Two Women (7 page)

‘What murder?’

As she looked into the priest’s face and he informed her that her Uncle Jimmy had been shot in the street Susan sighed.

Life was so bloody unfair.

Poor Uncle Jimmy. She had always liked him, he had been kind to her and Debs. Giving them a few minutes of his time, asking them about school, their lives. Things it would never have occurred to June to ask.

Now he was dead and it was inevitable her mother would take up residence back at home. Susan didn’t want that.

She didn’t want that at all.

Bowing to the inevitable as usual, she smiled sadly.

‘He was a nice man, me Uncle Jimmy. I’d better get home and see if me mum needs me.’

‘You do that, child. Sure you’re a boon to your mother, a boon.’

The priest watched her hurrying from the church on dumpy little legs and smiled sadly. She was a lovely little thing, plain as a pikestaff but with a huge heart that was crying out for a bit of affection.

Now the man was dead, God rest him and keep him, perhaps that whore of a mother might get herself home and take care of her children as nature intended.

 

Davey Davidson was over the moon. He knew his biggest rival was finally off the scene and that pleased him.

What wasn’t so pleasant was the knowledge that a lot of people would now be after his blood.

He would deal with that when it came up.

What he wanted now were the notebooks and ledgers of the man he had killed. To get them he needed access to the house and that was where Joey came in. After all, his old woman was the bird in the know, as he had explained to them when he had set all this up.

Joey was shrewd there, very shrewd. He’d wanted that woman of his back and had laid the foundations for this night’s work with the Davidsons. Davey wondered idly if Joey would tell his wife that he was the reason her new boyfriend was lying on a mortuary slab.

He had wanted to do the actual murder but had been clever enough to see that he was going to be the prime suspect. So he had arranged to be at home with his children when it took place.

Where any decent man would be on the night before Christmas.

He had also paid a big mouth called Bella to collar his wife in East Ham market, where he knew his wife would be that Saturday with her two daughters. In effect he had masterminded a murder and had got what he wanted from it. His wife would give up the man of her dreams and he would get back a woman most men would have hung, drawn and quartered.

Davey shook his head sadly at the way some people lived their lives.

 

Maureen Carter was up and out early on Christmas morning. She was dressed in a blue Oscar de la Renta suit with matching shoes and bag, her hair expertly set. She looked calm and collected as she knocked at the door of Jimmy’s house.

When June opened it she nearly died of shock.

‘It’s six o’clock in the morning, for fuck’s sake!’

Maureen wriggled past her, smiling.

‘I’m well aware of that but I need to pick up a few of Jimmy’s things.’

June, annoyed and still half asleep, sneered at her.

‘And what things would those be?’

Suddenly her mind was as clear as a bell. She knew exactly what this woman was after and she also had an idea why Jimmy was dead.

Maureen looked sadly at her. Changing tack she said quietly, ‘I have a few things here. You know, things Jimmy was looking after for me. After all, we were in business together.’

June laughed outright at this then said sarcastically, ‘You were in bed together, I know that much. Tell me then, what are you after? If it’s within my power I’ll give you just what you want, lady.’

Her words were loaded and Maureen knew this. She looked June up and down, considering whether she would have to fight her at some point. Maureen could fight like a man. It was one of her assets and she knew it. She also knew that June was smarting at this particular moment in time and the chances were she would be angry enough to give Maureen a real up and downer.

She changed tack once more. Standing in the lounge, she looked her adversary in the eye and said honestly, ‘Come on, June, he was a wanker. A good-looking Scottish wanker who kept the two of us for months.

‘Now I don’t know about you, but Old Bill will be sniffing around soon and I don’t want to be implicated in anything. So let’s have a cup of Rosie Lee then get to work sorting out all his stuff.’

June nodded without a word. She made the tea. As they sat at the kitchen table, Maureen lit a cigarette with a gold lighter. Her nails were long and painted a delicate shade of pink like her lips.

She looked gorgeous.

Taking in her hair and her clothes June could see the attraction for Jimmy but that didn’t make it hurt any the less. In fact it just depressed her because she knew she would always be second best in any comparison with Maureen and knowing that didn’t make her life any easier.

But she had a trump card and she knew it even if Maureen smart-car Carter didn’t as yet. Lighting a Number Six she sighed heavily.

‘What are you after then?’

Maureen waved one well-manicured hand.

‘Just his address books, things like that. Things that could incriminate us, really.’

June nodded solemnly, her expression unreadable as she smoked.

‘His little black book, eh?’ She smiled. ‘I’ve always wanted to say that to someone. Sounds like one of them old films, don’t it?’

Maureen stubbed out her cigarette impatiently.

‘It sure does. So where does he keep it?’

‘Up his arse so far as I know. That book was always with him. Never let it out of his sight.’ June sounded convincing and she knew it.

Maureen sighed heavily.

‘Don’t fuck about with me, June. I’m warning you, some very heavy people want that book and I intend to get it for them. I have a lot of money riding on this and neither you nor anyone else will stand in my way. Do I make myself clear?’

‘Loud and clear. But, be fair, what would I know about anything like that, eh? Unlike you I was strictly for shagging. Whereas you, as I understand it, were for talking to as well. I bet that was thrilling after sex - a good old chinwag about his business dealings! Beats a graphic description of what he was going to do to me the next time we was at it. The nearest I got to his business was him asking me to pass him over the phone. So there you have it. The book must be with his effects at the hospital, unless the filth or someone else has got their hands on it.’

Maureen’s face drained of colour.

‘I understood from Jimmy that the book was kept here in his safe at all times. It isn’t good business practice to carry everything around with you . . .’

June laughed as she interrupted.

‘What Jimmy said and what he did were two different things, as we
both
know now. So all I can say is, have a look about if you want. The safe is locked and closed and he had the keys. Unlike you, I had no idea what he was up to half the time.’

Maureen was livid and she didn’t try to hide it.

‘The Davidsons will be after you, Junie, you realise that, don’t you? And unlike me they’ll literally stop at nothing to find out what you know. I am not threatening you, mate, I am just stating a fact.’

June looked into her eyes.

‘So that’s who was behind it, is it? Davey Davidson, the poor man’s friend, Jimmy’s mate and business partner to be or so I understood. You set Jimmy up, didn’t you? You never wanted him, you just blew my life apart on a whim. Because you, Maureen high and fucking mighty Carter, wanted something he wasn’t prepared to give anyone. You were after his business. Poor Jimmy. He thought the sun shone out of your arse. And me? Well, I was just good old June. Use and abuse her, give her a couple of grand and then forget she ever existed. Well, girl, looks like you fucked up this time. Should have got your hands on his dewberries before you had him topped.’

Maureen’s face was hard, her cheekbones standing out like beacons in the whiteness of her skin.

‘Looks like you’ve dropped the proverbial bollock, girl.’

June enjoyed the other woman’s discomfiture.

‘I bet Davey Davidson will love you, won’t he? Murder done, Old Bill all over the place, and no one any the wiser so far as Jimmy’s contacts are concerned. I’d say this was an almighty fuck up. Well, the safe’s in there and you can tear the place apart if you like, but I tell you now, you’ll find nothing.’

‘You seem very sure about that, Junie. Is there something you’re not telling me?’

June shrugged.

‘What’s not to tell? All I know is, Jimmy’s tucked you all up by the sound of it. And I’m glad he has. Because for all he dumped me, Maureen, he still deserved better than
you
.’

Fifteen minutes later Maureen had trashed the place. June had watched her, drinking tea and smoking all the while. She’d allowed herself one or two little grins as she saw Maureen becoming more and more desperate as time went by.

‘Found anything yet?’

Maureen pushed one sweating hand through her now unkempt hair.

‘Nothing. Nothing at all.’

June grinned.

‘Well, I did try to tell you. Jimmy used to say, “You can trust everyone but still trust no one, June. It’s the only way to get on in this world.” I didn’t really know what he meant till now.’

‘If you’re lying to me, June, I’ll find out and then you’ll wish it was the Davidsons coming after you because when I get annoyed I can give anyone a run for their money. You should listen to what they say about me and take heed, girl. I’ll rip your fucking heart out and laugh while I’m doing it.’

June shrugged nonchalantly.

‘I can’t tell you what I don’t bloody know, can I?’

Maureen leaned across the table and sighed.

‘Listen to me, June. Half of me believes you, but I tell you now - if you’re lying you’ll be sorry. And that is no idle threat. There’s money to be pulled in and it has to be pulled in soon, right? The Davidsons want their bunce and so do I. There’ll be no auction of Jimmy’s stuff because we’ve already paid a high price for it. Remember that, keep it in the forefront of your mind. If you keep information close to your chest, there’ll be more than one unhappy punter looking for you, June.

‘It’s not just the Davidsons and me involved in this, it’s also the Bannerman family. Now Mickey Bannerman wants what Jimmy had and so do the Davidsons. You think about that and if and when you want a chat, come and see me, okay? Because I know what the score is and I walk in these circles every day of my life. They respect me, understand me, and want to work with me as much as Davey Davidson does. If you take anything to Mickey Bannerman, even through word of mouth, you’re a dead woman, June. So have a little think, and if you come up with anything, knock on my door.’

Maureen walked from the house, shutting the door quietly behind her and feeling the urge to cry.

This was too complicated now, far too complicated.

Even she was frightened.

June looked at the clock. It was just after nine on Christmas morning. But that would not bother the Bannermans or the Davidsons. It would be a normal working day for them. Going into the bathroom, she stood on the toilet seat and pulled open the heavy lid of the toilet cistern. Taking out the water-soaked plastic bag, she removed the documents inside and placed them inside her panty girdle.

After she’d finished dressing she plastered her face with make up. Then she picked up the rest of the kids’ presents and began the long walk to her old home. Inside she was trembling. The Bannermans were the most terrifying family in London and she had something they wanted.

Inside her bag was a huge amount of money and she knew that if she had any sense she would walk to the train station and disappear.

But she also knew that wasn’t an option.

Wherever she went they would find her.

What she had to do now was think clearly and decide what to do next. Damage limitation was on her mind now, not money.

Mickey Bannerman had practically beaten to death a man who had complained about his dog barking. Mickey lived in a nice road in North London, the man he had beaten was a banker. He had walked away from the Old Bailey on a charge of attempted murder because the victim had refused to give evidence.

Even a well-heeled banker had seen the error of his ways, so where would that leave June McNamara? Up shit creek without a paddle was her final decision and June knew that it was the right one. She would talk to Joey, see what he knew. He worked for the Davidsons, he might be able to sort it.

All along the roads Christmas trees stood in windows, their coloured lights cheerful in the darkness of the cold winter’s morning. Children were opening presents and women were preparing breakfast and Christmas dinner.

June felt ill with worry now, a physical sickness inside her because she realised she had taken on something she could not hope to pull off.

There was no escape and nowhere to hide.

 

Susan was so pleased to see her mother she nearly cried. After two hours spent with her father she felt fit to scream. Joey was still in bed and the stench in his room of stale sweat and alcohol had made her feel sick.

When he had finally fallen into a light sleep she had attempted to move from the bed but an arm like a steel band had pulled her back. Lying there in the early-morning light she wondered what had happened to him to make him do these things to her.

By focusing on Barry Dalston, schoolwork, and finally just blanking her mind completely, she managed to get through the night. In her mind’s eye she kept thinking of poor Jimmy being shot and the picture affected her, made her want to cry. He had been kind to her, had Jimmy. Had always given her a bit of his time.

No wanting her to sit on his lap or give him kisses she didn’t want to give. He’d treated her as an older man should treat a girl.