Takedown

by Heather Atkinson

  “Let’s just go into the bedroom, lock the door and not come out until morning.”

  “Sounds good to me,” said Faith, letting him take her hand and lead her into the bedroom.

  CHAPTER 26

  The removal men had no clue they were shifting two dead bodies. The one containing Flo posed no problem but it took all four of them to carry the one containing Gordon. Faith told them it was full of books. The twenty pound note she slipped each of them soon silenced their complaints.

  The two storage boxes were driven with the rest of Faith’s things to her new apartment on the ground floor of a block just further down the road. It wasn’t as swanky or modern but it had the cosiness she missed from the flat she’d rented when she’d first moved back to Blackpool and she still had a sea view and a balcony. Best of all was an enclosed garden at the rear that only she had access to and that Blossom could safely sit out in if she so desired.

  When the removal men had gone, Faith and Vance stood staring at the two boxes in grim silence.

  “Now what?” said Faith.

  “Cooee,” called a voice.

  The removal men had left the front door standing open and their entire family was pouring inside, Abi carrying a bunch of flowers and Rose a pot plant.

  “What are you all doing here?” said Faith, stamping down the rising panic.

  “We knew today was your moving day,” replied Rose. “And as you weren’t replying to any of our calls we got a bit worried, so we thought we’d come over and see how you were doing.”

  Faith and Vance glanced at each other before glancing at the chests.

  “Sorry,” said Faith. “My phone’s been playing up. It’s lovely of you all to come but all the hard work’s done.”

  “Nonsense. We can help you unpack.”

  “That’s really not necessary and some of it’s going to the tip. The removal men got carried away and loaded up the things I was getting rid of, like these two boxes. Actually, you can help us with that boys,” she said, looking to the rest of her brothers. “They’re very heavy, so you can give us a hand.”

  Faith was sweating under her clothes. She didn’t want her brothers to touch those boxes but there was no choice. It was the only way to get them out of her flat. She and Vance couldn’t lift the box containing Gordon between them.

  “I’ll go and fold the seats down in my car,” said Vance before hurrying out the door.

  “So, what can we be doing?” said Rose. “Shall I start cleaning? It looks like the last owners didn’t give it a good going over before they left.”

  “That would be great, thanks,” she said, relieved she wasn’t talking about unpacking boxes anymore.

  “Lovely. Abi, you can help,” said Rose, making her daughter sigh.

  Vance returned and the four brothers took the box containing Gordon between them.

  “Bloody hell, what’s in this?” groaned Kevin, legs shaking with the effort.

  “Books,” said Faith. “A lot of books.”

  “Really?” said Rose. “I’ve been after some new reading material. Can I have a rummage before you get rid of them?”

  “Sorry, they’ve all been claimed by a charity shop. They haven’t had many donations lately and they’re struggling,” she said, hoping that would be enough to shut her up.

  “That’s very kind of you dear. We must do what we can to help those in need.”

  The brothers dumped the box in the back of Vance’s car, which sank down a few inches with the weight.

  Caleb and Vance between them easily managed the second box.

  “You go back inside,” Vance quietly told Faith while the others returned to the flat. “I’ll handle this.”

  “What will you do with them?”

  “I know someone who can get rid of them.”

  “Who? Can we trust them not to talk?”

  “I met them in prison.”

  “Not a good recommendation.”

  “Hugo’s a good bloke and a smuggler. For ten grand he’ll sail anything you want into the middle of the sea and dump it there, no questions asked and the water’s so deep no one will ever find it.”

  “I don’t want to trust anyone else to do this.”

  “I’ll go with him. It’s our best option. It’s either that or bury them and with that there’s always a risk they’ll be discovered. I’ll drill a few holes into the sides of the chest to let in seawater so they’ll sink like stones.”

  “Okay, if you think this is the best thing we can do.”

  “It’s the only thing we can do. If we keep them hanging around any longer they’re going to start to smell.”

  Faith sighed. “This move was supposed to be a fresh start after all the crap we’ve been through. This isn’t what I had in mind.”

  “We’ll soon be rid of them and then we don’t need to think about them ever again. What is it?” he added when she smiled.

  “There’s the armoury under their house, which we now have the keys too,” she said, patting her jacket pocket. “It would make a nice present for Jules, to apologise for all the recent upheaval.”

  “That is a good idea. We won’t tell the others though, although they may wonder what happened to them. Word will soon get round that Flo and Gordon have vanished.”

  “Let’s hope no one links it to us.”

  Covertly he took her hand. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”

  “Good. I can’t wait to cosy up with you in the new flat tonight.”

  He winked at her before getting in his car and driving off. Faith watched him go, hoping he would be all right. After all, he was going to meet up with some dodgy people and he was driving around with two dead bodies.

  She returned to the house, glad that Flo and Gordon were finally gone.

  Jason and Kevin burst into Faith’s flat with fish and chips for everyone, a treat for all their hard work.

  “That smells amazing,” said Caleb.

  “We got vegan fish and chips for you Faith,” said Kevin, pulling a polystyrene tray out of one of the bags and handing it to her.

  “Great, thanks,” she beamed.

  “It looks a bit weird but I’m sure it’ll taste okay.”

  “I’m sure it will,” she smiled. It was a relief to her that their previous falling out hadn’t affected their relationship and that both Kevin and Jason seemed to have got over the shock of watching her shoot someone in the head.

  Vance returned three hours later looking tired and very cold. He sat in the armchair before the fire - one thing Faith loved about this flat was that it had an open fire – and wolfed down his fish and chips and mug of tea, after which he seemed ready for drifting off to sleep. He’d texted Faith when he’d got back on dry land to let her know that he’d got rid of the Fairweathers successfully, although he didn’t put any details in his message.

  There was just one person left to deal with.

  Adam returned home after visiting the newsagents a couple of streets away. Under one arm was tucked a newspaper. In one hand he clutched a can of fizzy pop and in the other a chocolate bar. He didn’t usually consume junk food but recent events had made him so nervous he’d turned to them for comfort. As his hands were full it took some juggling to produce the key from his pocket, jam it into the lock and turn it. He nudged the door open with his foot.

  “All right Adam?” said a voice from behind that made him freeze.

  Before he could react, a hand clamped down over his mouth and he was shoved into his own hallway. He fell to the floor, his purchases falling from his hand. Adam rolled onto his back and was horrified to see Vance Chambers stalk into his house, closing the front door behind him and locking it with the key.

  “What the hell are you doing you madman?” demanded Adam. He’d always been afraid of Vance. There was something different about him, something his brothers didn’t possess and that was the willingness to do anything to get his own way. His brothers were all dangerous men but he’d always got the impression that Vance c
ould happily murder him, even when they were teenagers.

  “You’ve been a proper bastard Adam,” he said, voice cold. “Your antics nearly got us killed.” Vance kicked him in the stomach, making him groan and curl up into a ball on his side. “But, like everything in your life, you failed.”

  “So you’ve finally come to kill me,” gasped Adam, cradling his stomach. “I know you’ve wanted to do it for years. I saw it in your eyes every time I was with Faith. Back then I didn’t realise what it was, I just thought you didn’t like me but now I know.”

  “You’re right. I hated you for being with her, I still do and if I had my way you’d vanish just like Flo, Gordon and Mickey.”

  “I knew that was you. Did you kill Lil too?”

  “Course not. Faith would never allow that. She sent her away.”

  “So you’re here to kill me?”

  “No but I am going to give you a good fucking hiding. Faith says you’re to leave Blackpool and never return.”

  “Where is she? I want to talk to her.”

  “Well she doesn’t want to talk to you. In fact, she never wants to see you again. I’m here to beat it into your thick skull that you and her are done.”

  “And you’re going to be together?”

  Vance nodded.

  “It’s disgusting. Even if you’re not related you were still raised together like brother and sister.”

  “I don’t give a shit what you think and neither does Faith. We’re going to be together and no one’s going to stop us.”

  When Adam attempted to get to his feet, Vance kicked him again to keep him down. The sound Adam released was a half-groan, half-laugh.

  “No one’s going to stop you?” rasped Adam. “You’ve no idea of the catastrophe you’ll bring down on your own heads. Your family won’t accept your relationship and neither will anyone else.” When Vance’s blue eyes glittered with fury, Adam flashed him a mocking smile. “But you already know that, don’t you?”

  Vance pulled Faith’s extendable baton from the back of his jeans, snapped it out and smashed it into the side of his face.

  Adam collapsed back to the floor, unable to cry out as his jaw had been broken.

  “Listen to me you piece of shit,” spat Vance. “You’ll leave Blackpool and never come back. You’ve Faith to thank for your life. I wanted to bury you along with the rest.” Pleasure rolled through Vance’s body at the fear in Adam’s eyes. “I’ve waited years for this,” he said before laying into him with the baton.

  Faith and Vance entered the small backyard through the gate, the hoodied figure walking behind them. Faith unlocked the back door and they stepped inside. Only once they were inside the house did the figure throw back their hood.

  “Wow,” said Jules, grinning at all the chintzy ornaments. “Did someone rob Miss Marple?”

  “The entrance is down here,” said Faith.

  The three of them headed down the steps to the cellar and into a large, spacious room with a concrete floor. It appeared to be empty, apart from a set of shelves with a few tools lying on them. Vance pulled aside the shelves to reveal nothing but a blank wall. After pushing on it a few times, he finally found the right spot and it popped open to reveal another room, which was in darkness. He hit the lights, which blinked into life.

  “Bloody hell,” breathed Jules, looking around. “This is my idea of heaven.”

  The room was bursting with handguns, rifles, shotguns, grenades, body armour, knives and even a couple of bazookas.

  “It is impressive,” said Faith.

  “This will keep us in weaponry for the rest of our lives. There’s even a type thirty one mortar. Christ,” she added, pointing at an object lying on a shelf. “That’s a blunderbuss. Who the hell were these people’s contacts?”

  “Flo had been at this game a long time,” replied Faith. “She had contacts all over the world, mainly in eastern Europe.”

  “And it shows. A lot of these weapons are from there.”

  “So, I take it you want it all?”

  “Too right I do gorgeous. My people will come back tonight to clear the lot out. It’s a good job no houses overlook the back street.”

  “I think Flo chose this house for that reason because they always brought their stock in through the back.”

  “Perfect. Is there anything you want?”

  “We’ll take a few Glocks and a couple of Berettas.”

  “No worries. My people will make sure they get to you. Where are the Fairweathers now?”

  “Decomposing in the deepest part of the Irish sea,” said Vance.

  Jules smiled at Vance and Faith. “You’ve done sodding well. Not only did you clear up all that mess with the firefighters but you’ve taken out the local arms dealers and nothing’s come back on you. I couldn’t have done better myself.”

  “Thanks Jules,” smiled Faith. “For a while it didn’t feel like it would ever end.”

  “Believe me I’ve been there but now it’s over. The sale of the pub has gone through. If we carry on like this we’ll own most of Blackpool. Have you decided who’s going to run the pub?”

  “I thought Abi could take it on. Michael’s doing a good job running the restaurant, so she could use her own place and she’s tough enough to deal with the dodgy customers.”

  “So she can handle herself?”

  “If they give her any bother she’ll stab her nails into their eyes and balls.”

  “Sounds like my kind of woman,” she grinned. “And the porn shop’s ready for its grand opening, is it?” she said, grin widening.

  “Greased up and ready to go,” smiled Vance.

  “I’ll bet. Who’s running it?”

  “Kevin. He’ll enjoy it the most.”

  Jules chuckled. “I really do like your family and I’m glad the shop’s ready because the next shipment will be arriving in three days. Let’s hope the local paramedics and the coastguard don’t decide to go bad, or are you hoping to get the full house of the local emergency services?” Jules’s demeanour was playful. Neither of them took offence, it was just her way.

  “I think we can do without that,” said Faith.

  “I don’t blame you. And the decoy vault?”

  “That’s been set up in a small industrial unit near the football ground.”

  “Nice one. That’s everything checked off your to-do list,” she beamed at them. “Right, let’s get back upstairs. We’ve spent enough time in this tomb.”

  Faith shivered at her words.

  “There you go sweet girl,” said Faith, putting down Blossom’s bowl of food, waving it before her nose as she’d been shown at the shelter so she could find it.

  Faith smiled as she watched her tuck in. Despite all her medical problems, she had a good appetite. Blossom had been living with Faith for a week now and she’d settled in beautifully. She was a very affectionate cat who loved to sit on her knee and be stroked or curl up before the fire. However, she never slept on Faith’s bed at night, although she could sometimes be found there during the day, as though sensing she and Vance needed their space. Blossom had taken to Vance too and loved to sit her bulk on his chest and purr loudly.

  As there had been no flats available in this block for Vance, he’d opted to keep on his flat in the old block but he spent the nights with Faith. When he wasn’t around she had Blossom for company. She was so glad she’d found this old girl.

  Faith had been enjoying some down time since the latest chaos. Kevin was doing an excellent job running the porn shop, in fact he seemed to be in his element and Abi had taken to being a landlady like a duck to water. There was hardly any trouble at The Red Lion anymore. She could restore order in seconds with one flick of her nails. Caleb was loving managing Eclectic and Vance and Jason together were running Pulse. The new delivery had been safely stowed in the vault underneath the porn shop and Tariq and his crew were once again in line and throwing themselves into their work. Matthew had been lauded for putting away the vicious mugger and Mick
ey’s disappearance had been put down to him doing a runner as he was looking at a long prison stretch for robbery.

  They’d had another stroke of luck with the Fairweather’s disappearance. Everyone seemed to think Gordon had killed his mother and fled. The sad, middle-aged man who’d lived his whole life with his mum had finally snapped after putting up with her insults for so many years. No one thought an outside agency had been involved.

  Adam had spent a couple of weeks in hospital after the beating Vance had given him. When he’d been released, he’d done the wise thing and moved away. It seemed the severe beating had finally eradicated his feelings for her as it had destroyed the illusion that he could control her. Lil had moved away too and Faith mourned the loss of her friend, whose betrayal would always cut deep.

  With so many good people around her, Faith was finding time for the small pleasures in life that she’d almost forgotten about – reading, walking, looking after Blossom. She’d even got into baking. This simple life was just what she needed after all the recent turmoil and taking Mickey’s life.

  With the deaths of Gordon and Flo, Faith had come to the realisation that Vance was the man for her. That incident had bonded them in blood. Matthew represented the life she could have had if she’d taken a different path. He’d been right, she would have the stamina to have a relationship with a police officer. The two men she loved represented very different things – Matthew was the legitimate life, even though he worked for the Maguires, children, a real family unit. Vance represented her wilder side, the one that loved danger and pitting her wits against the worst of society. They might never get to have children together but they would always be entirely themselves with each other. He had seen her commit the worst of crimes and vice versa and it hadn’t affected how they felt about each other. If anything, they’d grown even closer.

  “Come on lovely girl,” smiled Faith, picking up Blossom when she’d finished eating, carrying her back into the living room and sinking onto the couch with her.

  The cat curled up on her lap, purring with pleasure. Faith was smiling as she switched on the television and searched for something to watch. This warm little bundle brought out her tender feelings. Her helplessness and reliance on Faith for all her needs made her heart ache. After the lives she’d taken, Blossom reassured Faith that she was still human. Plus she might be the closest she ever got to having a child.