have as he would never go away without telling her. He would never just leave her, no way in a million years. He loved her far too much to just up and go, she was sure of that. His disappearance was a total mystery and Billie racked her brains as to what had happened to him.
Unsurprisingly, her mother was no help. All she’d done the past two days was knock back wine, cry and swear blind that he’d run off with some old tart. Her nan and aunt had been slightly more helpful. They’d contacted the local hospitals, but her dad wasn’t there.
Billie had casually asked her mum if she had Jade’s mobile number to see if she knew where he was, but Chelle didn’t know it. It didn’t help that her dad had no address book. He knew all his numbers off by heart and the ones he didn’t were stored in his phone, so that was that, there was no way of contacting anybody.
Her mum knew Davey Mullins’ number and had tried to contact him. He hadn’t answered, so she’d left messages for him to call her back urgently. Dave was on the missing list as well. Her mum had called his bird, Lisa, but she hadn’t seen hide nor hair. The thought that Dave was with her dad comforted Billie slightly. At least wherever he was, he wasn’t alone. Billie had suggested to her mum earlier that they should call the police and report him as a missing person, but her mother was adamant that she didn’t want coppers round the house. Her exact words were, ‘I don’t want them tossers coming round my house. Nosy cunts they are, wanting to know the ins and outs of a maggot’s arse.’ If he didn’t show up by tomorrow though, her mum had promised to call them.
Taking a slow walk towards home, Billie let herself into the house. ‘Any news, Mum?’
‘Not a dickie bird,’ Chelle slurred.
It was only half eleven in the morning and Chelle had been drinking since eight to calm her nerves. Pearl was rocking to and fro on the sofa sobbing uncontrollably, whilst praying for Saint Anthony to find her boy. She was being comforted by a two-sheets-to-the-wind Bridie, who had been knocking the wine back with Chelle.
Billie looked at her dysfunctional family and decided she couldn’t sit in the room with them one minute longer.
‘I’m going up to my bedroom, Mum, to have a lie down. I’ve got a terrible headache.’
‘OK, Bill.’
As Billie walked up the stairs she heard the loud shrill of the phone and rushed back down as fast as her legs could carry her. Her mother had the blower in her hand and was rambling away, talking shit.
‘Where is he, Dave? If he’s with some bird you can tell me you know. I know he’s got a bit on the side, you must know where he is?’
Realising the caller was Davey Mullins, Billie snatched the phone off her mother.
‘Let me talk to him, Mum, you’ve had too much to drink and he won’t be able to understand you. Dave, it’s Billie. Have you been with my dad? We haven’t seen him since Boxing Day and we don’t know what to do.’
Dave sounded shocked. ‘I was in a pub with him Boxing Night, Bill, but he left early and I stayed there. Ain’t he been home at all?’
‘No, Dave, and we’re so worried about him. Can you ring around anyone who might know where he is for us and let us know if anyone has seen him?’
‘He definitely said he was going home when he left me. Bill, listen, don’t worry, I’ll have a ring around and then I’ll come round to you. Give me about half an hour.’
‘Thanks, Dave.’ Billie was relieved. At least Dave would know what to do for the best, which was more than could be said for the rest of her useless family.
Hearing the doorbell go twenty-five minutes later, Billie rushed into the hallway and let Dave in. Gesticulating for him to follow her to the kitchen, so she was out of earshot of her mother, Billie shut the door.
‘Look, Dave, I know about Jade, Dad told me recently. Do you think he could be with her?’
Dave shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, girl, but I’ve just been on the phone to her. Jade hasn’t heard from him either and she’s worried sick. He left her a message on Boxing Night, but she’s heard nothing from him since.’
‘Bill, what you doing? Bring Dave in here,’ came her mother’s coarse voice.
‘Coming, Mum. I’m just getting Dave a drink.’
Sitting in the living room, Dave relayed the events of his night in the pub with Terry to his family. ‘So I can’t remember exactly what time he left, but it must have been about midnight and he definitely said he was coming home.’
‘Where have you been for the last two days then, Dave?’ Chelle slurred. ‘Only Lisa said that you hadn’t been home either. You sure you’re not just covering up for him?’
Dave looked at Chelle as though she was a piece of shit he’d just stepped in. ‘Don’t be so fucking stupid, Chelle. As if I’d lie at a time like this. For your information, I went on a bender and stayed at Maxie’s boozer.’
This was partly true. Dave had spent twenty-four hours shagging the old slapper he’d pulled and the following day back in Maxie’s pub doing his best to catch Colombian flu.
Billie could feel the tears spilling from her eyes again. ‘I just know something bad must have happened to Dad. What are we going to do, Dave?’
Dave put his arm round her and hugged her tightly. ‘Don’t worry, Bill. He’ll be fine, you’ll see,’ he said, not really believing it himself. He also now felt that something bad must have happened to Terry.
‘Oh, stop blubbing, Bill, for Christ’s sake,’ Chelle piped up.
Dave looked at Chelle in horror. ‘Don’t have a go at her. She’s a kid, and her dad’s gone missing. She’s got every right to be fucking upset.’
‘Whatever,’ Chelle replied in a stroppy tone.
Pearl started to howl like a wounded animal. ‘Jesus, Mary and holy Saint Joseph, you’ve taken my wonderful husband from me, please don’t take my firstborn son.’
Chelle gave her mother-in-law daggers. ‘For fuck’s sake, Pearl, don’t start Bible-punching. Give it a rest. Your wonderful husband used to knock the living daylights out of you, or have you forgotten that?’
‘You are one nasty piece of work, Michelle. My Terry could have had any woman he wanted, and what he saw in you I’ll never know.’
‘Why don’t you and Bridie fuck off upstairs or go for a walk or something? This is my house and I’ve suffered you long enough, so get out of my sight.’
Pearl stood up and looked at her daughter-in-law with pure hatred. Grabbing Bridie’s arm, the pair of them marched upstairs out of harm’s way.
Dave sat opposite Chelle and Billie pondering what to do next. ‘I know Terry wouldn’t want us to, but I think our only option is to phone the Old Bill.’
‘I don’t want them coming round here,’ Chelle slurred.
‘Well, I’ll go down the station and report him missing then,’ Dave replied.
Chelle was
