‘You never learn, do you? Ever since you were a kid you’ve been bringing shit to my door and blaming everyone but yourself for it. God knows I’ve never been Amy’s biggest fan, and I always said you were asking for trouble getting wed so young. But I don’t blame her for kicking you out. How do you think she must have felt, having some nasty piece of work beat you up in front of her? She must have been bloody terrified. And where were the kids while all this was happening?’
‘In their room.’
‘Well, at least that’s one good thing,’ said Jane, folding her arms. ‘But you’re not stopping here.’
‘Why not?’ Mark frowned. ‘’Cos of him?’ He gave a scornful jerk of his head in Dobbs’s direction.
‘It’s got nothing to do with Alan,’ Jane said sharply. ‘I’m just not having you hiding out here, eating me out of house and home and scrounging all me fags when you should be back home looking after your wife and kids.’
Mark locked stares with her for several long moments, then sneered. ‘Fine, I know where I’m not wanted. I’ll leave you and Viagra Man to it.’
‘Don’t be so bloody rude,’ Jane scolded, following him as he stomped out into the hall. ‘It’s about time you grew up and realised that the world doesn’t revolve around you, Mark Taylor. I might feel different if you hadn’t brought it on yourself, but you have, so now you’ll have to deal with it.’
‘Yeah, whatever.’ Mark cast one last bitter look back at her, then walked out.
Everything was aching by now, and his head was banging. All he wanted was a bed for the night, and a bit of tea and sympathy, but no one gave a fuck. His wife had kicked him out straight after watching him get his head kicked in, and his mother had chosen her pet Shrek over him. And Steve was more interested in getting his end away than in helping out his best mate.
Feeling increasingly sorry for himself, Mark walked to Jenny’s flat. The rest of them might not care if he lived or died, but she would never turn him away.
Jenny was overjoyed when she answered the door and saw Mark on the step. But the joy quickly turned to horror, and her hands flew to her mouth. ‘Oh, my God! Did Lenny do this?’
Mark nodded and gave her a pitiful look. ‘Sorry about earlier, I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.’
‘It doesn’t matter.’ Jenny reached for his hand and pulled him inside. ‘Come and sit down. You look terrible.’
The fire was on in the living room. Mark flopped down on the couch in front of it and sighed as the heat immediately started to seep into his body. He was exhausted, and wished that he could just curl up and sleep for a week.
‘Let’s get you comfortable, then I’ll make you a cup of tea,’ said Jenny, arranging the cushions behind him.
Mark gave her a weak smile. ‘I’d rather have Scotch, if there’s any left?’
‘Yeah, course.’ Jenny rushed into the kitchen, grabbed two glasses and poured two shots: a small one for her, a very large one for him.
Mark took a sip and flopped his head back.
‘Did he do this because you were late with his money?’ Jenny asked, perching on the other couch. ‘Is it my fault for keeping you talking earlier?’
‘Nah.’ Mark shook his head. ‘I was already going to be late – it’s my own fault.’
‘Are you sure?’ Her voice was loaded with guilt.
‘Positive.’
It was a lie – Mark did partially blame her. But he wasn’t about to admit that and risk having her kick him out as well.
‘You haven’t got any painkillers, have you?’ he asked. ‘My head’s splitting.’
‘I think I’ve still got some of my mum’s strong ones. Won’t be a sec.’ Jenny jumped up and rushed back out to the kitchen. ‘Do you want a bath?’ she asked when she came back and handed a couple of small capsules to him.
‘That’d be nice,’ Mark said gratefully. ‘You’re an angel.’
Jenny smiled a shy little smile and went to run the bath. Alone, Mark swallowed the capsules and looked around. With the warmth of the fire, the TV in the corner, and the lamp casting a mellow glow, the room was really cosy. Add to that a willing woman running round after him like he was some kind of wounded hero, and no wife nagging or kids making a mess and demanding attention, and it was just about heaven.
He took another swig of his drink and closed his eyes.
He was fast asleep when Jenny came back, and her heart melted as she gazed down at him. He’d said some horrible things to her this afternoon, but she blamed herself for letting jealousy take control of her mouth. She’d been mentally kicking herself ever since, convinced that she had ruined everything before it had really even started. But Mark obviously felt something for her if this was the first place he had thought to come to in his time of trouble.
And if this was where he wanted to be, he was welcome to stay for as long as he liked.
10
Amy tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep for worrying about Mark. After the anger had died down the guilt had crept in, and she felt terrible knowing that he’d only borrowed that money to persuade her to come home. But instead of thanking him, she had blasted him, and then she’d kicked him out knowing that he was in pain. She was a horrible person, but she would make it up to him when he came home if it was the last thing she ever did.
It had already started to get light outside before she’d finally dropped off, so she was exhausted when the alarm clock woke her just a couple of hours later. Dismayed to see that Mark’s side of the bed hadn’t been slept in, she got up and got the kids ready for school.
She’d left her mobile phone on the living-room table, and she could hear it ringing when she opened the front door after dropping the kids off. Praying that it would be Mark, she ran in and snatched it up.
‘Mark? Is that you? Where are you? Are you okay?’
‘It’s not Mark, it’s me.’
‘Oh.’ Amy was disappointed to hear her mother-in-law’s voice.
‘Are you out?’ Jane asked. ‘Only I’ve been trying the house phone for ages. I don’t really like calling mobiles, it’s so expensive.’
‘Sorry, the plug came out,’ Amy told her. ‘Do you want me to ring you back?’
‘Never mind, I’ll keep it short,’ said Jane. ‘I was only checking on Mark. I thought he’d go home after he left mine, but I guess he didn’t.’
‘Did he stay at yours?’ Amy asked, hoping that he’d not long left and was on his way back.
‘No, he came round, but we had words and he went off in a huff,’ Jane told her. She paused now, and sighed before adding, ‘Look, I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, Amy, and your mum made it clear when we were organising the wedding that you’re her daughter and I’m not to interfere. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you and the kids.’
‘Yeah, I know,’ Amy said softly. ‘Thanks, Jane, I really appreciate that. But we’re fine. It’s Mark I’m worried about. He was in a right state when he left last night.’
‘I know,’ Jane murmured. ‘But like I told him, whatever’s happened, he’s brought it on himself so he’ll have to deal with it. You just look out for yourself and those little ’uns.’
‘I will,’ said Amy, touched that Jane was being so caring. They had never been particularly close, because Jane had made it clear from the start that she didn’t approve of them having a baby and getting married so young. She’d never outright said it, but Amy suspected that Jane thought she’d got pregnant on purpose to trap Mark. And her mum felt the same about Mark, hence the frostiness between the two mothers.
Feeling less guilty now that she knew she wasn’t the only one who thought Mark was out of order, Amy promised to ring Jane as soon as he got home to let her know that he was all right. Then, determinedly pushing her worries to the back of her mind, she reminded herself that she and Mark had had much worse arguments than this in the past and he’d always come back. Anyway, he would never leave her and the kids at the mercy of that horrible man, s
o she had every faith that he would be back by five with the money to pay him off.
At five on the dot, the Vectra pulled up at the kerb – and Mark was still nowhere to be seen. Furious with him for leaving her to deal with his shit, Amy sent the kids upstairs and told them not to come down until she called them. Then, raising her chin to let the men who were already knocking on her door know that she wasn’t going to tolerate a repeat of yesterday’s nonsense, she opened up.
‘Mark’s not here.’
‘No probs, we’ll wait.’ Yates stepped forward.
‘Not in here, you won’t.’ Amy stayed put despite her shaky legs. ‘And before you think about trying to force your way in, you should know that some of the neighbours are watching. And, believe me, they’re nosy enough round here to call the police if they think something funny’s going on.’
Yates stepped back and peered at her with a glint of amusement in his piggy eyes. ‘Now, that’s not very nice, is it, darlin’? And there was me thinking you and me were friends.’
‘Never!’ spat Amy. ‘Thanks to you my children haven’t seen their dad all day, and they’re missing him, so I hope you’re proud of yourself.’
Yates smiled and started to walk away. But he stopped after a couple of steps and looked back at her. ‘By the way, I’ll be adding an extra hundred to the tab every day he don’t show up. And if he ain’t back in a week, the debt passes to you.’
‘Get lost!’ Amy slammed the door shut and leaned against it with the thud of her racing heart roaring in her ears. For an awful moment she’d thought he was going to call her bluff and push his way in. Thankfully, they had gone for now, but that wasn’t an end to it, and she dreaded to think what would happen if Mark wasn’t back by the time they called again.
Dragged back to the here and now by an enormous thud from up above, followed by the piercing sound of Bobby crying, Amy’s taut nerves jangled. ‘What the hell’s going on up there?’ she yelled.
‘Bobby fell off his bed,’ Cassie called back, adding guiltily, ‘I didn’t push him.’
‘Bobby, come down and let me look at you,’ Amy ordered. ‘And you’d better get that room tidy before I come up, madam!’
‘But I’m hungry,’ said Cassie. ‘Can’t I do it after dinner?’
‘Do as you’re bloody well told!’ Amy bellowed.
When Cassie started bawling, Amy squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists. This wasn’t their fault, and she shouldn’t be taking it out on them. Blinking back her tears, she ran up the stairs.
Cassie gave a squeak of fear when Amy walked into the room, and ran to the other side of her bed. ‘I’m sorry, Mummy, I’ll clean up.’
‘Come here.’ Amy sank down on the bed and held out her hand. ‘I’m not going to hurt you.’
Still sniffling, Cassie came tentatively towards her. Amy picked her up and sat her on her knee, then reached out and pulled Bobby into the embrace.
‘I’m sorry.’ She kissed each of them on their wet little cheeks. ‘I shouldn’t be shouting at you, and I won’t do it again. You know I love you more than anything else in the whole world, don’t you?’
Cassie nodded, then, perceptively, asked, ‘Is you angry with Daddy?’
‘A bit,’ Amy admitted. ‘But it’s nothing for you to worry about.’
‘Did the nasty mens frighten him away?’ Cassie probed, her eyes filled with such concern it almost broke Amy’s heart. ‘Is that why he doesn’t want to live with us no more?’
‘Don’t be silly,’ said Amy. ‘Of course Daddy wants to live with us. He’s just had to go and visit Nanny Jane for a bit, that’s all. He’ll be back any time now, you watch.’
Bobby had his head on her chest, and his eyes were starting to droop. ‘Want din-dins,’ he murmured.
‘Come on, let’s go down before you fall asleep,’ said Amy, holding onto him as she stood up.
‘Can me and Bobby sleep with you tonight?’ Cassie asked, clasping Amy’s hand tightly as they made their way out onto the landing. ‘I won’t let him wee ’isself.’
‘Course you can,’ Amy agreed, smiling even though her blood was boiling.
Bobby didn’t really know what was going on, but Cassie had to be seriously scared if she felt the need to sleep in Amy’s bed. Mark had a lot to answer for, and he was going to get it with both barrels when he decided to show his face.
‘We should have gone in,’ Keith said as Yates drove away from the house. ‘He was probably hiding.’
‘Nah, she was telling the truth,’ Yates said with conviction.
Keith wasn’t so sure, and if it had been his shout he’d have gone in and searched the gaff from top to bottom. But it was Len’s money, and if Len wanted to believe the tart that was his business.
‘Where we going?’ he asked when Yates turned onto the main road and stopped at a red light.
‘I’m dropping you off, then I’m going for a bath,’ Yates told him, gazing out thoughtfully through the windscreen.
‘What time are you picking me up for Degsy’s party?’
‘You’ll have to make your own way. I’ve got something to take care of.’
‘On your own?’
‘Yep.’ Yates grinned slyly. ‘This is definitely a one-man job.’
Over at Jenny’s house just then, Mark was lying in bed, half dozing, half watching a DVD. Jenny’s mum’s leftover painkillers were so strong that he’d gone out like a light last night, and he’d taken more when he woke this morning aching like a bastard, his body black and blue. Fully anaesthetised, he’d been drifting in and out of consciousness all day while Jenny ran round after him, fetching him food and drinks, plumping up his pillows, and generally treating him like a king. She had even bought him a carton of cigarettes and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, so he was feeling pretty damn good right now.
In his more lucid moments, he couldn’t help but compare Jenny to Amy. The way Amy had gone off on him, anyone would have thought it was her who’d been battered. She hadn’t shown the slightest concern for him, it had all been about her – her and her house, her and her kids. But Jenny had been the complete opposite. From the second she’d seen his face she hadn’t been able to do enough for him, and it was making him look at her in a whole new light. First time round, he would rather have died than admit that he’d shagged Ginger Jenny. Second time – a brunette by then and quite fit – Jenny had been little more than a purse with a pussy. But she was starting to grow on him, and he thought he would probably carry on seeing her after he went home.
The thought of going home made him sigh. He knew he’d have to do it sooner or later, but he felt so tired and weak right now that he wasn’t sure he could get out of bed, never mind walk all that way.
Maybe he’d ask Jenny to lend him the money for a cab.
Later.
In a day or two.
Jenny walked into the bedroom, carrying a tray. She smiled when she saw that he was awake, and laid the tray gently down on his legs. Mark’s mouth watered when he looked down at the thick juicy slab of steak, the chunky chips, and the chopped tomato and coleslaw.
‘Wow, this looks great.’
Thrilled that he appreciated her efforts, Jenny said, ‘There’s apple pie and ice cream for afters. Would you like a drink?’
‘Coke, please.’ Mark picked up his fork and stabbed it into a chip. But as Jenny turned to go, he reached out and grabbed her hand. ‘Thanks.’ He gazed up at her. ‘I know I don’t deserve it after the way I’ve treated you, but you’ve been brilliant.’
‘It’s my pleasure,’ Jenny said shyly. Then, blushing, she blurted out, ‘I love you,’ before hurrying from the room.
11
Yates turned onto Amy’s road at just gone midnight and parked up in the inlet halfway down the block. It was pitch dark by then, and cold enough for the residents of the surrounding houses to have closed their curtains and locked themselves in for the night. He peered around to make sure that no one was about, then pulled up his hood and slipped o
n a pair of gloves before climbing out.
A clutch of scruffy bushes sat at the rear of the inlet, behind which a broken fence separated the road from the overgrown field which sprawled out behind the houses. Yates pushed his way through the foliage and slipped through the fence. Then, treading carefully to avoid the tangled heaps of bicycles, rubbish bags and discarded household goods that were strewn along the fence-line, he counted his way along, coming to a stop at the fifteenth house down.
A sliver of light was showing through a narrow gap in the curtains when he peeked over the fence. He’d done his homework and knew there were no kids living on either side, so when he saw the dark shape of a child’s trike in the middle of the garden and the swing in the corner, he was confident he’d got the right house.
Amy was sitting at the kitchen table, chain-smoking her way through the pack of cigarettes she had scrounged off a reluctant Marnie earlier that evening.
‘God, you must be stressed if you’re smoking again,’ Marnie had said disapprovingly. ‘That Mark wants a good slap. You just wait till he comes back – I’m gonna give him a right earful.’
Amy had so wanted to confide in her friend about what was really stressing her out, but she decided it would be safer to keep it to herself. Marnie was too gobby, and if she saw the men she was likely to run out and have a go at them. Amy didn’t want her to get dragged into this mess, so she’d kept her mouth shut and let Marnie believe that it was just Mark’s disappearance that was upsetting her.
In truth, she wasn’t just upset about that, she was furious. But Mark’s mates were claiming not to have seen him, so there was nothing she could do but wait for him to stop being a coward and face the music. The man had said that he would give Mark a week, and Amy hoped that meant that he and the other thug would stay away until then. But she’d locked all the windows and bolted both doors all the same.
She’d just stubbed out a cigarette and was about to light another when she heard a scraping noise at the back door. Praying that Mark had tried his key at the front and, unable to get in, was now trying the back, she leapt to her feet.
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