Tangled Lives

by Stephanie Harte

  Now he had my full attention. Alfie continued to stare me straight in the eye to gauge my reaction. I could feel the pulse in my neck throbbing against my skin and hoped it wasn’t noticeable. ‘You said we could keep the money.’

  ‘Did I?’ Alfie tilted his handsome face to one side.

  ‘I distinctly remember you telling me I’d earned it.’ I fired the words straight into his face. I was going to have to stand my ground on this. I knew we couldn’t pay him back the full amount we’d taken.

  The smirk on Alfie’s face made me feel sick. ‘I don’t remember saying that.’

  ‘You did, and you promised you wouldn’t come after us.’ I turned away. I didn’t want Alfie to see the tears that were threatening to spill from my eyes.

  ‘And you believed me?’

  A lump formed in my throat as I fought to hold back my tears. Nathan and I had been so happy living in our dream apartment, thinking that we’d put our time with Alfie behind us. How could we have been so stupid?

  Alfie was standing so close to me, I could feel his breath on the side of my neck. He took hold of my elbow and turned me around so that I was facing him. My heart began pounding when he leant towards me so that he could get a closer look at Luca, and my grip instinctively tightened around my baby.

  18

  Nathan

  I put my head in my hands as I sat at the kitchen table. How the hell was I going to find Gemma and Luca? I didn’t know where to start. I had no idea if Jethro had taken them or not, and I couldn’t exactly phone the police and file a missing persons report, could I?

  Dad sat opposite me, deep in thought. He was doing his best to support me, but I could see by the look on his face he was worried sick.

  ‘This might be a stupid suggestion.’ Dad paused for a moment before he continued to speak. ‘But I know where Jethro lives.’

  My eyes widened, and I searched my father’s face. ‘You do?’

  ‘Yes, but I don’t know if it will be any help. Jethro might not have taken them.’ Dad didn’t want to give me false hope.

  ‘It’s got to be worth a try. Do you have the address?’ I asked, grabbing my jacket from the back of the kitchen chair.

  ‘No, but I can take you there.’

  Dad took his keys out of the bowl on the hall table, and we climbed into his Blue Ford Mondeo that was parked outside.

  ‘Does he live far from here?’ I asked when my dad started the engine.

  ‘About an hour away. Less, if the traffic isn’t heavy.’

  As I sat in the passenger seat, I wondered what we were going to do if Gemma and Luca weren’t at Jethro’s. There was a good chance we wouldn’t find them there. But where else could we try? We had to start somewhere, and Jethro’s house was as good a place as any.

  Dad put his foot down once we were on the dual carriageway to try and save time. ‘Keep an eye out for speed cameras,’ he said as the car raced along the tarmac.

  *

  It was dark by the time we turned off the carriageway, and onto the quiet country road that led to where Jethro lived in Epping Forest. Dad killed his speed as we travelled along the winding lane that was only wide enough for a single car in some places.

  ‘Are you sure it’s down here?’ I asked when I looked out the window and took in our remote surroundings.

  ‘Yes. It’s a long way from the main road. If I remember rightly, the house is down here somewhere. You won’t be surprised to hear it’s well hidden from public view.’

  Dad stopped the car after several minutes to get his bearings. There were no street lights, and everything always looked different in the dark, didn’t it? Dad reckoned the place was hard enough to spot on a clear summer’s day, let alone on a gloomy evening in January. He drove on at a snail’s pace, peering out of the windscreen that kept threatening to mist up.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ I asked when he stopped at a junction.

  ‘Jethro’s place isn’t as far as this. I must have driven past it.’

  Realising he’d missed the house, Dad tried to turn the Mondeo around in the narrow space, and after many attempts, he succeeded. Then he inched the car along the winding lane, scouring the darkness as he drove. We were out in the middle of nowhere. I couldn’t believe anyone lived out here. There was nothing around us but dense forest. It felt very isolated and cut off from civilisation, but that would suit the Watsons down to the ground.

  ‘There it is,’ Dad said when he spotted the ivy-covered perimeter wall that blended in so well to the landscape.

  ‘Are you sure this is it? It doesn’t look like there’s anything behind that wall.’

  ‘Trust me; I’ve been here before. This is Jethro’s house.’ Dad stopped the car in front of the wrought-iron entrance.

  ‘How are we going to get in?’

  ‘That’s a good question.’ Although Dad knew the location of Jethro’s remote mansion, gaining access to it would be easier said than done. It was an impenetrable fortress.

  ‘There’s a buzzer on the gate, but we need to think about whether we should use it or try to get in another way. I’m not sure Jethro’s going to answer the door and welcome us in with open arms.’

  The trees that surrounded the house had blocked out any natural light hours ago, so we decided it would be better to ring the entry system, rather than try to break in, as we wouldn’t be able to see what we were doing in the darkness.

  ‘Did you say you’d been here before?’

  Dad nodded. ‘Yes, but it was a long time ago.’

  I raised my eyebrows. ‘I’m surprised to hear that. Was it a social visit or had he kidnapped you too?’

  ‘I’ll tell you about it another time. It’s a long story.’

  Dad got out of the Mondeo and walked across to the iron gates. He pressed the intercom and waited for a response. Nobody replied. Just as Dad was about to press the button again, the heavy gates began opening. Dad got back in his car and turned towards me. We looked at each other, but neither of us spoke. Dad drove the car through the access gate into the mature gardens that shielded the house from the road. As soon as we began driving towards Darkwood Manor along the private driveway, motion detector lights switched on at ground level to light the way. The Mondeo’s tyres crunched along the gravel and came to a stop outside the front of the house. Jethro stood in the entrance of the double doorway waiting for us.

  ‘Let me handle this, Nathan,’ Dad said when we got out of the car and began to climb the steps at the front of the property.

  ‘Long time no see,’ Jethro said. ‘I’d like to say it’s a pleasure, but we both know that would be a lie.’

  ‘Likewise,’ Dad replied.

  ‘What brings you to Epping Forest at this time of night?’ Jethro asked, and a slow smile spread across his lips.

  My eyes blazed with fury. I didn’t bother to hide how I felt. ‘Don’t act all innocent. You know why we’re here.’

  ‘Nice to meet you too, Nathan.’ Jethro grinned and stepped back from the doorway. ‘You’d better come inside.’

  Jethro turned and walked into the hall and his footsteps echoed on the white marble floor. He led the way into the living room, past the roaring fire and into the bar. Although he hadn’t confirmed that he’d taken Gemma and Luca, he hadn’t denied it either.

  ‘Get these gentlemen a drink, will you?’ Jethro said.

  A bear-sized man walked into the room and took up position behind the counter. ‘What’s your poison?’

  I stared at him with eyes like saucers. Either Knuckles had an identical twin, or he wasn’t behind bars like he was meant to be. I put that thought out of my head. I had more important things to deal with. ‘I don’t want a drink; I want to see my wife and son.’ I hadn’t come here to make small talk, so I struggled to keep a lid on my volcanic temper.

  Jethro took a step towards me and got into my personal space. Then he pointed his finger at me. ‘Don’t come into my house and start making demands. Count yourself lucky I even opened the door to
you.’

  I knew if I wanted to see my family again, I’d have to do what Jethro said, and much as I was desperate to know that they were safe, it was obvious Jethro was playing a game. He wasn’t going to let me see Gemma and Luca until he was ready to. All I could do was bide my time and be patient. But patience had never been my strong suit.

  Knuckles handed Dad and I bottles of Stella Artois then he fixed Jethro a large Monkey 47 gin and tonic. Jethro gestured for us to take a seat in the corner of the bar at a round table that overlooked the floodlit landscaped gardens and cascading terraces.

  ‘So how’s life been treating you?’ Jethro asked and the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.

  A flash of anger crossed my face. I could see what Gemma meant now. Not only did they look alike, but Jethro also had the same smug way about him that Alfie did. He was toying with us, relaxing back in his chair while he held court. I felt like jumping up and grabbing him by the throat. I could picture myself with my hands around his neck, tightening my grip until he proved to me that my wife and son hadn’t come to any harm.

  ‘Life’s good,’ Dad replied. His words had a bitter edge to them.

  ‘Glad to hear it.’

  Jethro raised his glass but didn’t clink my dad’s. Instead, the two men locked eyes and studied each other with thinly veiled contempt. The hatred between them radiated into the room and was almost palpable. You wouldn’t need to be told the history; anyone could sense from the tension that was filling the room that the two men were age-old enemies. It was obvious their feud ran deep. Bitterness still reigned between my father and Jethro, I thought, as I watched their frosty exchange. They were eyeballing each other like a couple of cowboys did before they engaged in a shootout. Years of pent-up animosity circulated between them. Their resentment for each other couldn’t be more obvious; it was as plain as day. Dad had every right to feel bitter towards Jethro; he set him up after all. Their feud had raged on for a long time; the bad blood dated back decades.

  ‘Let Gemma and Luca go, and I’ll take their place,’ Dad said.

  I could tell by the tone of his voice, the taste of revenge was on his lips, but he hadn’t come here to talk about the past and settling old scores. Dad just wanted to find his grandson and daughter-in-law and was prepared to swallow any thoughts of retribution, at least for the meantime, in return for their safety. I shot my dad a worried look and Jethro began to laugh.

  ‘That’s very noble of you, Gareth,’ Jethro replied before taking a sip of his gin. ‘But I’m afraid trading places isn’t an option I’m prepared to consider.’

  ‘I’m not leaving here without my wife and son.’

  Jethro smiled and took another sip of his expensive gin. ‘I don’t think you’re in a position to make demands do you, Nathan?’

  I put the bottle of Stella down on the bar and stormed out of the room. ‘Gemma, where are you?’ I shouted at the top of my voice.

  The loud sound resonated around the hall and must have startled the baby. When he started to cry, it alerted me to their position in the mansion. My footsteps echoed as I ran down the marble staircase to the basement area, passed the games room, home cinema and swimming pool. When I entered the conservatory at the back of the house, my mouth fell open. What the hell was Alfie doing here?

  ‘I wondered how long it would take you to find us.’ Alfie threw me a look of disgust before smoothing down his blond slicked-back hair.

  The tension in the room was tangible as we locked eyes and glared at each other.

  I didn’t answer Alfie but rushed to my wife’s side. ‘Are you OK?’

  I looked into Gemma’s beautiful green eyes. She didn’t need to say a word. I knew she was terrified, so I leant down and kissed her on the cheek before I took Luca out of her arms. His crying stopped instantly, and he beamed up at me. Alfie glared at us with a look of pure hatred in his blue eyes.

  ‘Ahh isn’t that sweet. Your white knight has come to the rescue.’ Alfie’s words seemed to suck the air out of the room.

  I’d always been extremely protective of Gemma. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need really because she could definitely kick someone’s arse if the occasion arose. Right on cue, Gemma shot Alfie a disapproving look, which made him laugh. I put my arm around my wife’s trembling shoulder to comfort her, but it did little to ease her suffering.

  19

  Gemma

  I hadn’t said anything since we’d returned to Gareth’s terraced house. I was at a loss for words. I wasn’t sure what was making me feel withdrawn and claustrophobic. Was it was the small space I found myself in after visiting Jethro’s enormous mansion, or the realisation that there was no escape from the situation? Whichever it was, the walls felt like they were closing in on me. So much had happened in the space of a few hours, and I couldn’t make sense of any of it.

  There were few things worse in life than feeling trapped, and that was exactly how I felt at this moment in time. Alfie wanted his money, so he was going to back us into a corner, no doubt subjecting us to severe psychological distress along the way. He loved to play games, and this was by far his favourite type: predator versus prey.

  Alfie had got us right where he wanted us, and I had to admit I was overwhelmed by the situation. It was like being locked in a dark room without any source of light. I didn’t know what to do for the best. When we’d broken free from Alfie, Nathan and I had promised ourselves we would never get into a position like that again, and yet, here we were. Why had we been so naive? We should have known we couldn’t trust him to keep his word.

  ‘I was so worried when I realised you were missing. How did you end up at Jethro’s house?’ Nathan asked, and his words derailed my train of thought.

  When my husband sat down on the sofa beside me, he reached for my hand. His dark eyes searched mine while he waited for me to speak.

  ‘While I was putting Luca in the Jeep on my way to Asda, Jethro’s car pulled up in front of me. He got out and told me he wouldn’t hurt me as long as I did what he said.’ My voice broke as I finished my sentence, and tears began streaming down my face.

  ‘It’s OK, Gemma, don’t cry.’ Nathan pulled me towards him and cradled me in his arms. ‘This is all my fault. If I’d gone shopping with you, none of this would have happened.’

  Gareth appeared in the doorway with a mug of sweet tea. ‘Here you go, Gemma, drink this, darling. It’ll make you feel better.’

  I pulled back from my husband and tried to take the drink from Gareth, but my hands were trembling too much.

  ‘Thanks, Dad,’ Nathan said. He took the tea out of his hand and put the mug down on the side table.

  ‘I’ll look after Luca, so you two can talk.’ Gareth picked up the car seat containing the sleeping baby and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

  ‘I was so scared, Nathan. I thought something terrible was going to happen to us.’

  My husband held me tightly as his lips covered mine before he pulled back and whispered into my ear. ‘You’re both safe now.’

  ‘What the hell’s going on? Alfie and Knuckles are meant to be in prison.’

  ‘I know they are, but don’t worry about that now. You should go to bed and try and get some rest, Gemma; you look exhausted.’ My husband gently ran his fingertips along the dark shadows under my eyes and wiped my tears away with the pad of his thumbs.

  20

  Nathan

  ‘I don’t understand how Alfie walked away from a prison sentence. It doesn’t make any sense.’ I sat down at the kitchen table opposite my dad. ‘It was all over the news when he got arrested with his men in Boulogne.’

  Dad stood up from the table and walked across to the fridge. He took out two bottles of Budweiser, opened them, and before he sat down again, he handed one to me. ‘Maybe they didn’t have enough evidence to prosecute him.’ Dad took a swig of his beer before wiping his lips on the back of his hand.

  I shook my head. That couldn’t be the case. ‘He was caugh
t with fifty thousand pounds’ worth of cocaine. Interpol reckoned they’d been trying to infiltrate the gang for years.’

  ‘I’m sure they had, but it’s always difficult for the authorities to convict the kingpin.’

  I was sceptical about my dad’s explanation and wished Gemma and I had followed the case now instead of presuming Alfie’s arrest would lead to his conviction. The police had so much evidence we didn’t think for one minute Alfie would be able to worm his way out of doing time. In hindsight, that was naive of us.

  ‘I believe you, and if it had been anybody else apart from Alfie Watson, the police would have locked them up and thrown away the key.’

  ‘So how come he’s not behind bars? Do you think Jethro broke him out of jail?’

  ‘I doubt it. Alfie’s from a powerful family. My guess would be that he wasn’t locked up in the first place. Guys like him are untouchable. Alfie is the undisputed king of the London underworld since Jethro handed him the baton.’

  Dad could be right. Alfie always had considered himself above the law. Once we’d seen Alfie and his men get arrested, Gemma and I thought we had finally broken away from them. We were desperate for a fresh start and wanted to put the time we’d spent with Alfie behind us, so we closed the door on him completely. Out of sight, out of mind. I was kicking myself for not keeping an eye on the proceedings now, but it was easy to avoid the press coverage of his trial. We were living in Spain and were too busy concentrating on rebuilding our marriage to bother watching the English news.

  Come to think of it, perhaps it was Alfie who had been watching us in Spain. Gemma had been convinced that somebody was stalking her, and I’d dismissed her concerns repeatedly because I hadn’t realised Alfie Watson was free to walk the streets. Even if he had been sent down, a man in his position had people working for him on the outside. Alfie’s team might be few in numbers, but they all displayed unquestionable loyalty to their boss. Their fear of Alfie guaranteed they wouldn’t be stupid enough to double-cross him like we had. No wonder Gemma was terrified; I hardly recognised her any more. She’d become a nervous wreck.