by Carl Hancock
Matt jumped to his feet, her back was to him and he placed his hands on her shoulders as she gently sobbed. It was a reaction he had not anticipated.
‘Anna, what’s wrong?’ He asked considerately and softly.
Holly bounded about her feet sensing her emotions; the dog rubbed itself against Anna’s legs offering comfort.
‘Not now Holly, go to bed,’ she scolded and pointed to the other room.
Holly the loyal spaniel obeyed and sadly trotted off scorned with no explanation why.
‘What’s wrong Anna?’He asked again.
‘You can’t marry her Matt, you just can’t,’ she replied tearfully.
‘I don’t understand Anna, she’s a beautiful woman and I love her.’ He held her shoulders tight and twisted her to face him.
‘She’s not right for you Matt. I’ve kept my silence so far, I just hoped it’ll fizzle out but you cannot marry her. Trust me.’ Her red eyes were balling, tears pouring down her rosy cheeks.
‘I do trust you Anna but you’re not making any sense. You don’t even know her, you’ve never met her.’ He reached over and took a tissue out of the box sat on the mantelpiece, he handed it to her and she thanked him dabbing her face.
Silence engulfed the room for several moments while they both took stock of the situation; Matt was puzzled at the upset she obviously felt, more so confused at her insistence.
‘I don’t need to meet her to know that a marriage between the two of you will have disastrous consequences in the long term,’ she said softly.
‘How can you say something like that? Make a judgment like that based on nothing? You just finished saying how I can make my own decisions and all that matters is me being happy. Well she makes me happy and accepts me for exactly who I am, she knows everything about me.’
Anna shook her head in despair. ‘It’s not based on nothing; it’s her family that’s the problem. Her father in fact and I doubt very much she knows the full facts when you even don’t.’ She bit her tongue in regret. ‘I’ve said too much, I’m sorry just forget my ranting.’ She turned away.
‘Wait, what are you talking about Anna? I know Leslie represented her father, but I don’t see how that affects anything. Tell me Anna, I need to know!’
‘I can’t Matt; I promised myself I would do everything that I could to protect you from the truth. I cannot be the one to send you down that path,’ she insisted with her back still facing him.
He made his way around her, stood directly in front of her and placed his hands on her shoulders again. Towering down upon her he steely stared into her eyes unblinking. ‘Tell me Anna? Tell me what you’re talking about.’
Their eyes locked and she knew he wouldn’t let it go no matter how much she pleaded. Her head dropped beaten, she nodded and brushed past him. ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’
When she returned as promised less than a minute later she was carrying a small expandable file. She placed it on the coffee table. ‘It’s all in there.’
Matt reached out to take it but he was interrupted.
‘Not yet!’ she said. ‘You have to promise me that you’ll think about it before you do anything hasty. What you’ll find in there could destroy your life as you know it.’
Intrigued and apprehensive he nodded his agreement.
‘I mean it Matt, remember that time when you were eighteen and I was mugged?’
He nodded.
‘Well it can’t be like that, I’d never forgive myself if something happens to you or Steve just because I gave you this information. I would rather continue living in ignorance, but I know you couldn’t do that.’
The incident she referred to had rushed back to his thoughts, the point she was attempting to make and the warning to heed was noted.
He had been the first home that day, he had found her shaken and bruised. Her handbag had been taken and it had contained the only photos that she had of the child they lost in childbirth five years before. Seeing her distraught had rocked him, sat crying in the kitchen angry and blaming herself she was inconsolable. It was minutes after the incident, if he had been sooner he would have been able to intervene and prevent it from happening. She had accepted him and opened her house to his brother and him even though he himself was no blood relation at all. He owed her. After struggling to get her to talk, to describe what had happened he remembered something he had seen. Making his excuses he left and raced off down the street to the nearby public house, the Prince of Wales. Anger fuelled he barged straight in without a second thought, scoured the room until he found what he was looking for.
A group of five young men sat jeering and reliving their crimes of the day, the table was loaded with goods and they were not even attempting to be discreet. He caught sight of the red trainers that Anna mentioned seeing as she was pushed to the ground, her bag sat next to the attacker. Enraged he flew at him despite being slightly smaller, the beer glasses tipped over the swag, and he swung wildly at the person who had hurt her. The ferociousness of his actions and the aggression he had shown scattered the thug’s companions. They left him alone, without assistance for Matt to claim his retribution which he did so in the manner of the streets in which he had grown up.
Handing the bag back to Anna had gone some way to paying back her kindness, although Leslie had not been so pleased to hear about his methods, despite Anna’s insistence that they were dealt with by their own code. Leslie had insisted that the violence that was once to be a part of his life, a means to an end on the poverty stricken streets, was to end.
Matt opened the file; it contained numerous legal documents. ‘What is it all?’
Anna stood with her arms crossed. ‘Leslie was representing a client before he died. He wanted to make a deal and started quoting crimes he played a hand in from many years ago. There’s a list in there somewhere.’
Matt rummaged through the many files. ‘And what happened about it?’ He wondered the relevance.
‘He hung himself whilst on remand before Leslie could finish building the case and agreeing the deal.’ Her voice was beginning to break again.
Continuing to thumb through the documents he could hear her voice quavering, he glanced up toward her.
‘What is it Anna?’
She wiped her tears and blew her nose. ‘It’s why Leslie was killed. Because of something he found out and was trying to put right.’
Matt’s face dropped with shock. ‘I thought it was a burglary? I thought he was shot defending the house?’
‘That’s what they determined at first, they still do but I know differently since I found that.’
Matt stood up to comfort her. ‘I’m sorry Anna, I really am. I’ll look into it and see if I can find out who did it.’ He had forgotten the reasons for the revelations; he had not made the connection she needed him to make.
‘I know who is responsible Matt!’
‘Who?’
‘Billy Drake,’ Anna confessed.
Matt recoiled with shock, another reason for getting rid of Billy dropped into his lap.
‘But why? What reason would he have had to do that?’ He released her from his embrace.
‘The list Matt, look at the list and you’ll see how much of an effect that man has already had in shaping your life.’
Matt continued down the list of crimes and victims named by Leslie’s client, many names of fellow associates in his field sprang out to him. One caught his eye in particular. He looked up to Anna who nodded her head.
‘That’s right Matt, you remember the name.’
His eyes fell back down onto the paperwork; Billy’s name was firmly linked with the death of Royston Humphries, the name of a man he once knew.
Chapter Fourteen
The unit at Westmarsh road was the only thing of any value that he had managed to retain from his youthful endeavours; it wasn’t worth a fortune but offered Billy some security at least. He waited inside for Charlie Thompson to arrive and claim his fee, money well spent if the information he divulged shed
some light on Matt’s movements and motives.
The clock ticked by as both he and Cyrus made small talk, Billy was impatient and agitated, having wasted so many years incarcerated it had left him unwilling to accept time slipping by without good reason. His calendar was full; he had seventeen years of ambition to act and build on. He sat counting the takings from the day before, the dirty bank notes that had been handed over by the kinky punters for the fair exchange of services and a brief sense of pleasure.
‘Check who it is first Cyrus, I can’t handle any unpleasant surprises today,’ he insisted as a knocking on the door caught his attention.
Cyrus approached the roller door with caution, running the palm of his hand across the dusty glass in order to gain a clearer view. He squinted his eyes tightly as he glanced right to left scouring the immediate area for a reason for the interruption. A head popped up in front of him taking him by surprise.
‘Fuck me!’ he exclaimed standing back. ‘It’s that copper that retired, the one that had you sent down. What the hell’s he doing here?’
Billy looked at his watch. ‘Bloody cunts early,’ he said. ‘Well don’t just stand there, let him in!’
Cyrus hurried to the door; left in the dark about the meeting he unlocked it and yanked it open as the figure brushed past him straight into the unit.
Charlie Thompson smiled and took off his hat. The money on the desk caught his eye, reminding him why he was so happy.
‘You said you’d be here at ten!’ Billy remarked as he flipped his wrist and noted the time. ‘Your twenty minutes late and I fuckin hate having my time wasted. What you’ve got better be worth the money.’
Charlie smiled again. ‘I think you’ll agree it’s well worth it Billy, when you find out what it is that is!’ He edged toward the desk. ‘After I get my money though!’
Billy separated the piles of banded notes; he pushed aside the agreed amount. ‘No fuckin trust in this world these days,’ he turned to Cyrus with a sneer across his face. ‘You can’t even trust retired coppers.’
Charlie took the cash and counted it. ‘I haven’t forgotten what you’re capable of Billy. I’d be very surprised if anyone trusts you.’ He put the cash in his inner pocket, exchanging it for the envelope. Reading through it earlier had provided him with some humour, he would have gladly handed it over for free because of the implications the contents would cause for Billy.
Billy took it from him; he reached inside the heavy package, a dossier on what the force had on Anna Ford. The A4 size papers, crisp and white aside from the fold in the middle of the unlined papers demanded his attention. He had eagerly awaited it for several days since implementing his search for answers, it had gone against his better judgment to reach out and cross paths with the copper again let alone place some illicit money into his hands.
‘I can’t read all this, I aint got time, just fuckin tell me what you know,’ he said throwing the articles down.
It was what Charlie had hoped to hear, he wanted to explain what he knew. He wanted the satisfaction of seeing Billy’s actions come home to make him squirm.
‘Ok Billy, I’ll do just that, but I don’t think you’re going to like what you hear. Stay seated because you might lose track along the way.’
‘Just get on with it, you’ve made me late enough already. My girls are spreading their legs without my protection at the moment, my presence needs to be felt, so hurry the fuck up.’
Charlie gestured toward a chair, his quiet actions asking permission to sit, Billy confirmed by nodding.
‘Well where do we start? At the beginning?’ he wondered aloud.
‘Yeah sure, why not?’ Billy said. ‘Just tell me why this upper class prick who’s never gone without in his life thinks he has what it takes to face me down. I grew up on the fuckin streets, I had to hustle and fight to get what I wanted and this cunt from a privileged background thinks he can come to me and tell me what to do? He aint got a fuckin clue what it’s like to grow up where I did, if he had then I might be a bit more concerned about his resolve. A lifetime of taking makes you weak, and I can see he’s fuckin weak.’
Charlie felt warm inside at the hole Billy was digging for himself, Cyrus silently rubbed the bonnet of the Rolls Royce unwilling to engage in the conversation. His occasional disdainful looks were enough to convince him of his similar opinions.
‘Ok Billy, as you wish. Anna Ford, the name you gave me checked out.’
‘Thought it would, who is she? The name sounded familiar, is she some old tart from the neighbourhood that I knocked about with?’
‘Unlikely Billy, I seem to recall your liking didn’t stretch that far, so to speak!’
Billy moved uneasy, he was restless in his seat. He knew the insinuation thrown at him and knew he had to accept it, for the moment at least.
‘Go on then, enlighten me!’ He reluctantly instructed.
‘Go back about seven years, think a bit. Who’d you have killed?’
Billy did just that before realizing. ‘2003? Fuck off I was locked up in solitary confinement, I couldn’t have killed anyone even if I’d wanted to. And believe me, there was plenty I would have liked to have.’
Charlie tutted. ‘Now now Billy, we both know it’s a damn sight easier and safer to arrange a hit from inside don’t we? Anna Ford, think about the name for a bit!’ He looked toward Cyrus who was showing more attention.
Billy slowly began to put two and two together, he hadn’t given the name too much thought when first presented with it, and the connection hadn’t been made clear in his mind. He looked toward Cyrus whose face confirmed it.
‘Yes, that’s right Billy. Your defence lawyer’s widow, I’m surprised it took you so long.’
‘I had fuck all to do with that, besides that don’t explain what the fuck Matt’s digging around for. He was just a damn junior there, it’s not like he knew the guy personally or anything. Fuckin cunts just trying to stir up trouble for me, well I’ll show him.’
‘I wouldn’t do that just yet Billy.’
‘Oh, and whys that? I aint afraid of that posh cunt.’
‘Because he isn’t a posh cunt at all, he grew up where you did. Exactly where you did until he was fifteen that is and your paths first crossed.’
Billy sat bolt upright. ‘I’ve never met him before I saw him at the law firm, what are you trying to say?’
‘I’m saying that when he was fifteen you played a part in shaping his later life, your actions although entirely unintentional dragged him out of the gutter life he was predetermined to live. I’m sure you remember that in 86 you were questioned by murder squad about a car bombing that resulted in two deaths?’ He watched as his questions prompted Billy to think further back into his past while still feigning ignorance and naivety when it was completely obvious he knew the truth.
‘I was questioned about a lot of things, some I done or played a part in and many others that I knew nothing about. My reputation alone as you well know made me first port of call for every criminal act carried out within a thirty mile radius but I have never known anyone by the name McQuaid, not until now!’
Charlie Thompson knew the man before him was an accomplished liar; the crimes he was undeniably responsible for yet managed to convince a jury otherwise had left a black mark against the force. Although after such long service he had become disillusioned, retirement had beckoned him and left him with no reason to be denied the truth. ‘Oh come on Billy cut the crap, I haven’t got all day whether you’re paying me or not! If you hadn’t guessed already, I don’t care about the right and wrongs anymore and I have no hidden agenda aside from cold hard cash.’
Billy shrugged his shoulders and looked toward Cyrus. ‘Do you remember anyone by that name?’
‘Alright then have it your way,’ Charlie said as Cyrus looked on with an equally blank face. ‘The man you had killed and whose partner also died was called Royston Humphries; according to the file you had a major beef with him.’ The words he spoke and the
name he dropped had hit a nerve as both men showed attempts to conceal their recognition as they shot looks toward each other.
‘I don’t understand the connection you’re trying to make,’ said Billy after a few seconds. ‘What’s any of that got to do with Matt McQuaid?’
‘ McQuaid was his mother’s name, his parents weren’t married,’ he replied. ‘Guess what his father’s name was?’
Billy’s face drained of colour as reality hit him; Cyrus caught on a few moments later and approached the desk. ‘But what’s that got to do with the lawyer and his wife?’ Cyrus asked as Billy nodded his head eager to know the connection too.
‘I’m glad you ask, the twisted woven web the pair of you have spun over the years appears to be centred around one act of violence that may have just come full circle to haunt you. One murder after another, either at your own hand or ordered by you,’ Charlie said. ‘Are directly aimed at those that Matt McQuaid cared about, I certainly wouldn’t want to be in your shoes when he finds out!’
‘Why the lawyer though?’ Billy impatiently barked.
‘The woman who also died in the bombing,’ he said looking for confirmation he was being listened to. ‘Was his stepmother whose maiden name was Ford. Her brother was later to become your lawyer unaware that you had instigated the death of his sister and the orphanage of his nephew. He took Matt in too, unwilling to split the boys up despite their age difference and became a surrogate father to them both until he was also killed allegedly at your hands.’
‘Matthew dear boy how lovely to see you, I only wish it were under different circumstances than this, I fear we have many delicate issues to discuss.’
The friendly greeting from O’Donnell was to be expected, it was his nature to smile face to face while you remained oblivious to whatever sinister thoughts were running through his mind forming a plan to recompense you for whatever slight offended him. If payback was heading your way then you surely wouldn’t know it although on this occasion all knew what the offence was and who was actually at fault but as the goods in transit were under his care the rules of etiquette pronounced it as his responsibility.
