When Lee went up the bar, Daniel thought about his mum. He had loved her in his own way, that’s why he’d been so angry when she topped herself. It was easier to see her as selfish and hate her rather than go through the raw emotions of dealing with her death. Knowing what a lying bastard his father was now though made Daniel wonder what she’d had to put up with over the years. She must have been desperately unhappy to chuck herself off Beachy Head, that was for sure. Adam’s death had been blamed for sending her literally over the edge, but she’d also found out about Bella around the same time.
‘Donald knew I was there, but he wouldn’t look at me,’ Lee informed his brother.
Daniel necked his chaser in one, then slammed the glass on the table. ‘I’ve been thinking. I know my mum was upset about Adam, but I bet the true reason she killed herself was because Dad was having it off with that Italian whore. Makes me hate Bella even more, that does. Ring the lads and tell ’em we can’t make it later. We’re going back to Brentwood to confront the slut.’
‘Donald’s swapped seats with the bloke he’s with, Dan.’
Daniel glanced over at the table and immediately felt irate. His grandfather was now sitting with his back towards him. ‘Fucking old bastard! Nobody does that to me, especially my own flesh and blood. Who does he think he is?’
When Daniel leapt up, Lee did the same and grabbed his brother’s arm. ‘Leave it, Dan. Let’s get out of here. Donald ain’t worth it. Seriously, bruv.’
Daniel Butler was in no mood to be restrained. He stomped over to Donald and prodded him on the shoulder. ‘Why d’ya turn your back on me? I’m all you have left of your Nancy. If my mum is looking down, she’d be horrified by what you just did. I’m your fucking grandson.’
The Royal Oak was Donald’s local. Not that he was a big drinker, but he’d pop in for the odd pint or two when his son Christopher visited or his friend Derrick Robin. It was Derrick he was with today. ‘I don’t want any trouble, Daniel. I’ve come in here for a quiet drink.’
Daniel was amazed to see his grandfather’s hands shaking and fear in his eyes. ‘Why are you scared of me? I’m your grandson. It’s me, Daniel! That same little boy you used to sing fucking nursery rhymes to.’
Donald felt terribly embarrassed. Most of the customers were now looking around and a few of them ate at his café regularly.
‘Come on, Dan. He don’t wanna know,’ Lee urged, trying to drag his brother away.
Daniel Butler was distraught. He had one granddad at death’s door and it was clear to see the other was petrified of him. He had to have the last word though. It was in his nature. ‘You sad, pathetic old cunt. How you produced my lovely mum I will never know.’
Michael Butler was also thinking about Nancy. He’d bought the gaff opposite his old marital home for his father to live in and was currently peeping through the curtains, staring at it.
Watching the family who now lived there unloading bags of shopping from the boot of their car, Michael sighed. He hadn’t given Nancy much thought over recent years, had been too content and wrapped up with Bella to bother about his ex. What a mug he’d been. Nancy would never have betrayed him in such a vile manner, and truth be known if Bella hadn’t come back on the scene Nancy probably wouldn’t have chucked herself off Beachy Head.
Michael walked away from the window and glanced at himself in the mirror. He looked exactly as he felt: like shit. He knew alcohol wasn’t the answer to his problems; neither was staying at his old man’s house. Barking held far too many memories, not only of Nancy, but also Adam. There were only a few things that could make him feel even remotely better. His dad recovering, getting away from the East End, being around one of his kids and revenge. Katy Spencer could provide three of those.
Antonio D’Angelo was sitting halfway down the stairs, earwigging. He’d politely greeted his grandparents, then excused himself by telling them he’d been given some homework by his teacher that he wanted to finish before Christmas.
‘Michael and I have been arguing a lot lately. Not over anything serious, but we mutually decided to take a break from one another,’ Antonio heard his mother say.
‘I am not stupid, Bella. Something serious must have happened for Michael to walk away from Camila. Has he been cheating on you?’ Giovanni asked. He knew his daughter was lying, could see it in her eyes.
‘No. Of course not. If you must know the truth, Michael has a son he never told me about. I was very angry with him for not coming clean with me, so I chucked him out. But everything will be fine, Dad. I love Michael and he loves me. The child wasn’t conceived while we were together and I needed space to clear my head,’ Bella flapped. She knew what her father was capable of, and no way did she want Michael to be in any danger.
Blood boiling at his mother’s audacity in blaming Michael, Antonio dashed into the kitchen. ‘Tell Nonna and Nonno the truth. Go on! Tell them what you did,’ he ordered his mother.
Bella’s eyes clouded over, a mixture of fear and anger. ‘Go to your room this very minute, young man. I will explain the situation to Nonna and Nonno.’
‘She’s lying. Mum slept with Michael’s brother and I am his son. Vinny Butler is my father,’ Antonio screamed.
For once Giovanni D’Angelo was speechless. He’d done his homework on the Butlers, knew Vinny was a piece of work. Surely this could not be true?
Seconds later, Daniel and Lee Butler burst into the house. Their vicious, condescending verbal attack on Bella only confirmed Antonio’s allegations and Giovanni’s worst fears. To say he was livid and disappointed with his daughter was putting it mildly. He was absolutely disgusted by her.
Queenie Butler squeezed her son’s hand. ‘How you feeling?’ Vinny’s face looked worse today. The bruising had come out and it was very swollen on one side.
‘Sore, but I’ll survive. You heard from Michael?’
‘No. I do hope he’s OK though, boy. Nobody knows where he is and he ain’t visited your father, ’cause I asked the nurses. Out of intensive care already, that old bastard is. They’ve put him on a normal ward, so looks like he’ll live. You seen a doctor again? I hope you’re out of here for Christmas. Ava’s not been herself. I think it upset her, seeing you like this. I was gonna cancel Tara and Tommy coming tomorrow, but on second thoughts it might cheer Ava up a bit, having them around, take her mind off all the drama.’
‘You can’t cancel ’em. I doubt the poor little bastards have got anywhere else to go and they must miss their mum this time of year. I’ll be out of here soon, don’t you worry. The food’s shit. I’ll discharge meself before Christmas, worst comes to the worst.’
‘You can’t do that. Not until they’re satisfied there’s nothing wrong with you. Head injuries need to be treated with caution. Look at poor Roy.’
‘He got blasted through the skull with a gun, Mum. It’s a bit different. I’m fine, honest. Not been sick any more, and me headache’s worn off. Where’s Little Vinny? I thought he would’ve popped back. Did he say if he’s gonna visit today?’
‘He stayed at mine last night and shot off early this morning. I think he was a bit taken aback by it all, to be honest. I’m sure he’ll be fine once he gets his head around it though. You know what a family man he is.’
‘So what you trying to say? He sided with Michael, did he?’
Queenie looked sheepish. Her grandson had been both shocked and outraged when she’d explained the situation in detail, but she didn’t want to upset Vinny. ‘He didn’t say too much. It’s a lot for him to take in though. As far as he knew, he was your only son. A bit of a bombshell to find out he isn’t. And he was worried about Albie. Idolizes that old goat. Perhaps he’ll pop in and see you later, eh?’
‘I doubt it, Mum. I’m obviously gonna be seen as the Big Bad Wolf in all of this. No wonder I stay single. Women have always caused me nothing but bastard grief. As for that Italian bitch, I rue the day I ever laid eyes on her. I truly do,’ Vinny lied. He could hardly admit to his mother he wa
s actually getting off on the fact he finally had a hold over Bella, could he now?
Over at Bow Police Station, the Chief Inspector was listening to the taped confession for the second time. It was transfixing on the ear, to say the very least.
‘Shall we bring him in for questioning, guv?’ asked DS Terry.
‘Not yet. I want a DNA sample from Jamie Preston first; see if we can match it to Molly Butler’s prime exhibits. Send somebody over to Charlton to collect the child’s clothing and anything else we might have kept. You know how slippery the Butlers are, bound to hire the best brief in town. Little Vinny throttling his own sister, eh? Whoever would’ve thought it?’
‘And if there is no DNA match linking Jamie to Molly?’
‘Then we’ll have made a massive cock-up that we’ll try our damned hardest to put right.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Breakfast hadn’t even been served on Christmas Eve when Albie Butler was awoken by the curtains being pulled around his bed. ‘Michael!’ he exclaimed, immediately wide awake at the sight of his beloved son.
Having sweet-talked the ward sister to be allowed in so early, Michael Butler sat on the edge of his father’s bed and spoke in little more than a whisper. ‘How you feeling? I had a chat with the nurses and they reckon you’re out of the woods and gonna be fine. You have got to take it easy for a while though. No working at the club, and you need to cut down on the booze and fags.’
‘Don’t be worrying about me. I’m going nowhere yet. It’s you I’m concerned about. Where you been staying? Little Vinny popped in to see me last night and said everyone’s frantic as nobody can get hold of you. He’s on your side that boy, not his father’s. He’s that disgusted by it all, he didn’t even bother visiting Vinny while he was here.’
‘I’ve been stopping at yours, but hid me motor and turned the lights off of a night. Dan and Lee knocked a few times and Little Vinny came round, but I couldn’t face anyone. Look, I’ve decided I need to get out of the East End for a bit to sort me head out. I spoke to Katy late last night and as soon as I leave ’ere I’m going to shoot down to Tunbridge Wells to spend Christmas at hers with Nathan. Seeing as I’m paying for the gaff, it beats a hotel.’
Albie squeezed his son’s hand. ‘I’ve learnt over the years it is better to face your problems full-on than run away from ’em, but you do what you feel is right.’
‘No way can I stay round ’ere. Must be the talk of the town and the laughing stock of all fucking laughing stocks. I will never live down what those pair of cunts have done to me.’
‘You’re not and never will be a laughing stock, Michael. Unlike your brother, who people pretend to like through fear, you are genuinely popular and well respected. Of course the gossipmongers will be having a field day, but you’ll be the one who comes out of all this smelling of roses. Your brother will lose a lot of kudos. The likes of Eddie Mitchell won’t be overly impressed, you mark my words.’
‘The way I feel right now, I wish I was pushing up bastard roses. My whole world has been blown apart and I have no idea when I’ll get to see Camila again. It’s like the worst nightmare ever. I even kept pinching myself the other night to make sure I was actually awake.’
‘That’s how I felt when my Dorothy passed away, although that is nothing in comparison to what you’re going through. I only wish there was something I could say or do to make things right for you. But obviously I can’t.’
‘Let’s look on the bright side. The one good thing to come out of all this shit is you can get to spend some quality time with Nathan now. He’s a cracking lad.’
‘I will look forward to that very much. A word of warning though, from a none-too-wise old man. Don’t let Katy trap you again, boy. We both know you don’t love her and you’re bound to feel vulnerable at the moment.’
Michael managed a weak smile. ‘Truth be known, I don’t even like Katy very much, let alone love her. But revenge is sweet and I intend mine to be heavily coated in sugar. Bella who?’
Katy Spencer was in an ecstatic trance. When Michael had called late last night, she’d expected him to have a good old rant at her for turning up at his house before arranging to see their son. But she’d been wrong and was now desperate to share her wonderful news.
Katy dialled Lucy’s number yet again, willing her friend to answer. ‘There you are! Oh my God! You’ll never guess what’s happened, Luce. I was dying to tell you last night, but it was too late after I got off the phone, and I’ve been ringing you all morning.’
‘Slow down. I can’t understand you properly when you gabble. I take it this is about Michael?’ Lucy asked, trying to keep the sarcasm from her tone. She’d heard enough about Michael Butler recently to last her a bloody lifetime.
‘He’s moving in, Luce. Well, on a temporary basis. Can you believe it? I’ve been tidying up all morning. Nathan is so excited, bless him. This will be the first time his father has stayed overnight with us since he was born.’
Lucy Tompkins was shocked. ‘Really? Michael actually asked to move in with you?’
‘Not exactly. But he asked if he could stay over the festive season. He said a lot had happened and he needed a break to clear his head. But he obviously wants to be with me, Luce. He could stay bloody anywhere. I mean, let’s be honest, you’d think he’d have the right hump with me after telling Bella, but perhaps he wanted the truth to come out all along? I always said he had feelings for me, didn’t I? The sex between us was amazing and I can’t believe he’ll be sleeping in my bed tonight. It’s been so long since I’ve had sex, but I’m glad I waited for him. I have you to thank for all this. It was your idea we knock on his front door. I’d threatened to do so many a time, but probably would never have had the guts to go through with it without you by my side. I owe you one, mate.’
‘I’m amazed Michael wants to stay at yours, but obviously pleased for you at the same time. You must be careful though, Katy. He will be on the rebound and chances are at some point Bella will decide to take him back. I don’t want you to get your heart broken any more than it already has been in the past.’
Katy already felt more confident than she had in years. ‘Nathan would love a brother or sister, Lucy. I intend to fulfil my son’s wish, and believe me, I will.’
It was Christmas Eve tradition that Vivian and Queenie visit the graves of their loved ones. They’d start at Bow with their beloved mother, then move on to Plaistow to pay their respects to Roy, Lenny, Molly, Adam and Brenda. It was always a sad day for both women and it had been Vivian’s idea they stop for a stiff drink before hopping back on the train.
The weather being extremely cold, Queenie and Vivian had got more than the bit of warmth they’d hoped to find in the pub. They’d pulled two suited and booted old boys.
‘That Ted weren’t a bad catch, Queen. I bet he was a right looker back in the day,’ Vivian insisted.
‘And I bet he’s been a right bleedin’ womanizer in his time an’ all. I married one, so I know the signs. Anyway, his shoes were cheap. You can always tell a man by his shoes. Don’t see my Vinny and Michael wearing crap out of Freeman, Hardy and Willis, do you?’
When the train stopped at Whitechapel, Vivian linked arms with her sister for the short walk home. Their one stiff drink had turned into four. ‘I feel a bit tiddly. Do you reckon they were buying us doubles?’
‘Probably. Men will do anything to get inside your knickers. Won’t be meeting them again next week like we promised, that’s for sure.’
‘Why not? It’s only a harmless drink at lunchtime, and we’ll be passing the pub on the way home from the cemetery anyway. You can be such an old stick-in-the-mud at times, Queen. That Ted might have the biggest dingle-dangle for miles around, for all you know.’
Queenie chuckled. ‘Any man who tried to put his todger near me would get it hacked off immediately. Unless it was Eddie Mitchell, of course! Seriously, we’d better not pop back in that pub. My Vinny and Michael will have a fit if they hear we’ve b
een acting like two loose women. I wonder who that car belongs to outside mine? Looks posh, doesn’t it?’
When a handsome but severe-looking man stepped out of the passenger side and asked, ‘Are you Mrs Butler?’ Queenie was rather taken aback.
‘Who wants to know?’ Vivian asked.
‘My name is Giovanni D’Angelo. I am Bella’s father. I think we need to have a little chat about our grandchildren, don’t you?’
Having asked for the DNA results back as a matter of urgency, DS Terry was like a cat on a hot tin roof. Terry would put his house on it, after hearing that tape, there was no match with Preston, and he was no gambler. It was a damn shame that Ben Bloggs had topped himself because he would have been the weak link without a shadow of a doubt. However, Terry planned to play on Ben’s suicide when questioning Vinny Butler Junior. It was a bit too much of a coincidence that the Bloggs lad had chosen to hang himself at the same time as Molly’s funeral.
‘No news is good news, guv,’ young Hicks remarked. He knew his boss was on tenterhooks. In fact there was an air of excitement all around the station today.
Still scrutinizing Little Vinny’s statements surrounding Molly’s death, Terry got to the part where the lad had told the police he’d fallen into a deep sleep and when he’d awoken his sister had disappeared. ‘Asleep my arse, you murdering little fucker,’ he hissed.
Giovanni D’Angelo most certainly had an aura about him. Tall, with slicked-back greying hair, he was immaculately turned out. His suit and shoes were of the finest quality and he actually reminded Queenie of an older foreign version of her sons.
Bella had always been rather vague about her parents’ lifestyle, had described her father as some kind of businessman. Knowing now what a liar Bella was, one look at Mr D’Angelo told Queenie there was more to him than met the eye. She knew a villain when she saw one, having given birth to three.
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