‘Surprise,’ a voice boomed.
‘Shit! You made me jump. I didn’t hear you come in. Why you home so early?’
Dumbo planted a fat kiss on the lips of the woman who had made him so very happy, then picked up Caleb and Malik as they ran to greet him. ‘Jack told me to close the bar early and I got the whole weekend off with full pay,’ Dumbo grinned.
‘How comes?’
‘I’m not sure. Jack’s got family problems, I think.’ Dumbo never told Sharon anything important because unfortunately her mouth was even bigger than her body.
‘Shall we do something tomorrow? Can we take the kids to the seaside? They’ve never been to the seaside.’
Dumbo held his woman in his arms. He knew when they went out as a family, people laughed and stared. He was tall and lanky with massive ears, Sharon ginger and fat, Calum half Jamaican, Malik half Asian. But having been raised in numerous children’s homes, Dumbo didn’t care. Maylands in particular had taught him how to grow crocodile skin. ‘Seaside it is then, Sugartits. I was thinking, I know it’s gone ten, but how do ya fancy going clubbing tonight? It’s been ages since you and Denise had a night out. Tell Den to drop Denzil round ’ere. I’ll babysit the kids.’
Sharon squealed with delight as Dumbo handed her a fifty-pound note. ‘We’ll go Lautrec’s and I’ll bring you a kebab in from Lazet’s. I won’t drink too much cider. I’ll stick to halves, not pints.’
Dumbo smiled. He had work to do.
Even though his brothers had hearts of stone in comparison to his own, Danny Darling knew they were speaking sense. He and Eugene had flown out to Spain last Monday with their own passports, and would be flying back next Monday with their own passports. Nobody knew, bar Ronnie and Sharpy, that they’d even left the country in between. Therefore, they should be in the clear. Sharpy used to box with Ronnie, was as trustworthy as they come.
‘The other option is to go home, act normal, then tell Mum and Dad you liked it so much out here, you wanna move out here with me. That way, you won’t have to look Mum, Dad or Donna in the face for much longer,’ Ronnie suggested.
‘I’m for that. South London ain’t what it used to be,’ Eugene said. ‘What would we do for wonga though?’
‘I’ll buy us a bar out here. You two can run it,’ Ronnie replied.
Danny thought about his own family. Lucy loved the sun and his kids would have a better life in Spain. He raised his glass. ‘To new beginnings – and Tommy and Robbie. Gone but never forgotten.’
Ronnie and Eugene followed suit. ‘To new beginnings, and Tommy and Robbie,’ they said in unison.
Dumbo waited until the kids were asleep before lifting up the carpet, then the floorboard. Sharon had no idea about his ‘Little Black Book’.
Writing down the events of today, Dumbo grinned as he thought of his telephone conversation with Danny. Danny had dropped the phone in shock when he’d told him Robbie had been shot in the head. Not that Dumbo thought Robbie dying was funny, but it served Danny right.
A couple of weeks ago Dumbo had been earwigging when Danny and Eugene hatched their plan to shoot Josh. They hadn’t noticed him hovering. Nobody ever did. They all saw him as the simple barman everybody laughed at.
That was the good thing about having massive ears. Dumbo had better hearing than most. Scratch had called him her top snout, but Dumbo preferred to think of himself as a police informant. That made him feel ultra important.
Getting the job at Churchill’s was all part of his and Scratch’s cunning plan. He was to be her eyes and ears in the bar. But now Scratch had left the police force, he’d decided to keep the job anyway. He liked working at Churchill’s and it paid quite well. Jack gave him cash in hand, so he could still claim his benefits.
Previously, he’d helped Scratch put away a murderer, numerous drug dealers and armed robbers. He’d even grassed up Benny and his boss. Two grand, he’d got for that job. He had no regrets. Benny had changed since their days at Maylands. He was rude and flash. Served him right.
Since he started working for the Darlings, Dumbo had written down every piece of juicy information in his Little Black Book. Churchill’s was full of villains who spoke too loudly when inebriated. Extra-marital affairs, illegitimate children, armed robberies, who’d murdered who – Dumbo knew everything.
Checking his dates and times were all correct, Dumbo snapped the book shut and put it back in its hidey-hole. For now, he was happy with his life and job. But if the Darlings ever wronged him, he would work for Scratch’s husband Jay and grass the lot of them up.
Dumbo checked on the boys, then poured himself an orange juice. On the lounge wall, amongst numerous other photos, there was one of himself and Tommy taken at Maylands. Dumbo raised his glass. ‘Happy Heavenly Birthday, Tommy. You’re a legend and I got you to thank for the man I am today. You always told me to believe in myself and now I do. People might think I’m thick, but I’m not. I’m fucking clever.’
EPILOGUE
I smile as I watch Linda walk down the aisle.
‘Doesn’t she look beautiful, Tommy?’ my mum says to me.
I stroke Rex, my beloved Alsatian. ‘She looks amazing,’ I reply.
‘Paul looks nothing like Little Jimmy Osmond,’ jokes my big sister.
I put an arm around Hazel. Seeing her again was a lovely surprise when I arrived here. No wonder Linda and I hadn’t been able to trace her. She’d committed suicide in 1978.
I can’t wipe the grin off my face when I see the place set for me at the table. The photo of me is a nice one.
I put my other arm around Robbie. What happened to him was truly tragic. But at least we are together again.
My mum asks me if I’m OK.
‘I’m sound, Mum,’ I assure her. ‘Happier than I’ve felt in many years.’
I’ve now come to the conclusion that the place we leave behind is hell. Heaven is a far better place to be.
As for me becoming a national hero, I fucking love it. Nobody will ever forget Tommy Darling/Boyle.
Thank you for reading my story and please don’t have nightmares. Life is what you make of it.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Big love and thanks to my fab agent, Tim Bates, and my exceptionally brilliant editor, Kimberley Young. Thanks also to the hardworking team at HarperCollins who are an absolute joy to work with. Charlotte Brabbin, Sarah Shea, Hannah O’Brien, and the whole of the amazing Sales team.
A special mention to my lovely publicist, Felicity Denham. Also Charlie Redmayne, Laura Meyer, Pat Fletcher (second Mum), Rosie de Courcy and the wonderful Sue Cox. And a special mention to my policeman pal, Ron, and his lovely wife, Maz. Thanks so much for all your help, I’m really glad you smashed my door down now.
An author is a nobody without their readers and mine are the best! A huge thank you to each and every one of you for your loyal support, reviews and lovely comments regarding my work. It’s very much appreciated.
And last, but certainly not least, RIP Chas Hodges. A musical genius.
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About the Author
Kimberley Chambers lives in Essex and has been, at various times, a disc jockey, cab driver and a street trader. She is now a No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of fourteen novels.
Join Kimberley’s legion of legendary fans online:
www.kimberleychambers.com
/kimberleychambersofficial
@kimbochambers
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Also by Kimberley Chambers
Billie Jo
Born Evil
The Betrayer
The Feud
The Traitor
The Victim
The Schemer
The Trap
Payback
The Wronged
Tainted Love
Backstabber
Life of Crime
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Epigraph
Contents
Prologue
Part One
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Part Two
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Part Three
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Part Four
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Keep Reading …
About the Author
Also by Kimberley Chambers
About the Publisher
The Sting Page 35
