‘What shall we do about the digger? Have you gotta take it back today?’
Looking at his watch, Eddie cursed. He had told Ronny he would meet him and Paulie at seven and it was already six o’clock. ‘The digger’s fine, it can stay here till tomorrow. I think I’m gonna ring Paulie and Ronny and meet ’em tomorrow instead. If we clean up here in the morning, it’ll give us plenty of time to talk to the neighbours, then we’ll go to the Flag after that.’
Raymond agreed.
‘I’ll tell you what. I dunno about you, but I could kill a couple of beers. Why don’t we drop the guns off, then stop at a boozer where no one knows us?’ Eddie suggested.
Raymond laughed. ‘We could walk into a boozer in Timbuktu and people would know us, Ed.’
Eddie chuckled. ‘Come on you tosser, help me get this chest in the motor.’
Frankie laughed as Jed pressed the ‘play’ button. He was such a sod. In the hotel reception, he had seen a girl carrying a tape recorder. ‘Oi, pretty lady, let me buy that off you,’ he’d said.
The girl had looked at Jed in amazement. ‘It’s only a cheap one,’ she’d replied.
‘How much do ya want for it?’ Jed had asked.
‘I don’t really want to sell it,’ the girl had said.
Jed had put his hand in his pocket and waved some money in her face. ‘’Ere you go. Take fifty quid for it.’
The girl had snatched the money, handed him the battered old tape recorder and disappeared before Jed could change his mind. Jed had then gone outside to his truck and reappeared with a selection of cassettes, which they were now playing.
‘Why did you pay all that money for this rubbish?’ Frankie asked him. She loved it really. Jed was so impulsive, and the way he was filled her with intense excitement.
‘’Cause I didn’t want you to be bored. You don’t wanna be stuck in a room all day with no music, do ya? My old tape recorder’s fucked. Dropped it on the floor, I did, and now it won’t work any more.’
Frankie smiled. Christ knows where Jed got all his money from. He had plenty and chucked it about like there was no tomorrow. ‘Do you mind if I ask you something?’
‘Ask away,’ Jed replied, grabbing her hand.
‘Where do you get all your money from? Does your dad give it to you or do you sometimes go to work?’
Jed turned the music up, took Frankie in his arms and made her dance with him. ‘I never went to school. Been working since I was eight years old. I’ll never be poor, I can turn me hand to lots of things.’
‘Like what?’
‘I sell horses, motors, caravans, diggers. You name it, I can get it and sell it. I’ll be cakeo one day, Frankie. You stick with me and you’ll be rich as well.’
Frankie tightened her grip on him. ‘What is this rubbish music? Ain’t you got any acid house?’ she asked him.
Jed tilted her chin towards his. ‘Who needs all that house music crap when you’ve got country and western? That shit’s only all right if you stick a pill down your throat, but country music is proper. You listen to the words. Every song tells a story, Frankie.’
Frankie listened and by the time Tammy Wynette had reached the chorus of ‘Stand By Your Man’, she and Jed were in bed together.
Unaware of what his daughter was up to, Eddie was on his way home. ‘I won’t be long, darling. I’ve just gotta drop Raymondo off first. I’ll be about fifteen minutes,’ he told Jess.
Jessica ended the call. Grinning, she put Eddie’s dinner in the oven. She had been doing buttons all day waiting for her husband to get home. Desperate to tell someone her news, Jessica had rang Vicki and told her. ‘Please don’t say a word to Doug. I only found out this morning and I haven’t had a chance to tell Eddie yet,’ she begged.
Vicki was thrilled for herself and her friend. She was over five months now, and it was great that she and Jess would both be mums together.
As the Guns N’ Roses song was played on the radio, Jessica turned it up full blast. She wasn’t usually a fan of rock music, but the song was called ‘Sweet Child O’Mine’, and Jess couldn’t resist joining in with the chorus.
Back in Southend, Jed was having trouble inserting his penis inside Frankie. ‘Are you OK?’ he whispered as he finally entered her.
‘I’m fine,’ Frankie lied. She felt as if her insides were being ripped to shreds.
‘I love you, Frankie,’ Jed told her as his movements got faster and faster.
‘I love you, too,’ Frankie replied, wincing.
Suddenly he made a groaning noise and rolled off her. ‘What’s up? Have I done something wrong?’ she asked, concerned.
Propping himself up on his elbow, Jed rubbed her clit with his finger. ‘Nothing’s up. I’ve already come, you dinlo,’ he said laughing.
As Frankie’s breathing started to quicken, Jed moved his finger faster and faster. ‘Ahh, Jed,’ Frankie panted, as she grabbed his head with both hands. This felt nice, much more pleasurable than him being inside her. She reached her orgasm, yanking his head.
‘Fucking hell. You nearly broke me neck,’ Jed teased.
Frankie let out a happy sigh. She really had found the man of her dreams.
Hearing Eddie’s car pull up on the gravel, Jessica flung open the front door.
‘What’s this, a welcome committee?’ Eddie joked.
Jessica took his hand and dragged him into the lounge. She handed him the glass of champagne she’d already poured and told him to sit down and drink it.
As Buster and Bruno bounded into the room, Jessica shooed them out. This was her and Eddie’s moment.
‘What’s occurring?’Eddie asked. He had sort of already guessed, but didn’t want to spoil her plans to tell him herself.
‘You’ll never guess what I found out today,’ Jessica said excitedly.
‘I’ve no idea,’ Eddie lied. ‘I’m pregnant, Eddie. We’re having that baby,’ Jessica screamed.
Still caked in mud from earlier, Eddie stood up and lifted her into his arms. ‘I love you so much, Jessica Mitchell. I really, really do.’
THIRTY-THREE
At seven o’clock the following evening, Eddie and Raymond pulled up outside the Flag in Canning Town.
Eddie had asked around half the neighbourhood earlier but, apart from what he already knew, no one had any more information about the night his dad died. Frustrated by the lack of progress he’d made, Eddie wasn’t in the best of moods.
‘There must have been bangs, crashes and fucking screams. Me poor fucking dad was tortured. Some cunt must have heard something, surely,’ he said to Raymond.
Raymond shrugged. He had no answers. Poor old Harry’s death was a complete mystery to all and sundry. ‘How’s Jess?’ Raymond asked, changing the subject.
The mention of his wife’s name lifted Eddie’s mood. Jessica had told him to keep her pregnancy quiet until she had seen her doctor and knew how far gone she was. She didn’t even want the twins or her parents to know just yet. Desperate to tell at least one person, Eddie smiled.
‘Keep it to yourself, but we’re gonna be parents again. Found out yesterday, Jess did. She’s over the bloody moon; we both are.’
Thrilled at the prospect of becoming an uncle once more, Raymond grabbed Eddie around the neck with his right arm. ‘You’re a dark horse, you are. I’m surprised at your age you can still get it up, you cunt.’
Laughing, Eddie pushed him away. ‘Remember, not a word to anyone. Jess ain’t told your mum and dad yet, so don’t put your foot in it, for fuck’s sake.’
Paulie and Ronny were sitting at their usual table. Both had faces like smacked arses. As Eddie walked in, he heard a few sniggers. He took no notice, walked up to the bar and ordered himself and Raymond a drink.
‘What you having?’ he shouted over to his brothers.
‘Are you sure you can afford it?’ Ronny asked sarcastically.
Eddie sat down and tried to make the two of them see sense. ‘Look, I know you’re both upset, but I’ll always
see you all right. If you need any money, just ask me and I’ll give it to you. Dad left me strict instructions: he wants me to look after a few people, make sure they’re comfortable. He left me the bulk, ’cause he knew he could trust me to carry out his wishes.’
‘You’re a lying cunt. Don’t take me and Paulie for mugs. You can stick your handouts where the sun don’t shine,’ Ronny spat at him.
Eddie turned to Paulie. He had always been the more sensible one out of the two. ‘Is that your opinion as well, Paulie? Is it?’
Not able to hold Eddie’s gaze, Paulie stared at his lap. ‘I want out, Ed. I want out of the business and out of your life. We’re meant to be brothers and all you’ve ever done is stitch me and Ronny up. Well, it’s gone too far now. Me and Ronny have discussed things and neither of us want any more to do with you.’
Eddie looked at Paulie in amazement. He guessed that he might have a cob on, but he had never expected this. They had always worked together; how could he even think of walking away? ‘Don’t be so childish, Paulie. Dad wouldn’t have wanted this. We’re Mitchells, we’re meant to stick together. What do you wanna leave the firm for? It’s stupid, I knew fuck-all about Dad’s will. It was his wishes, not mine.’
Desperate to say his pre-planned speech, Ronny piped up. ‘For years we’ve lived in your shadow, Ed. You were always the old man’s favourite – you spent half your life licking his arse. Why should you dish out the orders, eh? What makes you so fucking special? Me and Paulie have had it with you. We’re setting up on our own. We’ll find our own clients and do a bit of sharking ourselves.’
Eddie looked at Ronny with contempt. As usual, his eyes were gone and his speech was slurred. Unable to stop himself, Eddie laughed in Ronny’s face. ‘Well, I wish you every success, Ronny. I’m sure people will be quaking in their boots when they’re threatened to pay up by an alcoholic cripple.’
Overcome by jealousy and hatred, Ronny picked up an empty beer bottle and aimed it at Eddie’s head. As the bottle brushed against his hair and whizzed past him, Eddie jumped up to retaliate.
‘Leave him – he ain’t worth it. Come on, Ed, let’s get out of here,’ Raymond said, holding Eddie back.
Sitting back down, Eddie looked at Paulie with pleading eyes. ‘You’re making a big mistake, bruv, you really are.’
As Paulie looked at the floor, Eddie shook his head, stood up and walked away.
Ronny called Eddie’s name. He hadn’t played his ace card yet and he was gagging to do so. ‘Oh, and by the way, big man. Your son Joey’s a fucking bum boy. Got a boyfriend, he has. Sucks cock and takes it up the arse regularly, by all accounts.’
As Eddie lunged at Ronny, the barmaid let out a piercing scream. John, the guv’nor, was on holiday, and she didn’t know how to deal with such violence.
Picking Ronny up by the neck, Eddie lifted him out of his wheelchair and threw him as hard as he could against the wall. ‘You fucking lying cunt, I’m gonna kill you!’ he shouted.
To save Ronny’s sorry arse, Paulie and Raymond joined forces. When angry, Eddie was so strong he was almost impossible to control.
Eddie bent down and held Ronny around the throat as if to strangle him. ‘How dare you fucking bring my kids into this, you cunt!’ he screamed.
‘It’s true. Ask Terry Palmer. Ask his son. I’m not lying, Ed, I’m not,’ Ronny said, choking. He was frightened now, really frightened.
Managing to pull Eddie away, Raymond dragged him outside the pub. ‘Let’s get out of here, mate. I think the barmaid’s called the filth,’ Ray told him.
Eddie said nothing. Chucking his keys at Raymond, he got in the passenger side and slammed the door. ‘Are you OK?’ Raymond asked him as they drove along in silence.
‘No, I’m fucking ain’t,’ Eddie yelled. ‘As for my so-called brothers, I hope they both rot in hell. I never wanna see either of them ever again!’
Jessica sat in the kitchen with a massive smile on her face. She and Vicki were discussing baby names and they had completely different ideas on the subject.
‘Angel’s a lovely name for a little girl,’ Vicki insisted.
Giggling, Jessica put the kettle on. Eddie would have a fit if she called their kid Angel.
‘I think you should opt for an American name if you have a boy. Me and Dougie quite like Troy, so what about you calling yours Travis?’ Vicki suggested.
Jessica smiled. ‘I’ve already promised Ed that if we have a boy, we’ll call it Harry in memory of his dad.’
As the front door slammed, Jessica ran into the hallway. ‘Oh, it’s you, Ed. You’re early, love. Do you want a cup of tea?’
‘Where’s Joey?’ Eddie shouted.
Jessica’s heart went over as she noticed that Eddie’s face looked as black as thunder. She knew, without a doubt, that he had been told something. ‘Vicki’s in the kitchen,’ she said, as brightly as she could.
‘Get rid of her,’ Eddie spat.
Jessica ushered her friend outside and apologised profusely.
‘I wouldn’t like to be in Joey’s shoes. What’s he done?’ Vicki whispered.
‘I bet he’s been bunking off school again and Ed’s just found out,’ Jessica lied.
As she shut the front door, Jessica felt physically sick. She had to play it cool; it was her duty as a mother to protect her son. ‘Whatever’s the matter?’ she asked Eddie.
‘Where is he? Is he out with his fucking boyfriend, is he?’ Eddie screamed, grabbing his wife by the shoulders.
‘Boyfriend? What are you talking about? You’re hurting me, Ed, stop it, please.’
Eddie let her go. Leaning with his back against the wall, he put his head in his hands and slumped to the floor. ‘He’s gay. Our Joey’s a fucking queer, that’s what the word on the street is. Do you know anything about it, Jess? If you do, tell me. I want the fucking truth.’
Jessica shook her head furiously and proclaimed her son’s innocence. ‘Don’t be so ridiculous, Eddie. Our Joey’s got a new girlfriend – he really likes her, he does. He was only telling me about her yesterday. He wants us to meet her. He asked me if she could come round for tea.’
‘Are you sure he ain’t fucking lying to you?’ Eddie asked.
‘Of course he’s not lying. Someone’s winding you up, Eddie. Who told you? Who’s spreading these lies?’
‘Ronny told me. Terry Palmer told him. Everyone’s been told. As I walked in the Flag earlier, every bastard was sniggering at me.’
Jessica knelt in front of her devastated husband. ‘How can you believe anything that comes out of Ronny’s mouth? He’s jealous of you, he always has been. He’s making up these awful lies because he can’t deal with your dad leaving you all that money. He wants to get back at you, Ed, and he’ll resort to anything to do so.’
Eddie shrugged. ‘I’ll go and see Terry Palmer, see what he has to say. Don’t look so worried, I ain’t gonna hurt him. I just want solid proof.’
‘It’s all lies. I know my own son, Eddie,’ Jessica insisted.
Eddie shrugged. Joey had always been different – too different for his liking. ‘He is fucking effeminate, Jess. Let’s face it, Joey’s never been like Gary and Ricky, has he? Even as a kid, he was frightened of his own shadow. I mean, he dresses strange and sometimes I look at him and think that he should have been the girl and Frankie the boy. She’s got bollocks, Frankie has, but not Joey. He’s not normal, Jess, I’ve always known it, but I kept me trap shut for years for your fucking sake.’
With tears rolling down her cheeks, Jessica did her best to hold her own. ‘Of course he’s not like Gary and Ricky, or you and your brothers. I didn’t want him to end up in your world, it was me that forced him to be different. I mean, come on, as much as I think the world of Gary and Ricky, their mum was an alkie, that’s why they’re rough around the edges. I brought Joey up differently. He’s soft, gentle, with a heart of gold, and I instilled that into him. He might be unusual, but that doesn’t mean he’s gay, Ed. It’s just different m
others, different upbringings, that’s all.’
Holding out his arms, Eddie snuggled up to his wife. ‘I’m sorry if I hurt you. I just lost me rag.’
‘Promise me, Eddie, that you won’t say anything to Joey. He’s in the middle of his exams, it’s not fair on him. You know how he takes things to heart – he’ll be traumatised.’
‘I swear I won’t say anything to him,’ Eddie said honestly. He had no intention of giving Joey a warning. If what was being said was true, he would catch him at it and when he did, he would throttle both him and his fucking boyfriend.
Terry Palmer lived alone in a council flat in Beckton. Terry had once been a man of substance, but since his wife had stung him for all he had, his life had gone completely downhill.
Opening another can of Special Brew, Terry focused on the television. He was watching the film Once Upon a Time in America. ‘Go on, get in there,’ Terry said, laughing.
Terry fancied himself as a Robert De Niro type. He and Rob were two of a kind, they sang from the same hymn sheet.
As the buzzer rang, Terry opened the security door automatically. His son, Darren, often stayed of a night, so he left the front door on the latch for him and sat back down. Engrossed in the bit where De Niro actually rapes the bird, Terry barely looked up as the front door closed. ‘I’m starving – you brought any grub home with you, Dal?’ he shouted out.
‘The Chinese was shut, so I brought this round to fill you up,’ Eddie whispered, as he yanked Terry’s head back and stuck the barrel of a gun down the back of his throat.
Not knowing that her husband was currently playing cowboys and Indians, Jessica tried Joey’s mobile number repeatedly. Eddie had popped out to take the dogs for a run and she desperately needed to warn her son. ‘Please answer, son, please answer,’ she prayed out loud.
Finally, God looked down on her.
‘Whatever’s wrong, Mum? Has something happened? I’m busy,’ Joey exclaimed in annoyance.
Joey had just been having a bit of the other and the constant ringing of the phone was preventing him from reaching a climax.
The Feud Page 30
