, Nance. I don’t want to have to scrape you up off the floor,’ Dean joked.

Nancy smiled and took his arm. ‘Never a dull moment being part of the Butler family, is there?’

‘Nope. Congratulations on your engagement by the way. Michael is a lucky guy,’ Dean said, sincerely.

‘Thanks. We are not looking to get married just yet though. What about you and Brenda? Have you arranged yours?’

‘Well, originally Bren wanted to get married before the baby was born, but she reckons she will be too fat now and wants to leave it until next summer. I’m easy, so I’ll just leave it up to her. Organizing weddings is definitely girlie stuff, so as long as Bren gives me the date and time, I’ll just make sure I’ve got a new suit and turn up,’ Dean chuckled.

‘Michael’s the same. He has told me to arrange whatever I want when the time comes and he will foot the bill. Changing the subject, any more news about your dad’s whereabouts, Dean? I meant to ask you earlier.’

‘Nope. He is still on the missing list. My nan has been in bits, but I wish she would stop blaming Vinny. It makes it so awkward for me being with Bren, if you know what I mean?’

‘I know exactly what you mean. I’m in a similar position with my family as you are with your nan. My dad and brother hate the Butlers and have completely washed their hands of me. At least your nan is still talking to you and you can visit her. I’m barred from visiting my family for good,’ Nancy explained, her eyes brimming with tears.

Being a gentleman, Dean put his arms around Nancy and gave her a hug. ‘If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, and you feel awkward discussing your family with Michael, you know where I am.’

Absolutely furious at what was happening not twenty feet in front of her, Brenda broke into a run, caught up with the cuddling couple, then punched her boyfriend hard in the side of his head.

‘What do you think you are doing?’ Dean yelled, letting go of Nancy.

‘What do I think I’m doing? It should be me asking you pair that question. Didn’t know I was walking behind you, did you? Are yous two at it behind my back, or what?’ Brenda screamed, her face bright red with fury.

‘Don’t be so fucking stupid. Nancy was upset over the fact that she no longer has contact with her family, and I just gave her a friendly hug,’ Dean explained.

‘Honest, Bren. We’ve just been talking about our weddings. I love Michael, and Dean loves you,’ Nancy added, feeling as awkward as hell as she saw Michael running towards her.

‘What’s a matter?’ Michael asked, putting a protective arm around his fiancée’s shoulders.

When Dean explained what had happened, Michael ordered him and Nancy to walk to the car while he spoke to his sister alone. ‘Are you mental, or what, Bren? I’ve seen you throw your jealousy tantrums in the past which was why Dean probably dumped you in the first place. If you ain’t careful, you will lose him one day for good. Also, don’t you ever insult Nancy again in such a manner, do you hear me?’

Suddenly feeling sorry for herself, Brenda began to cry. ‘I’m sorry, Michael. I just feel so fat and ugly. Nancy is stunning and I can’t help feeling that Dean must wish he was with somebody slim and pretty like her.’

Michael gave his sister an awkward hug. ‘Well, that’s just your own insecurities. Nobody else sees you that way. You need to get a grip and discard that green-eyed monster for good. Jealously is the root of all evil, Bren.’

Vinny had organized a small wake to be held in memory of Karen at the club after the service. He had invited his family, all the staff, and a few regulars to attend. Lenny had been very quiet all day. He had sobbed as loudly as anybody throughout the funeral service and, worried about his cousin, once back at the club, Vinny had taken him into his office to have a quiet word. ‘What’s up, Champ? You haven’t been your usual bubbly self today. Is it the funeral that’s upset you?’

Lenny’s lip wobbled like a small child’s would. ‘Did I kill Karen by giving her that drink, Vinny? Will I go to prison?’

Vinny chuckled and ruffled his cousin’s hair. ‘Of course you didn’t, you daft apeth. Karen died of an overdose of heroin, Champ. That has nothing to do with the drink you gave her at the party. Now, how about you put a big smile on your face and jump up on the DJ stand and play some records in memory of Karen, eh? Karen loved your music, and she would like that, wouldn’t she? She is bound to be looking down from heaven like all dead people do.’

‘Will my dad be looking down and watching me play my records too, Vinny?’

‘Yeah, ’course he will. Your dad will be well proud of you, like we all are.’

As Lenny stood up, then went to dart out of the office, Vinny called him back. ‘And remember, Champ, you must never mention that drink you gave to Karen to anybody apart from me, OK? If the police, Michael, Nancy, your mum, or anyone else ever mentions what happened to Karen at that party, you know nothing, yeah?’

‘Yeah. I know nothing. Love you, Vinny. Going to play my records now.’

Vinny smiled. ‘Love you too, Champ.’

Unable to face going to the club or Karen’s wake after visiting Roy, Queenie and Vivian decided to head straight home.

‘I will never feel the same about that club again, Vivvy. Every time I set foot in it now, it reminds me of the last time I saw my Roy as a normal human being. So happy he was the night of his engagement party. Him and Colleen were like love’s young dream. Anyway, Vinny popped round early this morning, and I told him how I felt about the club. And so he said he would sell it and buy the old one back just for me. He’s a good boy deep down, ain’t he, Vivvy?’

‘Heart of bloody gold. I liked that old club much better, Queen, and I can keep more of an eye on my Lenny there. I used to like popping in there in the daytime to see the boys, didn’t you?’

Surprised to see Michael’s car sitting outside her door as they turned the corner, Queenie didn’t reply. ‘I wonder what my Michael wants? Hope he hasn’t fallen out with Nancy again. Didn’t you say your Lenny saw them arguing earlier or something?’

‘Lenny said Michael looked like he was arguing with Brenda. I’ll come indoors with you. I could do with a large glass of sherry after today, couldn’t you?’

Queenie nodded in agreement. She was parched. ‘You all right, boy? Why haven’t you and Nancy gone to the wake?’ she asked, relieved to see Michael sitting on her sofa holding hands with his wife-to-be.

‘Because I needed to speak to you, Mum. Could you keep Nancy company, Auntie Viv, while me and Mum have a quick chat upstairs? It won’t take long.’

‘’Course I will,’ Vivian said, sitting down next to Nancy and squeezing her hand. Like Queenie, Vivian was a big fan of Michael’s fiancée.

‘Whatever’s wrong?’ Queenie asked. She had known by the look on his face that whatever he had to tell her was important, which is why she had poured herself a glass of sherry to take upstairs.

Michael took a deep breath and then did what he had been dreading for the past few weeks. He handed his mother Albie’s letter.

Queenie glanced at the envelope. ‘That’s your father’s handwriting. Don’t tell me you’ve been in contact with that old bastard, Michael, ’cause I won’t be happy. Where is the lying old toad living?’

Michael stood up. ‘I think you should just read the letter, Mum. I’m gonna wait in my old bedroom while you do so, then give me a shout when you’re done.’

Queenie nodded, waited for Michael to leave the room, then opened the envelope.

Dear Queenie,

Firstly, I would like to apologize about the terrible cancer lie that I told. It was a stupid thing to do, but I swear from the bottom of my heart, I only made such an awful story up to be close to my family once again.

Secondly, I would like to say sorry for cheating on you, but I would like you to know the reasons why I ended up doing the things I did.

When I first met you, Queenie, I felt like the most luckiest bloke alive. I remember you took my breath away on our first date when you wore that smart black dress and red pill-box hat. I knew then that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, but it took me a good six months to build up the courage to ask for your hand in marriage.

I was ecstatic when you said yes and we finally wed, but I always felt like there was three in our marriage and not two. Vivian was always at our house, which meant we never got to spend much time alone, and I could tell that Vivvy never thought I was good enough for you. She spoke to me like I was a piece of dirt.

When Vinny was born, things seemed to go from bad to worse. You and Vivian wanted to bring my son up between you, and I felt terribly pushed out, which is when I first started to hit the bottle. As each child followed, the more of a spare part I began to feel. I got the impression that you only married me because you wanted to have children, and you had never loved me at all. You turned me from a strong, strapping confident lad into a weak drunken man, Queenie, and you turned my children against me, which is something I will never forgive you for.

Queenie put the letter down beside her and reached for her glass of sherry. There was still another page to read and she needed to pause before she did so. Had she really made Albie feel like that? She had never enjoyed sex much, and unless she was trying to get pregnant, had never really wanted it, but that was usual for a woman, wasn’t it? Vivian had said the same. She didn’t like doing it with her Bill. The pleasure was all the men’s. All the woman could do was lie there and think of bloody England.

Knocking back her drink in three large gulps, Queenie picked the letter up again.

And lastly, but certainly not least, the reason I am writing this letter is because of my concerns about our eldest son. It is my belief that not only is Vinny a time-bomb waiting to explode, but there is a very good chance he will blow everybody else up around him.

Prior to Roy’s engagement party, Vinny paid me a visit in the Blind Beggar. He had found out about my cancer lie by speaking to a doctor who he knew at the hospital. He then proceeded to blackmail me. He insisted that unless I told Colleen’s parents that Roy had cheated on her many times and had been responsible for beating me up and putting me in hospital many years ago, he was going to blow the whistle on me.

At first, out of fright, I agreed to do such a terrible thing. Then, I looked around at the party and saw Roy and Colleen gaze into one another’s eyes like I once used to gaze into yours, Queenie. It was then I decided I could not go through with it.

When I told Vinny my decision, he tried to bribe me with money, and it was when I still refused that he leapt on the stage and told my secret to everybody. Michael will vouch for my story if you do not believe it. I have told him everything.

As a massive favour, I ask that you do not share the contents of this letter with Vinny or anybody else. I just wanted you to be aware of what type of person our eldest son is, so you can guard the backs of yourself, Michael and Brenda in the future. Our grandson needs to be protected too, because if he isn’t, chances are he will grow up to be evil just like his father.

I hope you take heed of my warning, Queenie. As we both know, Roy’s bullet was meant for Vinny and I would hate to see any more casualties. I cannot come back to Whitechapel ever again, as I know my son will have me killed if I do, so it is left to you to sort out this mess. You created a monster, so best you deal with it.

Good luck,

Albie.

Cursing under her breath, Queenie tore the letter into shreds and put it in her bedside drawer. How dare that drunken old bastard not only refer to her wonderful son as a monster, but also have the cheek to blame her for it? Yes, she had encouraged Vinny to make something of himself like the Kray twins had, but that was only because she didn’t want him to have the shit life that she’d had to endure.

Wanting to cry through temper, Queenie forced herself not to, and instead repaired her windswept hair in the mirror and put on some more red lipstick. If Albie was telling the truth about Vinny wanting to split up Roy and Colleen, and that was a big ‘if’ with Albie’s track record, then Vinny must have had good reason to do so.

Her first-born was the heart and soul of the family. He was the one who had put food on the table when Albie had been squandering every penny they had in pubs and on whores. Vinny had always treated and respected her like a shortened version of her name. He had looked upon her as a queen, and no way would Queenie ever turn her back on him. He was even buying his old club back just for her, for Christ’s sake.