The Wronged

by Kimberley Chambers

  Mary laughed and cried at her daughter’s typical teenage antics and view on life, before gritting her teeth as she reached the month of June.

  June 18th – So excited! Mum finally talked Dad round and I’m allowed to go to the fair tomorrow. It’s going to be ace. Me and Rhonda are both glamming up. Bound to be lots of hot boys there. Watch this space …

  June 19th – Oh my God! I am in love! Met the man of my dreams at the fair. Had a crush on him when I was young and cannot believe he asked me to go to his club on Friday night. He has the most amazing teeth, eyes and hair I’ve ever seen. Sorry Marc ♥ but he’s even hotter than you! I seriously need to go shopping before Friday. Help me diary. What am I going to wear?

  Tears streaming down her face, Mary put the diary back in the box. Reading intimate details about her daughter’s relationship with Michael Butler was something she could never stomach. Nancy had left her side for ever and it was entirely that bastard’s fault.

  Vinny rallied his troops for a 4 p.m. meeting at the Whitechapel club. Usually he wouldn’t involve his doormen Pete and Paul in such situations, but this was one occasion he needed all the help he could get.

  Much as he was proud of his son for volunteering to take part in Ahmed’s demise, Vinny had no intention of allowing him to do so. It was too much of a risk, and Little Vinny wasn’t ready to face that kind of danger.

  ‘Where’s Michael?’ Jay Boy asked Vinny.

  ‘I told him to go home and get some kip. Poor bastard ain’t been sleeping properly.’

  ‘First Adam. Then Nancy. I truly feel for him, Vin,’ Jay Boy replied.

  Vinny opened a bottle of Scotch, poured everyone a drink, then explained briefly what had happened.

  Pete and Paul were shocked to the core. Ever since Ahmed had come on the scene, he and Vinny had been joined at the hip – or so it had seemed. ‘That’s un-fucking-believable! What a Judas!’ Pete exclaimed.

  ‘I really don’t get it. Why would Ahmed want you dead, Vin?’ Paul asked.

  For obvious reasons, Vinny had always kept the truth surrounding his cousin’s death close to his chest. However, he could hardly ask Pete and Paul for their help without coming clean. ‘Because it was me driving the car that killed Champ. It was an accident. I got blinded by oncoming headlights. I’d never have left Ahmed had I thought he was still alive. On my mother’s life, I checked his pulse and was positive he was dead.’

  ‘But that was years ago. Why wait until now for revenge?’ Pete asked.

  Without admitting to his own involvement in drug-dealing, Vinny explained about Ahmed’s plan to get him caught by the police with a boot full of cocaine. ‘I’d have got a ten stretch for that, without a doubt.’ Something else occurred to Vinny as he related the story: ‘Ahmed must’ve been well chuffed when Bobby Jackson croaked it. It was him who wound me up to attack the guy. Said he’d bumped into Bobby and he’d been laughing and joking about Molly dying.’ He shook his head, disgusted that he’d fallen for Ahmed’s mind games. ‘Jackson was an absolute cunt and he got what was coming to him, so I’ve no regrets on that score, but if it hadn’t been for Ahmed getting me so angry I couldn’t think straight I would’ve sorted Jackson out in my own time, covered my tracks.’

  ‘What’s the plan then?’ Jay Boy asked.

  Paul grew tense as he learned what his boss had in mind. He had four kids now and didn’t particularly fancy a shoot-out with the Turks. Killing one would’ve been bad enough, but Vinny wanted three dead.

  Jay Boy was more up for it. He’d hated Ahmed and Burak on sight and was furious they’d wronged Vinny. ‘When d’ya want the job done?’

  ‘Next weekend. I’ll put my thinking cap on over the next few days and come up with a proper plan. Somebody else is disposing of the bodies, so that’s one less job for us to worry about.’

  ‘Wouldn’t it be wiser for us to dispose of them ourselves?’ Pete suggested. He was a big believer that, if you wanted a job done properly, you were better off doing it yourself.

  ‘Nah. I’m paying the pros to get rid. We don’t want any unwanted bones or skulls dug up by Fido the fucking dog, do we now?’

  Jay Boy, Pete and Paul all chuckled. Only Vinny Butler could crack funnies at a time like this.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Ava Preston was eating her Rice Krispies when the phone rang. ‘Can I answer it, Mummy? Please?’ she begged.

  ‘Go on then, quickly,’ Joanna urged, hoping it was Vinny and he was unable to come for Ava today. Apart from her mother, nobody else would call this early.

  ‘Daddy, where are you?’ Ava squealed excitedly.

  ‘I’ll be with you soon, darlin’. I’m going to be a little bit late though.’

  ‘Awww, when will you be here?’ Ava asked, lip trembling with disappointment. Every second that she spent with her father was precious to her.

  Joanna snatched the phone out of her daughter’s hands. ‘What’s up? Can’t you make it?’

  ‘I would never let Ava down, Jo. I’m running a bit late, that’s all. Daniel and Lee have been in bits after witnessing Adam’s death, so I thought a day at the seaside would cheer ’em up – and me for that matter. The funeral’s tomorrow and it’s gonna be grim.’

  ‘I don’t want Ava anywhere near Daniel,’ Joanna hissed.

  Vinny sighed. ‘My mum and aunt are coming as well, Jo. There’s really no need for you to be so dramatic all the time.’

  ‘Your aunt hates you,’ Joanna reminded her ex.

  ‘Yes, I’m fully aware of that, thank you. Obviously she doesn’t hate me enough to knock back a day out in Southend though, else she wouldn’t be coming. Listen, I’ve bought meself a mobile phone so you can contact me and vice versa whenever I’ve got Ava. You can write the number down when I pick her up. I don’t want you to worry unnecessarily.’

  ‘Give me the number now,’ Joanna ordered. She felt much more at ease being able to contact Ava while she was with her father.

  Vinny gave his ex the number, then asked her to repeat it back to him. ‘Yep, that’s it. I’ll pick Ava up before eight, OK?’

  ‘Yes. And if you need to get hold of me at all, I’ll be here until about ten, then at my mum’s until six.’

  Vinny smirked. ‘OK. Perfect.’

  Jimmy ‘Gnasher’ Williams was just polishing off a healthy fry-up when the phone rang. He hated working on an empty stomach, always had done.

  When he’d last met up with Vinny they’d somehow got talking about the TV programme Only Fools and Horses. Both men were big fans, which was why they’d decided to use Del Boy and Rodney for their code.

  ‘Is Del Boy there?’ Vinny asked.

  ‘Nah. Sorry, mate. You must have the wrong number,’ Gnasher replied. Seconds later, he picked up his keys and left the house.

  ‘Michael!’ Antonio exclaimed, flinging himself at the man he’d become so very fond of.

  Michael picked the child up. ‘How’s my main man?’

  Bella smiled at the touching scene. ‘He’s going out and leaving us soon. Got a party to attend, haven’t you, Antonio?’

  When Antonio excitedly explained it was his friend’s birthday and a magician was going to show him how to do tricks, Michael kissed the child on his forehead. Antonio was a smashing boy, but today Michael couldn’t wait to be alone with Bella. Making love to her would allow him to forget his woes, for a short time at least.

  ‘Mummy, I don’t like this dress. Can I wear the green one?’ Ava asked, hands on hips.

  Joanna and Darren looked at one another and chuckled. They’d just been talking about Ava’s sudden interest in fashion. ‘Your green dress is dirty, darling. You wore it yesterday and spilled ice cream down it.’

  Indignant as ever, Ava then demanded to wear her pink dress.

  ‘You haven’t got time to get changed, love. Your dad will be here any minute,’ Joanna insisted.

  When Ava started to cry, Darren picked her up. ‘Show me what you want to wear and we’ll sort it, OK? That’s
if your mum agrees, of course.’

  Joanna nodded, then smiled as her daughter and fiancée left the room. Apart from Vinny being back on the scene, life was so good at the moment. Darren was such a diamond and he was brilliant with Ava. They’d even discussed having a child of their own once married. Their big day was bound to be tinged with sadness as well as happiness though. Molly and Nancy would’ve been the prettiest bridesmaids ever.

  She was just about to pick up the phone to see if Mary had heard any more from the police searching for Nancy when it rang.

  ‘Darren, we need to pick Shane up. His mum’s not well,’ Jo shouted up the stairs a moment later.

  Unaware of what their day had in store, Darren replied, ‘No worries. The more the merrier.’

  Johnny Preston was in a bar on the Costa Del Sol. He’d flown out yesterday evening, having decided he needed a break to clear his messed-up mind and decide his next move.

  Johnny had told nobody he was going abroad. He and Deborah were barely on speaking terms, and he’d informed his mother he was going to visit an old pal from prison. That part at least was true, as he and Balham Clive had met while incarcerated.

  Balham Clive looked at Johnny in horror as he explained the situation and his plans. ‘You can’t just blast Butler’s brains out in the middle of a busy street, John. You’re bound to get caught and you’ll get life this time. Isn’t there anyone who can give you a bit of back-up? You stand much more chance of getting away with it if you lure Butler somewhere quiet. He’s not at all popular with the Old Bill, so I doubt they’d fall over backwards to find his killer. He has so many enemies; they probably wouldn’t know where to start.’

  ‘I tested the water with a couple of pals, but as soon as I mentioned Vinny they didn’t want to know. People are shit-scared of the Butlers, Clive, but I fucking ain’t. Everything was sound until that bastard turned up on the scene. Now my marriage is in tatters and I can’t concentrate at work. I’ll probably get the tin-tack when I get home. Never said I was flying out here, just told ’em I was ill.’

  ‘I’ve said it before, mate, there’s a job out ’ere waiting for you. Got a nice little apartment you can rent for peanuts too. Don’t go back home. It’ll be a fresh start and it’s better than a life behind bars.’

  Johnny shook his head. ‘I really appreciate your offer, but I will do absolutely anything to protect Jo and Ava – even if I end up with a life sentence. I won’t rest until that cunt is dead. I’ve already bought a gun and I’m determined to pull that trigger – whatever the consequences.’

  Queenie was in the passenger seat, Viv in the back with the kids. ‘Forgot to tell you, Vin, that Colleen phoned me the other day. She’s planning a trip to London in August and is bringing Emily-Mae with her. We must organize a big family get-together. She’s thirteen now you know.’

  Vinny wasn’t impressed. Colleen was his brother Roy’s one-time fiancée; Emily-Mae was Roy’s only child. But in his eyes, Colleen had moved on far too quickly after separating from his brother. ‘I wouldn’t bother making a big issue out of the visit. We ain’t seen the kid for years and doubt we’ll ever see her again.’

  ‘But she’s Roy’s flesh and blood. If he’s looking down, he’d want us to make a big fuss of her,’ Queenie insisted.

  Vinny glanced at his watch. He had far more important things on his mind than Colleen and Emily-Mae. Joanna’s death for one.

  Jimmy ‘Gnasher’ Williams followed Joanna’s Ford Fiesta for a mile or so before overtaking. Apparently, Darren was currently on a driving ban, so she always drove.

  Putting his foot down on the accelerator, Gnasher headed towards his and their destination. He’d picked the perfect spot where there was a big drop into a ditch. The road was narrow, remote and attracted little traffic. He very much doubted either Jo or her boyfriend would survive. He didn’t just intend to tap the Ford Fiesta off the road; he planned to ram the bastard thing.

  Vivian grinned as the money tumbled out of the bottom of the machine. She did love an amusement arcade and a decent bit of seafood, which was why she’d agreed to suffer Vinny’s company today.

  ‘Daddy, can you win me that doggy?’ Ava asked, pointing to the prize she wanted.

  Vinny had already decided that, if today went to plan, he would buy his daughter a mutt. She was obsessed with the bloody things and surely owning one would help her get over the death of her mother? ‘Dan, you’re good on them grab machines. Can you try and get the fluffy dog for Ava?’

  ‘Give me five minutes. I’ve just gotta beat Lee at this.’

  ‘Good lad,’ Vinny replied. He was glad he’d brought his nephews to Southend. To see both Lee and Daniel smiling and having a bit of banter with one another was worth the journey alone.

  As soon as Antonio was waved off, Michael Butler slammed the front door, rammed Bella up against the wall and muttered the words, ‘I am so horny and desperate to fuck you senseless this very second.’

  Bella grinned. She was a lady in public, a great cook in the kitchen and a total whore in the bedroom. ‘Then take me by force, if you must.’

  Needing no more encouragement, Michael Butler lifted Bella up by her buttocks and carried her into the bedroom. He then tied her hands to the bedposts. Rape was their favourite form of role-play.

  Jimmy ‘Gnasher’ Williams was becoming slightly concerned. He’d overtaken Joanna’s motor a good half an hour ago and she still hadn’t appeared.

  Desperate for a cigarette, Gnasher decided against it. He’d read an article recently in a newspaper saying that in the near future the Old Bill would be able to catch you out by something called a DNA sample. He wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, but he’d got the gist. If his mouth had been around that cigarette, there was a possibility he could be traced one day in the future.

  Bored shitless, Gnasher switched on the radio. He had leather gloves on; he always wore them when assassinating. ‘The Fool on the Hill’ by the Beatles was playing and Gnasher took that as a good omen. The Beatles were his favourite group and they’d never let him down yet.

  ‘Daddy, Joanna, can we sing “Row Row Row Your Boat” again?’ five-year-old Shane asked.

  Darren smiled at Joanna. His son had started infant school last September and his current project was to learn the song and draw a picture of a boat. Darren never usually picked Shane up until later in the day, but his mother had been ill this morning, hence the phone call asking that they pick him up early. ‘What do you reckon, Jo? It’s your turn to sing it this time,’ Darren chuckled.

  Joanna sighed, but smiled at the same time. After living with an arsehole like Vinny who’d made her feel so unloved and unwanted, she truly couldn’t be happier right now. ‘Row row row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream,’ she sang.

  About to join in with the second chorus of ‘Row Row Row Your Boat’, Darren screamed ‘Watch out!’ as the big red truck hurtled towards them.

  Joanna Preston never got the chance to reply. She died within seconds.

  Vinny Butler made a point of flirting with the barmaid as he placed the food order. She was a moose, but he didn’t care. An alibi was an alibi and she’d be sure to remember him now.

  ‘You took your time. Did you tell her me and Viv want our skate coated in batter?’ Queenie asked her son.

  ‘Yes, Mum,’ Vinny replied, adrenalin rushing through his veins as his phone burst into life. ‘Hello.’

  ‘Is Rodney there?’

  ‘Sorry. You must have the wrong number, pal.’

  Ava tugged the sleeve of her father’s suit. ‘Can I sit on your lap, Daddy? I really do love you.’

  ‘Do ya love me more than you love Mummy?’ Vinny chuckled.

  Ava couldn’t decide, but said yes as he bought her better presents.

  Vinny smirked as he lifted up his daughter and hugged her. Ava finally belonged to him, and him alone.

  Deborah Preston was in a right old state. Joanna had been due to ar
rive hours ago, yet there was still no sign of her.

  Debating whether to ring the police, Deborah decided to call Johnny first. ‘Hello, Shirley. It’s Deborah. Is Johnny there, please?’

  ‘No. He’s gone to stay with a friend.’

  ‘What friend? Do you know when he’ll be back? I need to contact him urgently.’

  ‘I ain’t got a clue where he is or when he’ll be back. Just said he was visiting an old prison pal. What’s the matter?’ Shirley asked, in the usual sharp tone she used when speaking to her son’s fat, miserable wife.

  ‘It’s Joanna. Her and Darren were due at mine hours ago. Jo always rings me if she’s going to be late. My stomach’s in knots. Something’s happened to her, I know it has, Shirley.’

  Shirley Preston pursed her lips. Her son had had a few too many one night and told her all about his falling out with Deborah. ‘You’ve only got yourself to blame if something bad has happened to that poor girl. My Johnny warned you, didn’t he? Wanted you to move abroad. You’ve never been able to see the wood for the trees, you. Please God, Jo turns up safe and sound, because if she doesn’t that’ll be the end of my son.’

  Vinny knocked at Joanna’s door in Tillingham and as expected, nobody was home. He leapt the small fence and pressed a neighbour’s doorbell. ‘So sorry to bother you, but have you seen Joanna at all?’

  ‘No, love. You’re Ava’s dad, Vinny, aren’t you? I think we spoke once before.’

  ‘We sure did. Never one to forget a pretty face, me. Could you do me a favour, please? I have my mum, aunt and nephews in the car, so I can’t hang about for Jo. When you see her, will you tell her that Ava will stay with me tonight and I’ll bring her home tomorrow? Just tell her to bell me.’

  ‘Will do. I’ll keep an eye out for her.’

  Aware that the old bird fancied him, Vinny kissed her on the cheek. ‘You’re a darlin’.’

  The woman smiled. Vinny oozed charisma and she couldn’t understand why Joanna would swap him for Darren. ‘My pleasure. I will definitely look out for Jo and pass your message on.’

  Ava was beside herself with excitement. She had never stayed with her father before. ‘Let’s go, Daddy,’ she demanded, trying to drag Vinny back to the car before her mum turned up.