by Karen Clow
CHAPTER 50
Saturday morning began early. Monica had rung to say she would be arriving with the boys around half ten. Sarah was coming over around the same time with her dad to pick up her puppy. Maria was finishing everything off before they all arrived. Mickey and his dad were going over their strategy for the game, because it wasn’t just about winning, it was about taking as much as they could from Davy Sheridan. Billy and Jess had taken the twins to open the stables, Rosie and her puppies had followed them.
By eleven o’clock, everyone was at the house. Monica seemed to hit it off with Jess. Mary made tea for Sarah’s dad John, while Sarah played with her puppy, which she had decided to call Buster.
George arrived just as Mickey and his dad were about to leave. Maria joked with the two would-be gamblers to enjoy themselves, but to try not to lose too much money.
“Don’t worry babe, if I end up bankrupt we’ve always got your money!” said Mickey with a laugh “don’t forget babe, if there’s any real emergency you can call Harpers Casino and someone will get a message to me, ok. I’ll see you by lunch time tomorrow.”
Everyone wished them luck as they left.
Just over an hour later, the two men pulled into the car park at Harpers club.
“Do you think you’ll be able to handle seeing Davy close up and personal son?” asked Den.
“Truth is Dad, now we’re here I don’t know. If I’m honest, I would like to kill the bastard, but I’ve waited this long I’m not about to screw things up now.”
“Just keep a level head son, Davy fucking Sheridan is going to get his comeuppance, one way or another, let’s just hope it starts tonight. Anyway, look on the bright side son. You never thought you’d see any of the money again, so technically it’s his money you’ll be playing with.”
“Yeah you’re right Dad, come on let’s get in there.”
Walking towards the club, they spotted Tony’s and Shaun’s cars, parked next to a Lamborghini. Mickey grinned and said he wondered who it belonged to.
“Whoever’s it is,” said Den “he’s got taste, so we know it won’t belong to Davy.”
Den recognised one of the doormen. As they approached he smiled at Den and asked after him and the family before telling them Trevor was waiting for them upstairs. He wished them good luck as they entered the club.
Before they could enter the room where the game was to take place, they were frisked by a big mean looking heavy, called John Oak. He had worked for Trevor and his dad for almost thirty years. Now in his fifties, he was still in good shape and he was certainly one big fucker. After he frisked them he ran a small electronic device up and down them to check for anything that they could use to fix the game. When he was certain they were clean he told them to go through. They bantered for a few minutes and would have talked longer had Mehmet the Turk and Emir not arrived just after them.
They made their way to the bar having spotted the others talking to Trevor when they’d arrived. They shook hands with Trevor and asked where Tony was. Shane said he was taking a leak.
A few moments later, Tony joined them. They were talking when Davy and Danny came walking towards the bar. Trevor could sense the atmosphere between them, especially when Davy strutted over to them and spoke to Tony.
“Thanks for letting me in on the game Mr Ramon” said Davy in his normal confident, arrogant manner. “I hope you bought plenty of money with you because I’m on a winning streak.”
Before Tony could answer, Shaun interrupted.
“Is that a fact sonny,” he said sarcastically with a mean look about him “well you know what they say don’t you?”
“No what’s that then?”
“Sometimes your luck just runs out, no warning, no nothing, just like women it’s unpredictable.”
Davy just smirked and moved along the bar to order a drink. Den quickly changed the subject because he didn’t want Mickey losing his cool. Looking at Trevor; Den asked who the Lamborghini belonged to.
“Actually it’s mine Den.”
Just as Den was going to reply, he felt a hand on his shoulder and a voice he recognised.
“So, you reckon you’re a poker player then Denny Mann?”
Turning round, he embraced Trevor’s dad Tommy. It was obvious that the two men held a genuine fondness for one another. Tommy shook hands with the others and then talked to Mickey about Den and the great poker games they’d had over the years. They had been talking for about ten minutes when John Oak walked over to Trevor and informed him that everyone had arrived.
Mickey looked up and spotted Colin Brett and his boss walking towards them. They shook hands and Colin introduced his boss, Sam Leyton. While they talked general chit chat, Mickey noticed Tony gave Tommy Harper an envelope, which he put inside his jacket as Tony thanked him for letting them have the game there.
“Always happy to do business with you and your lads Tony,” said Tommy “not so sure about the Turk and that fucking Sheridan though.”
Mickey grinned to himself on hearing him say that.
Ten minutes later, all the players were sitting at the table with their heavies sat at tables a few feet away. Trevor gave a welcoming speech.
“Glad you could all make it tonight. You all know the rules; anyone tries to change them and their out. If the game gets too rich for any of you, you’ll be asked to retire from the table and leave. Once you’re out, there’s no getting back in. Tubby my barman, will serve the drinks so no one leaves the table during a game understood? Well that’s about it, so let’s keep it civilised and the best of luck to all of you.”
There was only seven players and not the original eight, a friend of Tony’s had been unable to make it at the last minute.
Tommy Harper took the first two games and then Den surprised everyone with a royal flush. There was a lot of money being put down. Mickey watched as Davy lost the first four hands. He could tell from his body language that he was feeling pissed off, especially when the Turk lifted a hundred and fifty grand off the table from a game which Davy had gambled heavily on. It was especially noticeable when the Turk joked.
“I hope you’ve brought the papers for your clubs Davy, because I’m feeling lucky tonight.”
“I’m just warming up Mehmet,” replied Davy arrogantly “I’m a long way from quitting yet!”
Despite what he’d said earlier, Davy was still losing heavily as the time approached four in the morning. To everyone’s surprise he seemed to have the funds to keep betting. Mickey had won a couple and Den was about a hundred grand up. Then the game took a strange turn. It was a tense game which even saw Tommy throwing his hand in, despite having been the most consistent player all night.
Mickey and Davy were the last two in the game and Davy as always was cocky.
Mickey just sat quietly, waiting for him to put his money up, even Den looked tense. There was a lot of money on the table, easily the biggest pot of the night; he was amazed at how calm his son was.
Mickey was thinking about the game the night Jimmy won Maria. It was as though history was about to repeat itself. Davy laid his hand down; it was the same hand that Nick had that fateful night. Then he just sat there smirking as he waited for Mickey to show his hand.
Finally, after several seconds he laid his cards out and there it was the royal flush. Mickey never said a word.
“I didn’t expect that,” said Tommy Harper “well played Mr Mann. Fuck me Den you taught him well, he was cool as a cucumber, fair play to the lad.”
It was without a doubt the biggest win of the night. Davy looked like he’d lost the will to live as Mickey calmly scooped the pot over.
“Would you be interested in buying one of my clubs,” said Davy looking sick, “I’m down to my last sixty grand.”
“No thanks,” said Mickey sarcastically “I’m winding down the club business I’m a family man now, so thanks for the offer, but I’m not interested.”
Den had a feeling of pride as he watched Davy grovel to his son
. Mickey had kept his cool. It hadn’t been the only royal flush of the night, but from their point of view it had definitely been the best and certainly the most profitable in more ways than one.
“You know the rules Mr Sheridan” said Trevor, “are you playing or not?” Davy was frantic; he asked the other players if they wanted to buy his club. He looked distraught; he knew that without cash he was out. Then Sam Leyton looked at him and asked how much his club was worth?
“Around four hundred grand I guess, maybe a bit more?”
“I’ll give you two hundred and fifty for it in cash tonight” said Sam coldly, “take it or leave it, it’s not negotiable.”
“Are you taking the piss?” snapped Davy “I’ve just fucking told you it’s worth almost twice that!”
“I’m a business man, not a fucking charity! The choice is yours. The last thing I want is a club in the shit hole West End, but I have friends who might. Two fifty is the offer, are you interested or not, because I came here to play poker not buy a fucking club!”
Davy asked if anyone at the table would better Sam’s offer. Desperately he looked at the Turk in the hope that he would, Davy even lowered his pride and asked him.
“I already have the papers on one of your clubs,” said the Turk “I’m not interested.”
“I’ve still got a week to get your money, you don’t own my club ‘til then and I’ll get your fucking money!”
Trevor could sense Davy was about to get out of hand, so he nodded at John Oak who moved from his seat and stood behind him.
“What’s it to be Mr Sheridan” asked Trevor “are you in or not? You know the rules, so let’s keep it friendly shall we.”
Davy was well aware that he would be leaving if he couldn’t cut it. Nodding over at Sam, he nodded. Then he took a document from his inside pocket and lobbed it across the table at him.
Sam picked it up and glanced at it before passing it to Colin who then opened a case and took out the money. Seconds later he passed the money to Davy before putting the club document in the case and locking it.
The final game ended just before six that morning. Tony won the last pot, Davy had recouped some of his loss, but nothing like what he hoped to, he’d lost his club and all he had at the end of the game was a hundred and fifteen grand in cash. Mickey was almost two hundred grand better off than when he got there.
They finally left Harpers around seven that morning. Despite being tired Mickey and his dad were buzzing with the way things had gone. More important than winning was the fact that the decline of Davy Sheridan had well and truly begun. Den asked if they could stop at his house before returning to Kent. He just wanted to check the place and collect any post. Owing to the good mood that Mickey was in, he wouldn’t have argued whatever his dad had asked for.
“Do you want to get your head down for a couple of hours son before we drive back to Kent?”
“I doubt I could sleep Dad, what a night! Now I know how Jimmy felt the night he beat Nick. Can you believe it Dad? Davy fucking Sheridan asking me if I wanted to buy his fucking club who’d ever have thought it.”
Den could see his son was well chuffed with the way things had gone and the last thing he wanted was to spoil his sons pleasure. Yet despite their obvious joy, Den knew there was now the fear that Davy would need to get his hands on a large sum of money quickly. He noticed Mickey’s face change when he mentioned it.
“Well if the bastard messes with my fucking family again Dad, I’ll fucking kill him myself!” said Mickey just as they pulled up at Den’s.
Inside the house smelt musty where it had been shut up.
“Make us a coffee son, you’ll have to use whitener as there’s no fresh milk. I’ll go and open the windows and collected the post.”
Mickey put the kettle on then called home.
“Hi darling how was the game,” asked Maria “did you enjoy yourself and are we broke?”
“We had a great time babe, I won a few quid. There were a couple of surprises though; I’ll tell you all about it when we get home. I’m at dads he’s just giving the place an airing. Once he’s sorted out his mail and we’ve had a coffee, we’ll head back. We’ll probably leave around half nine, everything been ok at home?”
“Yes fine, although I didn’t sleep very well, I’m used to having you here. It seemed strange waking up this morning without you in our bed.”
“Well maybe this afternoon we can sneak off to our bed for a couple of hours, because you’re tired and I haven’t been to bed all night?”
She knew he was referring to them having sex and despite his tiredness, she could tell that he was excited and would probably want them to make love.
“We’ll see, don’t forget we’ve got eight kids in the house at the moment. I can’t see us getting away for any length of time, but you can have a kip.”
“I wasn’t thinking about us sleeping babe, but I suppose if I do have a kip, you could always come and wake me up.”
“Oh I think I could manage that.”
“Book a table at the pub for five o’clock this evening babe, I’ll be taking everyone out for dinner and having a drink with George as promised. Is Billy there babe, I’ve got a message for him?”
She called Billy to the phone.
“Tell him we’ll see him in a while” she said as she handed the phone to him, “only I can hear one of the babies crying.”
“I heard what she said Billy, but can anyone else hear me?”
“No Mick we’re ok, why?”
He listened as he told him about Davy losing heavily at the game.
“I wished I’d been there to see it Mick.”
“Maria doesn’t know he was there, so don’t let on Billy. I’ll mention it to her at some point, but in the meantime keep your eyes open. I don’t trust him. I know he’s in bad shape financially. I don’t think he would be fucking stupid enough to do anything rash, but I’m not taking any chances. He’s done it once and desperate people do desperate things. I assume you’ll be at the house all morning?”
“Course Mick”
“Just do me a favour mate, don’t let the kids out of your sight, we’ll be home in a while.”
“Don’t go breaking any speed limits, everything’s fine me and George are taking the kids to the stables in a minute. Monica and Jess will be here with Maria. Someone would have to fucking kill me Mick to get to them.”
“I know that Billy, that’s why I left you there. Tell the girls I’ll see them soon.”
At that moment, Den appeared and told him once they’d had a coffee and locked up, they could go.
The time was approaching nine o’clock as they left the house. Traffic was quite heavy in London, but once they cleared the main roads and hit the motorway, traffic was good. They arrived home just before half ten. Billy and the others had just reached the house as they returned from the stables.
When Mickey and his dad pulled up the twins ran straight to them. Scooping them both up in his arms he asked if they’d been looking after mummy and the babies for him. They both nodded and said they had.
Inside the house, he put the girls down and walked towards Maria. As she saw him, she threw her arms around him and landed a smacker on his lips.
“I’ll have to spend more nights away from home babe if this is the greeting I’m going to get.”
George asked them how the game had gone. Den said it was a great night. Then he quickly changed the subject before anyone else started asking questions because he knew that Mickey hadn’t yet told Maria about Davy being there.
“You look tired love,” said Mary as Den kissed her cheek.
“I am it was a long night. I think once we’ve had a cuppa me and Mickey should get our heads down for a couple of hours.”
By midday Mickey was fast asleep in bed, as was his dad in the next room. Maria woke him around four o’clock so he had time to shower and change before they went out.
“Get in the bed and give us a cuddle babe,” he said pulling
the duvet back.
“Sorry I can’t darling; I want to feed the triplets by quarter to five. Then hopefully we can eat our meal in peace.”
“In that case, we’ll just have to have an early night.”
“Well, you’ll have to help me sort all the kids out when we get back then. Otherwise I’ll be lucky if I get to bed by midnight!”
“Can I have a kiss then, as I’ve got to wait hours to get you into bed?”
Leaning over she kissed him. It was clear from the way he held and kissed her that he was feeling horny. Despite that, Maria made it clear he would have to wait when she pulled away from him and said the babies were waiting and they were hungry.
At the pub, he noticed that Jess appeared to be happier and it was obvious that Monica had taken a real liking to her. Mickey listened as they talked about the council housing her; he was surprised when Jess said the housing benefit would only pay up to a certain amount for a flat for her.
“Out of interest” said Mickey “how much would they pay for a two bedroom house?”
“I’m not really sure Mickey, but I think it would be the same. Phyllis told me it’s about four hundred and fifty pounds a month, she’s been trying to help me find a place, but the council don’t have any available, I’m on a waiting list. Phyllis mentioned about me renting through a private landlord, but the ones she’s seen before have been really bad. I’ll have to find somewhere soon however bad it is, because I don’t want to go back to my old place or to another family like them. Trouble is a lot of landlords won’t take housing benefit, so it’s difficult.”
“Don’t worry about it Jess; I’m sure we can come up with something.” Jess looked humble as she nodded.
They talked about the club in Maidstone.
“We’ve already started looking at schools in the area,” said Monica “we won’t be able to send Harry to a private school like the twins, so we’ve decided to look for a house near one of the better schools, in the hope of getting Harry a place.”
