The Victim

by Kimberley Chambers

  ‘Are we ready?’ Blyth asked Frankie.

  When Frankie nodded, Blyth picked up her pen and paper. Frankie had insisted on giving a written statement, rather than a recorded one.

  ‘It was my friend Kerry’s idea to plant a cassette recorder in Jed’s Shogun and press the “record” button just before him and his cousin Sammy went out. We knew that they were playing around with other girls and we also knew that they were earning a living by conning old people and we just wanted to get enough evidence on tape so that we could leave them. Jed had always threatened that he would never let me take the kids away from him and Sammy told Kerry the same, that’s why we needed something on them, so we could blackmail them and threaten to give the tape to the police. That way they would have had to let us leave,’ Frankie explained.

  ‘So where is the tape now?’ Blyth asked.

  ‘Sammy got hold of it. I was so stupid, I left it in my handbag. If only I’d have hidden it somewhere else, we would have ’em bang to rights.’

  Blyth was gutted. Without the tape, unless there was some evidence to link Jed to the scene of the crime, it was just Frankie’s word against his. ‘So was it on this tape that you found out about your grandfather?’

  Frankie nodded. ‘They were laughing about his death and joking about how they had tortured him. What will happen now? Will you arrest Jed and Sammy?’

  ‘Not yet. We need to reopen the case and find some evidence to link them to it first. What we musn’t do is let Jed and Sammy know that we’re on to them, so tell no one about this conversation, OK?’

  Frankie had already told Babs, but she didn’t tell Blyth this, as she knew her friend could be trusted. ‘I did send a threat to Jed via a travelling girl in here,’ Frankie admitted.

  ‘What exactly did you say?’

  ‘Just that I was going to tell you everything.’

  ‘Well, don’t send any more threats, for goodness’ sake. We don’t want to frighten them off,’ Blyth said.

  ‘What about my dad? Say Larry tells him that you’ve been to see me? What should I say?’

  Like most police officers in the East of England, Blyth was only too aware what would occur if Eddie Mitchell got wind of Jed being responsible for his father’s murder. There would be a massacre of some kind, that was for sure.

  ‘You must say nothing to anyone about what happened to your grandfather, Frankie. If your father finds out that I’ve been to see you, you tell him that you gave me some information about Jed robbing old people, OK?’

  Frankie nodded. ‘What about Kerry? Will you speak to her as well? I told her I was going to tell you about the tape.’

  ‘Yes, I will have to speak to Kerry to verify your story and obviously two witnesses who have heard what was on that tape are far better than one.’

  ‘Now, can you remember Jed and Sammy’s exact words when they were discussing your grandfather?’

  Frankie’s eyes filled up with tears. She would never forget that particular conversation until her dying day.

  Seeing that Frankie was upset, Blyth put her pen down. ‘Would you like to take a break and I’ll ask if we can get a cup of tea or coffee brought in for us? I’ve got some chocolate biscuits in my bag.’

  ‘Yes. Talking about what Jed did is making me wanna chuck up.’

  Joey got to north London early. He wasn’t due to visit Frankie until this afternoon and it had been his boyfriend’s idea to make a day of it.

  ‘Let’s get a train and have lunch at the Angel before you see Frankie, then afterwards we can go up Covent Garden,’ Dom suggested.

  As soon as Joey stepped off the train his phone burst into life. It was his dad.

  ‘Don’t forget to tell Frankie what I told you last night and I need you to find out what’s going on, Joey. If your sister’s gonna tell anyone, it’ll be you. Dig deep and make sure you find out why she spoke to the Old Bill. I’m relying on you to get the information, son.’

  Joey promised his father that he would call him as soon as he left the prison. He ended the call and his phone rang again almost immediately. ‘Oh, it’s you,’ Joey said when he heard his grandfather’s voice. Stanley was the last person he’d expected to hear from, seeing as they weren’t even talking at the moment.

  ‘I was wondering if we could meet, Joey. I really need to speak to you about your nan.’

  About to tell his grandad to get lost, Joey bit his tongue. He could tell by his grandad’s grovelling tone that the silly old fool had probably come to his senses and, as much as his nan pretended she didn’t miss his grandfather, Joey knew differently. He often caught her crying, and she’d never been quite the same woman since Stanley had left.

  ‘I can’t meet you today, I’m up town, but I can meet you for a drink tomorrow lunchtime, if that’s any good. You’ll have to come over my way, though.’

  ‘That’s fine. Where shall I meet you, Joey?’

  ‘Say one o’clock in the Bell at Rettendon. Dom will be with me, as we were going there for a Sunday roast anyway,’ Joey replied.

  ‘Who was that?’ Dom asked when his boyfriend ended the call.

  ‘My grandad. He’s meeting us down the Bell tomorrow. Sounds full of self-pity. I’d put money on it that he wants to move back in with my nan.’

  Dominic shook his head in disbelief. Stanley running off with some tart had been a bolt out of the blue for all of them. ‘Joycie won’t take him back, will she?’

  Joey chuckled. ‘Dunno, but if she does, the one thing you can guarantee is that Nan will lead him a dog’s life. If my grandad does move back to Rainham, I’m telling you now, the senile old philanderer will wish he’d never been born!’

  Unaware that their mother had just given an in-depth statement to the police that, if proved, could put their father away for many years, Georgie and Harry were playing happily in the garden. Harry, who was now described to fellow travellers as an up-and-coming Stirling Moss, was now allowed to drive his Christmas present without any supervision.

  ‘Get off!’ he screamed at Georgie as she stood on the back of the car. She liked him to drive with her holding on to the back, but Harry hated it because her weight stopped the car from going as fast.

  Georgie giggled at her brother’s annoyance. She loved feeling the wind in her hair as Harry drove along – it made her feel as free as a bird.

  Remembering the conversation he’d had with his father the previous evening, Harry put his foot on the brake. Jed had bought him a pair of boxing gloves recently and after last night’s sparring session, his dad had sat him on his knee.

  ‘When I was your age, your grandad Jimmy used to make me box in the ring against other boys. That’s why I’m big and strong and no one messes with me now. You wanna be like your dad, don’t you, Harry?’

  Not really understanding the conversation, Harry decided it was best to nod.

  ‘Well, you gotta promise me, then, that if anyone annoys you or won’t do what you tell ’em to do, then you clump them. You got that?’

  ‘What, punch them, Daddy?’ Harry asked innocently.

  ‘Yep, that’s right, son. Whether it be a boy, girl, man, woman, or even a fucking animal, if it gets in your way, you crack it one.’

  As Harry jumped out of the car, grabbed hold of her long dark hair and dragged her to the ground, Georgie stopped giggling. ‘Stop it,’ she screamed, as Harry started to punch her.

  When Georgie clutched her face and began to cry, Harry immediately realised the error of his father’s instructions. ‘I’m sorry, Georgie,’ he said as he kneeled down beside her and put his chubby arms around her. ‘I love you, I didn’t mean it. Daddy told me to do it.’

  Frankie hugged her twin brother and then sat down opposite him with a false smile on her face. Reliving the memories of what Jed had done to her grandad had made her feel physically sick, but she knew she had to put on a brave face. Joey knew her better than anyone and she didn’t want him clocking that anything was amiss.

  ‘So, where’s Dom?
I thought he was coming with you,’ she enquired brightly.

  ‘He’s waiting for me in the pub. I thought it was best I came alone, so we can talk, Frankie. There’s stuff we need to discuss.’

  ‘Talk about what?’ Frankie asked, as innocently as she could.

  Joey leaned across the table. ‘Like why you wanted to speak to that DI Blyth woman. What’s going on, sis?’

  ‘Nothing! I just wanted to tell her some stuff about Jed, that’s all.’

  ‘Like what?’ Joey asked suspiciously.

  ‘Like that he used to fucking rob old people. You don’t know the ’arf of it, Joey. Him and that Sammy used to get them to make wills out in their names and all sorts. They were pure evil, the pair of them.’

  ‘Really! How did they do that, then?’

  Frankie explained how Jed and Sammy earned a crust by conning pensioners who were living alone and was relieved when Joey seemed to relax.

  ‘So that’s the only reason why you wanted to speak to the Old Bill then, is it?’ Joey asked her.

  Frankie nodded. She really didn’t need the Spanish Inquisition from Joey, not after the morning she’d had already. ‘Who told you about the Old Bill coming to see me? I take it it was Dad, and Larry had told him?’

  ‘Dad’s just worried about you, that’s all. I wish you’d make up with him, Frankie.’

  Frankie chuckled sarcastically. ‘So how is our wonderful father and the old tart doing? Painted the nursery yet, have they?’

  Joey sighed inwardly. He had been closer to their mum than anybody, and if he could accept their dad building a new life for himself, then so should his sister. Remembering his father’s orders, Joey took a deep breath.

  ‘It’ll be better coming from you and she’s bound to hear it via the grapevine, so make sure you tell her tomorrow,’ his dad had insisted.

  ‘Look, Dad asked me to tell you something and I know you ain’t gonna like it.’

  Guessing what it was, Frankie stood up and angrily pushed her chair to one side. Joey was so far shoved up her father’s arse these days that she doubted anyone would be able to fit a Rizla between the old man’s cheeks.

  ‘Frankie, where are you going?’ Joey shouted, as she stomped off.

  Ignoring her lap dog of a brother, Frankie approached the nearest screw. ‘I feel really sick. Can you take me back to my cell now, please?’

  Terry Baldwin couldn’t believe how inconsiderate some people could be. Once, he’d met Anne’s mother, bloody once, and she could have chosen any date on the calendar to pop her clogs, except now. Anne’s mum had moved to Australia many moons ago to be near her beloved son and grandchildren. Anne had never been particularly close to her and, as far as Terry knew, they hadn’t even spoken on the phone for months, which is why Terry couldn’t understand his wife’s overboard hysterics over her mother’s sudden death.

  ‘We need to book a flight today, Tel,’ Anne stammered, between sobs.

  ‘But it’s the other side of the world, love. I’ve only met your mother once and you were hardly close to her, were you? You even told me you hated her guts once upon a time.’

  ‘How could you say such a thing? I never said I hated her guts, all I said was that we clashed a bit. I loved my mum dearly,’ Anne insisted.

  ‘How about we go to a travel agent and I book you a flight. Your brother’s out there with his kiddies and it’ll be nice for you to spend some time alone with your family, won’t it?’ Terry suggested.

  ‘You can be such an unfeeling bastard at times, Tel. I spent months caring for and putting up with your daughter and her problems, yet you can’t come to my mother’s funeral with me. I’m telling you something now, if you don’t come to Australia with me, you and I are finished.’

  ‘Whaddya mean, finished?’

  ‘I mean I want a fucking divorce!’ Anne screamed.

  Terry had a difficult decision to make. He’d wanted to finish off Jed O’Hara as soon as possible, but if he refused to go to Australia, his marriage could be dead in the water. Cursing his luck, and Anne’s mother’s timing, Terry held his pretty wife in his arms. He couldn’t lose her; she was all he had left in the world.

  ‘Let’s go and book our flights then,’ he said softly.

  ‘You definitely coming with me?’ Anne asked, relieved.

  Terry nodded. His plans to rid the earth of a vile piece of shit would just have to wait a little bit longer.

  Over in Rettendon, Eddie Mitchell was busy making plans of his own.

  ‘I want you to spy on the house for me, Stu. I’ve bought you a little black Fiat to use. Just clock their movements, see what time they go out, come home, go to bed, all that type of stuff. I think we’re gonna have to strike on a week night. We can’t risk Jed being out partying somewhere. If you sit outside the house on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we’ll get an idea of their movements and pick one of those three evenings. It’s gonna be boring for you, mate, but I can’t risk Gary and Ricky doing it, cause if the O’Haras spot them, we’re fucked. You are the only one out of us all that ain’t gonna be recognised.’

  ‘So, what have I gotta do? Just sit outside their house in the motor?’

  Eddie shook his head. ‘That’s far too risky. It’s a proper remote road, so you’ll have to park at Joycie’s and spy on foot. There’s plenty of trees and bushes on and near O’Hara’s land, so you’ll easily find somewhere to hide. O’Hara has security lights at the front and back of his gaff, though, so for fuck’s sake keep away from them.’

  Considering it was January and had been snowing on and off for the past week or so, Stuart didn’t relish his task but, desperate to please Eddie, kept his thoughts to himself. ‘When do ya want me to start?’ he asked brightly.

  ‘Next week. Hopefully, the snow’ll be gone by then and there’s no rush because we ain’t gonna strike until after you know what.’

  At the mention of, you know what, Stuart grinned. He was looking forward to the big day almost as much as his boss was.

  Bobby Berkley was already in the Optimist pub when Jimmy and Jed walked in.

  ‘Look at you, all spruced up. You got some old malt on the firm?’ Jimmy asked jokingly.

  ‘Nah, got a wedding reception to go to in Chelmsford. Old Sidney Hedge’s grandson Toby got wed today.’

  Jimmy grinned as Bobby handed him a padded brown envelope. It was the five grand deposit he’d put down to kill Paulie and Ronny Mitchell.

  ‘I’ve gotta go now, Jim, my Mary’s sitting outside in the motor waiting for me. Do you wanna check it’s all there?’

  ‘Nah, I trust ya, mush,’ Jimmy said, shaking Bobby’s hand.

  When Bobby left the pub, Jimmy put his hand inside the envelope. The money was in bundles of a thousand and Jimmy handed Jed two. ‘Treat yourself and them chavvies to something nice,’ he said generously.

  ‘You sure?’

  Jimmy O’Hara nodded. That mug Eddie Mitchell had given him thirty grand to sanction the murders of his own brothers. Jimmy’s contact hadn’t been able to get near the bastards, but some other fucker had, and Jimmy was now thirty grand better off, thanks to steady Eddie.

  ‘Thanks for that, Dad,’ Jed said gratefully, pocketing the wonga.

  Jimmy O’Hara burst out laughing. ‘Don’t thank me – thank that cunt, Mitchell.’

  The following day a sheepish-looking Stanley sat down awkwardly opposite Joey and Dominic.

  ‘Hello, little doggy,’ Stanley said in a silly voice as he patted Madonna on the head.

  Sensing Stanley’s embarrassment, Dominic diplomatically stood up. ‘I need to ring my mum and find out how my nan is, so I’ll take Madonna for a little walk,’ he said.

  ‘So, what’s the story then, Grandad? Sick of the old tart already, are you?’ Joey asked in a brutal tone.

  Stanley’s eyes immediately welled up. ‘I’ve made a terrible mistake, boy. I should never have left your nan. I miss her dreadfully.’

  ‘Bit late for regrets now, isn’t it? Joey replie
d bluntly. His grandad deserved to suffer for what he’d put his nan through and he was determined not to make this conversation easy for him, no matter how much he grovelled.

  ‘Do you honestly think it’s too late, Joey? Can’t you have a word with your nan? Tell her how sorry I am. I was so annoyed with her for seeing your dad behind my back that I just sort of flipped. I would have stayed with Jock, but I fell out with him over it an’ all, didn’t I?’

  ‘Don’t blame Nan for seeing Dad behind your back. Until you’ve got all that anger and hatred about Dad out of your system, you’re never gonna be close to any of us ever again, including me nan. My dad is a good bloke and everybody knows what happened to Mum was an accident, so why can’t you see it? As for me speaking to Nan on your behalf, I’m not doing anything for you until you tell me the truth. What’s happened? Something’s gone pear-shaped with that old slapper you’ve been living with and I want to know what it is.’

  Stanley stared at his grandson with displeasure. Joey used to be such a big softie, and it was as if Stanley didn’t recognise him any more. In fact, he sounded just like his bloody father.

  ‘Well, you gonna tell me what happened, or what?’ Joey demanded.

  Feeling his cheeks start to redden, Stanley explained the situation in the best way that he could. ‘I only wanted a friend, a shoulder to cry on, and I always got on with Pat because of the pigeons. But once I moved in with her, she made it clear she wanted more from me, if you know what I mean?’

  Enjoying his grandad’s discomfort, Joey shook his head. ‘No, I don’t know what you mean, actually. You need to explain it in more detail.’

  ‘Well, she kept touching me, you know, down there,’ Stanley choked, pointing towards his groin. He couldn’t tell Joey that Pat had put his John Thomas in her mouth. He’d take that awful secret to his grave with him.

  ‘So, you’re telling me that you want to move back home to Nan because the old slapper has been trying to touch your cock?’