be interested to know you once robbed the Paki shop at Dagenham East, and now sell snuff and porn films to weirdos and perverts.’
Jason stared at the mess of a woman who had given birth to him. She stank; a mixture of sweat and the stale smell of sex. ‘Start packing your toys and stuff, Shay,’ he shouted. ‘We’re outta this dump.’
‘That was Jason on the phone. He’s on his way over with Shay,’ Melissa said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. It was now a whole week since she had last seen her boyfriend and she’d been terribly worried he’d gone off her. He hadn’t phoned as much as he usually did either, and she’d wondered if he was avoiding her because of their failed attempt to have sex. Perhaps he felt embarrassed, poor sod.
‘See, I told you you’d hear from him soon, didn’t I?’ Carol smiled. She hadn’t been well yesterday, had suffered the migraine from hell, but felt much better today.
‘I think Jase has had a few problems at home. He told me he’s had a big row with his mum and walked out with Shay. She sounds awful, his mum. Nothing like you.’
Johnny looked over the top of his newspaper. ‘Perhaps a man-to-man chat might help. I’ll take him out for a couple of pints later.’
‘He’s coming over to see Melissa, not you,’ Carol quipped.
‘I won’t keep him out long. Just want to make sure the lad’s all right.’ This was the opportunity Johnny had been waiting for.
‘If he hasn’t got anywhere else to stay, Dad, can he stay here tonight in one of our spare rooms?’ Melissa asked. She had sorely missed Jason and wanted to spend as much time as possible with him.
‘I’m not sure about that, love. Your mum’s not well enough to have strangers wandering about the house.’
‘I don’t mind and Jason’s hardly a stranger, he’s our Melissa’s boyfriend,’ Carol said. Jason had a happy-go-lucky attitude and Carol would welcome some company. When she and Johnny were alone, the conversation always veered towards her cancer. Telling her son Mark earlier this week that she was dying had been one of the hardest things Carol had ever had to do. She still hadn’t mentioned the time frame she’d been given to Melissa, would rather her daughter be kept in the dark.
‘OK,’ Johnny said. ‘I’ll speak to the lad alone first, find out the score.’
Jason Rampling felt thoroughly miserable as he drove towards the Brooks’s house. He couldn’t look after Shay properly all by himself and he had nowhere to go. He had a few pals he might be able to doss with, but they all lived on the Mardyke and their flats were shitholes. His nan would probably suffer them temporarily if push came to shove. But she’d made it clear she was no fan of Shay.
Jason thought about Melissa and was glad he hadn’t been too hasty in dumping her. None of the other birds he’d chatted up had a wealthy father like Johnny. Most openly admitted they were skint and their family didn’t have a pot to piss in.
He parked on the Brooks’s driveway and grinned as Melissa ran out of the house to greet him. ‘Had the morning from hell, I have, babe. Sorry I didn’t see you all week but I’ve been having murders indoors and had to look after all the kids,’ he lied.
‘No, you never. You went out,’ Shay stated.
‘Get inside the house, you. Little girls your age should be seen and not heard. Don’t forget your manners either. You be polite, like how I’ve taught you to be. Melissa’s mum and dad are decent people.’
When the sullen-looking child did as she was told, Melissa put her arms around Jason’s neck. ‘Missed you, I have. My dad’s taking you out for a drink to chat to you, man to man. I think he wants to help you get sorted, Jase. He said you can stay at ours tonight. Unless you have somewhere else to go, of course?’
‘Thanks, Mel. No, I haven’t got anywhere else to go.’ Jason smiled. This was his big chance to impress, worm his way in, and he was determined to grab the opportunity with both hands.
Darlene Michaels was not a happy woman. Jason had promised to come around earlier, then had rung up with some cock-and-bull excuse about his mum slinging him out and him having to look after Shay.
When the doorbell rang, Darlene thought Jason had changed his mind and therefore was gobsmacked to see her ex standing on the doorstep. ‘Hello, Craig. I heard you were out. How you doing?’ she asked awkwardly. She and Craig Thurston had been an item for a couple of years back in the eighties. He was hardcore, was Craig, the party animals of all party animals and that was the reason she’d dumped him. At thirty-five, he was three years younger than her.
‘I’m good, thanks, Dar. You’re looking well. Fancy coming out for a drink? Just as pals, like.’
‘Not much of a daytime drinker these days, to be honest. But come in and I’ll make you a coffee.’
Craig sat on the kitchen stool, laughing and joking about old times. ‘Had some good craic, didn’t we, girl? I always tell people you were the one I regret letting slip through my fingers. I should’ve done the right thing and married you.’
Now positive he was trying to hit on her, Darlene quickly changed the subject. ‘So, you working, Craig? Still in the building game?’
‘Nah, but I will get back into it. Some geezer owes me fifty grand and I need that back to set meself up again. You know how it is.’
‘Not someone from the Mardyke, surely?’ Darlene asked, wondering if that was the reason for his visit.
‘Nah. Johnny Brooks, the cheeky bastard. Been popping down to his yard, but can’t seem to catch him there. I will though, and I’ll get my dosh back. Took a proper liberty, that bloke.’
Darlene stirred the coffees and handed one to Craig. That name rang a bell and it suddenly occurred to her Jason had mentioned it recently. ‘Who is Johnny Brooks? My friend mentioned him last week.’
‘Cake-o, Johnny is. Owns J J Brooks, the builders’ merchants.’
‘Has he got a daughter?’
‘Yeah, and a son. He’s moved away though, the boy.’
‘What’s the daughter’s name?’ Darlene asked, already dreading the answer. She knew Jason like the back of her hand and could tell he’d been asking her if she knew Johnny Brooks for a reason.
‘Melissa, why you asking?’
‘Because a mate of mine thinks her son is dating Johnny’s daughter. Can you find out for me? She live round this way?’ Darlene had that dreadful churning in her stomach that she always got when she suspected Jason of cheating on her. She wasn’t stupid and knew one day he would probably meet someone nearer his own age and fall in love. The thought of that happening any time soon made her feel physically sick. Jason Rampling was her addiction, just like heroin was to a junkie. She literally craved him, and when she didn’t get to see him for days on end, she’d watch the videos she kept of them making love over and over again while pleasuring herself with a vibrator.
‘I’m sure the daughter still lives with Johnny. I’ll ask around, see what I can find out for ya – on one condition.’
‘What?’
‘That
