Each holding one of Joanie’s arms, Ricky and Gary led their aunt from the restaurant. Once safely inside their motor, Joanie started to laugh. ‘Well, that was a fucking close shave, eh boys?’
Jed sat alongside his family in the first funeral car. Tina, Marky’s wife, had been beside herself leaving the house and had chosen to sit in the car behind with her own parents and Marky’s sons. Billy, Shannon and little Mush had opted to travel with them. The horrendous journey was made easier for Jed by Georgie’s fascination with Luke. Ever since he had told her that Lukey boy was her brother, she wouldn’t leave him alone. Even Harry seemed taken with him now, which was surprising, because Harry was rarely taken by anything or anyone.
‘Daddy, I’m hungry. Can me, Harry and Luke have McDonald’s?’ Georgie asked.
Jed ruffled her hair. He hoped that Georgie would be just as excited when he explained later that Sally was her new mummy. ‘Yes, darling, but first we’ve got to go to Uncle Marky’s funeral. I’ll get you a McDonald’s later.’
As Alice started sobbing again, Jimmy put his arm around her. ‘Something awful’s gonna happen, I know it is. I wanna go back home. I think we should all go home!’ Alice screamed.
Jed saw Sally’s look of horror. He put a comforting arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder. ‘It’s OK, Mum’s just upset. She thinks she’s psychic, but I’m sure she ain’t really,’ he whispered.
As Gary turned into her road, Joanie spotted old Bobby Smith walking along. ‘Toot your fucking horn and stop ’ere, quick,’ Joan ordered.
‘Bob, ’ere a minute,’ Gary shouted as he opened the driver’s side window. He and Ricky didn’t know Bobby Smith from Adam, but he wanted the man to take a good look at their faces.
Clocking Bob’s startled expression, Joanie opened the back door of the Range Rover. ‘Bob, it’s me, Joanie.’
Bob grinned and walked towards her. ‘Hello, Joanie. What you doing in a posh motor like this?’
‘I’m pissed, believe it or not. You know my Eddie, don’t ya?’
Bob nodded.
‘This is Gary and Ricky, his eldest sons. It’s my seventieth at the weekend and me family took me out to lunch today to celebrate. I was necking them old snowballs, Bob, like there was no tomorrow. I feel ill now, I do.’
Ricky nudged Gary and they both jumped out of the motor and shook Bob’s hand.
‘Pleased to meet you, mate. I’m Gary and this is my brother Ricky,’ Gary said loudly.
‘Hello Bob, Auntie Joanie often speaks highly of you,’ Ricky lied.
Pleased as punch by the compliment, Bob grinned from ear to ear. He’d always had a crush on Joan, but she’d never shown any interest in him until now. ‘Make sure you take care of her, boys. Do you want me to check on her later, make sure she’s OK?’
‘There’s no need, mate. We’re staying with her for a good couple of hours. We certainly won’t leave her until she’s sobered up.’
‘Pleasure to meet you, lads,’ Bob said, as Gary and Ricky got back inside the motor.
On the short distance to Joanie’s house, Ricky turned to his aunt. ‘Well, he got a fantastic look at us and we said our names a couple of times. He seemed a nice old boy an’ all.’
Joanie coughed. ‘Can’t stand him – fucking old lech, he is. Now, pull up ’ere and you can knock at Irene’s, Gary.’
Gary glanced at his watch. Time was getting on and he needed to be quick. The crash helmet and leathers were already upstairs at Joan’s. All he had to do was make sure he was seen by Irene, then it was time to get changed and make tracks.
Eddie sat in the restaurant laughing and joking with Raymond as though he didn’t have a care in the world. He did – his insides were doing somersaults – but he daren’t let anyone clock it, especially Gina, who was as bright as a button.
Gina was thoroughly enjoying herself. She was sat with Polly, Joey and Dominic and having a right old laugh. Out of all of Eddie’s family, Gina had taken a shine to Joey the most. He was an intelligent lad, with the most wonderful sense of humour, and Gina adored both him and Dominic.
Having had a go at Eddie earlier for getting her sister drunk, Vi was now pissed herself, and chewing Reg and Albert’s ears off. Vi had never known anyone gay in her life before. When she was young, gay meant happy, and she couldn’t understand or believe that Eddie had accepted Joey and Dominic’s relationship.
‘I mean it ain’t fucking right, is it? I think it’s bastard well disgusting, and if he was a son of mine, I’d have him shot, I swear I would.’
Aware that Vi’s voice was getting louder by the second, Reg stood up and urged her and Albert to do the same. If Eddie heard what Vi was saying, there’d be hell to pay. ‘Me, Albert and Vi are gonna make a move now. Thanks for inviting us, Ed, we’ve really enjoyed it.’
Eddie shook Reg and Albert’s hands, kissed Vi on the cheek, then nervously checked his watch. The service for Marky’s funeral was at three o’clock and Ed had given Gary strict instructions not to arrive at the cemetery until at least quarter-past. Gary knew where to hide – Ed had taken him over there a couple of days earlier and shown him the perfect spot. They’d gone armed with a couple of bouquets. Jessica was buried nearby and they’d lain them at her graveside.
Noticing that Eddie kept checking his watch, Gina smiled at him. ‘Are you waiting to make a move?’
Ed leaned towards her and kissed her. ‘Don’t be silly, I ain’t had me fucking dessert yet.’
Gary felt sick with nerves as he headed towards Upminster on the Yamaha. He was a dab hand with a gun and so was Ricky – their father had taught them how to use one at a very young age. While his dad was inside, Gary had been forced to shoot four men. He’d killed one and purposely just injured the other three. This, however, was different; he’d never had to kill a man at a graveside burial in front of so many people before.
Hitting a pothole along the A13, Gary felt bile rise in his throat. He quickly pulled over, took his helmet off and chucked his guts up. Wiping his mouth with his hand, Gary took deep breaths. Desperate to straighten himself out, he thought of Jessica, his beautiful stepmum. He then thought about his father’s prison sentence, Frankie being stuck in Holloway and poor little Georgie and Harry being motherless.
Feeling anger surge through his veins, Gary restarted the bike’s engine. Jed O’Hara had ripped his family to shreds, and it was high time for the evil, pikey cunt to pay the price.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Ricky Mitchell put on his brother’s bomber jacket and checked cap and studied himself in the mirror. He was slightly taller than Gary and not quite as broad-shouldered but, other than that they looked very similar. Both of them had short, dark hair and walked with a swagger, so, providing nobody stood a foot away from him, Ricky could easily pass as Gary.
Auntie Joan was in her rocking chair, knitting a baby coat for her friend Lil’s great grandson. She fleetingly thought of Gary and said a silent prayer that he would be OK. Joanie had helped Eddie out a few times over the years by providing alibis. She never asked any questions, as if she knew the implications beforehand, she’d probably worry herself to death. As Ricky walked into the room dressed in Gary’s outfit, Joan put her knitting down.
‘Well, do you think I’ll pass as him?’
Joanie smiled. ‘Course you will. Two peas in a pod, you are.’
Ricky pulled the net curtain to one side and looked out of the window. He needed to be seen by at least two people. ‘Who’s that over there washing their car, Auntie?’
‘That’s Norma’s son, Backward Brian. Washes that car every day he does. I wouldn’t mind, but the bastard thing don’t even work. It ain’t got an engine.’
‘Right, I’m gonna pop out now and make sure Backward Brian has a butcher’s. I’ll wave and shout out something to him. Be a good idea to ask him if he knows the time. Backward or not, he might remember that if the Old Bill come sniffing round asking questions.’
Joanie stood by the window and watched
Ricky saunter outside. Whatever Ed and the boys had planned today was obviously a biggie and, not for the first time, when she watched the news in the next couple of days, Joan would probably guess what it was.
Eddie Mitchell savoured the last of his apple pie and put down his spoon. He glanced at his watch. It was twenty-past three and Gary should be in position by now. For obvious reasons, Eddie had told Gary and Ricky not to contact him on his mobile. The Old Bill were too cute for their own good these days; they could trace all sorts. The suspense of the wait would probably kill him, but Ed had told the boys that he would ring Joanie’s at six o’clock and ask if she had sobered up. ‘Yes’ would mean that everything had gone to plan, and ‘no’ would mean that something had gone terribly wrong.
Joey waved his hand in front of his father’s face to catch his attention. ‘Can me and Dom jump in with you and Gina on the way home, Dad? We’ve had too much to drink to bother with trains.’
‘Course you can. Me and Gina came by cab today, and the same driver’s gonna pick us up again later.’
Joey was taken aback. His father detested using public transport of any kind, and that included taxis. He usually drove everywhere, whether he was drinking or not. ‘I’ve never known you use a cab in your life, Dad. Is there something wrong with your motor?’
Eddie shook his head. ‘Them Essex police are fucking murder for drink driving. Two pals of mine have just lost their licences out there. I wanted to have a good drink today and, seeing as I’m still on probation, decided to be sensible for once.’
Gina squeezed Eddie’s hand and winked at Joey and Dominic. ‘Wonders will never cease! Your father’s a changed man, Joey.’
‘I’m really proud of you, Dad,’ Joey said sincerely.
As Dom, Joey and Gina all praised him, Eddie glanced at his watch again. The only reason he’d chosen to come by taxi was so the driver could be a witness if need be. Eddie looked up and, aware of his family all grinning at him, grinned back. That old saying was right: ignorance was most certainly fucking bliss.
Alice O’Hara breathed a sigh of relief as she walked outside the church. The service had been sad, but beautiful and, considering she’d seen a lone magpie on her windowsill this morning, she was thankful it had gone without a hitch.
Jimmy led Alice back to the funeral car. They had chosen a church a mile away from the cemetery, so had to travel a short distance for the burial.
‘Are you OK, love?’ Jimmy asked.
Alice dabbed her eyes with his hankerchief. ‘I’m as OK as I can be. I’m pleased the service went well and the sun’s come out for him, Jimmy. It would have been awful burying him in the rain.’
Jimmy agreed. Considering it was nearly November, the weather had been extremely kind to them. ‘There ain’t arf some people ’ere, Alice. The Smiths have come all the way from Cardiff, and I saw Sonny Tyler and his family, they live on that site up in Glasgow.’
Pleased that her son had got such a wonderful turn-out, Alice gave a weak smile, then burst into tears again.
‘What’s a matter, Alice?’
‘I’m dreading seeing my Marky be put in that ground. Go and find Jed: I just wanna get the burial over with, then I’ll be OK. I’ve still got a bad feeling, you know, it won’t go away. Say they drop his coffin and he falls out of it or something? That magpie was pecking at the window, trying to get in the kitchen. You know my phobia of them poxy birds – one for sorrow, two for joy.’
Jimmy kissed Alice on the forehead. ‘You’ve gotta calm down, love, or you’ll make yourself ill. Nothing is gonna go wrong with Marky’s burial, I promise you that faithfully.’
Dressed in biker leathers, Gary Mitchell was crouching down by a big headstone at the back end of the cemetery. His father has chosen a spot where the graves were old, covered in moss and the names of the deceased unreadable.
‘No one’s visited these poor fuckers for years, so you ain’t gonna bump into no visitors. This will do just nicely and it’ll only take you two minutes to get from here over the wall,’ were Eddie’s exact words.
Gary stared through the scope of the rifle. His dad had brought the untraceable gun here late last night and had hidden it in some undergrowth. He’d also put some paint on either side of the wall, so Gary knew exactly where to climb over and also where to find the gun. Gary felt his heart-rate quicken as he spotted a hearse pulling into the main gates. This was them – he could see Jimmy O’Hara’s ugly mug in the car behind.
Aware that he was sweating profusely, Gary put down the rifle, took the binoculars out of his pocket and glanced around the rest of the cemetery to ensure he couldn’t be seen. He could see a couple of old dears standing by graves, but they were probably half-blind and also a good couple of hundred yards away from him.
Gary picked up the rifle again and turned his attention back to the O’Haras. He gasped as Jed got out of the car holding Georgie and Harry’s hands. He had prayed the kids wouldn’t be here, but he still had to go through with it whether they witnessed their father’s death or not.
Relieved as Georgie and Harry left Jed’s side and skipped along in front with another little boy, Gary focused solely on Jed. It was nearly time now. Ten more minutes and Jed would be out of his family’s life for ever.
Back at the restaurant, Eddie and Joey were discussing Frankie. ‘I’m sure she knows that Jed’s got the kids, Dad. She screamed at me last night and called me a liar, and Kerry said she did the same to her. She told me that someone had told her that the kids were with Jed. I didn’t admit it, in case she was trying to get me to own up, but she ain’t stupid, you know.’
Eddie put a comforting arm around his youngest son’s shoulders. ‘You’ve done great, boy, and stop worrying, ’cause Frankie will be out tomorrow, and she’ll have her kids back in no time.’
‘How can you be so sure? And even if she does get bail, it doesn’t alter the fact that she still tried to kill Jed. I mean, she’s bound to be sent back to prison again when her trial comes up, ain’t she?’
Eddie shook his head. ‘Once we get Frankie out, we’ll get her to open up, tell us what really happened. Jed must have done something pretty bad to make Frankie flip like that, and I’m determined to find out what it is. I’m paying for the same QC who represented me. You must remember him – posh, cocky, clever bastard called James Fitzgerald Smythe.’
Joey nodded. Dominic and Gina were both still deep in conversation and it was good to have five minutes alone with his dad to talk about Frankie. ‘Go on.’
‘Well, Larry took me to see Smythe earlier this week. He reckons, worst ways, we can go down the old self-defence route. Obviously, Frankie will have to tell the court that Jed used to beat her up on a regular basis, and Kerry will also have to stand up and testify the same. I know for a fact Smthye will get Frankie off. Charging me an absolute fortune he is, but from experience we know he’s worth every penny.’
Joey lifted up his glass. ‘To Frankie coming home.’
Eddie glanced at his watch. Jed should be taking his last breath any time now and that moment definitely needed celebrating. He clicked his fingers. ‘Waiter, bring us over a bottle of your finest champagne, mate.’
Gary put down his rifle and looked through the binoculars once more. The O’Haras seemed to be taking for ever to move; they weren’t even anywhere near the graveside yet. Glancing around the rest of the cemetery, Gary’s bowels loosened as he saw a man heading his way with flowers in his hand. As the man suddenly turned to his left, Gary breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn’t wait to get the job done and get out of this bastard place.
Hand in hand with Sally, Jed followed his parents and Marky’s wife and sons on the sombre walk towards his brother’s graveside. The burial had been slightly delayed due to the number of people who still hadn’t arrived back from the church. Travellers’ funerals were always big affairs, and Marky’s was no exception.
Billy and Shannon walked alongside Jed and Sally. Sammy had come alone, and had turned up lat
e.
‘There’s no fucking room anywhere. The car park’s chocka and so are all the roads outside. Half the mushes, including most of Dad’s family, ain’t even back from the service yet,’ Billy moaned.
Jed ignored his brother and turned to Sammy. ‘Where was you this morning? I thought you were coming to the house.’
Not wanting everybody knowing his business, Sammy pulled Jed to one side. ‘The gavvers turned up at Julie’s with some bitch jobsworth of a social worker. They threatened to arrest me unless I gave the boys back to Kerry. They took ’em there and then. I’m fucking gutted, Jed. How can they hand ’em over to that slut when they know she’s a violent psycho?’
About to offer Sammy some words of comfort, Jed was interrupted by his own kids tugging at his trouser leg. ‘Luke fell over and cut his knee, Daddy,’ Georgie said.
Jed bent down to examine Luke’s knee, and at that precise second, the distinct sound of gunshots filled the warm autumn air. Mayhem quickly ensued. Frightened for their lives, the pallbearers dropped Marky’s coffin and ran for cover. Women, children and men were screaming. Even the vicar dived behind a gravestone while chanting extracts from the Bible.
Sally was hysterical. Jed was covered in blood, lying on his back, cuddling Luke. ‘Call an ambulance. Jed’s been shot,’ she screamed.
When the shots had been fired, Jimmy had automatically thrown himself on top of Alice to protect her.
‘Why us? I knew it. I knew something bad would happen today. Where’s Jed and Billy? Where’s Georgie girl? Why didn’t you listen to me?’ Alice sobbed.
Jimmy stood up and ran to where a crowd had gathered. He spotted Billy and Sammy standing nearby. ‘Where’s Jed?’ he yelled. Billy pointed towards the crowd. Filled with dread, Jimmy pushed his way through. Jed was covered in claret, but was sitting up, cradling Lukey boy in his arms.
The Traitor Page 45
