Family Betrayal

by Kitty Neale

  ‘When my dad was killed in action, Uncle Dan came round to see us. I was supposed to be in bed, but I sneaked downstairs and heard them talking. My mother was in a terrible state, crying, but then mentioned that at least she wouldn't have to struggle financially to bring me up. My Uncle Dan told her that the job hadn't been successful – that there wasn't any money.’

  ‘Well, there's your answer then. It sounds to me like they didn't manage to pull it off.’

  ‘If they didn't pull it off, where did he get all that money from?’

  ‘Ivy, he didn't start up the yard for years, and I doubt it was the only job he did. No doubt he had a good few bob stashed away.’

  ‘Exactly! I'm sure they pulled off other jobs before my father was called up. If my Uncle Dan had money stashed away, why didn't my father?’

  Steve scratched his head. ‘Yeah, well, you've got me there.’

  ‘I'll tell you why. My uncle always handled the finances, so I think he kept my father's stash. Even if the last job was a washout, there still should have been cash for my mother, but we never saw a penny. When she died, Uncle Dan played the kind uncle, and when we got married he got us our house in Drapers Alley. Why do you think he did all that?’

  ‘Well, you're his niece and he's big on looking after his family.’

  ‘If you ask me, it was more like guilt.’

  Steve stared into the fire. He still couldn't believe that Dan Draper would rob his own brother, but had to admit that it all sounded suspicious. He turned back to Ivy. ‘If you're so sure about this, why didn't you confront your Uncle Dan?’

  ‘Because I didn't have any proof, but when I used to bait him – to hint – I could tell that I had him rattled. I wanted to pay him back, to make him suffer, but then lo and behold, George did it for me.’

  ‘Yeah, well, Dan certainly suffered. George nearly killed him.’

  ‘When it happened, when I knew the state Uncle Dan was in, all my anger sort of left me. I hated the alley then, and everyone in it. I just wanted out, and thank God we got the exchange.’

  ‘I'm with you there. I didn't like working for them, Ivy. I used to shit myself every time I went out on a delivery.’

  Ivy's eyes narrowed. ‘If you were only delivering building materials, I don't see why. Come on, Steve, we're never going to see the Drapers again so you can tell me what they were really up to.’

  Steve looked into the fire, ruminating again. Surely there'd be no harm in telling her now. ‘All right, Ivy, I suppose you deserve the truth. You thought they were doing jobs, robberies, but in fact they made money from porn. It was my job to deliver it.’

  ‘Porn! My God, I can't believe it.’

  ‘It's the truth, Ivy. They've got a place in Wimbledon where they make the films.’

  ‘What sort of place?’

  Steve told her where it was and about the setup, but then she suddenly slumped forward, clutching her tummy.

  ‘What is it, love? Are you all right?’

  The boys came running through the door, their cheeks rosy from the cold air. They loved playing outside and it was impossible to keep them in. Steve saw the effort Ivy made to straighten herself up, her face the colour of dough. ‘I reckon you should see the doctor.’

  ‘What's the matter, Mum?’ Ernie asked.

  ‘Nothing, love, it's just a bit of indigestion, that's all. Now, let's get you cleaned up before dinner.’

  Steve could see what an effort it was for Ivy to stand up, and placed a staying hand on her arm. ‘Let me get the stink of the farmyard off and then I'll see to them.’

  ‘No, I can manage.’

  She ushered the boys from the room, leaving Steve frowning. He wasn't convinced that Ivy had indigestion, sure there was more to it than that. She could be so stubborn at times and it drove him mad, but like it or not, he was going to make sure that she saw a doctor.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  The weekend passed and, in Drapers Alley, Yvonne still felt ill. She did her best to hide it as she placed Danny's dinner on the table, then sat opposite him. He had changed so much since taking over from his father. He had lost weight, his cheeks gaunt, and she knew he wasn't sleeping well. He often turned to her for sex, but that was different too, almost as if he was using it for comfort. Yet why? He had the responsibility of running the yard, but with three brothers to help him, surely there wasn't that much to worry about. Yvonne knew that business had been slow for a while and money tight, but with talk of some sort of expansion, things were sure to improve. She had tried talking to him about it, but he snapped her head off if she made any mention of business.

  ‘Are you still feeling rough?’ Danny asked.

  ‘No, I'm fine now,’ she lied, changing the subject. ‘Danny, are you going round to see Linda's baby?’

  ‘No, why should I?’

  ‘She's your niece.’

  ‘So what?’ he said, his voice lacking interest as he pushed his plate to one side, his meal hardly touched. ‘I've got to go out again for a couple of hours.’

  ‘Oh, Danny, not again. It's already eight o'clock and you're hardly in these days.’

  ‘Don't start, Yvonne. I've got a business to run, orders to get. I might be late, so don't wait up.’

  Yvonne wanted to protest, to tell him to stop taking her for a mug. The yard was closed now, as were most businesses, so how could he be chasing orders?

  When a scream pierced the air, Yvonne's eyes widened, then both she and Danny rushed outside, just in time to see Bob's younger son fleeing down the alley like a scalded cat.

  Sue and Bob must have heard the scream too, Bob yelling, ‘Paul! Paul, wait! Come here!’

  As Paul disappeared past the bollards, Bob set out in pursuit.

  ‘What happened? Did you see anything?’ Sue gasped.

  ‘We just heard a scream,’ Yvonne told her.

  ‘Where's Robby?’ Sue cried, her eyes scanning the alley, but it was Bob who appeared, holding Paul's hand as he walked towards them.

  ‘He's all right. He's just got a bit of a burn, that's all. A banger went off while he was holding it.’

  ‘It was Robby,’ wailed Paul. ‘He lit the banger then he gave it to me, but I didn't have time to throw it before it went off.’

  ‘Where is he?’ Bob asked.

  ‘I dunno. Oooh, Mum, my hand hurts.’

  ‘Come on, let's get you sorted,’ Sue said. ‘And as for you, Bob, I ain't happy that you bought the kids those bangers. If you ask me, they're dangerous.’

  ‘Leave it out, it's fireworks night and all the kids play with them.’

  ‘I think I agree with Sue,’ said Yvonne. ‘They're far too young to be playing with fireworks. Oh, look, there's Robby.’

  ‘I'll leave you to sort him out,’ Sue said to Bob, before taking Paul inside.

  The boy had come into the alley and ran towards them. ‘Is Paul all right?’

  ‘No he isn't, and well you know it, you little sod. Now get inside,’ Bob snapped.

  'I didn't do nuffin”, Robby protested, crying out as Bob grabbed him by the ear to drag him indoors.

  ‘They shouldn't have matches, let alone fireworks,’ Yvonne said as she and Danny went back to their own house.

  ‘Half the kids in the area have penny bangers,’ Danny said as he picked up his coat. ‘Right, I'm off, and as I said, don't wait up.’

  Yvonne nodded, unhappy but knowing better than to complain again. She still didn't feel right, and hadn't for some time, despite telling Danny that she felt fine. Maybe she should see the doctor, but what could she tell him? She wasn't in pain. It was just that she felt so drained. But knowing old Doc Addison, she thought he'd just prescribe a tonic.

  Danny headed for his car. When Chris had been knifed in August, he knew it could be the start of a turf war, and had wanted to retaliate, to show Garston that the Drapers couldn't be messed with. He'd tried to be prepared, to find out all he could about Garston, his operation and the muscle behind him, but despite putting out f
eelers for months, it was still proving impossible. Time and time again he came up against a wall of silence and it was driving him mad. In the meantime he had put precautions in place, making films but only delivering them once a month, sending Chris out with a bit of hired muscle.

  So far there hadn't been any more trouble, but Danny doubted it could last. He climbed into his car. All he had found out so far was that Garston was rarely seen, but he wasn't ready to give up yet, and at last Danny had got a whisper of a contact. The bloke was someone he knew from years ago, one he was told had worked for Garston recently. Whether Bert Mills was willing to talk remained to be seen, but Danny was prepared to pay for information.

  There was thick smoke in the air from many bonfires, and the occasional rocket shot up into the sky before bursting into a shower of sparks as Danny drove to Tooting. When he walked into the pub he saw it was nearly empty, but the man he was looking for was propping up the bar.

  ‘Hello, Bert. What are you drinking?’

  ‘Danny! Blimey, long time no see. What are you doing in this neck of the woods?’

  ‘I was hoping for a little chat.’

  ‘Oh, yeah, what about?’

  ‘Tell me what you're drinking first.’

  ‘Bitter, mate. I'll have a pint of bitter.’

  Danny waited until the landlord had pulled two pints, but after paying, the publican still hovered within hearing distance.

  ‘Come and sit down, Bert,’ Danny said, indicating a table.

  Once seated, Danny leaned forward, saying softly, ‘What can you tell me about Garston?’

  ‘I can't tell you anything, Danny.’

  ‘I'll make it worth your while.’

  ‘If I open my mouth I wouldn't live long enough to spend it.’

  ‘He wouldn't know the info came from you.’

  ‘Huh, you don't know Jack Garston. He's got eyes and ears everywhere and, believe me, he'd find out.’

  ‘Look, all I need to know is where he's based, and how much backup he's got.’

  ‘Danny, I don't know what you're up to, but you don't want to cross Garston.’

  ‘One of his mob knifed my brother and I ain't standing for that.’

  ‘Yeah, well, I'm sorry to hear that, but I still can't tell you anything.’

  ‘Yes you can, Bert, and before you say no again, remember – I can be just as nasty as Garston.’

  Bert paled, but shook his head. ‘Yeah, you frighten me, Danny, but not as much as Garston.’ He then rose to his feet, his pint of beer untouched as he walked back to the bar where he leaned forward, saying something to the landlord.

  The landlord's eyes shot towards Danny, and when Danny saw him walk to the back of the bar to make a phone call, he knew it was time to leave. Bert had obviously opened his mouth and now Garston would know he'd been trying to suss him out. Danny walked out of the bar, determined that one day, when Bert was least expecting it, he'd make him pay for dobbing him in.

  Bert Mills had been ordered to the club. He'd been nervous around Danny Draper, but that was nothing compared to how he felt now.

  Jack Garston sat behind his desk in the back room, his eyes rock hard. ‘What did Draper want?’

  ‘He was trying to find out about your operation.’

  ‘What did you tell him?’

  ‘Nothing, Jack.’

  ‘Are you sure about that? I hear that you and Draper go back a while.’

  As Jack's cold eyes bored into his, Bert felt like prey. He had to convince the man or he'd be dead meat. ‘Yeah, I know him, but I ain't seen him for years. I didn't say a word, Jack. I swear. I warned him off, that was all.’

  Garston's smile was thin. ‘All right, Bert, relax. Sit yourself down and we'll have a little chat. Rick here will get you a drink. Whisky, is it?’

  ‘Yeah, thanks,’ Bert said, still tense as he sat down. Rick was one of Garston's henchmen, known for his love of pulling out his victims' fingernails. Bert moved his hands to his lap as though this small act could protect them, but Rick went to the bar, pouring the drinks. Garston seemed satisfied, but Bert knew better than to let down his guard. The man didn't look like a villain. Short and overweight, he could appear benign, fooling anyone who wasn't aware of his reputation, but if crossed the change was instantaneous. He became a vicious monster, and there were those who had found this out to their cost.

  Garston lit a fat cigar, his cheeks puffing like bellows, then ordered Bert, ‘Tell me what you know about the Drapers.’

  As Rick put a shot of whisky in front of him, Bert instantly picked the glass up, swallowing the lot in one gulp. ‘As I said, I ain't seen them in years so I can't tell you what they get up to nowadays. They've been rumoured to have done a few jobs, but then Dan Draper bought a yard, becoming respectable. Mind you, knowing the Drapers the business could be a front, but I don't know what for.’

  ‘I do, and you ain't telling me anything that I don't know already. The Drapers need another lesson, a hard one. Tell me about the family, what makes them tick.’

  ‘There ain't much I can tell you, except that they look after their own. The alley where they live is a bit like a fortress and nobody goes in there without invitation.’

  ‘More stuff I already know, and it's not what I'm looking for. I want a weakness. For instance, what matters most to Dan Draper?’

  Bert frowned, wondering what he could give Garston to get the man off his back. ‘There's been talk that he ain't what he used to be, but in my time I know his daughter was his pride and joy.’

  ‘His daughter,’ Garston drawled, gimlet-eyed as he sucked deeply on his cigar. Then he smiled. ‘All right, Bert, you've told me what I need to know. You can go now.’

  Bert didn't need telling twice and hastily rose to his feet. ‘Thanks, Jack.’

  Garston waved him away and Bert almost ran from the room. There was a stripper on stage but so anxious was he to leave he didn't pause to take in the act. He didn't know what the Drapers had done to make an enemy of Jack Garston, but it looked like the daughter was going to pay the price.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  At the end of the week, Danny faced his brothers. ‘I can't get any information on Garston. I've been asking around and I've tried everything – threats, bribes – but nobody will talk.’

  ‘Shouldn't that tell you something?’

  ‘Like what, Maurice?’

  ‘It's obvious. If they won't talk to you, despite your threats, they're more afraid of Garston than us. As I've said before, we should get out now before he pulls another stunt.’

  Chris fingered his cheek, his scar a match with Danny's. ‘I owe Garston for this and I'm looking forward to his next move.’

  ‘Yeah, well, you might just get your chance,’ Danny told him. ‘I had a chat with a geezer on Monday, and I think the fact that I was asking questions has got back to Garston. It might stir things up, and with any luck it'll force him to show his hand. I'm coming with you on the next delivery. If his henchmen show their faces, it could lead us back to Garston, and that's just what I want.’

  ‘I don't like it, Danny. We should stick to soft porn.’

  ‘And make peanuts, Maurice?’

  ‘I'd hardly call it peanuts. We were doing all right – in fact more than all right.’

  ‘You were the one who said that our profits were unlikely to increase.’

  ‘Yes, I know, but we were still making good money.’

  ‘I can't believe I'm hearing this! Garston has only made one move against us and you're acting like a frightened tart. The man just needs a taste of his own medicine. Once he gets it, he'll back off.’

  ‘And if he doesn't?’

  ‘We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. In the meantime, Maurice, we've got films to make. I think you're up to running the yard, so you stay here.’

  ‘I can't handle the heavy lifting on my own, you know that. And what if Garston makes a move on this place? Have you thought about that?’

  Danny's brow furrowed. ‘
To be honest, no, but you've got a point. It's no secret we own this business, but I've been more concerned about him finding our base in Wimbledon. All right, we'll get someone who can handle themselves to work here. In the meantime, I'll leave Bob with you.’

  Maurice looked mollified, and after sorting out a few more things, Danny and Chris left to go to Wimbledon. As he drove, Danny kept his eyes peeled, but there was no sign of a tail. If Garston wanted to go up against them again, he'd make sure the man suffered for it. Nobody messed with the Drapers and got away with it.

  Later that day, Pet was walking home from school. She found herself thinking about Linda and the awful things her mother had said, and the fact that Ivy didn't want any of them to know her address. Before forgetting it, she had scribbled it down in her diary, and though Pet knew she couldn't write to her cousin, at least she knew where she was. Maybe one day she would get in touch with Ivy, try to bring about some sort of reconciliation, but for now she would have to be content with that.

  Pet's thoughts shifted. She would be leaving school soon, and had wanted to work in a shop, but with her father ill, and George gone, maybe she could help in some way with the family business. She had never thought much about the work involved at the yard, but by the amount of time her brothers spent running the place, it must be doing all right. There must be lots of paperwork such as orders, invoices, and perhaps they'd let her take over the office work. It would be lovely if she could prove everyone wrong – to find that nowadays her brothers really were respectable, and running a thriving family business.

  Pet shivered as she was blasted by the cold wind. A van pulled up just ahead of her but, deep in thought, she hardly noticed. As she drew level the back doors flew open and two men jumped out. Startled out of her reveries, Pet saw them running towards her, but before she could react, they grabbed her, lifting her off her feet, and tossed her into the back of the van.

  The doors slammed and then they were hurtling off down the road with Pet on the floor where they had thrown her. Dazed and bruised, she managed to turn her head, frightened out of her wits when she saw one of the men edging towards her.