she? I wonder if he’s a looker?’
Queenie shook her head in despair. ‘He’s in his forties if he’s a day, Viv. I saw him. Looked a proper pisshead, he did – reminded me of Albie. Why the silly cow would want to take up with someone like her useless father, I do not know. I’ll have to get Michael to find out who he is and have a quiet word in his ear. The silly little mare was even talking about moving in with him. Reckons he’s got a big house. Probably a poxy old bedsit somewhere by the looks of him. I swear, pound signs is all my Brenda sees these days.’
‘Did he look bedraggled?’
‘No. He was suited and booted, but I know a plastic gangster when I see one,’ Queenie replied, snatching at the phone on the very first ring. ‘OK, Michael. Yep, I’ll be there, don’t you worry. All right, pick me up at nine. What did the brief say about his chances of getting bail again?’
Vivian hated one-way conversations. ‘Well?’ she asked impatiently, the second her sister ended the call.
‘Vinny’s been charged with Bobby’s murder. He’ll be appearing at Bow Street Magistrates’ Court in the morning. His brief reckons his chances of getting bail again are practically non-existent.’
Margo and Anthony Warwick had two major passions in life. One was mountain climbing, the other rambling, and today they were thoroughly enjoying their first-ever trip to Hainault Forest.
Decked out in hiking boots and carrying a big stick, Anthony crouched down to examine something that had caught his eye. ‘Look, Margo, it’s a vole. Such tiny creatures, but so adorable, aren’t they? Look at its little heart, beating fast. It’s scared.’
Margo was about to bend down for a closer look when something in the trees caught her eye. Her heart started beating faster than the vole’s. Unable to stop herself, Margo let out a deafening scream.
It was then Anthony looked up to see the dead boy hanging from a tree.
Little Vinny was out of his nut. Alcohol, puff and glue were all he usually indulged in, but Ben’s mum had just encouraged him to have a go at what she called ‘Chasing the dragon’.
Because he was only smoking something brown on a bit of foil, Little Vinny had not expected it to knock him for six like it had, but he felt wonderful, as if he was floating on air.
‘Don’t bother searching for Ben now, Vin. It’s dark. Stay here with me for a bit. I’ve enjoyed your company today. You can search for Ben again in the morning,’ Alison said, putting a hand on Little Vinny’s thigh.
Little Vinny nodded. He usually despised Alison, but that stuff he had smoked had made him feel so happy, he now thought she was OK.
‘Can I ask you a personal question, Vin?’
Unable to speak properly, Little Vinny nodded.
‘You ever had a blow-job?’
Little Vinny shook his head, then grinned when Alison put her hand inside his tracksuit bottoms. When she bent her head and put his erect penis in her mouth, Little Vinny shut his eyes. The heroin, combined with having his cock sucked for the very first time, felt like he had literally died and gone to heaven.
Michael Butler was awoken in his marital bed by his wife kissing him gently on the lips. ‘It’s half six, Michael, and you said you wanted to be up at the crack of dawn. I’m going downstairs to make you a decent breakfast. You’re going to need it with the day you’ve got ahead. And if you want me to come to court with you, the offer’s still there. My mum can take the boys to school.’
‘Nah, you’re all right, babe. I’ve got to find Little Vinny, then pick my mum up by nine. I appreciate you offering though. Means a lot.’
Nancy smiled. After their argument yesterday, she had been ready to pack some stuff and take the boys back to her parents’ house once again. But a good talking to from her mum had made her change her mind.
‘Nance, you know you’re always welcome here, but you can’t keep uprooting them boys every time you and Michael have a cross word. All couples argue. That’s life, and what you’ve just told me isn’t even that bad. As much as we all dislike Vinny, Michael must have a lot on his mind if his brother is facing prison. He’s got that club to run and all sorts. You should be supporting your husband, not rowing with him. Please don’t think I’m having a dig at you, love, but I do think you need to grow up a bit for the sake of your sons. That’s probably why Daniel has been playing up so much, truth be known. Poor little sod needs stability, not you moving out every other month. If you’re that unhappy with Michael, then get a bloody divorce. You can’t keep changing your mind every five minutes. Either make a go of your marriage, or make a clean break.’
Some home truths were exactly what Nancy had needed to hear, and after a few tears, she’d immediately rung Michael at the club to apologize and beg him to come home. Michael had accepted her apology, but had told Nancy he would have to stay at the club as there was nobody else to look after his nephew. However, when Little Vinny had failed to show his face by ten, Michael had surprised her by coming home. They’d then made love.
‘Your breakfast is ready, Michael. Boys, time to get up now,’ Nancy shouted up the stairs.
Michael walked into the kitchen accompanied by their eldest son. ‘Go on then. What you got to say to your mum?’
Daniel stared at his feet. ‘I’m sorry I was rude to you yesterday. I promise I’ll be good from now on. I will also ring Nanny Mary and say sorry to her.’
Nancy smiled as she bent down and hugged Daniel to her chest. Her mum was right. The boys needed a settled environment and they needed their father.
Vinny Butler sat down opposite his brief. Being locked up was making him feel insane. Molly was on his mind constantly. When he was awake, all he could think about was how scared she must have been and how he had let her down. And when he was asleep, she was still alive in his mind and he could see her pretty face as if she was right there beside him. He could even hear her talking to him. When he woke up and remembered that his daughter was dead, it was mental torture at its very worst.
‘Colin, you have to get me bail. I know I’m gonna do bird over Jackson, but I can’t do it right now. It’s too soon after Molly. I need to get my nut straight and prepare myself. I’ll go off my head if they put me in prison while I’m not strong enough to cope.’
Colin Harvey sighed. He was the most sought-after brief among the London gangland fraternity, which was why Vinny had requested his services. ‘Vinny, I will do my very best for you. But I cannot make you any promises. The police opposed your original bail, and they have even more of an argument now Jackson is dead. There is one thing I can assure you though: if the decision does not go in our favour today, I will take your appeal to the Old Bailey. With everything you have been through, nothing is impossible.’
Vinny put his head in his hands. He wasn’t stupid, and knew by the way his brief had tried to dress his words up that he was doomed.
Little Vinny rested his chin on the edge of the lavatory seat. He hadn’t stopped spewing since he’d arrived back at the club in the early hours of this morning, and he had no idea whether it was the heroin he’d smoked that was making him so ill or the
