Tainted Love: The gritty new thriller from the #1 bestseller

by Kimberley Chambers

  ‘Who? Where?’

  ‘Outside that shop with the blue sign. Got a my-shit-don’t-stink look on its boat race an’ all.’

  Spotting the miserable-looking trout in question, Vivian chuckled. ‘That’s one of them posh coffee shops, I think. Looks like they sell fancy cakes an’ all. Shall we try it out?’

  Lakeside Shopping Centre was the sisters’ new haunt since the Roman had gone down the pan. It was a cow-son to get to by public transport though, so Queenie and Viv only shopped there if one of the boys was free to take them and pick them up. It was ever so glam though, and they never got wet like they had down the Roman many a time.

  ‘I don’t like bleedin’ coffee. Christ! Don’t that bloke in a tan leather jacket look like a young Albie in the face? I bet he ain’t a pervert though,’ Queenie said bitterly. She’d never allowed Albie into her home since he’d embarrassed himself at Little Vinny’s wedding. The only time she ever had to face him these days was at the odd family event, thankfully.

  ‘I saw Albie this morning as I went to get the papers. Looked like he was heading towards Michael’s club. He didn’t see me, I crossed over the road,’ Vivian informed her sister.

  After the fiasco at Little Vinny’s wedding, Albie had rung Viv to proclaim his innocence. He’d sworn on Michael’s life that he wasn’t fornicating with Meg’s lush of a sister, but Vivian hadn’t believed him and had told him where to go. She’d been bitterly disappointed with his behaviour. No way would Queenie lie about what she’d seen. Albie Butler couldn’t keep his dingle-dangle in his trousers, not even on a day when he’d sung ‘Spanish Eyes’ just for her.

  ‘You OK, babe? Sorry I’ve been ages,’ Michael apologized, kissing Bella. Apart from spending time with Nathan, Michael had had a crap day. He hated it when Katy invited friends of hers to sit in restaurants with him and he had to play the happy couple charade. Katy seemed to get a kick out of such situations, and it made Michael squirm when she’d hold his hand and try to kiss him in front of people.

  ‘You’ve just missed Dan and Lee. I heard them go out in a cab about ten minutes ago. They’ve been well fed and I saved you some lasagne. Do you want me to heat it up now?’

  ‘I’ll have it in a bit. So what you been up to all day?’ Michael asked, squeezing Bella’s buttocks with his hands while rubbing himself against her.

  ‘Stop it! Antonio’s upstairs with a friend. I’ve had a very productive day actually. The Gilbeys picked Camila up to take her out with Chelsey, so I was able to get plenty of work done. I also had a lovely catch-up with my parents, and I have some very exciting news.’

  ‘What?’ Michael asked, a feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. Four times Michael had met Bella’s parents, and each time her father had scared the shit out of him. His worst fears were confirmed on his first trip to Italy last year. The old man was definitely Mafia. And Michael had since convinced himself he was at the top of the fucking Mafia tree.

  ‘Mamma and Papa are spending Christmas and New Year with us, Michael. I’m so excited! Two whole weeks they’re staying for,’ Bella beamed.

  ‘What here? Or in a hotel?’

  ‘Here, of course. Why would they need to go to a hotel when we have plenty of room?’

  Michael faked a big grin. ‘That’s what I meant, they should stay ’ere.’

  Eyes sparkling with happiness, Bella said, ‘I haven’t told Antonio or Camila yet. I thought we’d tell them tomorrow, together. This is going to be the best Christmas ever, Michael.’

  Michael nodded in agreement, then poured himself a large Scotch. He hadn’t thought his day could get any worse, but it just bastard-well had. Katy would insist he visited Nathan lots over the festive season, and how the hell was he meant to do that with Mr Mafia’s eagle-eyes watching his every fucking move?

  When Queenie’s eldest son decided not to rush off, Vivian left them to it, insisting she was tired. Queenie didn’t mind. Viv had abruptly thanked Vinny for the lift and fish and chips earlier, so relations were improving between the two, if only slightly.

  ‘What’s that little bastard barking at? Probably heard a fox or cat. I bet Ava’s awake now. Pain in the arse, he is.’

  Vinny chuckled. Fred had his mother right in the palm of his clever little paws, and all the family knew it. ‘You love him really.’

  ‘No, I don’t! I only keep him for Ava’s sake. Oooh, that reminds me: me and Viv were sorting through some photos the other day and we couldn’t believe the res—’

  The sound of the doorbell ringing stopped Queenie from finishing her sentence, and she was horrified when Vinny answered the door, then returned with two Old Bill in tow.

  ‘It’s OK, Mum. Don’t panic. The police have some news about Brenda’s case.’

  Relief flooding through her veins, Queenie asked, ‘Well?’ Her daughter had finally been buried five weeks after her death. Not wanting a big fuss, Queenie had agreed to the funeral leaving Brenda’s home in Dagenham, rather than hers. Her daughter was then laid to rest in Plaistow Cemetery, near all her relations.

  The taller of the coppers explained the situation. ‘A few days ago, we arrested a young man on a separate charge to that of your daughter’s murder. This young man has since provided us with important information that we believe to be true. Does the name Jake Jackson mean anything to you?’

  ‘Bobby Jackson’s son, Jake?’ Vinny asked, faking a look of surprise.

  The copper nodded.

  ‘But I thought he was locked up?’ Queenie questioned. She had to act dumb.

  ‘Jake was released in 1986, and was living approximately a mile away from the incident with Brenda at the time of her death. From the information that’s recently come to light, we strongly believe he can help us with our enquiries to finally solve your daughter’s murder.’

  ‘So have you caught him?’ Queenie asked.

  Suddenly finding his voice, the shorter of the policemen replied, ‘No. We’re not actually sure of Jake’s whereabouts at present. The information we have suggests he moved to Greece in 1988 to work as a DJ. I can assure you we’re doing everything in our power to track him down. We’ve already contacted Interpol.’

  Queenie leapt out of the armchair, frantically waving a finger. ‘Absolutely useless, yous lot are. You couldn’t catch the little bastard when he lived a spit’s throw from the murder scene, so what chance you got of finding him in Greece? He could be anywhere in the world right now and he’s bound to have changed his name and be using some kind of false documentation. Wouldn’t you be, if you’d murdered some poor bastard’s daughter?’

  Shocked at the hatred on the woman’s face, the shorter officer took a step backwards. Everybody knew of the Butlers, but he hadn’t been in the force that long, and this was the first time he’d had any dealings with them. Vinny was a scary-looking man. Sinister, with evil green eyes. As for the old trout, even he wouldn’t fancy his chances in a fight with her.

  ‘We’ll be going now, Mrs Butler. But we’ll keep you informed of any developments,’ the taller plod said.

  ‘Off you go then. As for any developments, I won’t hold my bastard breath. I’ve got more chance of finding a cure for cancer than you mob have of tracking down Jake Jackson. Close the door behind you.’

  As the Old Bill scuttled off with their tails between their legs, Vinny Butler couldn’t help but smile. His mother was a legend, she truly was.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Michael Butler glared at the back of his mother and aunt’s heads. ‘Never again,’ he vowed out loud.

  Huffing and puffing, Queenie and Vivian sat in the back of the Jaguar, leaving Michael to load all their shopping in his boot.

  ‘Never seen so many loonies in all my life, and how I stopped meself clumping that fat monster with the moustache I’ll never know. She rammed her bastard trolley straight into me,’ Queenie complained. Both she and Vivian hated supermarkets. They were old school and preferred to buy fresh produce daily. Back in the day, people didn’t have
the luxury of fridges. You kept your grub in the larder, ate it before it went off, and if you were lucky to have any pennies or shillings left in your purse, replaced it soon after.

  ‘Reminded me of the days when food was rationed, and even then people didn’t push and shove like those load of plonkers. Never seen anything like it, and I will never visit one of those poxy places again,’ Vivian insisted.

  ‘Butler by name and nature, me,’ Michael moaned, as he fired up the engine. Sick of Bella banging on about her parents’ imminent visit, it had been his suggestion to take his mother and aunt to a big supermarket so they could do a pre-Christmas shop. He seriously wished he hadn’t bothered now. The pair had moaned even more than Katy had on the phone earlier. That bitch was well pissed off when she heard Bella’s parents were visiting for Christmas, and had threatened if he didn’t see enough of Nathan she would turn up at his house with their son in tow. She knew where he lived as well, had snooped through his pockets one day and found his address on a letter.

  ‘You’re a right miserable bastard today, you are. Whatsa matter? Had a row with Bella?’ Queenie asked.

  ‘Pot calling kettle,’ Michael mumbled.

  Queenie softened. ‘I gave birth to you, Michael Butler. Tell me what’s wrong.’

  Michael sighed. ‘Bella’s invited her parents to stay with us over Christmas and New Year. Dreading it, to be honest. They’re nice people, but not my cup of tea.’

  ‘Oooh, I’d love to meet Bella’s parents, wouldn’t you, Viv? You must bring them to my house. I’ll lay on a big spread.’

  ‘They don’t speak very good English, Mum,’ Michael lied.

  ‘Don’t matter. Me and Viv’ll teach ’em some new English words. Bring ’em round – I insist. Or, if you’d prefer, me and Viv will come to yours?’

  Wishing he’d never mentioned Bella’s parents, Michael muttered, ‘We’ll see.’

  Jamie Preston sat down opposite his nan. He hated worrying her, would’ve cancelled her visit if he could.

  ‘Oh my God, Jamie! What happened? Who did that to your face? Are you hurt anywhere else?’ Shirley asked, tears in her eyes. Since Glen Harper had been released, Shirley had known by her grandson’s tone on the phone that he’d been having a tough time of it.

  ‘I’m OK, Nan. Looks worse than it is,’ Jamie lied, as another sharp pain shot through his ribs.

  Shirley leaned forward. ‘What’s going on?’ Jamie’s handsome face was smothered with fresh-looking cuts and bruises, and one of his eyes was that swollen it had virtually closed up.

  ‘That geezer who I clumped for taunting me about Albie has been giving me grief. He and his pals did this in the shower this morning. I told the screws I slipped. He’s gonna get it soon, I’m telling ya. Nobody messes with me.’

  ‘Please don’t do anything silly, nothing that’ll jeopardize you getting out of ’ere. Break my heart, that would.’

  ‘What am I meant to do, Nan? Keep letting the arseholes beat me to a pulp? I’m no man’s fool, trust me. I’ll have that bastard when nobody’s looking. I have to stick up for myself, otherwise the only way I’ll be leaving ’ere is in a bloody coffin.’

  When Shirley Preston continued to plead with her grandson not to lose his rag, neither she nor Jamie had a clue that the attacks on him had been carried out on the orders of Vinny Butler.

  Michael Butler clapped his hands when Nathan finally got the hang of driving his new motorized car. ‘That’s it, son, now turn it around and drive slowly towards me.’

  Watching from the window, Katy Spencer smiled. She loved watching her boys play together. Nathan was a ringer for his father, so much so, the likeness made her heart melt.

  Studying Michael’s handsome features, Katy sighed. She’d dearly like another child. It had even crossed her mind to blackmail Michael into impregnating her again. Katy had recently read up on artificial insemination, so knew it was possible to achieve without Michael having to betray Queen fucking Bella.

  Katy walked into the garden and stood next to the love of her life. She’d never slept with another man since Michael, had no desire to. Instead, she would satisfy herself regularly with a vibrator, while remembering Michael’s touch and their love-making. ‘Shall we take Nathan for a pizza soon? He said earlier that’s what he wanted for dinner.’

  ‘I’ve got to shoot, Katy, but I’ll leave you some money to take Nathan out.’

  Crestfallen, Katy whined, ‘But you’ve only been here an hour!’

  ‘Please don’t start, Katy. Nath said it’s half-day at school on Friday, so I’ll pop back then and we’ll take him out somewhere.’

  ‘I’ve already made arrangements for Friday. I’m going out with the school mums.’

  ‘Well, I’ll pop over Saturday daytime then, bring the rest of his presents.’

  ‘No, you will not!’ Katy snarled. ‘You’ll visit your son on Christmas Day; otherwise I will come to your house and tell Bella everything in front of her parents. And I don’t mean just a flying visit either, Michael.’

  Not wanting to raise his voice in front of his son, Michael grabbed Katy by the wrist and edged her towards the kitchen. ‘You gotta stop blackmailing me like this. If I could get here on Christmas Day, I would. Bella went ballistic when I disappeared for hours last year. No way can I fuck off out when her parents are there. I do a lot for you and Nathan. Neither of you want for anything. You need to give me a break, ’cause I can’t live like this any more. I’m seriously debating whether to tell Bella the truth, and if I do that, believe me: you won’t be living in this lovely gaff, or get half as much dosh as you do every week. Bella’s bound to kick me out, therefore I’ll need to keep her in the life she’s accustomed to, and support my bastard self.’

  Positive Michael was bullshitting her, Katy smirked and in a silly, high-pitched voice, recited his address. ‘I’ll give you until six p.m. on Christmas Day. If you haven’t arrived by then, I’m driving to Warley with Nathan. Don’t forget to save us some turkey.’

  Nigh on foaming at the mouth, Michael grabbed Katy by the neck, before quickly releasing his grip. He couldn’t afford to lose his temper. This truly was destined to be the Christmas from hell.

  Vinny Butler was in the office of his club when what his staff referred to as his ‘dodgy mobile’ rang. The handset wasn’t registered in his name.

  ‘Good hiding in the shower this morning. Not a pretty sight,’ Richie Woods mumbled.

  ‘How’d he take it?’

  ‘Like a man, but we deffo broke some ribs and his face is a proper mess. Can you drop some more cash off to Kaz before Christmas? She’s boracic, you know how it is. Five kids to buy presents and grub for.’

  ‘Of course. I’ll get one of the lads to drop a grand round to Kaz later today. Keep doing what you’re doing, and there’s plenty more dosh where that came from. I want ya to make that cunt’s life as miserable as humanly possible, OK?’

  ‘Will do.’

  When the pips went, Vinny poured himself a small celebratory Scotch, and slouched back in his black leather chair. Richie Woods wasn’t a bright spark by any means. He’d got caught robbing a local bookies when he’d dropped his keys as he’d legged it with the dosh. His key ring had contained a photo of his five kids, the muppet. But Richie was no snitch. Vinny had known him for years and knew he didn’t have loose lips. With a piss-poor wife and five kids to feed, Richie was Vinny’s ideal man on the inside to do his dirty work. Now Glen Harper wasn’t around to protect that evil child-killing scumbag, Preston was nothing, a nobody.

  Michael Butler put his arms around Bella and squeezed her tight. ‘How was your day, babe? Did your meetings go well?’

  As much as Bella loved her children, she’d never been a seven-day-a-week stay-at-home mother. Her modelling agency was very important to her, and she liked to spend at least two days a week at her office up town.

  ‘My first meeting went fantastically well, the second not so good. I cannot work with ignorant spoiled little bitches. How w
as your day? You look tired and stressed.’

  ‘If you went supermarket shopping with my mother and aunt, you’d be tired and stressed too. Love ’em to bits, but they’re a nightmare at times. Wanted to fight half the shoppers, then all I got in my earhole all the way home is “It’s supermarkets that have caused the rise in cancer because their food isn’t as fresh as what it was in the good old days.” Perhaps they should’ve been scientists, eh?’

  Bella chuckled. ‘You should invite them over to meet my parents. I’m sure my mamma and papa would love Queenie and Viv.’

  ‘Not on your nelly! Where’re the kids? And what’s that lovely smell? It certainly ain’t your cooking.’

  ‘Juanita has taken Antonio and Camila shopping. They wanted to choose their own Christmas presents for the family this year, bless them.’ Juanita was Bella and Michael’s housekeeper, cook, cleaner and nanny. She truly was a godsend and lived rent-free in the tiny bungalow they’d had built for her at the back of their property.

  Michael positioned Bella so she was lying on the sofa, then clambered on top of her. ‘Let’s make the most of being alone for once, eh?’

  ‘Not here. Say Dan and Lee come in for their dinner? Or Juanita brings the children back?’

  ‘Dan and Lee are checking out some bars for me. I’m thinking of scrapping the disco of a Thursday and instead having a karaoke night. It’s the new big thing. As for Juanita, we’ll hear her car pull up,’ Michael said, expertly ripping Bella’s thong off in one split second.

  Bella groaned with ecstasy as Michael’s tongue made contact with her clitoris. She’d had a tough day at the office, and this was just the release she needed. ‘Stop. I’m nearly there; I want us to come together with you inside me.’

  As hard as a bullet, Michael sighed with ecstasy as he penetrated Bella. ‘I love you so fucking much, babe,’ he whispered.

  Bella stroked Michael’s handsome face. He was forty-two now, but hadn’t altered much over the years. He still reminded her of David Essex back in the day, had the same cheeky twinkle in his eyes and boyish grin. ‘I love you too, Michael. More than you’ll ever know. You and the children are my world.’