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  Jack Johnson picked up his brandy and knocked it back in one, then he motioned to the barmaid to refill his glass.

  ‘I know. But we have a lot in common. Plus I trust him, Jack. He gets what I mean, and he is shrewd. Natural, really, I suppose.’

  Jack nodded sagely. ‘Oh, yeah. You are a great fucking team. I like him, he’s a good kid.’

  They were in The Volunteer pub in Barking. Reggae was blasting out from Flanagan’s Speakeasy, the club attached to the side of the public house, but they were in the lounge bar with a few other men having a business drink. The trip to Spain was completely hush-hush, so that was not on the agenda this evening.

  Reggie came back from the men’s and slipped into his seat quietly. He had fitted into the firm perfectly: he was good-looking, could have a fight, and he was liked. His friendship with Lenny Scott had been noted and taken on board. Reggie Dornan was going places, simple as that. Tommy King and Davey Boy Harris were with them tonight. Both were good collectors who concentrated on the council estates.

  Two young men walked into the bar; both were dressed like New Romantics and had glitter on their faces and eyeliner on their eyes. Lenny judged them to be about eighteen years old.

  Tommy King looked at them in disgust. ‘Fucking real, ain’t it? Fucking shit-stabbers out with normal people.’

  Jack laughed at the man’s outrage.

  ‘In my day, Jack, they’d have never got past the fucking door. Fucking animals.’

  Davey Boy was nodding in agreement. He was a small man with a big temper and an ill-fitting wig that no one ever mentioned.

  ‘You’re right, Tom. You seen these adverts for this Aids fucking malarkey? That was brought here by that lot. Fucking poof’s disease. I can’t believe they have the front to walk about like they do. Imagine your son putting on make-up! You would knock the cunt out, wouldn’t ya?’

  Reggie laughed, then he said, ‘I think that’s just the fashion now, guys. It don’t mean they are queer as such.’

  The older men looked at him askance and he turned to Lenny for help.

  Lenny was laughing loudly as he said, ‘He’s right. It’s the fashion.’

  Davey Boy started laughing too. ‘Can you imagine going round to collect a debt dressed like that?’

  Tommy waved his hands in annoyance. ‘You telling me that Boy George ain’t an iron hoof, Lenny?’

  Reggie grinned. ‘Even I would have to give you that one, Tom.’

  Jack spluttered through his laughter, ‘And what about Liberace? My mum loved him but I’m sure he’s queer as a ten-bob clock.’

  Tommy was still annoyed. ‘They should be put down, it’s unnatural. Even the fucking Bible condemns it.’

  Lenny grinned cheekily as he said, ‘It also said “Thou shalt not steal or covet thy neighbour’s wife”!’

  Everyone knew that Tommy was a robber in his day, and that his wife had caught him in bed with the next-door neighbour. They were all laughing now, even Tommy.

  ‘Don’t remind me! She brings it up twice a week, and it was over ten fucking years ago! She still earholes me about it.’

  The talk went back to matters of business, but Reggie and Lenny were reminded of just how precarious their positions would be if their secret came out. Lenny could not believe that he was willing to take such a chance just to be with a man he had known less than two weeks. It was unbelievable really. He caught Reggie’s eye and they smiled slightly at one another. He knew Reggie was thinking the exact same thing.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  ‘Oh, that smells handsome, Shaz. You got enough for Reggie? His mum’s idea of cooking is to raid the fucking chippy.’

  Sharon grinned happily. ‘’Course. There’s plenty, mate.’

  Reggie smiled his thanks and sat at the table. He looked at the little boy propped up in his highchair gnarling on a crust of bread and butter. His whole face was shiny from the spread and he gave them all a gummy smile. A few minutes later, Sharon placed huge platefuls of Irish stew in front of them and Lenny and Reggie tucked in immediately.

  ‘This is good, Sharon. I wish my mum bothered to cook. It is so nice to have a proper cooked meal, you know?’

  Sharon sat down; she had mashed up a small bowl of food for the baby and, as she was blowing on it to cool it down, she said, ‘According to your sister Geraldine, you’re the cook in your house. A good one too, from what I’ve heard.’

  Reggie busied himself seasoning his food for a few seconds. ‘Nothing like this, Sharon – I wish.’ But actually he knew he was a better cook than she would ever be. Trying to make sure his younger siblings had a decent plate in front of them had perfected his skills.

  Lenny got up and opened them both a beer. Reggie took his gratefully and watched as Lenny poured his wife a glass of wine. This house was so civilised, it was like being in a TV programme.

  ‘I’ve got to go away, darling. A bit of business. If anyone asks, you have no idea where I have gone, OK? This is important, Shaz. It is a lot of money if I can pull this off – enough to get us looking for a decent property.’

  Reggie watched as Sharon nodded at her husband without a second’s hesitation. She trusted this man with her life, that much was obvious.

  ‘Oh, Len, have a guess what I heard today? The cab rank by the betting office is going up for sale. The Greek bloke who owns it has had enough. But it’s a good earner – I nipped in with me dad and looked at the books. Cash business, so you can imagine how much he must take under the table.’

  Lenny looked at his wife with interest. ‘Who would run it?’

  ‘Well, we would, of course. But I thought we could stick your dad in there. Keep it in the family, like.’

  ‘Fair enough. Look into it. If I am still away, you talk to Jack and he will set you right, OK?’

  Sharon was over the moon and, as she fed the baby, she felt a feeling of complete happiness wash over her. She was so very lucky. She had a beautiful baby, a beautiful home, a handsome husband who loved her and now she would also have two businesses.

  ‘How long are you going to be gone?’

  Lenny shrugged. ‘Not sure, darling. But I will call you often.’

  ‘OK, mate.’

  Reggie was amazed at just how compliant she was. No where you going? Who with? What for? This was a girl who trusted her husband completely. If only the poor cow knew.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Sometimes Sharon wondered at her friendship with Geraldine Dornan. They were such different people yet they got on like a house on fire. She wondered if it was because of the friendship between Lenny and Reggie. They had become best mates overnight it seemed. She was pleased about that though. Reggie wasn’t one for going out drinking all the time and he was not a womaniser either. Sharon understood that in the world they lived in womanising was the norm for a majority of the men. She knew that Lenny loved her and, in the years they had been together, he had never once caused her a minute’s upset.

  Geraldine had got involved in a bad situation with Jason Prior, and she had explained everything to Sharon; about how exciting he had seemed at first and how she had finally realised that he’d been using her all along. That had hurt her so much, because she had believed he cared for her. Geraldine had a way of explaining things that made them feel normal – not scary. She was sensible, Sharon supposed. She certainly didn’t sugar-coat anything though – she said it the way it was.

  Sharon wasn’t a fool; she knew that her husband had taken Jason Prior out, but she did what she always did with unpleasant facts and just tried not to think about it. After the Keith Smith incident it was the only way she’d been able to live with the knowledge. As far as she was concerned, Lenny had his reasons, and that was pretty much good enough for her. Unlike her mother, she didn’t feel the urge to go in and out of the cat’s arse looking for hidden agendas. Plus she trusted her husband; he would always make sure she was well cared and provided for.

  Geraldine was making little Lenny laugh, and Sharon
smiled at her son’s obvious pleasure. Gerry was very good with him, and he had more than taken to her.

  ‘I would love a baby of my own. It must be great having someone who loves you unconditionally, you know? So dependent on you.’

  Sharon laughed and said in the voice of a much older woman, ‘You don’t think that when they are up all night teething. Though, to be fair, my Lenny does his share. I am lucky with him in that respect.’

  Geraldine grinned. ‘Wish he had a brother!’

  They both laughed at that.

  ‘You will find someone, a good-looking girl like you!’

  Geraldine smiled, but she knew her family name would be off-putting to most men. It was hard living her mother down. She said as much and Sharon felt for her friend.

  ‘None of that matters if a bloke really cares for you, Gerry.’

  Geraldine sighed heavily. ‘I love me mum, but sometimes I fucking hate her. Especially when she’s out in the street fighting with the neighbours! Honestly, her mouth!’

  Sharon couldn’t help smiling. ‘She is funny though at times, Gerry.’

  Geraldine Dornan grinned then, and her beautiful face was shown to its best advantage. She really was a good-looking girl.

  ‘I laugh, Sharon, but deep down I could fucking muller her myself. But, you know, for all her shouting and swearing, she loves us lot. She ain’t had the easiest of lives, as Reggie is always pointing out. Thankfully, since he’s been home she has calmed down a lot.’

  Sharon busied herself making a pot of tea; she could hear the pride Geraldine felt for her brother in her voice.

  ‘Him and my Lenny have really hit it off. I’ve never known Len to have such a close mate before. I think it’s good for him, you know? I suppose it is because they are such similar people.’

  Gerry was holding the baby up in the air and she said loudly, ‘They even bleeding look alike. Everyone remarks on it.’ She laughed in a naughty way as she said, quietly, ‘Here, you don’t think Mr Scott slipped my mum a length do you? I mean, she was hardly fucking Snow White in her day!’

  Sharon laughed; she felt a bit guilty, but Geraldine was funny, there was no doubt about that.

  ‘Don’t let his mother hear you say that, she is such a Holy Joe!’

  She realised what she had said and she was surprised at herself. But Geraldine did that to a person. She made you as irreverent as she was.

  ‘I don’t know how you stand it. She’s like the voice of doom all the time. She could take the joy out of winning the pools, that miserable old bag.’

  They were laughing again and, as Sharon placed the teas on the table well out of baby Lenny’s reach, she said seriously, ‘Fancy a day out shopping tomorrow?’

  Geraldine nodded in appreciation. ‘That sounds right my cup of char.’

  Sharon smiled as she said, ‘And no thieving, all right?’

  Geraldine rolled her eyes as she said placatingly, ‘I promise.’ Then, looking down at the baby on her lap, she said in a childish voice, ‘Your mummy is so straight! What on earth is she doing married to your daddy?’

  They were laughing again; Geraldine was as good as a tonic, and Sharon loved having the company, especially while her Lenny was away.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  It was hot in Spain, and the farmhouse they were staying at was remote and well equipped. They also had use of a 4x4 and a small family car – something that would blend in, and had Spanish plates. It was the first time abroad for both of them and they were like schoolboys. They had applied for one-year passports at the Post Office and, before they knew it, they had been on their way. It was an education for them both. Marbella was starting to take off, and it was a paradise to the likes of Lenny and Reggie.

  They had found their mark in no time, and were amazed at the lack of security around him. Even his villa was approachable. It was absolutely outrageous that a man could put himself on display like that. But, as Lenny reasoned, Christopher Steel thought he was untouchable what with his Colombian contacts, etc.

  They were sitting outside at a small table, eating bacon and eggs that had been cooked by Reggie. They were enjoying the time alone together; it was like a honeymoon and they could forget the rest of the world for a few hours at least. Lenny had never felt like this in his entire life. It was as if he had been asleep and had finally woken up to the real world. He looked at Reggie as he wolfed down his food; he was tanned and muscular, as Lenny was himself. There was a pool that they were delighted with, and where they had already had a few encounters that left Lenny flushing red at the thought of what he was capable of with this man. This handsome man who he could talk to for hours, and whose body felt as if it was a part of himself. How could his life have changed so dramatically in such a small space of time?

  If he had not met Reggie, would he have never known these feelings? Yet he still loved his wife, still desired her. It was confusing and exciting at the same time. He had not even really tried to fight his feelings, if he was honest with himself. He had wanted Reggie Dornan since the first time he had laid eyes on him; he just had not understood the attraction. If Reggie had not been so forward he wondered if it would ever have occurred to him that he had fallen in love with another man – fallen in a big way for his physique, his eyes, his hardness.

  Reggie grabbed his hand suddenly and said happily, ‘Stop questioning it, Lenny. Just enjoy it.’

  Lenny smiled that crooked smile he had. ‘You a fucking mind reader?’

  Reggie fluttered his eyelashes girlishly and said in a high voice, ‘I am where you’re concerned.’

  Lenny laughed and they finished their breakfast, happy in each other’s company.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Christopher Steel was dark-haired and dark-eyed. He was a tall man, without an ounce of spare fat on him because he worked out a lot and he was vain. He also liked the best of everything, and that included his women. He had a lovely wife – a Colombian associate’s sister, so marriage it had had to be. No kids as yet, though he had a string of mistresses of every nationality. That is what he liked about Marbella: it was cosmopolitan. You could get a fuck with anything from a Russian bint with cement tits, to an Irish girl with red curls and green eyes. It was a wonderful life all right, and he was enjoying every second. Not that his wife, Maria, thought that, of course, and she was very vocal about it as well. She was a spoiled cunt, that is what she was. But her brothers were not men even he would chance making an enemy out of. They were important in their country and they loved their pretty little sister. Christopher wished he could say the same – her voice went through his head these days. He should knock her up really, give her a couple of kids. If ever a woman needed a hobby, she did.

  He pulled on his linen jacket and adjusted the cuffs, admiring himself in the mirrored wardrobes. This villa was built on a grand scale like the ones in Colombia. He had learned a lot about how the rich should live. That was the great thing about dealing in such huge quantities: the money was phenomenal and also endless. It was all about supply and demand – and cocaine was very much in demand these days. It was the drug of choice for anyone who needed to give their night out a little lift. He wasn’t averse to a snort occasionally himself.

  The great thing about Spain was the Filth were more corrupt than Idi Amin, and there was no extradition with the UK. He was just a few hours away and the fucking Old Bill couldn’t touch him. He was a lucky boy.

  He walked through his spacious home and, as he descended the sweeping staircase, he saw Maria getting ready for a shouting match. Her big brown eyes were flashing hatred and, as she walked quickly towards him, he slipped around her and out of the front door. He was laughing his head off as he strolled casually towards his Mercedes.

  He wasn’t laughing when the gun was pushed into the back of his head and he was told to shut his fucking trap and drive. He could not believe the audacity of these fucking people. Then he realised the accent had been a London one, not Spanish, and his heart sank down to his
boots. He had thought it was a kidnapping, and now he had a feeling he would have been better off with that scenario. For the first time in many years he felt a stab of fear, but he wasn’t a pushover and this pair of fuckers would know that before the night was over. If he was going down, he wasn’t doing it without a fight.

  He glanced in the mirror and saw the large, dark man in the back was smiling at him slightly. He was amazed at how young the lad was, but he was a lump, and no mistake. Christopher drove where he was told. Outside of town he was ordered to pull over and he did. Then he felt a blow to his head and he was out like a light.

  Chapter Forty

  Lesley Scott and Ivy Conway were like a pair of harpies and Sharon was fed up with the both of them. They were united today on finding out where Lenny was and, as Sharon didn’t know, she wasn’t in a position to enlighten them. Not that she would have told them had she known anyway, and they were both old enough and ugly enough to understand that.

  ‘Look, you two. For the umpteenth time, I. Don’t. Know. Where. Lenny. Is.’ She sighed heavily. ‘What bit of “I don’t know” don’t you get?’

  Lesley was annoyed at Sharon’s obvious sarcasm and she wondered at how she could ever have thought this girl would be a good influence on her son. It seemed she was the opposite, letting him run amok and do what he liked. Lesley was frightened for him; she knew he had made a name for himself and, even if her husband thought that was the best thing that could happen to him, she didn’t. She knew that when people made it to the top of their game, there were ten more people waiting in the wings to take their place. It was the law of the pavement.

  ‘So, if something were to happen to the baby, God forbid, you can’t get in touch with him. Is that what you are telling me?’