“Let’s go and pick everyone up from the police station,” Rachel told him. “Then we can get you home. You’re going,” she added when it looked like he might argue.
“Fine,” he sighed.
Estelle snuck out the back of the boiler room for a crafty cigarette. At least here there wouldn’t be any chance of bumping into that family. She tugged at the collar of the nurse’s uniform. God this thing was hot and itchy. She didn’t know how people put up with this job, emptying pissy bedpans, clearing up puke and shit and the whole place smelled funny, like someone had tried to cover up a giant fart with a can of air freshener. At least she didn’t have to do any actual work, she just had to appear as though she had the right to be there. The uniform Clayton had procured her helped.
It had taken Estelle all of her persuasive powers to make Andrew Clayton believe she was on his side. Even though he was well aware her children hated her - ungrateful sods, the lot of them - he still hadn’t been able to quite believe she was willing to hurt them. In the end she’d succeeded and he’d seen how useful she could truly be.
Estelle had tried running abroad, she’d even gone to France, which wasn’t that far away, just a ferry ride but her heart was in Manchester. Why she missed it so much she couldn’t have said but no matter where she went she always pined for it and it was a horrible feeling, like being twisted up in a knot and being unable to untangle yourself. So she’d come back, even though she ran the risk of Jez or Jules finding out and killing her, which she had no doubt they would. Jez himself had tried to shoot her when he and the rest of the clan had attacked the Slattery homestead in retaliation for the attack on Jules. So her only hope of being able to return to Manchester and live in peace and safety was if her kids were dead and gone and, as far as she could see, the only one capable of that in the local area was Andrew Clayton. Liverpool was strong and Clayton a very capable leader. He’d even made Katia believe it had all been her idea. That woman’s vanity was a huge weakness that Clayton had masterfully manipulated.
Clayton had provided Estelle with a smart flat in Liverpool as well as regular amounts of cash and nice little bonuses of cocaine and heroin. Now it was time to prove her worth to him. If her part in his scheme was successful then the payments would continue after all the Maguires and Laws were dead and gone. She’d be set for life and she could finally settle back into her beloved Manchester without the threat of death hanging over her.
But it was proving trickier than she’d thought. As well as police officers guarding Jules and Mikey’s doors there were the bunch of shaved apes who worked for Dane Black. His unswerving loyalty to his soon-to-be-dead employers had surprised Katia and Clayton, they’d assumed he’d sit on the fence and wait and see what happened so he could work with whoever won this particular war. But Jules had had an on-off fling with him for years, so they assumed that was what had kept him loyal.
The rear door banged open and Estelle smiled, puffing smoke out of her nostrils. “You took your bloody time.”
“Sorry,” said the podgy porter, lumbering out the door. “I had to do a clean up. Some drunk bastard puked all over A&E Reception.”
“I hope you washed your hands after,” she said, jumping back when he tried to kiss her.
“Course I bloody did, about five sodding times, even though I wore gloves.” He shuddered. “I can’t stand puke.” He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. “Come here then.”
“Alright, take it easy,” she said when he buried his face in her neck.
“I’ve always wanted to have a nurse,” he said, pushing her back against the wall and hitching up her dress. “Finally I get to live my dream.”
“Yeah, great for you,” she said, trying not grimace at his heavy panting. She’d spotted how lonely this sad sack was. Fifty one years old and he still lived with his ancient, blind mum. It was pathetic. All she’d had to do was smile at him a few times and listen to him banging on about his life and he was putty in her hands.
“Oh God,” he groaned when he thrust into her. “That feels amazing.”
“Yeah, it’s great,” she said, rolling her eyes and chugging on the cigarette as he pounded away. Twenty seconds later he shuddered and moaned and it was over.
“Wow,” he said into her neck, catching his breath.
He looked hurt when she pushed him away and shrugged down her skirt.
“What’s up with you?” he said. “Ashamed of me or something?”
“I’m covering up in case someone comes along,” she said. “I don’t want them to see me with my dress up to my ears, I’ll get the sack.”
“Oh yes, of course. I’m sorry sweetheart, I should have thought.” He frowned. “Were you smoking while we did it.”
“You were so eager you didn’t give me chance to put it out,” she winked.
He smiled. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
“Now I’ve done something for you,” she said. “I need you to do something for me.”
“Fair enough, that was the deal.”
When she’d finished explaining his mouth fell open and he turned pale. “I can’t.”
“Why not? All you have to do is put something in their rooms.”
“What will it do to them?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why put it in there?”
“It’s a camera, okay?”
“A camera?”
She tutted at how thick he looked. “Yes, a sodding camera, you know, to take pictures.”
“So it won’t hurt them?”
“How can a camera hurt them?”
“You’re press, aren’t you? I thought you were a nurse.”
“I am a nurse. Listen, I’m getting bunged some cash by the press to get photos of Mikey and Jules Maguire in their sickbeds. They’ll be worth a fortune. If you do this I can cut you in.”
His gaze turned predatory. “I’ll do it but I want extra payment and I don’t mean cash.”
“Fine,” she said, tugging her skirt back up.
“Hang on a minute,” he said. “They don’t just let porters wander in and out of patients’ hospital rooms.”
“I’m sure you’ll find a way.”
Lust overwhelmed him as he looked at her. “Too right I will,” he said, pushing her back up against the wall.
CHAPTER 31
“Finally,” said Ryan when Taylor announced his interview with Leah was over. He was proud of his daughter, she’d kept her answers vague, played the young, scared girl card and the police had been left with only details they could glean themselves from the crime scene. Ethan, Alfie, Archie and Aaron had done the same and they were all going to be spoilt rotten for it. “We’re taking the children down to Devon tomorrow,” Ryan told Taylor. “I don’t care what you say, they need to get back to normal.”
“That’s fine,” said Taylor. “We don’t need anything else from them, which is lucky because they’re determined to give us as little as possible. But then, they were trained by the best,” he said with a cynical look at Ryan.
“So we’re free to go?”
He nodded. “You are, all of you.”
“Rachel and I will be staying on in Manchester, until we know that Mikey’s going to pull through.”
“How’s he doing?”
Ryan shook his head.
“Damn.”
“I know.”
As Ryan, Riley, Cathy, Daina, Amber and Beth amassed in reception with the children, Rachel returned with Jacob and Bruiser.
“Jacob,” said Leah, rushing into his arms. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. You?”
“I’m okay.” She released him to look up at Bruiser. She didn’t want to cry in front of Jacob but she couldn’t help it. “I’m so sorry.”
She threw herself into his big arms, Bruiser patting her back as she cried into his chest. She looked up at him. “I’m going to miss him so much.”
Bruiser nodded, jaw tense. Leah released him so he could go to Daina and his
children, watching as he clung onto them.
“I’m so glad he has them,” Leah told her mum. “If he didn’t I don’t think he could survive.”
“Me too honey. But he does and they’ll get him through. He’ll be fine.”
“Good. I don’t want him to die too.”
“He won’t.”
“What is it Mum?” she said when her eyes turned jet black. She followed her line of sight to Amber, who was standing as far away from Rachel as she could, holding Zach’s hand, looking like she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. It pleased Leah that Amber was so afraid of her mum.
“Are you going to speak to her?” said Leah, hoping she’d deck the bitch.
“No. I have more important things to do,” she said, turning her back on Amber before she went for her.
A minibus had been arranged to ferry them all to the hotel where they would spend the night before flying to Devon in the morning.
Before they left Rachel took Cathy to one side. “Are you going to see Jez before you leave?”
“Yes, I suppose I should.”
Cathy was pale and washed out but it was more than mere tiredness and shock. She looked like all the energy had been sucked out of her, as though her vital spark had been extinguished.
“You can come back with me and Ryan to the hospital and we’ll ensure you get safely to the hotel.”
“Thanks, that’s very kind,” she murmured in a faraway voice.
Rachel glanced at Ryan, who shrugged.
After saying their goodbyes to the children Ryan, Rachel and Cathy headed back to the hospital. Jez was still in Jules’s room, remaining stubbornly put in the armchair. Jules was still out for the count on the bed.
Jez’s face lit up to see his wife. “Babe, it’s so good to see you.”
“Let’s give them some privacy,” said Rachel.
They all filed out, except for Jules, who slept on.
“I’m not staying long,” said Cathy, making no move towards her husband when he held his arms out to her. “We’re being moved to the hotel.”
“It’ll be nice for you having a few days in Devon.”
“Nice? How the hell is it going to be nice? I’m going to spend all the time worrying about you. Or do you think I don’t care, that I’m going to be sitting around gossiping and painting my nails?”
“No, course not. Babe, what’s wrong?”
“Do you actually need to ask that question?”
“This isn’t like you, you’re normally so…”
“Strong? Supportive? Or some stupid doormat who’s finally seen the true reality of her life.”
“I know today’s been rough…”
“Rough?”
“But this is an anomaly. It won’t happen again.”
“How can you know that? So many people want what you have, violent, dangerous people who are willing to slaughter us all to get it.”
“And we’re going to take care of them, so there’ll be nothing to worry about.”
“You mean you’re going to slaughter them in turn.”
“We’ve no choice babe, you’ve seen what we’re up against.”
“I knew exactly who you were when I married you Jez but it didn’t matter to me because I fell in love with you. I still love you, so much and I always will but I can’t do this anymore. If it was just me it wouldn’t be so bad but it’s not, it’s our children. Ruby and Jack could have died today. Thank God we left George with my parents.”
“But they didn’t die babe. They’re okay and so are we.”
“You were shot.”
“Only a little bit and in a few days it’ll all be over.”
“You’ve never seen their faces when we’ve been sent away in the past. You seem to think that when you send them away they’re all happy and carefree but they’re not, they’re scared and anxious and I’m sick of them being put through that.”
“Babe, what are you saying?”
“That I’ll go to Devon with the kids, let you send us away like you normally do but when I get home I’m filing for divorce.”
All the blood drained from his face. “No, Cathy. Please don’t do this.”
“I don’t want to,” she said, starting to cry. “I love you so much but I can’t do this anymore. It’s too much.”
“But we’re great together,” he said, taking her hand. This time she let him, gazing at him sadly with her tear-filled eyes. “I love you, I need you babe.” He was horrified to realise he was crying. “Don’t do this to me.”
She knelt before him, pressing her forehead to his, their tears mingling. “I have to. I’m so sorry.”
When she kissed him he attempted to cling onto her but he was too weak and she extracted herself from his embrace and got to her feet. “You can see the kids whenever you want, I won’t ever stand in your way but they have to come first, I have to keep them safe. I hope you understand that.”
“Cathy, please,” he said, getting to his feet when she made for the door. But he lacked the strength and fell back into the chair.
“I really am sorry,” she said before leaving, closing the door behind her.
Jez buried his face in his hands and wept. Not good for his macho image but he didn’t care. Cathy was his world. No matter how bad things got, knowing she was waiting for him at home gave him the strength to go on. Unlike a lot of his contemporaries he’d never so much as looked at another woman since he’d met her. She was all he’d ever wanted and the thought of being without her was terrifying.
He looked at his sister and sighed. “How long have you been awake?”
“Long enough,” she murmured, eyes flickering open.
“What the hell am I going to do?” he whispered through his tears.
“I’ll bet when it comes to it she won’t be able to go through with it. She loves the arse off you.”
“That’s not enough anymore and I don’t blame her, she’s right. Our kids could have died today.”
“But they didn’t. They’re all fine. Give her a few days to cool off in Devon and she’ll come round.”
“I think it’s too late for that,” he said sadly, gazing at the door his wife had gone through.
It was with great relief that Ryan and Rachel waved everyone off on the plane to Devon. Riley had gone with them, Paula Lawrence meeting them at the airport and flying out with them. They would be greeted by more of Bruiser’s men at the other end. Rachel still thought of the business as still being run by Battler as well as Bruiser, they’d always been a pair, a team. It was heartbreaking to think of Bruiser alone.
Jules’s hospital room had become their makeshift office for discussing the plan. Jules had already contacted Raven, who was on an assignment somewhere but she’d agreed to come to Manchester to help.
“Where’s Jez?” said Rachel when she returned to the room.
“Gone for a shower and to get dressed,” replied Jules.
“Alone?” said Ryan.
“No, Mark’s with him. He’s discharging himself once he’s availed himself of the facilities.”
“Is Bruiser back yet?” said Rachel.
“I thought he’d gone to the airport with you?”
“He did but he left before us. I thought he’d come straight back here.”
“Sorry. I’ve not seen him for a while.”
“Do you think he’s okay?” Rachel asked her husband, her eyes shining with worry.
“I think he’s fine,” he replied. “If anyone can take care of himself it’s Bruiser.” He looked to his sister when she flung the covers aside. “What are you doing?”
“Visiting Mikey.”
“Have you forgotten what the nurse told you after last time?” said Rachel.
“I don’t care, I want to see him. It’s driving me crazy.”
“You’re not up to it,” said Ryan.
“I’m feeling much better than I did yesterday.”
“Well you look like shit.”
“Thanks big br
uv,” she glowered. “Get me the wheelchair then.”
“No,” he said, folding his arms across his chest.
“Fine, I’ll walk then,” she retorted, pushing herself upright and attempting to slide off the bed.
“You’re going to hurt yourself,” he said, sliding an arm around her waist.
“I’m going to keep trying until I’ve seen him and I don’t care if it hurts like a bastard.”
“I’ll get the chair,” said Rachel resignedly.
They wheeled Jules into Mikey’s room, Dane’s men standing aside to allow them to pass. Shane was sitting by Mikey’s side, flicking through a magazine. He got to his feet when they entered.
“Any change?” Rachel asked him.
“No, sorry. But he’s not got any worse,” he added when they all looked downcast. “That’s important.”
Ryan wheeled Jules to Mikey’s bedside as Shane left the room. “What are you doing?” he exclaimed when she hauled herself to her feet.
“I want to kiss my husband,” she said, planting a kiss on his cheek before slumping back into the chair, trying not to show how much that had hurt. “We should be sunning ourselves on a beach in Lanzarote right now,” she sighed.
“There’ll be plenty of time for that,” said Ryan.
“Don’t patronise me big bruv.”
“I’m not. I’m trying to be positive.”
“I don’t need positive. I need realistic.” Her eyes widened when Mikey released a groan and his eyes flickered. “Mikey,” she cried, pushing herself to her feet. “Ow,” she moaned, putting a hand to her injury.
“Mikey,” said Rachel, leaning over him. “No, leave it in,” she added when his hand went up to the ventilator in his mouth in an attempt to pull it out. “It’s helping you breathe.”
When Jules leaned over him his eyes filled with relief and he groped for her hand, which she took.
“I’ve missed you,” she said, kissing his hand and pressing it to her face.
“I’ll fetch a nurse,” said Ryan, ducking out the door.
“Everything’s okay,” said Jules. “Don’t you worry, we’re taking care of it all. You just concentrate on getting better.”
Carnage Page 27
