Dirty Dealings

by Gillian Godden

  Tony, mate, if you’re reading this then I’m dead. We both knew it would happen someday. Don’t be sorry, mate. Fuck, we had a few scrapes in our time. I’m surprised we lasted this long. Right, so after all these years I can have my say without you bloody interrupting.

  I’ve organised my funeral the way I want it. I don’t want your posh suits and mourning. I am going to make you suffer, brother. You support Chelsea football team and I love West Ham. Possibly the only thing we ever disagreed about. If you want to do right by me, follow my instructions and do this for me. I’m so pleased I’m going to be there in spirit only, cos you’d fucking kill me anyway!

  I want everyone in full football kit. West Ham colours, claret and blue. I want it done with horses and cart. Not cos it’s posh, but I am not having you hide and squirm behind tinted windows in your car. You arsehole! You always said I wasted my money on my season ticket, but this is going to be worth its weight in gold.

  I ain’t leaving you, Tony. I’m still gonna be around watching your back. I’m your wingman, always will be.

  On a sentimental note, I love you, mate. You have always been my idol and the best brother ever. Look after Elle and Jack for me. I trust you with the two people I love. Give my love to the family. Carry on, Tony. You’re doing this for ‘us’, as always. See you in hell, mate. (Not too soon, I hope.)

  P.S. Thank your lucky stars, mate. I did think about having a Marvel funeral and having you stood there as Iron Man!!!

  Jake

  Ralph handed the letter back to Tony. Although he was smiling, Tony noticed the date and then looked up at Ralph. A deep frown crossed his brow. ‘This was last month, Ralph. Have you seen the date on the letter? Do you think he knew he was going to die?’

  ‘Who knows, son. The bottom line is, he was prepared for it. And he has had enough foresight to send you a message from the grave. Thank your lucky stars for that, Tony.’ Ralph started to grin. ‘Or not, as it may be. He’s forcing you to wear his football colours. And he knows you can’t refuse his last wish. That is blackmail. I like his style.’ Ralph burst out laughing.

  ‘That cheeky bastard! He had already sorted his life out. Or rather, the end of it. Well, Ralph, we had better go and see these guys. Come on.’ Bouncing up the stairs in a much better mood than he came down them, Tony was laughing. ‘Let’s go and see what else he has planned for me.’

  Hearing the commotion as Tony ran up the stairs, Francesca and Julie walked into the hallway. Seeing Tony’s flushed face, Francesca was worried. ‘Are you okay, Tony? What’s happened?’

  ‘Everything is just fine, Francesca. Isn’t it, Ralph?’ Tony was waving a piece of paper in the air and smiling. ‘We won’t be long.’ After kissing her on the cheek, Tony almost ran out of the front door. It sounded like a commotion, but seeing his smiling face and the spring in his step confused both women.

  ‘Where are they going?’ Julie muttered under her breath. Shrugging her shoulders, she turned and walked back into the lounge. ‘Well, you lot.’ Julie picked up her gold cigarette case and flicked it open. Taking a cigarette out and putting it in her holder, she picked up her gold lighter and lit it. Standing there in her red trouser suit, blonde bob and full make-up, she looked quite the authoritative figure. ‘It looks like you’re going to have to wait a little longer before you get your sticky paws on the empire.’

  ‘We’re trying to help, Julie, not get our hands on anything.’ Scarlet was adamant, but the sly grin on Julie’s face spoke volumes.

  ***

  ‘Are you ready, Tony?’ Francesca couldn’t help smiling at the figure before her. She didn’t want to burst out laughing, but she had to admit Jake had left a legacy and taken the sadness out of the occasion. It had taken Tony’s mourning to moaning! Kissing him on the cheek, Francesca was pleased to see some of her old Tony back.

  ‘Well? When are you going to take that bloody coat off? You look a right idiot. Come on, Tony, let’s see those famous knees of yours. Actually, it’s just occurred to me.’ Julie tapped her finger on her chin as though pondering. ‘Do you realise, Tony, I must be the only woman in London that hasn’t seen you undressed!’ Julie wasn’t as tactful, but seeing Tony standing there in his long, camel coat, bare legs and trainers made her burst out laughing.

  ‘That’s your claim to fame, is it? Tony Lambrianu didn’t fancy an old bag like you! What the hell are you laughing at, anyway? Have you seen that fascinator with those feathers? God, you look worse than the horses.’ Tony had to have his usual jibe as Julie stood there in her satin football shirt and shorts that Jake had asked for, having added some of her own style to it.

  Everyone else walked into the room; they were all having one last toast to Jake. Each turned to look at the others and burst out laughing.

  After unbuttoning his coat slowly, Tony removed it and threw it on the chair. ‘Well? Are you happy now? There are my knees, that’s the closest you will ever get to them!’

  Julie’s loud cackle filled the room. The feathers in her white fascinator shook and bent as she held her stomach. ‘You’re never going to live this down, you know.’

  Everyone’s football shirt had their name on it, including Jake’s, as he had insisted on being buried in his football kit. Only Elle was allowed a tracksuit in the same colours.

  ‘Bollocks! Come on, the horses and carriages are waiting.’ Tony led the way with the funeral director, who was also stifling a smile.

  ‘You do know that I am a Chelsea supporter, don’t you?’ Tony raised his eyebrow and looked at the funeral director, who was sporting the same claret and blue plumes in his black hat. Stepping out into the street and seeing the horses gave Tony a warm feeling inside. They had done a good job. Even the horses’ plumes were the correct colours. Nothing had been left to chance. Every detail had been carefully taken into consideration. He shook his head and smiled, realising they were all going to ride through the whole of the East End wearing West Ham football team colours, which would please them enormously. But knowing Tony was a Chelsea supporter would please them even more. Shorts, shirts and trainers. Everything was claret and blue. They looked amazing! Jake had had his last laugh! He would have loved it.

  CHAPTER 27

  DECISION TIME

  Ralph had summoned Tony to a meeting in the office at the closed club. It was time to discuss business. Both dressed in their suits and ties, even though no one was around to see them. They sat either side of the desk.

  ‘I’m surprised you haven’t asked me how things are, Tony. It seems you have forgotten there is a huge investigation being led against us both.’ Seeing Tony’s sheepish look, Ralph carried on. ‘Don’t you care what happens to the rest of your family? Well, I do, and I have been very busy while you have been wallowing.’

  ‘So, Ralph, where do we stand with this investigation now? I’ve been meaning to ask but ... well, life gets in the way. Okay, Ralph, I am taking the top off the whisky, we’re sitting in the office. No ears flapping. You have something to tell me.’

  Ralph looked at Tony. The atmosphere of the office, surrounded by the quiet of the large, empty club, was more like a confessional. He had organised and planned a lot behind Tony’s back. He felt it was taking the pressure off him, which he felt that was the least he could do.

  ‘Those detectives still have files on you and I. They still want to make a raid and a huge arrest, which will help their promotion prospects, no doubt. But here goes. We have had a close shave and I don’t intend taking chances like that again. It’s time to keep our noses clean. We’re not getting any younger and, personally, I think you’re a lucky bastard.’ Ralph shook his head and laughed. ‘You have been offered a lifeline.

  ‘The kids. Or rather, your kids. They want to lighten the load. Take their offer, Tony. It’s fresh faces with fresh ideas. More to the point, there are no files on them.’

  Taking a drink and gathering his thoughts, Ralph continued. ‘Obviously I have done a lot on my own and Don Carlos has helped. I think we all
feel a little guilty about the outcome. This tragedy was never meant to happen.’ Looking up, Ralph saw Tony’s mask fall for a moment. The sadness behind his eyes said it all.

  ‘Firstly, the investigation. I have it on good authority that it is going nowhere. As we speak, they are packing away that incident room and all its files. Although we both know they will keep them … just in case.’

  Tony looked at Ralph curiously. The investigation was over? That seemed incredible. This couldn’t be right. He knew Ralph was a ‘fixer’, but this went beyond even his reach. ‘Tell me, Ralph.’ Tony’s velvety voice was calm and steady. He had resolved himself to the worst.

  Feeling on more solid ground Ralph smiled and spread his hands wide almost spilling his whisky. ‘What I mean, son, is, how can there be an investigation without their star witness? Oh, yes, Sharon had sung like a bird. About the money, our lifestyle and, of course, the dead bodies we left in our wake.’ Ralph paused. This was something they never mentioned. After all, if they didn’t talk about it, well, it never happened, did it?

  ‘They have pages and pages of statements from Sharon. Possibly even things we haven’t done. My guess is, if it all went tits up she wanted into the witness protection programme. Tell me, Tony, what court would believe a drugged up, bitter ex-wife who turned out to be a cold-hearted murderer? The very thing she was saying about us.’ Laughing to himself then taking a drink, Ralph smacked his lips and carried on. ‘Let’s be honest, Tony. That would not stand up in court and after months of research and investigation they would all have mud on their faces. After all, she was the one that was lying. She was a cheat and a con woman and she was the killer.’ Ralph saw Tony wince a little, but felt this had to be said. They had had Jake’s funeral and all the fun and games of the ‘I’m forever blowing bubbles’ anthem had filled the streets and church as they had taken him to his last resting place. For Tony, that was some kind of peace. Jake had spoken from the grave.

  Now this situation needed closure. Their liberty had hung in the balance for months and now it seemed it was over.

  ‘How can it be over, Ralph? What about the casino and the money laundering? She will have left them a paper trail leading to all of our doors. What about that boyfriend of hers? What had he told his mates? No, Ralph, this will never be over.’

  ‘Oh, shut up, Tony,’ snapped Ralph. He’d had enough of this softly, softly touch. It was time to be themselves again. ‘Do you really think I would be telling you it was all over if it wasn’t? Get real. The bottom line is this: we have had a warning, and a very big one at that.

  ‘Neither of us are young kids anymore and, as far as I am concerned, that was one scrape too many.’

  Tony looked at Ralph apologetically. ‘I’m sorry, Ralph, I never meant to question you, but even you have to admit it seems impossible.’ After reaching over to pour Ralph another drink and pushing the cigar box towards him, Tony waited.

  ‘Sharon’s boyfriend.’ Ralph nodded as he lit his long Cuban cigar.’ I presume he knew a lot but he isn’t going to be telling anyone soon, is he?’ Ralph held up his hand to stop Tony interrupting. ‘Before you ask, Tony, no, I haven’t found out who killed that man. There is no gossip and no trace. His friends that he had with him in the casino that we saw on the recordings have each come to a sticky end.’ Ralph looked Tony squarely in the eyes. ‘Not me, Tony. Don Carlos. He’s a clever bastard, if ever there was one.’ Shaking his head and blowing out thick smoke from the cigar, he sat back, contented. Then he began to explain. Don Carlos had his men hand over a bag of money to these young friends of Sharon’s boyfriend, including her sister, who had been in on it all, stating that it was from Sharon. The instructions were simple: they were to cover all the local casinos and play the tables. If they won, they won, and if not, it wasn’t a problem. There was plenty more cash where that had come from.

  Apparently, they had a great time, unknowingly filling all the other casinos in the area with forged and laundered money. The paper trail was now cold. Her sister was also hooked on cocaine and all she cared about was the money. She had gone far beyond worrying about Sharon. This wasn’t anything to do with the Lambrianu casino. This was all of the casinos in the area reporting that forged money was being passed over the tables. Don Carlos had simply flooded the casinos with worthless cash and all the time these young fools were being recorded. Of course they were all arrested and they all pleaded their innocence.

  Now Don Carlos had them off the streets and rounded up, he needed to silence them once and for all. While being held in custody they were each in turn given a present by one of the guards; a packet of their favourite drug – laced with a deadly dose of rat poison! The guard had stood aside one evening when it was ‘lights out’ and watched the four young men in custody happily and gratefully snort this lethal concoction and then he had left. The morning shift would find them. It was nothing unusual in prison. It happened all of the time.

  ‘As for Sharon’s sister,’ said Ralph, ‘well. To be honest, Tony, I am not a hundred per cent sure.’ Ralph gave Tony a knowing look. They both knew the things Don Carlos was capable of. ‘All I have heard is that some fat woman walked in her cell and slit her throat. She was on a murder sentence anyway and didn’t give a damn. That’s all I know about that. Hearsay. I’m sure she was paid very handsomely by Don Carlos for this. He wouldn’t let someone do him a favour without reward. Sharon’s mother’s illness was all fake. That was her weekend excuse to go to Paris. The point is, as far as the police are concerned, all of Sharon’s family were involved in some way. And yes, they were using us “bad boys” as their whipping boys. No evidence. No case.’ Ralph grinned and let out a huge sigh of relief.

  Ralph and Don Carlos had stripped the casino bare. All the staff had been given a huge payment in lieu of notice and warned to hold their tongues. The casino was to be auctioned off with immediate effect. Paris was over.

  ‘He even covered your tracks, Tony. Not your finest hour, granted. But you were upset.’ Ralph raised his eyebrows. ‘Jake’s driver …?’ Ralph shook his head and tutted. ‘There is no emotion in our business, Tony. It’s just business.’

  ‘No, Ralph. He was a lazy bastard!’ Tony shouted. Standing up and pacing the room, his face flushed with anger. ‘We both know he was having a sleep while Jake was lying dead on the ground. He told me himself that Jake had told him to watch the front door in case they were followed and then meet him over the other side of the South Bank. Where was he, Ralph? When he never heard from Jake and time was passing, where the fuck was he?’ Tony’s anger raged.

  ‘Calm down, Tony. Calm down. ‘Ralph waited. ‘Yes, and we both know that you made him put the hose in the exhaust of his car then sat in the garage with a gas mask on while you watched him die. Suicide, my arse! For fuck’s sake, Tony, I know you were upset, but was that necessary?’ Looking disgusted, Ralph shook his head.

  Standing up and walking around the room, Tony’s face grimaced. It was full of hate and anger. Punching his hand with fist, he said, ‘He could have saved him, Ralph. Don’t you see he could have saved him? All the drivers text or ring to see if they are needed. But not him, no. What did he say to me when I asked him why he hadn’t contacted Jake? He said as Jake and Sharon weren’t around, he presumed – yes, PRESUMED – that they had gone off to spend the night together! That lazy worthless bastard will never let anyone down again. Mark would have come looking for me. We always check out together at the end of the night. A stranger walking his dog found my brother!’

  ‘I know, Tony. Believe me, I know. Now sit down. Don’t you think it seemed strange that Jake’s driver suddenly committed suicide? Very suspicious and, as I say, not your finest hour. Don Carlos and I felt it was best if it was known that he wasn’t driving Jake that night and Jake had used another driver without your knowledge. The best we could come up with at short notice was, erm …’ Ralph paused. This was an awkward situation given the circumstances but Tony had to know everything.

  ‘Who? Who
was supposed to be driving Jake?’ Curious, Tony turned on Ralph. Who would put themselves in that position with the police and admit to being the driver? ‘I told the police who the driver was, Ralph. They already know!’

  ‘No, you told them who you thought was driving Jake. Then a nice young man popped up and admitted he had driven Jake that night because the regular driver had cried off and begged this nice young man to stand in for him.’

  Shocked, Tony sat down. This indeed was news. ‘Who, Ralph? Who would perjure themselves like that?’

  ‘Dominic. Scarlet’s boyfriend, or whatever they call themselves these days,’ said Ralph, waving his hand in the air nonchalantly.

  ‘Dominic? Why would he do that? And who the hell asked for his favours anyway?’

  ‘Listen to me, you stupid bastard. He is Mark, your driver’s son, and Mark has loyalty to you. You’re the one on the killing spree within days of Jake’s death, you bloody fool. Oh, fancy that,’ Ralph mocked, ‘Jake’s driver just happened to commit suicide after Jake’s death. What a load of bollocks! Everyone knows you were behind it. The only way to stop it was to say that he wasn’t driving Jake that night. You were mistaken because you didn’t know. Wise up, Tony. Whether it be loyalty to his father or to Scarlet, that boy got you out of a scrape, and so did Don Carlos and I.’ The heated discussion between them was leaving Ralph feeling quite breathless.

  ‘It’s over now, Tony. Jake’s dead. Sharon can rot in her own grave, but we have to carry on. I’ve given you enough to think about; it’s time I left.’ He stood up and walked out.

  Sitting at his desk alone, Tony looked across at the empty leather chair at the other side of the room. ‘Well, Jake. What do you think?’ he asked the empty chair Jake had always sat on. Smiling, Tony nodded at the chair. ‘Yes, that’s what I think, too.’