“I don't know what to say Frank,” says Rachel, stunned.
“There's more. I'm signing over the clubs to you. Rachel, you'll get Martina's Bar and Jumping Jacks. Mikey you get The Green Room and Zigzags. You'll share Potter's Bar. They'll be put in your names and will be yours, lock stock and barrel to run as you see fit and the takings will be yours too. The family won’t take a cut.”
“But Frank, the clubs are big earners. You'll lose a lot of money,” says Mikey.
“You two have suffered a lot at the hands of my family. It's time to make amends. This is your compensation.”
“We don't want compensation Frank,” says Rachel and Mikey nods in agreement.
“No protests,” replies Frank. “I'm doing this for me as much as you.”
“But the clubs are in Danny's name. Will he agree to signing them over?” says Rachel. She knows they are his pride and joy and can't imagine him giving them up without a fight.
“He’s no choice. The paperwork's ready. It just needs your signatures.”
Rachel and Mikey look at each other, astonished.
“I don't know what to say,” says Rachel.
“Me neither,” sighs Mikey.
“I ask only one thing of you both. Keep the drug dealers out. The clubs must be squeaky clean. When Danny got hooked on the coke he let the dealers in. I want the bastards kept out. You do what’s necessary to make that happen.” He leans on the desk and regards them sternly. “I can't stress to you both how important it is the clubs are kept legit. Absolutely no illegal activity is to be allowed, that is my only stipulation. Do you understand?”
They both nod.
Frank leans back in his chair, relieved. He knows they will do as he asks. The businesses are in good hands. Mikey is a natural and he thinks Rachel will be too once she’s learnt the ropes, she’s a very bright girl. He just hopes they’re strong enough to keep out the dealers and their enemies.
Frank gets to his feet, indicating the meeting is at an end. He holds put his hand for Mikey to shake. “Thanks lad. Come round the office at the car lot tomorrow and we'll finalise the paperwork and give you the keys.”
Mikey's eyes light up. “Okay Frank. Thanks again.”
“You're welcome Mikey,” he smiles. He looks at Rachel. “If you could stay a bit longer?”
She nods and sits back down.
Rachel waits until Mikey has left before she asks the burning question. “How is Danny?”
He sighs wearily and lights another cigarette and she is shocked to see his hands tremble. He takes in a deep lungful of smoke as he ponders his answer.
“I'm not going to lie to you Rach, he's in a bad way.”
Rachel's eyes fill with tears.
Frank feels a rush of sympathy for her. “The drugs are out of his system now but I barely recognise him. He's changed inside. He's harder, colder and I know he's as mad as hell at me for locking him up.”
Rachel had hoped that once he got over his habit he would become the old Danny she’d fallen in love with. It looks as though there’s little chance of that happening now.
“Please Frank, I have to see him. I might be able to help.”
“You do realise that he’s a far cry from the man you remember?”
She nods, eyes wide with fear.
“Okay, maybe you're right. Why don't you come round the house tomorrow morning? He seems calmer in the mornings.”
“Okay,” she replies, wondering if she will regret this request. “Thank you for everything Frank.”
“My pleasure love, my pleasure,” he says softly.
After she’s gone the weight on his shoulders feels a little lighter knowing he’s done right by Mikey and Rachel. God knows it’s about time.
Rachel is as nervous as hell when she arrives at Frank's house. She hasn't seen Danny for three weeks, it’s the first time they've been apart for any length of time. She stands outside the house, staring up at Danny‘s window but because of the sunlight reflecting off the glass she can’t see in. Steeling herself she walks inside.
“Rachel love, how are you?” says Martina solemnly, taking her coat. She is upset to see how pale Rachel is. All this is really taking its toll on her.
“I'm okay.”
“Don't look so frightened,” soothes Martina. “He's a lot calmer today. Who knows, seeing you might help.”
“Or it might make him worse.”
“Would you like a brew or something stronger?”
“No, thanks. I'd just like to get up there.”
“Okay, whatever you want. Frank's up there. He'll wait outside while you go in, just in case…”
She lets the sentence trail off and they both look at the floor awkwardly.
“Right well, I'd better go up then,” says Rachel, her voice almost a whisper.
Martina watches her daughter-in-law slowly climb the stairs and prays that she can help her son.
Rachel finds Frank stood outside Danny's room and he puts her in mind of a prison guard. He kisses her on the cheek and she gives him a small smile.
“Don't worry, I'm here if you need me.”
She nods, his presence reassuring. He opens the door for her, she steps inside and is horrified by the state of the room. There are large dents in the walls where Danny has punched them, chunks of carpet ripped up and for some bizarre reason scuff marks on the ceiling. The room smells of stale sweat and vomit. Danny sits on the bed, his big shoulders hunched, looking dejected. His hair has been combed back from his face but he has a heavy stubble and his beautiful eyes have lost their lustre. A lump forms in her throat and she bites her lip in an effort to stop herself from crying.
“Hi Rach,” he says.
Frank glances at his watch and smiles. Rachel has been in Danny's room a good couple of hours and all seems well. Maybe she is managing to get through to him? From below he hears the front door open and close and heavy footsteps marching into the house. Terry and Alex's voices drift up the stairs as Martina greets them and Frank laughs to himself. They’re like an old married couple and always go everywhere together. Guaranteed if one is somewhere the other won't be far away.
His thoughts are interrupted by Rachel's screams. Frank throws the door to Danny's room open and Rachel runs out with tears streaming down her face, her hair tousled and shirt torn.
“Are you alright? What happened?”
But Rachel is already tearing down the stairs. Frank slams Danny's door shut and locks it. He thinks it best to give him some time to cool off.
“What happened?” exclaims Martina wrapping a sobbing Rachel in her arms.
“He...he attacked me.”
“What?" barks Terry. “What did you go in there for?”
“I only wanted to help,” snaps Rachel defensively. She looks at Frank. “And I thought I was. I really seemed to be getting through to him. We were talking about old times. Then I made a stupid mistake. I mentioned the baby.”
“Oh sweetheart you did your best,” soothes Martina.
“Do you want us to go up and sort him out?” says Alex.
“No, leave him be. He's not in his right mind,” says Frank.
Martina sits a trembling Rachel on the couch with a large brandy.
“Don't let it get you down love,” says Terry. “You did your best.”
Rachel just nods.
“I see you're still wearing your wedding band,” says Martina.
Rachel gazes it at it. “I didn't have the heart to take it off.”
“Have you filed for divorce yet?”
“No but I suppose there isn't any reason to delay any longer.”
“Consider the clubs as your settlement,” says Frank sadly. He’d had such high hopes for their marriage. “The house too.”
“The house?”
“I'm giving it to you. It's in my name so I don't need Danny's permission. You can sign for it tomorrow when you sign for the clubs.”
“I can't accept that. It's worth half a million. You could sell i
t.”
“You will accept it. Me and Martina have talked and we want you to have it. We know you love it.”
Rachel looks at Martina, who nods in agreement.
“I do but you've given me so much already.”
“Bloody hell girl does everything have to be a battle with you?” says Martina. “Just accept it.”
“Okay. Thank you,” she says, bewildered by it all.
Frank smiles at her fondly. “Even when the divorce has gone through I will still consider you to be my daughter and a part of this family.” He looks at Terry and Alex meaningfully. “So I hope you will consider keeping your married name? It will give you some protection. No one will mess with the clubs as long as the name Maguire is above the doors.”
She would change her name to Hitler if it made him happy after what he’s done for her. “Course I will.”
“You gave her the clubs?” says Terry, not looking too happy about it.
“Yes, her and Mikey.”
“But…”
Frank rounds on him, eyes blazing. “After what they've been put through by this family they fucking well deserve it. Okay?” He’s tired of Terry's constant resistance and is determined to stamp it out.
Terry for his part knows when to attack and retreat and the look on Frank's face indicates that now is a time to retreat.
“Fine,” he replies flatly.
Terry looks at Rachel with irritation in his eyes and she feels a flicker of unease. She knows he is not happy with this turn of events.
Half an hour after Rachel leaves, Ryan, Jez, Battler and Bruiser turn up at the house on Frank’s invitation and Martina leaves them to talk.
Frank throws a copy of the local newspaper on the table. Splashed on the front page is an in-depth article on the latest robbery, hinting that the Maguires are the prime suspects.
“The stately home robberies have been getting a lot of attention. We've done three in two months and the police have launched a full scale enquiry. We need to call a halt until the heat dies down.”
“Hey that’s fucking slander,” exclaims Alex as he scans the article. “We’ve never been questioned about it.”
“Doesn’t matter. The seed’s been planted in the minds of the public. They’ll all think it’s us now,” replies Frank.
“But they bring in millions,” protests Terry, anger in his eyes. Frank has made no mention of this until now and he wishes he’d approached him first. Terry thinks of the robberies as his babies. After all he’d nurtured the contacts, done all the planning. He doesn't feel Frank has any right to dictate on that score.
“If we carry on then we'll get caught. Benton's leading the enquiry himself and one of my men on the inside tells me we're the only suspects on his list. You too Ryan, he knows all about our alliance.
“But…,” begins Terry.
“That's my final word on the matter,” says Frank fiercely. “I appreciate the money you made for the family Terry but I'm not having any of you going down for it. End of.”
Terry goes silent but from the look on his face they all know he isn't about to let it drop.
Mikey is showing Rachel how to cash up in Martina's Bar. She’s just completed her first night and she’s done well. To say she's never been behind a bar before she's picked it up quickly and even found herself enjoying it. Her beauty has been a hit with the male customers, although they’re careful where to draw the line with their flirting, knowing she is Danny Maguire's wife. Mikey has shown her how to order stock, replenish the bar and work the till. She’s shattered but still on a high from a busy evening.
“So, did you enjoy it?” says Mikey.
“Yeah it was great fun.”
“You're a quick learner.”
“I've got a good teacher.”
The barmaid, a pretty brunette with large almond eyes and an ample cleavage, hands them both a drink, her attention lingering on Mikey, who gives her his best smile. Rachel stifles a yawn and rubs her eyes.
“Tired?” he says.
“Knackered.”
“Get yourself home. I'll finish up here.”
Rachel glances at the barmaid and smiles. “I bet you will. Thanks Mikey.” She picks up her coat and bag. “See you tomorrow.”
“See you,” he calls, his eyes fixed on the barmaid.
Rachel smiles to herself. Mikey is turning into a proper little ladies' man. His good looks and reputation ensure he has no shortage of girls.
After she’s gone Mikey starts chatting up the barmaid. Just as he’s getting into full flow his mobile rings and he tuts in annoyance.
“What?” he barks, annoyed at the interruption.
“Mikey it's Alex. Is Rachel still there?”
“No, she left about five minutes ago.”
As Alex continues to talk Mikey leaps to his feet, eyes wide, the barmaid completely forgotten. He hangs up, grabs his car keys and races out of the building.
Rachel lies on the couch watching TV and yawning. Although she’s dog tired she needs to unwind after her busy night before she can go to bed, her mind still wide awake. Consequently when she hears the thud at the front door she thinks she’s imagined it. When it comes again she sits bolt upright, listening intently. A third bang convinces her that it’s real and she dashes across the room to her handbag, pulls out her stun gun and peers down the long dark hallway to the front door. The thud comes again and her front door jumps and rattles violently.
Shaking with fear she yanks her mobile phone out of her handbag, punches in Frank’s number and frowns as the sound of a mobile phone ringing emanates from the vicinity of the front door. The door gives way completely and Frank stumbles into the hall, the ringing of his phone clearly audible now. Rachel hangs up and lowers her stun gun.
“What are you doing?” she demands.
She is even more surprised when he’s followed by Alex and Terry who immediately begin a search of her home.
“Earlier tonight Danny made out he was ill,” begins Frank gravely. “When one of my men went to investigate he overpowered him and escaped. Poor lad's in hospital. Danny broke his jaw.”
Rachel's blood runs cold. “Well that explains these then.”
“Explains what?”
She walks into the kitchen and a moment later returns with a large bunch of yellow lilies.
“I found them on the doorstep when I got back from the club.”
Mikey flies through the front door, red faced and panting. “Rach, are you alright?”
“Yes I’m fine.”
Alex and Terry return from their search. “He’s not here,” says Alex and Frank looks relieved.
“Alright my girl, pack some things. You’re coming to stay at ours for a couple of nights,” says Frank.
“That’s not necessary.”
“Yes it is. No arguments.”
Martina is waiting up for them when they return, pale and eyes red from crying. She wraps Rachel in her arms the minute she crosses the threshold.
“Was Danny there?”
“No,” says Frank as he pours two large brandies and hands them to the women.
“I can't believe this monster is my son,” she sighs, a single tear running down her cheek. She gazes up at her husband. “Is it us? Did we do something wrong?”
“No you didn't,” says Alex vehemently. “I turned out just fine.”
Rachel thinks someone who enjoys slicing off peoples’ faces isn't exactly a paragon of virtue but keeps her thoughts to herself.
“You told him over and over not to take drugs,” continues Alex, “but he did it anyway. It's his own fault, not yours and not Rachel's.”
Rachel smiles at him gratefully and Martina takes his hand and squeezes it tightly.
“We've got everyone out looking for him,” says Terry. “Don't worry, we'll find him.”
Rachel isn't so sure.
“Until we do Rachel I want you to stay here with us. You don't go anywhere alone, do you understand? Not even to the shops. Mikey you stay
by her side every minute of every day,” says Frank.
Mikey nods.
Rachel stares at him wide-eyed. “You really think I’m in that much danger?”
“It’s just a precaution sweetheart,” assures Frank but Rachel doesn’t miss the look that passes between him and Martina.
“You won’t tell my parents about this will you? I don’t want them worrying any more than they have to,” she says.
“Course not,” replies Frank. “We'll tell them you're staying here while the house is damp proofed or something.” Frank looks immensely sad just for a moment then he shakes himself out of it and claps his hands together loudly. “Right. We'll get Battler and Bruiser to pay a visit to all his friends and associates.”
Rachel leaves them to their plotting and wearily tramps up the stairs. She wants to take a peek in Danny's room. Although it has been stripped and scrubbed clean it still stinks of sickness and the only thing left inside is the empty metal bed frame. She can almost feel the imprint of Danny's anger in the room. She is overcome with sadness for the man she had loved, still does love, and lets her tears fall freely as memories of their time together assail her; happy memories of the moment they met, his proposal, the wedding. She can't believe its gone so bad so quickly. The times she’d spent lying in his arms talking and making love, she had thought it would last forever but they’ve been married barely a year.
The door creaks open and Martina walks in. She perches on the bed beside Rachel.
“I won’t insult you by asking if you're alright,” says Martina.
“You must have gone through hell,” Rachel replies, indicating the room.
“Hell’s too mild a word.”
“Where do you think he’s gone?”
“I’ve really no idea. Probably as far from us as he can.”
“Do you think they’ll find him?”
“No I don't but one day he will come back and when that time comes we had all better be ready.”
CHAPTER 24
Just as Martina predicts, there is no sign of Danny. No one has seen or heard anything from him but according to Frank's contacts he hasn't left the country. It is a week before Rachel returns to her own home. In the interim she’s had a state of the art security system installed with cameras all over the exterior of the house, a monitor in the living room so she can see who is trying to gain access, an alarm and panic button linked directly to the local police station. All the locks have been changed and the external doors reinforced. She has also hidden stun guns at strategic points all over the house. This makes her feel more secure but for a while after she moves back in she jumps at every sound, particularly when she is alone at night. But as the weeks pass she starts to relax. However she misses Danny so badly she hurts and cries herself to sleep most nights.
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