Fractured (Dividing Line #4) (15 page)

“Recognise these arseholes?” said Frankie.

“Yeah. This one is Stu and the one with the broken nose is Jeff, the Barlow brothers from Moss Side. The spare prick is their best mate. They run drugs for Alex.” He didn’t use the word
us
in case Frankie associated him with this whole fuck-up.

“The same Barlow brothers Alex thought tried to top him?”

Mikey nodded.

“Interesting.” Frankie took a few practice swings with the machete before waving it in Stu’s face. “Which stupid suicidal eejit put you up to this?”

Stu’s mouth remained firmly clamped shut and he shook his head.

“Fine, I’ll ask your brother instead.”

Frankie stood over the groaning man, who was starting to come round. He stepped on his wrist and pressed down, causing his fingers to go rigid. There was a flash of metal followed by a thud as the blade of the machete cut through his hand, severing it mid-palm and embedded itself in the floor. Jeff screamed with pain and gaped at his ruined appendage before passing out.

“Another wee trophy to add to my collection.” Frankie yanked the machete out of the wooden floor and pointed it at Stu. “Start talking before I turn your brother into a kebab.” He grinned. “I fucking love kebabs.”

Stu shook his head again, struggling in Mikey’s grip, who held him fast.

“Oh good. I was hoping you’d do that,” said Frankie, rictus grin growing even wider. “It’s going to be hard enough for your brother to cope with only one hand. I wonder how he’ll manage with one foot too. He’ll probably walk round in circles,” he quipped before roaring with laughter.

“Wait,” cried Stu when Frankie raised the machete again.

Frankie lowered the weapon, disappointed.

“It was Alex Maguire. Oh Jesus he’s going to kill me for grassing.”

In two strides Frankie was in front of him, teeth gritted together. Stu nearly wet himself when his eyes rolled back in his head, a trait when he was consumed by rage.

“Why would Alex do that to Frankie?” demanded Mikey, his grip on the man tightening.

“We weren’t to top him, it was to look like a set up, as though you were leading him into a trap.”

“Alex wants Frankie to think that I want him dead?” said Mikey, incredulous. “Why?”

“So Frankie would kill you. Alex wants you out,” replied Stu in a defeated tone.

“And he was going to use me to do it. Bastard,” roared Frankie. He jammed the machete under Stu’s chin, tilting his face up, causing the man’s knees to tremble. “Where’s the treacherous two-faced twat now?”

“I don’t know. We were to call him when it was done. That’s all I know, I swear.”

“Let him go Mikey,” hissed Frankie.

“Thank you,” breathed Stu when Mikey obeyed.

Mikey had seen a lot of violence in his time but it was a first even for him when Frankie decapitated Stu. It was quite a surreal experience. One minute Stu’s head was on his neck, the next it was lying on the floor, surprised eyes staring up at the ceiling, mouth hanging open.

Frankie sighed at the head. “I’m going to need a bigger Tupperware box.”

“You’re not seriously going to take it?” said Mikey, feeling sick.

“This bastard set me up. He’s going to be mounted on my wall next to Jan Jordan’s hands.”

Mikey wanted to throw up. The room stunk like a charnel house. This bar had always been a happy place for Mikey, the scene of so many Maguire celebrations. After this he’d never feel comfortable here again, that’s if he lived that long.

Jeff came round to see his brother’s head lying on the floor and started to scream all over again. Frankie kicked him in the face and he went silent for a third time.

“First things first, we have to clean up this shit then we need to find Alex fucking Maguire,” said Frankie.

“I’ll call my crew,” said Mikey, pulling out his phone.

“Just hold it.” This time the machete was aimed at him. “How do I know your wee pals won’t come in here and finish the job on me? How do I know you’re not part of this?”

“You heard him,” said Mikey, gesturing at Stu’s body. “Alex wants me dead. We need to stick together if we’re going to survive.”

“Right now I don’t trust you any more than I trust Alex.”

Mikey knew he had to prove himself to Frankie but he couldn’t tell him about the failed hit on Alex or his head would join Stu’s on the floor. Alex may have become Frankie’s enemy but he was still his business partner and Frankie would take it as a personal insult that Mikey had tried to kill him. “Alex has been losing the plot lately. He’s been treating Beth and everyone else around him like shit. Martina had a go at him before she died.”

“Course she did it before she died, unless she’s come back to haunt him, you prick,” sneered Frankie, gripping the machete tighter.

Mikey swallowed hard. “She told him Frank wanted Rachel running the family, not him or Danny.”

It was a surprise to Mikey when Frankie nodded sagely. “He was a smart fucking man. Maybe if he had put her in charge we wouldn’t be in this mess now and I’d be at home with my feet up admiring my trophies and watching the money rolling in instead of being stuck in sodding England. Again.”

“Anyway, it sent Alex over the edge. He hates Rachel.”

“I fucking knew it. That show he put on at the wake didn’t fool me.”

“I’m sure it’s not just that, there’s more to it, something to do with Ryan. For some reason he’s got it in his head that they want to take over.”

“Do they?”

“No. They’re happy down south. All they want to do is run their legitimate businesses and spend time with their kids.”

“We’ll see. There’s no smoke without fire. They’d be a fucking sight better at it than Alex.”

“Now wait a minute Frankie…”

But he wasn’t listening. “Beautiful. Alex is out, Rachel and Ryan are in.”

“They’ll never agree to it, it’s not what they want.”

“They know a good opportunity when they see it. Get Jez and your clean-up crew down here then let’s go topple the king.”

“But…”

Mikey went quiet when he found himself looking at the bloodied tip of the machete.

“You do realise Alex is fucking dead after this?” said Frankie, breathing hard, eyes rolling back in his head again. “His head will take pride of place on my wall.”

“Yeah and I’m with you Frankie.”

“Good. Now get on the phone while I fetch my Tupperware box from the car.”

“Oh shit,” sighed Mikey, tugging his phone from his pocket, wondering how he’d got himself into this mess.

CHAPTER 17

Alex stopped by his house to pick up a change of clothes then drove to Katia’s, leaving Col waiting in the car while he went inside.

“I was not expecting you,” Katia said, delighted to see him. “I was just making some lunch if you would like some?”

“No thanks Sweetheart, I can’t stop. I just wanted to let you know that I’m off to Devon.”

Her smile fell. “For how long?”

“Not long, hopefully just a couple of days. I had to see you before I left,” he said, kissing her hard.

“I will miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too. Beth’s left me.”

Katia hid her delight well. “Then she is a stupid woman. Why would she do such a thing?”

“I’ve no idea,” he lied, deciding not to mention the abuse. He couldn’t bear for the worship in her eyes when she looked at him to disappear. “That’s why I have to go to Devon, to get her back.”

“Why would you want her back?” she sulked. “I thought we were going to be together?”

“We are Babe but it’ll be done on my terms, not hers and I won’t let her take my kids from me. I’m only going after her because I want them back.” He kissed her again. “You’re the only woman I want.”

“Good.” Realisation dawned in her eyes. “That explains so much.”

“What do you mean?”

“I spoke to the neighbours across the road from your house. You remembered you told me to make friends with the fat woman who lives there who likes to gossip?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“She told me she saw Beth last night loading up her car with luggage and the children. She said it was shocking because it was so early in the morning and the children looked like they’d been dragged out of bed. A blond man was with her, helping her load the car.”

Anger shot through Alex. “Which man?”

“She doesn’t know his name but it was the same man who drives her about everywhere. At first she thought he was just driving them somewhere for the weekend but then they kissed before they got in the car.”

Alex released a grunt of fury and turned his back on Katia, so she wouldn’t see the murderous rage in his eyes. “I’ll kill her, the two-timing slag.”

Katia was wise enough not to point out how hypocritical he was. Besides, she was too busy rejoicing in her rival’s downfall. “I tried to call you about this but your phone was always busy. I did leave messages saying I needed to speak to you.”

He swallowed his anger back down and turned to face her, taking her hands in his. “I know you did Babe, which is why I’m here. I don’t blame you. Beth’s well and truly done it now. I’m going to find her and get my kids back then me and you can be together. Forever.”

Finally her ultimate goal was in sight and she felt like she was walking on air. “I can’t wait. I would never hurt you like she has. All I want to do is make you happy.”

“And you do. No one makes me feel like you Katia,” he breathed, pushing up her skirt. “Please, I need to be inside you before I go.”

“Anything for you my Lover.”

Gently he pressed her up against the wall and her head fell back and she moaned as he entered her. Katia’s lips curled into a gratified smile. Soon Alex would be entirely hers and the woman she hated most in the world would be dead.

After saying their goodbyes Alex left Katia to rejoin Col in his BMW.

“You drive,” Alex told him. “I’ve got a lot to think about.”

They swapped sides and Col started the engine, steering the car onto the road. He knew there was something Alex wanted to discuss with him but he didn’t press him, instead he waited for him to come out with it in his own time. That was one thing he understood about Alex Maguire that no one else did, except Katia. If you pushed him to do something he only pushed against it harder. Leave him alone to come out with it in his own time and he inevitably did.

“Beth’s run off with Nick Jordan.”

The surprise almost caused Col to veer onto the pavement. “Is the info sound?”

“Katia heard it from my neighbour who saw him helping her load the kids and the luggage into a car then she saw them kiss. Fucking marvellous, by now everyone on my street will know Beth’s been cheating on me, Mrs Yates is a mouthy old bitch.”

“That explains why we haven’t been able to get hold of Nick.”

“Stop by Robbie’s, I want to know if he knew about it.”

“No can do Boss, he’s done one too. Gus has already been to his flat, he’s packed up his stuff and left.”

“Bastards,” roared Alex. “After all I’ve done for them. I should have buried them on the moor with the rest of their family when I had the chance.” A thought occurred to him that made him go rigid with fury. “Beth’s done exactly the same thing Rachel did; cheated on a Maguire with one of our business partners.”

Alex’s hatred of Rachel suddenly made sense to Col. “Rachel cheated on Danny with Ryan?”

“Yeah,” he glowered. “Slags, the pair of them. It’s Rachel’s fault, I bet she persuaded Beth to run off with Nick, she couldn’t come up with any idea on her own. I know now for sure that her and Nick are hiding at Rachel’s, expecting her and Ryan to protect them, but in exchange for what? The Jordans siding with them against me? This is it Col, this is the big takeover and if we don’t wipe out the lot of them we’re dead.”

Col knew Alex was only paranoid, that the Laws weren’t the masters of some grand plot but he wasn’t going to set him straight. He wanted his revenge for his dead brother. “We will Boss. We’ll fight them and win and wipe out the lot of them.”

Alex smiled evilly, the thoughts of the tortures he had in store for them all soothing his anger. “We’ll show them no one makes a mockery of the Maguire name.”

Mikey couldn’t help but admire Jez when he coolly walked into the slaughterhouse that used to be a pub and took a moment to study the carnage. His only reaction was a raised eyebrow, not the panic or revulsion that had been written on the faces of Declan and his brothers. He was becoming more like Ryan every day.

“What happened here?” he calmly asked, eyeing Stu’s severed head sitting beside the two mangled bodies. Frankie had been so furious at being set up that he’d gone on to execute Jeff and his friend too, hacking them to bits with the machete and now he was intent on taking his trophies back to Glasgow with him.

“What happened here?” shrieked Frankie. “Alex only set us up. He got these three useless sacks of sick to attack me and make it look like Mikey had set me up so I’d kill Mikey. He tried to get me to do his dirty work for him.”

Mikey held his breath, praying Jez wouldn’t mention their aborted hit, but he was smart and kept his mouth shut about that.

“That man gets worse. He’s losing it,” replied Jez.

“So I believe,” yelled Frankie, his anger at odds with Jez’s complete calm. “Apparently everyone knew except me and I don’t like being kept in the dark. Instead of standing there looking useless you can tell me where I can find Alex dead man Maguire.”

“I don’t know where he is but I have heard something very interesting,” replied Jez.

“Care to fucking share?” Jez’s cool only wound Frankie up more, his red hair standing on end and eyes bulging.

“Beth has taken the kids and run off with Nick Jordan.”

This interesting snippet appeased Frankie’s wrath. “Really?” He threw back his head and laughed. “Nice one Beth, I always did like her.”

“Nick?” said Mikey, stunned. “I didn’t know they were shagging.”

“No one did, they hid it well,” replied Jez. “That’ll teach Alex to palm his wife off on other men, he used Nick as her babysitter. When he told him to take care of her needs he must have got carried away.”

“I lost my virginity to my babysitter,” said Frankie. “I was twelve and she was forty one.”

Mikey and Jez looked at him expectantly but it seemed he was lost in an unpleasant memory. They both thought that nugget might explain a lot.

“So he’s gone looking for her, that’s why he’s disappeared,” said Mikey.

Frankie dragged himself out of his reverie. “Where’s he likely to go?”

Mikey thought about the recent past, about Alex’s behaviour at the funeral, Rachel and Ryan looking worried and whispering together. He swallowed hard. “No idea.”

While Frankie packaged up Stu’s head, Mikey nodded at Jez to join him in the corner.

“I think Alex is in Devon.”

“Me too,” Jez quietly replied.

“We have to warn them.”

“Should we tell Frankie?”

“If we do he’ll be straight down there and they won’t thank us for sending him to their door. Let’s keep him in Manchester. We’ll warn Ryan and Rachel and hopefully they’ll disappear until it’s over.”

“Shit they wanted to be kept out of all this. Now Alex is going to drag them back into it,” sighed Jez. “You don’t think Beth is with them, do you?”

“No, she wouldn’t do that to Rachel. If she’s any sense she’ll be on the other side of the world by now. We don’t tell Ryan and Rachel about Frankie wanting them to take over yet. I’m hoping I can persuade him against it, it’s the last thing they need to hear.”

“I agree. We don’t want Frankie and Ryan going at each other because my brother will not take that lying down,” said Jez darkly.

It was a Saturday afternoon and their schedules were busy. Ryan had taken the boys to a party at the local soft play area and Riley was out jogging. Rachel was getting ready to take Leah to her horse riding lesson. They were running short of time so the last thing she needed was for the phone to start ringing.

Rachel glanced at her watch and sighed with irritation. Just as she moved to answer the phone the front doorbell rang. She stared from the door to the phone before deciding that whoever had made the effort to come in person deserved her attention more.

“Get ready Leah, we have to go in ten minutes,” Rachel called upstairs as she walked to the front door. She pulled it open and instantly regretted not answering the phone instead. “Alex.”

“Hello Rach. Thought I’d take you up on that offer of a visit.”

“We’re just going out,” she said coldly. “It’s not convenient.”

“I need to talk to you,” he replied, barging his way in.

She was alarmed to see Col Sugar follow him in instead of Beth and the kids. He smiled as he closed the door behind him but there was nothing friendly in his demeanour.

Rachel backed away, quickly weighing up her options. If she took on Alex she’d lose. Leah was in the house and Ryan wasn’t due back for at least a couple of hours. She had no choice but to try and talk her way out of it.

“Ryan will be back soon,” she said.

“No he won’t and we both know it. Where’s Beth?” said Alex.

She was thrown. “What?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. Beth’s run off with Nick Jordan.”

“You’re joking?”

“Do you think I’d fucking joke about this? She’s disappeared and taken
my
kids with her. Where else would she run to but her best friend?”

“I haven’t seen her since the funeral.”

“Don’t lie. You tell each other everything.”

“Obviously not because she’s never mentioned Nick Jordan to me, not once.”

“How can I believe you?”

“Take a look around, see for yourself. She’s not here.”

“I’ll do that.”

“You’re welcome to.” Rachel was glad Beth had got away from him but he was in a dangerous mood and just might take his anger out on her and Leah. It was important she keep calm and not upset him.

“Would you like a brew?” she said walking through to the kitchen. Her mobile phone was in there, hopefully she could get a message to Ryan.

“Tea,” he said.

“What about Col?”

“Nothing for him, he’s busy.” Alex nodded at the man, who began his search of the house, starting with the large lounge. “You’ve got a nice place here,” continued Alex as he followed her through to the kitchen.

“Thanks. Listen, I don’t know where Beth’s gone, honest,” she said as she switched on the kettle.

“If you did would you tell me?”

“Yes.”

“Another lie. It’s not looking good for you Rach.”

“Please don’t threaten me.”

“Does it make you nervous?”

“No.”

“Then why can I see the pulse jumping in your neck?” he said, running his fingers down her throat. When she tried to take a step back he grabbed her by the neck and held her firmly.

“Alex, let go,” she said, trying not to panic.

“Where is she?”

“I don’t know.”

The kettle started to boil, she could feel the heat of the steam behind her and cursed herself for buying one of those fancy ultra-fast ones. He grasped her right hand and twisted, causing her to squeal with pain and pulled her hand towards the cloud of steam.

“Tell me.”

“I don’t know. Get off,” she yelled.

When she tried to punch him with her free hand he slapped her across the face. Usually this wouldn’t be enough to subdue Rachel but the power in Alex was phenomenal and she was knocked back against the unit.