The Traitor

by Kimberley Chambers

  ‘Are you OK?’ Joey asked, as he handed her a cigarette.

  ‘Yeah, but I feel sad to be back here, if you know what I mean.’

  Joey nodded. ‘I know exactly what you mean. Every time I come and visit Nan and Grandad I can see Mum’s face. I picture her sitting in the armchair watching the telly, washing up in the kitchen. I sort of picture her everywhere.’

  Frankie hugged him. ‘Do you ever think of Dad?’

  ‘Sometimes, but I still hate him,’ Joey admitted.

  ‘I don’t. I know what he did was awful, but it was an accident, Joey. He really loved Mum; we both know he was besotted with her.’

  Joey shrugged. ‘But look what he did to Dominic? Dad was capable of anything, Frankie.’

  ‘What Dad did to Dom was terrible, but I know he never meant to hurt Mum,’ Frankie insisted.

  Joey quickly changed the subject. He hated talking about his mum’s murder. ‘Nan and Grandad haven’t left Georgie’s side since we’ve been here. You will bring her to see them on a regular basis from now on, won’t you?’

  Frankie smiled. ‘Of course I will.’

  ‘What about Jed, though?’ Joey asked cautiously.

  Frankie took a deep breath. ‘Talking of Jed, go indoors and get my phone for me, Joey. I have to call him, and don’t worry, I’ll never let him stop Nan and Grandad from seeing Georgie.’

  Joey nodded and went off to get Frankie’s phone. He had a feeling that Jed was capable of stopping Frankie doing lots of things, but he wasn’t about to cause an argument.

  As Joey walked into the living room, he smiled at the scene that greeted him. His nan, grandad and Dom were all sitting on the large sofa fawning over the baby. Georgie was still wide awake and was gurgling happily on Joycie’s lap.

  ‘Is Frankie all right?’ Stanley asked, concerned.

  ‘She’s fine. She just wanted some fresh air. She hasn’t been back here for a while, so I think she found it a little bit strange.’

  Joyce nodded understandingly. Tickling Georgie’s chin, she tore her eyes away from the child. ‘Would you like me to have a little chat with her about the court case?’

  Joey smiled. ‘That would be great, Nan.’

  Jed O’Hara was nigh on pulling his hair out. He had been back in Rainham for almost an hour and had searched high and low for his badly behaved girlfriend. As Jed walked out of the Phoenix pub, he kicked the side of a Ford Transit in frustration. He’d been in every bar and restaurant in Rainham and the bitch wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Jed got back into his motor. His phone was ringing; he’d left it on the seat.

  ‘Hello, Jed, it’s me.’

  Having struggled with his temper from infanthood, Jed took a deep breath. If Frankie knew his mood, she might not come home, and he couldn’t risk that.

  ‘Jed, are you there?’

  ‘Where are you, Frankie?’ he asked, as calmly as he could.

  Frankie began to gabble nervously. ‘I’m at my nan and grandad’s. They love the baby, Jed. They think she’s absolutely adorable,’ she said.

  Frankie had fully expected Jed to be angry because of the argument she’d had with his mum but, surprisingly, he sounded rather calm.

  ‘I’m back in Rainham. Can I come and pick you up?’ Jed mumbled.

  Frankie was shocked. He was meant to be working away. ‘Why are you back in Rainham, Jed?’

  Jed bit into his lip as he spoke. He needed to feel some pain to keep himself composed. ‘My dad forgot all the important paperwork we needed to sell the lorries and stuff, so I offered to drive back and get it for him,’ he lied. ‘I ain’t gotta go back just yet, Frankie, so I wanna see you and Georgie for a bit while I’m home.’

  Frankie sighed. She was enjoying her grandparents’ company and wasn’t ready to leave just yet. Deciding to compromise, she came up with an idea. ‘Why don’t you pick me up now, Jed? Don’t knock, I’ll meet you down the bottom of the drive and when you have to leave you can drop me back here again.’

  ‘I’ll be ten minutes, and bring Georgie with you,’ Jed retorted, in a false, jolly tone.

  Frankie dashed into the living room and urged Joey to follow her into the kitchen. ‘I’ve just spoken to Jed. He’s had to pop home and he wants to see me and Georgie for a bit before he goes back to Norfolk. I couldn’t say no, so will you and Dom stay here and wait for me to come back?’

  Joey felt uneasy. ‘Will you be OK, Frankie? Wasn’t he angry about the row with his mother?’

  Seeing the look of fright on her brother’s face, Frankie smiled. ‘Jed was fine, honest. And don’t worry, he’s not gonna knock on the door, I’m meeting him at the end of the drive.’

  ‘Are you sure he ain’t come back because you sodded off out, Frankie? How do you know he hasn’t got it in for you?’ Joey asked suspiciously.

  Frankie hugged her brother. ‘You worry too much, you always have. I know Jed better than anyone. He’s fine with me; he loves me.’

  Jed O’Hara tapped his fingers impatiently against the steering wheel of his father’s Mercedes. Frankie was already five minutes late and he was getting wilder by the minute. As he saw her finally walking towards him, carrying the baby in the cot, he stared at her. He could see the make-up she was wearing a mile off; she looked like an old slag.

  Frankie waved and he forced a wave back. He had to act normal just for five minutes longer. He jumped out of the car, kissed her on the cheek and took the cot from her. ‘Get in the car. I’ll strap Georgie in the back,’ he ordered.

  Frankie did as she was told. She wondered why Jed was strapping Georgie in if they were only going down the road.

  ‘Are we not going back to the trailer?’ Frankie asked.

  Jed started the engine and shook his head. As Frankie glanced at him, expecting him to say where they were going, she felt the first stirrings of fear. His face was flushed and looked angry and his cheeks seemed to be twitching.

  ‘Are you OK, Jed? I’m sorry that I had an argument with your mum. Is that why we’re not going home?’

  Jed ignored her and drove off like a loony. As he overtook three cars and took a bend at top speed, Frankie started to scream.

  ‘Stop it, Jed! Slow down, you’ll kill us all,’ she cried.

  Jed ignored her. He’d been driving since he was a kid and he was used to driving fast.

  Frankie started to sob. She hadn’t brought her phone with her and she so wished she had listened to Joey. ‘Take your phone with you,’ her brother had urged as she’d left.

  ‘No, I won’t be long,’ she’d insisted.

  As Georgie started to scream, Frankie began to scream as well. ‘Please Jed, think of Georgie,’ she pleaded in an hysterical tone.

  Jed knew the local area like the back of his hand and, without warning, he skidded onto a dirt track.

  ‘Please don’t hurt me, Jed. I love you. I’m sorry for going out and I’m even more sorry for arguing with your mum.’

  Jed got out of the car and ordered Frankie to do the same. Frankie did so, but through fear, immediately fell to her knees. Jed dragged her up by her long dark hair. ‘Get up, you cunt.’

  ‘Stop it, Jed, you’re hurting me.’

  ‘See you, look at ya, all done up like a fucking whore. Been out shagging other men, have ya?’

  ‘No, I only went for lunch in the Albion with Joey and that’s where we bumped into my nan and grandad,’ Frankie wept.

  Jed twisted her hair around his right hand and tugged it as hard as he could. ‘Bumped into ’em, my arse. I bet you fucking planned it. Don’t lie to me Frankie, I mean it.’

  ‘I’m not lying,’ Frankie protested.

  Without warning, Jed let go of her hair and grabbed her round the back of the neck. He then smashed her face as hard as he could against the back window of the motor.

  ‘See that chavvie? Look at her, you slag. She’s mine, she is, and don’t you ever forget that. You ask me first before you take her anywhere in future, do you hear what I’m saying?’

&n
bsp; Frankie nodded. She was stunned and also petrified. As Jed held her head against the car window, Frankie could see splashes of her own blood on the glass.

  Jed finally let go of her and stood over her as she slumped to the floor. ‘And don’t even think of leaving me. You’ll never get custody, Frankie. Your mother’s dead, your father’s a murderer, your brother’s a poof, there’s no court in the land that would let you look after a child with your family history.’

  Frankie sat on the floor and put her battered face in her hands. Jed was right; she was trapped and it was all her own stupid fault. Her dad and Joey had been right all along.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  ‘I’m just popping out the back to feed the pigeons, love.’

  Joyce nodded at her husband and looked out of the window once more. She was getting impatient now. Frankie still hadn’t come back and she was desperate to spend some more time with baby Georgie. ‘She ain’t half been a long while, Joey. Are you sure she’s coming back?’

  Joey felt uneasy as he glanced at Dominic. He’d had a bad feeling earlier about Frankie meeting Jed. Jed had seemed too nice, considering Frankie had disobeyed his orders and argued with his mum, and Joey didn’t trust him one iota. Being twins, Joey had always believed that he and Frankie were sort of telepathic. Today he felt edgy, and he was sure his sister was in danger.

  Not wanting to worry his nan, Joey urged his boyfriend to follow him into the kitchen. Glad to have a couple of minutes together, Dom gave Joey a big hug.

  ‘What’s up? I know something’s on your mind.’

  Dominic was tall and strong and Joey always felt safe in his arms. ‘I’m worried about Frankie. Something’s wrong, I know it is.’

  Back at the trailer, Jed O’Hara was full of remorse. He had meant to teach Frankie a lesson, but he hadn’t intended to hurt her as much as he had.

  ‘I’m so sorry, babe. ’Ere, hold this against your face,’ he said, handing her a bag of frozen peas.

  Frankie winced as she held the plastic bag against her sore skin. When her nose had bled profusely, she had originally thought it was broken, but having since looked in the mirror, she was now positive that it was just badly bruised.

  When Jed had smashed her face into the car window, it was the right side of it that had taken the brunt. Her right eye and cheek were both swollen and Frankie was positive that she would end up with a big black eye.

  Jed sat down next to her. ‘Please forgive me, Frankie. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I don’t know what came over me.’

  Frankie had barely spoken to Jed since the attack. He had frightened the life out of her and she certainly wasn’t ready to forgive him.

  ‘Please talk to me, Frankie. We have to sort this out. I’m gonna ring me dad and tell him I ain’t going back to Norfolk. I’ll phone me Uncle Tommy – he can pick the old man’s motor up and drive it back down there.’

  ‘Just go, Jed. I need to be alone right now.’

  Jed had no intention of going anywhere. He knew he’d overstepped the mark and he was frightened Frankie might do a runner and take the baby with her. He squeezed her hand. ‘Please forgive me. I swear on our Georgie girl’s life, I’ll never hurt you again. When Mum rang me and told me you was all done up with make-up on, I got jealous. I thought you were cheating on me with some other bloke.’

  Frankie glared at him. ‘Don’t you dare swear on our baby’s life and don’t lie to me, Jed. You knew I was only going out with my brother and Dominic.’

  ‘I swear on my own life, then. Honest, Frankie, I thought you’d met someone else, that’s why I lost it. I’m so sorry.’

  As Jed leaned towards her and tried to kiss her, Frankie turned her head.

  ‘Do you still love me?’ Jed asked, cupping her bruised face gently in his hands.

  ‘I don’t know. I can’t believe what you did to me,’ Frankie replied honestly.

  Jed took both her hands in his own and looked pleadingly into her eyes. ‘Let me make it up to you. Give me one more chance – I won’t let you down, I promise. I’ll buy you whatever you want, I’ll do whatever you ask, but don’t leave me, Frankie, please don’t leave me.’

  Frankie thought carefully before she answered. ‘I’ll give you another chance on one condition.’

  ‘What? I’ll do anything you want,’ Jed said sincerely.

  ‘I don’t want to live here any more, Jed. I feel like I’m living with your mum as well as you and it’s suffocating me. Can’t you find us a place where we can live on our own?’

  Jed sighed. His mum wasn’t going to be happy with him moving, but he had to keep Frankie sweet. They might not have been getting on well lately, but Jed would hate her to meet another bloke, especially now they had Georgie. ‘OK. I can’t afford to buy our own plot of land yet, though, but I can find us a place on a site somewhere and we can move our trailer there.’

  Frankie smiled. Alice was a troublemaker and once they moved away from her, Frankie was sure that she and Jed would get along much better. ‘Another thing: I want to be able to spend time with my brother, Dom, and my nan and grandad. I want them to be a part of Georgie’s life.’

  Jed wasn’t amused, but had no option other than to agree. ‘We’ll have to still come here and visit my mum and dad, though, Frankie, and they’ll wanna visit us. I know you and my mum clash a bit, but she loves Georgie girl, and she’s gonna be heartbroken when I tell her we’re moving.’

  ‘I don’t mind visiting your mum and dad or them visiting us, I just don’t want to live with them, Jed. I want us to be a family, just me, you and Georgie, and when you’re at work, I want to look after Georgie on my own.’

  Relieved that she wasn’t taking his daughter away from him, Jed hugged her. ‘Now what do you want me to buy ya? I’ll buy ya whatever you want to say sorry for what I did today.’

  Frankie didn’t want presents, all she wanted was to be loved, but suddenly she thought of something that she desperately wanted. ‘Driving lessons! I want to have proper lessons with a driving school. Then once I pass my test and you’re at work, I can take Georgie out shopping and take her to visit my nan and grandad.’

  Jed hated the thought of Frankie being independent. He could imagine other men looking at her at the traffic lights or trying to chat her up as she stopped for petrol and the thought made him feel sick. If she ever left him and another man tried to take over his role as a father, he’d kill the fucking geezer.

  ‘OK. I said I’d buy you anything to make up for what I did and I meant it. I’ll find us a place to live first, and then I’ll book your driving lessons.’

  Frankie threw her arms around his neck. Even though Jed had been violent towards her today, moving away and having driving lessons made her feel happier than she had in ages.

  Jed stood up. ‘I’d better ring my Uncle Tommy and get him to pick me dad’s Merc up.’

  ‘Can I borrow your phone after, Jed? I left mine at my nan’s and they’re gonna be worried sick. I told them I was going back.’

  ‘What you gonna say to ’em?’

  ‘Don’t worry, I ain’t gonna tell them what happened. I’ll tell ’em that I’ll pick my phone up tomorrow. I’ve got to have it because that policewoman needs to contact me about the court case. I’ll just say that you didn’t have to go back to Norfolk after all and you wanted to take me out tonight.’

  Jed looked concerned. He’d forgotten about the poxy court case and Frankie’s eye was looking worse by the second. ‘You’re gonna have to make up a story, Frankie. Say you tripped down the steps of the trailer and fell flat on your face or something. You won’t tell anyone what really happened, will ya? Don’t even tell my mum and dad.’

  Frankie had no intention of telling a soul. A, she was far too embarrassed and B, she would look a right mug for giving Jed another chance.

  ‘What I’ll say is we’re going to a party tonight and then tomorrow I’ll tell everyone that I got drunk and fell over.’

  Jed nodded. He’d tell his cousin Samm
y the truth, but he didn’t want anyone else to know. He rang his Uncle Tommy, spoke to him, ended the call, and handed the phone to Frankie.

  ‘I’m gonna pop over to the house, make sure Mum’s all right. I’ll only be five minutes and then I’ll shoot up the road, get us a takeaway and some booze. What do you want, babe Chinese, Indian or shall I get a Macky D’s?’

  Frankie wasn’t particularly hungry. Her face was hurting like hell and the pain was making her feel queasy. ‘I’ll just have a little bit of whatever you’re having, Jed. I don’t fancy McDonald’s, though. Can you get me a bottle of vodka and some cartons of orange juice?’

  Jed kissed her gently. ‘I love you. Won’t be long.’

  Frankie stared at Jed’s phone. She had to plan her story properly before she rang her old home number. Minutes later, she took a deep breath and picked up the phone. Her nan answered.

  ‘Hi, Nan, I’m so sorry I never came back. Jed had to pick up something in Southend and by the time we got back Georgie was grizzly, so I put her straight to bed. Jed’s mum’s gonna look after her tonight, so me and Jed can go to a party. What I’ll do, Nan, is pop round tomorrow and pick my phone and bag up. I’ll bring Georgie with me and you and Grandad can spend a bit of time with her.’

  Joyce had been annoyed earlier when Frankie hadn’t returned, but the thought of seeing baby Georgie the very next day made her happy again. ‘What time will you be here, Frankie? Do you want a bit of dinner?’

  ‘No, Nan. I’ll pop round about fourish, if that’s OK?’

  ‘That’s fine. Joey wants to talk to you now, Frankie.’

  Frankie’s heart went over as the phone was passed to her brother. Her nan she could fool, but Joey knew her too well. ‘Are you OK?’ Joey asked his voice full of concern.

  Frankie began to gabble as she repeated the same story she had told her nan. Joey listened intently. They were twins for Christ’s sake – did she think he was stupid? He ended the call, and not wanting to worry his grandparents, urged Dom to accompany him to the garden so he could have a smoke.