“Nearly done,” he said reassuringly. “Here, take a couple of these.” Danny handed Joe two small white tablets. “They’ll help with the pain.”
“What are they?” Karl asked suspiciously.
“Well, just let’s say you won’t get them at Boots, more’s the pity. But they’ll do the job, trust me. I think Joe had better stay here tonight.”
Billy had been hovering nervously near the door. “I’ll get the spare room ready,” he offered, scuttling down the corridor. “It won’t take a minute.”
Carefully Danny and Karl helped Joe into the bedroom.
“You rest up,” Danny said as he helped Joe into the bed. “You’ll be back on your feet in no time.”
Joe could already feel the effect of the tablets he had taken as he began drifting slowly into a deep slumber.
“Don’t worry, mate,” Karl said. “I’ll get the bastards who did this, and when I do…”
But Joe was already unconscious, unaware of everything around him.
“You stay here and watch him,” Danny ordered Billy. “Get him a drink if he wakes up but no more pills. Okay?”
Billy nodded obediently and sat on the chair at the side of the bed.
“Where are you going?” he asked meekly.
Danny ignored Billy’s question as he walked back into the lounge with Karl close behind him. Shirley had helped herself to a brandy and was visibly shaking. Her face was streaked as her tears had caused her mascara to run.
“He hit me,” she wailed. “That big bastard with the bushy hair, he punched me in the face and…”
“Yes, alright, Shirley, you’re safe now,” Karl said dismissively, handing her a twenty pound note. “Get a taxi and go straight home, do you hear me? I don’t want you working tonight.”
“But Karl, they…”
“Shirley, I said go home,” Karl snapped impatiently. “I won’t tell you again. Now get moving. I’ve got things to do.”
Shirley drained the brandy from the glass before heading towards the stairs.
“I’ll see her out,” Victor said, opening the door.
When Shirley had left the room, Karl turned to Danny. “So? Where do I find these bastards?”
“They have a flat in Cheapside. I err… overheard them talking when they were in here the other night. You wouldn’t believe what I overhear in this place.” He gave Karl a sly wink. “They’re in the protection racket. They operated out of Glasgow but things got a bit too hot for them up there so they came down to Leeds to try their luck.”
“How many of them are there?”
“Two brothers and a cousin, and there’s a big bloke with red bushy hair. I don’t think he’s related. He’s a tough looking bastard. He’s the main muscle.”
Danny looked enquiringly at Victor.
“I’ve spoken to them, boss,” Victor grinned. “They’ll meet us there in twenty minutes.”
“Good. Time to get tooled up, Karl, don’t you think?”
“I need to make a couple of calls first,” Karl said. “If there are four of them, we’re going to need more men.”
“Don’t worry, it’s taken care of,” Danny said. “Victor has two brothers, both built like brick shithouses. He’s already made the call. They’ll meet us in Cheapside.”
“Do they know what they’re up against? I can’t afford to lose this fight.”
Victor walked over to Karl and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Mr Karl, where I come from, you learn to fight before you learn to walk. Don’t you worry, my brothers will take care of business.”
Danny went into the kitchen and returned a couple of minutes later carrying several baseball bats, two small axes, and a selection of knives.
“Name your poison,” he grinned. “Do you want to bash their brains in or cut off their bollocks?” All three men laughed. “I assume your brothers have their own?”
“Yes, boss, don’t you worry about them.”
Karl made his selection: a heavy baseball bat and a small axe.
“Let the games begin,” Danny said, as all three men went out into the street and got into his car watched by a worried Billy.
Twenty minutes later they pulled into a side street behind the block of flats where the Kennedys were known to be staying.
“My brothers, they’re here,” Victor cried excitedly, getting out of the car and heading towards the large blue van parked a little further up the road.
Karl watched as two men, both carrying claw hammers, got out of the van and embraced Victor.
“Christ, they’re big bastards,” Karl murmured.
“Hard as nails, the pair of them,” Danny said. “The Kennedys won’t know what’s hit them.”
Karl and Danny got out of the car and walked towards Victor and the two men.
“These are my brothers, Mr Karl,” Victor beamed. “Jan and Erik.”
Karl nodded to the men by way of acknowledgement and all five went into the small foyer. Karl pressed for the lift.
“Which floor?”
“Fourth,” Danny answered. “Flat forty-two.”
Silently the lift made its way upwards.
ELEVEN
Stephen Kennedy tossed the empty lager can towards the plastic bucket in the corner of the room. The can hit the side of the bucket and fell onto the floor to accompany the heap already there.
“Did a good job tonight, boys,” he said, for what must have been the tenth time that evening. “We’ve shown that bastard Maddox we’re not to be messed with.”
“You don’t think he’s going to take this lying down?” asked Freddie, his younger brother. “I’ve heard Karl Maddox is a bit of a nutter.”
“So you think he can take us on?” Stephen asked menacingly. “He’s a pussy. Good at pushing women around but when it comes to hard men, he’ll be shitting himself. Trust me. Karl Maddox is an arsehole.”
All four laughed coarsely.
“Talking of arseholes, where’s that delivery?” asked George. “I’m starving.”
“You’re always starving, you fat bastard,” said Harry. Harry was Stephen’s cousin. “We only placed the order fifteen minutes ago. It’ll be here.”
George grunted loudly and flung himself into an armchair. He was tired of being disrespected by the Kennedys. After all, it was him that was the real muscle, the one who made things happen. They’d be nothing without him. It would serve them right if he took off and left them. See how tough they were then when he wasn’t around to fight their battles. Before he could say anything, there was a sharp knock on the door.
“Finally,” said Stephen. “I’ll pay this time, but from now on…” Stephen opened the door, two ten pound notes in his hand. He had barely got the door open when a giant of a man pushed the door wider and head butted him full in the face.
“Hello,” said the newcomer, smiling. “I’m Victor. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Stephen fell to his knees, blood spurting from his nose as the newcomers trampled over him as they rushed into the room. George was first to his feet, his adrenaline on full alert as the men rushed towards him. It was Karl who tackled him first. The baseball bat he wielded went crashing down on George’s shoulder. Before he had time to recover, Danny cracked George’s head hard with his own bat. George crumpled to the floor, semiconscious and writhing in agony.
Karl turned to see Jan and Erik holding Freddie and Harry by the hair and using their heads as battering rams.
“Again,” Jan shrieked excitedly.
“Okay,” Erik replied. “One, two, three…”
It was Stephen Kennedy who fired the gun. He was aiming at Karl but his hand was shaking so much that the bullet ended up hitting the ceiling and shattering one of the light bulbs. Instinctively, Victor sprang forward and punched Stephen hard in the face. The gun fell to the ground. It was quickly retrieved by Danny.
“That’s not nice,” Victor smirked maliciously, twisting Stephen’s arm up his back. “You could seriously hurt someone firing a gun like
that.”
Victor forced Stephen to his knees placing his powerful arm around his throat. Karl walked over to him.
“So, you’re the Kennedy gang, are you? Big, bad and tough, isn’t that right? I hear you’re going to take over my streets.” Karl smirked as he kicked Stephen a couple of times hard in the ribs. “My girls are now your girls. Isn’t that what you said?”
Trembling uncontrollably, Stephen raised his head to face Karl.
“Sorry,” he said pitifully. “It was a stupid thing to do. Please, let us go and you’ll never hear from us again.”
Karl turned to face Danny. “What do you think I should do with these maggots?”
Danny pointed the gun at the terrified men. “We could blow their fucking brains out, if they have any brains that is.”
Karl could barely remember a time when he had felt such excitement and exhilaration as he did right then. Tonight he felt invincible. He smiled as he surveyed the carnage. All four of the Kennedys had been thrown into a heap in the centre of the room, totally at his mercy.
It was then that Karl noticed Jan and Erik were dousing the men in petrol. They screamed for mercy as Victor leant over them menacingly.
“You leave now, tonight, or tomorrow we bring matches. Understand?”
They all nodded in terror.
Karl walked over to the men and pulled George from the tangled heap.
“This is for slapping one of my girls,” he hissed, punching George several times in the face. “And this, you bastard, is for hurting my boy.” Karl raised the baseball bat and brought it down repeatedly on George’s shoulders and back.
“That’s enough, Mr Karl,” Victor said, pulling him away from George’s crumpled body. “I don’t think he’ll be giving us any more trouble.”
There was a sharp rap on the door.
“Who the fuck’s that?” Danny spat. “If it’s the cops we’ll…”
“I’ll go,” Karl offered, walking towards the door. “Cops don’t usually knock.” He opened the door slightly. “Yes?”
“Pizzas for Mr Kennedy,” answered the spotty faced youth. “Seventeen pounds fifty, please.”
Karl turned to face his men. “Hungry, boys?” he grinned.
They all nodded enthusiastically. Karl picked up the two ten pound notes Stephen Kennedy had dropped on the floor and handed them to the young man. “Keep the change,” he said smiling as he took the pizza boxes.
“Thanks, mate, have a nice day.”
“Oh I will,” Karl smirked. “I certainly will.”
TWELVE
“Time I was going,” Karl yawned. “It’s nearly two o’clock.”
“Lightweight,” Danny said, laughing. “There’s nothing to rush back for, is there? I thought Erica’s not back until tomorrow?”
“That’s right, but we’ve a busy day, don’t forget. Oh and thanks for the gun. You never know, it might come in useful one day.”
“Let’s hope not, eh? But it’s better with you than with them bastard Kennedys. Anyway, you just make sure you’re at the solicitors by eleven. The sooner we get this deal done, the better.”
Karl got up off the couch and stretched. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there. But I still think you’re a robbing bastard. I’m paying you far too much for this run-down dump.”
“Bollocks. You’re way below the asking price. I wouldn’t consider such a low offer from anyone else.”
“Just make sure you don’t forget the freebies. Cuban cigars and whisky, like we agreed. Oh and I’ve decided to take you up on your offer of Victor.”
“Good move,” said Danny. “You won’t regret it. Like I said, Victor can be very useful. So, tell me, mate, what are your plans for this place once it’s yours?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
“I bet you’ll turn it into one of those joints where girls dance up sticks.”
“Eh?”
“Pole dancing, they call it. Bloody perverts sit about drooling all night at half-naked women prancing around, and then they stick money in their knickers. I know where I’d like to stick it.”
“I take it you won’t be coming to opening night, then?” Karl said.
“You take it right. I’ll be in some club in the heart of Benidorm having a fantastic evening with Billy and a few mates.”
“And whilst you’re doing that, I’ll be coining it in, night after night.”
Both men laughed.
“Joe’s sleeping peacefully,” Danny said. “He should be okay to go home tomorrow.”
“Good. He’ll be sorry he missed out on the fun tonight. By the way, I need to make a call. Can I use the office phone?”
“Sure. You know where it is.”
Shortly afterwards Karl left the club and got into the waiting taxi. “Belvedere Mansions,” he instructed the driver. The taxi drove the ten minute journey to the modern block of flats on the outskirts of the city.
“Wait here,” Karl instructed the driver, handing him two twenty pound notes. “I’ll be about an hour. Okay?”
“Right, mate,” answered the cabbie. “You take your time.”
Karl walked through the thick carpeted foyer, his heart beating wildly. He was still buzzing from earlier, and now, being here so close to her, his body tingled with excitement. An excitement that Erica should satisfy, he told himself, not leaving him alone so she could visit her bloody sister. Well, whatever happened tonight would be all her fault. After all, he had needs, needs that had to be fulfilled.
He got into the glass lift and pressed the button to the tenth floor. He had already telephoned for an appointment. Madam would be waiting for him to walk through her door and throw himself at her mercy, just like he’d done half a dozen times over the last year.
Karl’s throat felt dry with anticipation of what lay ahead. Maybe tonight she would be wearing the black leather cat suit with thigh length boots and five inch heels. He liked her in that outfit. Or maybe she would be wearing the long white chiffon nightie revealing just a hint of what lay beneath. Karl wiped his brow with his handkerchief. Each time he visited her he swore it would be the last, but the truth was he enjoyed the experience too much. He needed this. Perhaps he needed it more than he needed Erica.
Karl got out of the lift, his heart pounding. The door, her door, was directly opposite. What lay beyond that door was drawing him like a magnet. The pleasure he would soon be feeling, and the pain too, of course.
He trembled slightly remembering the first time he had experienced her leather whip biting into his naked flesh. The degradation had been wonderful. What would Madam demand from him tonight, he wondered?
Taking a deep breath, he pressed the buzzer…
THIRTEEN
Erica arrived at the port in plenty of time for her connection, only to learn that the ferry had been delayed due to thick fog over the Irish Sea.
“It could clear in an hour,” said the cheerful clerk behind the counter, “or it could last for the entire day. It’s in God’s hands.”
“Do you have a telephone, please?” she asked.
“Yes dear, it’s round the corner.”
Erica rang her flat but there was no reply. She dialled Joe.
“Hello,” said a faint, yet familiar voice.
“Joe? It’s Erica.”
“How’s it going? Are you on your way back?”
Erica quickly explained the situation.
“I’ll ring you when I know the new sailing time,” she sighed. “Everything went to plan here. Mary…”
“Karl’s here,” Joe interrupted. “I’ll put him on.”
“What’s the delay?” Karl barked down the receiver. “You should be on your way back by now.”
Again Erica explained the reason for the delay.
“So when will you be back?”
“Later today hopefully. It depends when the fog lifts.”
Karl slammed down the telephone abruptly.
“Bloody bitch,” he hissed.
“It can�
�t be helped,” Joe soothed. “If bad weather’s delayed the crossing, there’s nothing she can do about it, mate.”
Karl glared at Joe.
“She shouldn’t be there in the first place,” he said bitterly. “She should be here, with me.”
“But if her sister’s sick…”
“She’s married to me not her bloody sister.”
There was an uneasy silence as Joe sipped the coffee Karl had made him.
“I’ll get Victor to pick her up,” Karl said at last, “but you’ll have to go with him. Erica doesn’t know Victor. Will you be okay with that?”
“Sure, I’m feeling much better. I don’t know what was in those pills Danny gave me but they certainly did the trick.”
“Good, but, for Christ’s sake, don’t take any more.” There was no mistaking the concern in Karl’s voice. “Once you’ve heard from Erica, give Victor a call and he’ll bring the car round.”
“Sure. By the way, what’s happening with the Kennedys?”
“There was no sign of them this morning when Victor’s brothers went round to the flat. They’re a pair of mad bastards. I wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of either of them two.”
“Luckily you won’t have to. I hear Victor’s on the payroll now.”
“That’s right. We’re gonna need all the muscle we can get with the plans I’ve got for the future.”
“What plans? You mean the club?”
“Yeah, and a few other things besides. I’ll talk to you about it when you’re up and about.”
“Karl, I’ve told you I’m fine, just a bit sore that’s all. So tell me, what’s in the pipeline that I should know about?”
“I’m thinking of opening up another house,” Karl grinned. “I’ve found the perfect spot up on Percival Terrace. It’s bigger than Broughton Street so we can get more girls in. What do you think?”
“Percival Terrace is a bit out of our league, isn’t it?” Joe said thoughtfully. “I mean, it’s quite a prosperous area around there. I don’t think neighbours would take too kindly to a brothel on their doorstep.”
Bad Blood Rising Page 4
