The Burnley Boys

by Drew Black

  "Yes, yes it was a good game." Matt smiled.

  "You didn't happen to hear what tomorrow's weather forecast was did you Matt?" God, she thought with a sigh, could you not think of anything better to say to him?

  Matt shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

  "Yes, I did." Marsha interrupted, "It's going to piss it down all day, now come on let's get to bed."

  "You go up if you’re tired Marsha, Maria can stay here and keep me company, if she likes, I'm going to have another swift one."

  Marsha scowled at him, but Matt just smiled back at her.

  "Maria, are you coming to bed or not?"

  "I'll just stop down another ten minutes, that is if you don't mind."

  "Right, I'll see you in ten minutes then." Marsha said checking her watch before turning on her heel and going out through the door, which she left ajar.

  Matt got up and shut it. "Your sister can be a right battle axe, when the mood takes her, can't she?” he whispered.

  Maria shook her head, "She's a good person really Matt, honestly she is, she'd do anything for you, she's just scared I'll get hurt, that's all." Maria said pushing her hair back with one hand.

  "Well you're not going to get hurt sat here talking to me now, are you?

  "No, I know I'm not, but that doesn't stop her worrying about me though."

  As they chatted Maria started to relax. She liked Matt, he made her laugh, and he seemed to exude a natural confidence. She checked her watch, "I'd better go up now," she said "it's getting late."

  "Yeah, I'm going to hit the sack as well." Matt said putting his beer can down ... too much beer ruins a man's performance. Fat chance of that he thought.

  "Thanks for the chat." Maria said getting up.

  "No problem, I enjoyed it, I'll see you tomorrow."

  Maria thought about bending over and giving him a peck on the cheek but decided against it. "Goodnight Matt." she said leaving the rec room. She went up to bed with her mind buzzing, she felt all warm inside. The last thing she felt like doing was sleeping, although she knew that she must because she'd be shattered in the morning going to bed this late as it was.

  Maria entered the room she shared with her sister. Marsha was still washing her face at the sink. She went to the cupboard and fished out her pyjamas. "You okay?" she asked as she removed her jumper.

  "Yes," Marsha replied without looking around, "why shouldn't I be okay?"

  "No, no reason. I just thought you looked a bit annoyed when I said I was staying downstairs for a little while, that's all."

  "You still stayed down there whether you felt that I was annoyed about it or not, so what's the point in asking me about it now?" Marsha said removing her bra and slinging it onto her bed.

  "Marsha, I was only talking to him for goodness sake. I am allowed to talk to people you know."

  "At almost one o'clock in the morning alone with a man you hardly know, one whose been boozing all night. I'm sorry Maria, but if he'd raped you, you'd have no-one else to blame but yourself. Marsha said, roughly buttoning up her pyjama top.

  "Don't be ridiculous Marsha, we're talking about Matt here, he's a friend, he wouldn't hurt anyone." Maria paused, "Besides," she continued mainly to herself, "maybe it wouldn't've been such a bad thing if he had tried something on." Thankfully, she didn't think Marsha had registered this last comment.

  "I'm just warning you that's all. Remember the last time with that Rick fellow?"

  "Oh Marsha, that was different, and you know it was. Besides, Matt's just a friend, I don’t fancy him or anything." Maria said a little unconvincingly. Marsha gave her that look, the look that said a thousand words, the look that had won a thousand arguments. Maria looked away and scratched at an imaginary stain on her bedspread.

  "All I'm saying Maria, is that all men are after one thing, and one thing only, and besides--"

  "Besides what?" Maria asked looking over at her sister.

  "Well, I don't mean to be unkind, but don't you think he's a bit simple? If you want the cold honest truth Maria, I don't think he's a full shilling." Marsha said turning her bedside light out.

  "Now you are being ridiculous ..." Maria was just about to go on and say that Marsha was just plain jealous when she decided that she was just too tired to get into an argument.

  Christine lay in bed with her light on. She gave her bedside clock another glance; five to one. He's just not coming she thought. Was that boy thick or what? What did she have to do to make it clear to him that she wanted him to screw her, put an ad in the local gazette? You weren't interested in him this time last week a voice in her mind suggested, in fact you weren't interested in him at all until Maria started showing an interest in him. Christine found the way that Maria fawned all over Matt a bit sickening - 'I'll get it for you Matt, what was that you said Matt, of course I'll toss you off Matt.' Stupid cow. Maybe she was being a bit unkind, she supposed she was a sweet kid really, even if she was as plain as they come, but one thing was for sure; as long as they were all caged up in Jessop's Corporate HQ she was not going to be beaten to the only decent available male by some wet behind the ears, dewy-eyed kid. No sirree - five past one.

  If the two of them were still up, maybe she had already beaten her to him. She could only hope that that shit-eating sister of hers had insisted on chaperoning them. Christine threw back the covers and pulled her night shirt down over her knickers. She called in on Luke and was grateful for the fact that he was sleeping soundly. She pulled the covers up to his neck and kissed him on the forehead.

  She went and sat at her dressing table and mussed her hair. She applied some lipstick and dabbed some perfume on her neck and behind her ears. She put on her dressing gown, picked up the baby monitor and ventured out into the hallway. If someone saw her, she could always say that Luke wasn't well, and she was going to fetch him some milk and aspirin. I think he might even have a fever Mr Jessop she could hear herself saying. Christine knocked on Matt's door lightly. Come on Matt answer the damn door she silently urged him. There was a light on, so he must've come up to bed. What if Maria was in there with him, she thought suddenly. She very much doubted it, but if she was, she was only calling on Matt to see if he could help her with Luke, wasn't she? She knocked again, this time a bit harder.

  The door opened; "Christine." Matt said sounding surprised. He was shirtless and looked a little embarrassed.

  Christine smiled, "I have seen a man's bare chest before Matt." she said.

  "Come in, what is it?"

  Christine entered Matt's room, "This is going to sound really stupid," she began, "I feel so lonely Matt, I know I've got Luke, and I love him to pieces, but I just feel really down at the moment, stuck here in this place. I probably sound ungrateful, but all I seem to do is work and take care of Luke, I know I put on a brave face, but deep down I feel really scared. All I want is for someone to love me, to love us." Christine started to cry, and it was genuine, "I'm sorry Matt, you don't need this crap at this time of the night, I'll see you in the morning, it'll all seem better then. I've had a couple of drinks, and I think it's reminded me of what having a life is like, that's all." she said managing a laugh through her tears. "I'll see you in the morning, I shouldn't've bothered you."

  Christine turned to go but Matt turned her back round to face him. He gently pushed her hair back from over her eyes and kissed her forehead. "Chris, you've got a lot of people hear that are pulling for you and Luke, you do know that don't you?"

  Christine nodded; the tears started to come again. She hadn't realised it until now, but maybe all the fight in her had run out.

  "And the last thing you are is stupid." Matt said kissing first her eyes and then her mouth.

  Maria looked at herself in the mirror after she'd finished cleaning her teeth. Did he fancy her or was she just imagining it? Well, he'd stayed up chatting to her, hadn't he? Marsha was jealous, she was frightened of losing her, but she was worrying unnecessarily. Irrespective of what happened with Matt or any o
ther man for that matter, she would always be close to her sister, and any man who truly loved her would accept that. Anyway, all this would have to wait until the morning, she had to go to bed. Oh God, she thought; she'd left her purse in the rec-room, surely it would be okay until tomorrow morning though. But, then again, she had pictures of their father in that purse and she would never forgive herself if she lost it. She could visualise just where she'd left it as well - under the coffee table. Damn, she was never going to get to sleep tonight.

  Thankfully, Marsha was asleep which was a relief. Maria located her slippers and dressing gown and crept towards the door. It felt chilly in the hallway now, she passed Matt's door and headed downstairs to the rec-room. She opened the door, turned on the light and squinted at its harshness. There her handbag was, just where she'd left it, she felt relief wash over her. Now come on Maria, let's get to bed, she told herself as she picked up her handbag and headed back towards the door. She glanced around quickly, just to check that everything was switched off, before turning the light out.

  As she passed Matt's door her heartbeat picked up. She smiled to herself, before stopping suddenly. She thought she'd heard voices. You're imagining it, she told herself, but her curiosity had been piqued, so she went and stood outside his door. She looked around furtively just to check that no-one was watching her. She pressed her ear against the door, her heart was in her throat. Maria visibly flinched, she could hear a female voice, it was Christine. Maria put her hand to her mouth in shock, a tear trickled down her cheek, she hurried back up the hallway.

  18

  Jack held Christine to him and patted her gently on the back, she was sobbing uncontrollably. "Matt get Christine a brandy will you, in fact bring the bottle." Jack said. He felt dizzy, he sat Christine down on the rec-room sofa, retrieved a handkerchief from is pocket and handed it to her.

  "Thank you." she sniffed without looking up.

  "Are you okay Molly?" Jack asked the head housekeeper, placing a hand on her shoulder.

  Molly nodded, "It was such a shock, I thought it was strange Mr Jessop still being in bed at seven o'clock, but Marsha said that they'd all been up late last night, so I just presumed he was having an extra hour in bed." she began to cry.

  "Here drink this." Jack said taking a glass of brandy from Matt.

  Tom poured a couple of whiskeys and handed one to Jack.

  "Thanks Tom." Jack said with a sigh, "How did you get on at the factory?"

  "We've closed it until further notice."

  Jack nodded and knocked back his whiskey.

  19

  Jack stood gazing out of his back-bedroom window watching rivulets of rain make their way to the bottom of the pane. He sighed deeply as he contemplated what was going to happen next. Everything was going wrong. First his family now Jessop, Jack felt crushed, and to compound everything, he knew Jessop's death would trigger an almighty power struggle inside and outside of the syndicate.

  Perhaps Tom was right; maybe now was the right time to get out. The wind howled outside. He knew he should be strong, but all he actually felt like doing was getting as far away from Burnley as possible. Jack opened the wardrobe and removed his suitcase.

  Jack was greeted at the estate by Matt who relieved him of his case.

  "Thanks Matt, how is everyone." Jack asked as he got in out of the rain.

  "A little better Jack. Marsha's made up a room for you, I'll take you up to it."

  "Has Tom gone?"

  “Yes, he went about an hour ago." Matt said rounding the corner and heading towards the stairs. "He said he'd catch you in the morning."

  "How are all the girls?"

  "Molly and Christine have taken it the worst, they're both in bed, Cath thought it was best, she called the doctor, and he's given them both a sedative." Matt opened the door and let Jack into his room.

  20

  John Jessop was buried on Thursday the eighth of November 1962; he was sixty years of age. A large congregation attended the funeral, at St James's Church in the centre of Burnley. The wake was held at the Jessop Estate.

  Clearing up Jack felt distinctly shell-shocked, "I'll be staying at Tom's tonight Molly, Helen's cooking us all a meal.”

  Molly turned around and smiled, "Okay Jack, thanks for everything, I don't think we would've got through today without you."

  Jack smiled back at her, "Yes, you would." he said.

  Christine came into the kitchen with a stack of plates, "I didn't think everyone would've been so hungry." she said conversationally.

  Jack thought that perhaps Christine had taken Jessop's death worse than anyone else, and that surprised him a little. She was a funny girl, hard to fathom, however his opinion of her had changed totally over the course of the last week. Beneath that hard exterior there was a sensitive and caring person, and along with himself and Molly Jack thought that Christine was the only other person who really cared that Jessop was gone. Even Tom wasn't affected like they were and all most of the others could talk about was what was going to happen with his money. Jack couldn't give a shit about the money; he was far more concerned about the fact that his life seemed to be falling apart all around him.

  "I wonder what Mr Jessop would’ve thought about today?" Christine said smiling bravely.

  Jack looked at her, she'd been crying again, and she looked much older than her twenty-four years. "He would’ve been proud." Jack said stacking another plate onto the pile on the drainer.

  "I'd go along with that." Molly said.

  Jack dried his hands and put an arm around both of them. "He'd want us to be strong, and that's what we're going to be." They all embraced.

  Maria entered the kitchen, "Oh sorry." she said.

  Jack turned around, "No, it's okay Maria, come in." he said.

  21

  Jack and Jane travelled in silence. Jane knew that Jack was hurting, but she just couldn't reach him. She was afraid that Jessop's death coming so quickly after his family had died in the fire may prove too much for him. If only she knew what to do, if only she could get him to open up to her. She just felt so frustrated and useless.

  Jack pulled up outside Tom and Helen's.

  "Are you okay?" Jane asked cautiously. These days she was finding it more and more difficult to gauge his reactions.

  "Yeah, I'm fine." Jack replied covering Jane's hand with his own and smiling. "Come on I'm starving; I hardly ate anything at the wake."

  "Yeah, I noticed." Jane said softly and then added; "Jack, are things going to be all right?"

  Jack cleared his throat, "I don't know Jane, I honestly don't know." he replied before getting out of the car. He stepped out onto the pavement and waited for Jane to come around the car. They walked hand in hand up the driveway of Tom and Helen's house, the night was cold, too cold.

  "Hi." Helen said opening the door, she gave Jack a hug. "You okay?" she said stepping back from her brother."

  "Yeah, I'm fine thanks sis, I've just been saying to Jane how hungry I am, I've hardly eaten all day."

  "Well, I'm cooking us all fillet steak, it should be ready in about twenty minutes, both of you come through."

  "Hi guys," Tom said, "what can I get you both to drink?

  In the lounge Tom and Helen had a log fire roaring, Jack warmed his hands in front of it. "Hello Jasper." he said. Jasper raised one eyelid gave a bark and went back to sleep.

  "That was great Helen." Jack said leaning back in his chair and patting his stomach, "I feel much better now."

  Helen smiled, she lifted the back of her hair and let if fall onto her chairback. "What's going to happen Jack, with the syndicate and everything?” she asked him in a concerned tone.

  "It goes on as before, it's going to be difficult, but we'll just have to do our best, that's all we can do."

  “Why don't we just move away, all of us mum and Sal as well." Jane said.

  Tom shook his head, "We're in too deep Jane, and besides we’ve got unfinished business and none of us can make any plans un
til that's taken care of."

  "What unfinished business Tom?" Helen asked beginning to get upset.

  Jack threw Tom a stern glance.

  "There's no point in hiding it Jack," Tom said, "everyone is going to know about it come tomorrow anyway.

  "Know about what, will one of you tell us what is going on."

  Jack looked at Tom again and then at Helen "We're going seeing Eddie Briggs tonight ..."

  "No Jack, please," Helen pleaded. "I couldn't bear to lose either you or Tom, not after everything that's happened. Tell him Tom."

  Tom looked away, Jack got up from the dining table and went over to his sister who was pacing the floor. He got hold of her by the shoulders. "Listen Helen, I, we, have to do this. We are not going to get hurt I promise you. You and Jane have to stay calm though."

  "Calm, how can we be calm?" she shouted through her tears.

  Jack hugged her and she collapsed into his arms. "If we don't get things sorted with Briggs once and for all then he'll badger us for the rest of our lives. They'll never leave us alone Helen. We've got to be strong, all of us."

  22

  A blue transit van pulled out onto the main road; it was closely followed by a black Cortina.

  23

  Jack opened the door to his house.

  "Jack!" Tom went out into the hallway to check that Jack was alone. "Come in here quickly, it's on the radio."

  Jack entered his kitchen and put his keys on the table.

  '... the incident described by police, who attended the scene, as one of the most violent in recent years has left three people dead and two critically injured ...'

  "Three! Three?" Tom exclaimed.

  "Shush!" Jack said putting his finger to his lips.

  '... Mr Edward Briggs proprietor of Diamonds Hotel states that he and his family have come under increasing pressure over recent months to pay protection payments to various crime gangs within the area. However, they have refused to succumb to any of these demands which may go a long way to explaining the horror of last night’s events. Mr Briggs who has been undergoing treatment for a heart condition, over the last two years, has been admitted to Manchester Royal Infirmary as a precautionary measure. However, he has made a heartfelt appeal to the police to, and I quote; "catch and bring to justice the animals responsible for this atrocity." Mr Briggs hopes to be released tomorrow to be with his wife Dana and his two children. Dana is currently comforting the families of the victims. We will bring you more information as we receive it. This is John Chance reporting for BBC Radio Manchester outside the Diamonds Hotel, Manchester.'