Gangsters Wives (7 page)

When the wine was poured and the cigarettes were on the go, Sadie said. ‘So what's he done now? You look like you've lost a fiver and found a tanner.'

‘Just the same,' said Poppy. ‘He's never home. Always round that bird's flat playing mummies and daddies.'

‘It's the way of the world darlin',' said Sadie. ‘Whatever they can't have they want. Lucky Eddie don't have a fatherly bone in his body. ‘Cos I sure never wanted a bunch of screaming kids hanging around me.'

‘Never?'

‘Never my love. Think of my figure. ‘Cos if I don't no one else ever will.'

‘You still seeing that bloke?' asked Poppy.

‘Shh honey,' said Sadie. ‘Walls have ears.' Then she laughed. ‘Him and a few others.'

‘God, if Eddie ever…'

‘He's only interested in his case,' said Sadie. ‘It could be three in the bed, and he'd never notice.'

Poppy laughed. ‘So what's happening with that? Joe never talks to me any more.'

‘You think I know? Eddie never talks to me either.'

‘Let's drink to the fuckers then,' said Poppy. ‘May they rot in hell.'

They raised their glasses and bashed them together. ‘Fuck ‘em,' said Sadie.

After the bottle was finished they left the store and went looking for food. ‘What do you fancy?' asked Poppy. ‘The Ivy?'

‘That's like a greasy spoon with celebs,' said Sadie. ‘Fuck it, let's go Chinese.'

They went to their favourite restaurant, The Princess Garden. The waiting staff were all young, beautiful women wearing traditional outfits but with the skirts split up almost to their knickers. All the better to charm the businessmen who used the place at lunch. Sadie marched in like she owned the place and demanded a table although they hadn't booked. And she got one.

She looked at the waitresses as they went quietly about their business. ‘Us women,' she said. ‘We're mugged off whoever we are.'

They ordered a selection of food, another bottle of wine and Sadie sat back in her seat and lit another cigarette. ‘So come on Poppy,' she said. ‘Tell me all the latest. I know you're dying to.'

After the first course of mixed
hors
d'oeuvres
was served and the wine was open, Poppy said, ‘I don't think I can go on like this much longer. He's never home, and when he is, he doesn't talk to me. We don't make love, we don't do anything but sit and look at TV. And he can't wait to get away to that bitch and his little bastard.'

‘Poppy,' said Sadie, picking at the food on her plate. ‘We've been through this a hundred times. You can't keep torturing yourself. Shit happens. I'm in the same boat more or less, with this bloody case coming up. Eddie never tells me anything either. It's the nature of the beast as they say. You've got to get over it.'

‘I can't.'

‘You can. You're not the first woman this has happened to, and you won't be the last, believe me. If it's that bad, leave.'

‘I can't do that either. I hate him, but I love him too. I've always loved him and I always will.'

‘Then stay. You've got everything you need. A nice place, money.'

‘That's nothing.'

‘Tell that to some poor cow on benefits living in a slum.'

‘Like my mum you mean.'

‘If you like.' Then she realised what she'd said. ‘Sorry doll, you know I didn't mean that about your mum.'

‘I know Sade. But it hurts me so much.' She started to cry silently, and Sadie handed her a tissue to dry the tears.

‘Men will always hurt you in the end, one way or another,' said Sadie, and put her hand over Poppy's for comfort.

‘You do all right,' said Poppy, when she'd composed herself a bit.

‘Do I? You'd be surprised,' replied Sadie.

‘You've got your bloke.'

‘What, Eddie? He's as bad as Joe. Like I just said. He's never around. Always in a filthy mood. You know, I think he's going down. And I think he knows it.'

‘Getaway. With his brief? No chance. He's a genius.'

‘Then why is Eddie so worried?'

‘He's just got the jitters. It's next week isn't it?'

‘Tuesday.'

‘I'll be there for you. We'll all be there for you and Eddie. He's a diamond. Never said a word about the others.'

‘That's his way. And thanks.'

‘For what?'

‘For being a mate.'

‘You've been more than a mate to me Sade. I don't know what I'd do without you.'

Sadie smiled. ‘Come on then girl. Eat up. My treat, and the duck here's to die for.'

‘I don't think I'm that hungry, and I've got to watch my weight.'

‘For Joe?'

‘Yeah, you're right. Pass the damn noodles.'

As they sat in the restaurant, something began to niggle at Sadie's brain, and for once she let it grow. She looked at Poppy, and thought of Kate and Niki and herself. Four women trapped in lives none of them wanted. Four capable women who allowed their men to rule them. To walk all over them and treat them like dirt. And the beginnings of a plan began to form.

‘What you thinking?' asked Poppy as she cleared her plate and laid her chopsticks on the side.

‘Nothing much,' said Sadie. ‘Just what I'm going to have for pudding.'

Tuesday rolled around, and Eddie had the runs. ‘I can't get off the bloody toilet,' he shouted as Sadie got his clothes ready for court.

‘There's some Diarid tablets in the medicine cupboard,' she shouted through the door of the en-suite. ‘That'll sort you.'

‘Fucking hell,' he moaned. ‘I don't fucking believe this. Fucking Diarid, what's all that about?'

‘Calm down love,' she said. ‘You'll only make it worse.'

She had laid out the new Hugo Boss suit he'd bought for the occasion. Eight-hundred quid's worth of single-breasted navy blue wool and mohair. ‘Got to put on a show for the jury,' he'd said when they'd gone down to Bond Street to pick it out.

Eventually he came out of the bathroom. ‘My ring feels like it's on fire,' he said.

‘I told you not to have curry last night.'

‘I fancied a ruby. Didn't know it'd go right through.'

‘It's stress,' she said. ‘Those pills'll work. Give ‘em time.'

‘I fucking hope so. Fucking stress. You don‘t know what stress is.'

Don't I? she thought. But she said nothing.

He padded across the bedroom floor in his underwear and socks, plucked a new white shirt off its hanger and slipped it on. He knotted a navy blue knitted silk tie, put on his new trousers and highly polished, black Italian leather loafers. Pulling on the jacket he asked, ‘How do I look?'

He was pale and had lost weight since he bought the suit, and as Sadie looked him over she felt a stab of pity for him. ‘You look like a million,' she said.

She was already dressed herself. A black Dolce and Gabbana suit, white blouse unbuttoned at the throat, black tights and black Jimmy Choos. She wasn't about to let the side down either.

Eddie looked her over. ‘Diamond,' he said. ‘Always looking good Sade. You never let me down.'

Except when I'm in bed with a geezer thought Sadie, but once again she was silent.

‘You fit then?' asked Eddie. ‘The car'll be here in a minute. Driver sent me a text when I was in the khazi. Go down and open the gates, there's a doll.'

Sadie did as he asked, went downstairs and operated the gizmo that opened the front gates, and a black Beemer with black mirrored windows crawled up the drive. The driver jumped out and stood waiting. She went to the door. ‘Won't be a minute darlin',' she said. ‘Have a fag why don'cha?'

He took out a packet of Bensons and lit up, looking relieved. He was a local boy who knew of Eddie Ross's reputation and wanted to do nothing to upset him. ‘I'd offer you a cuppa,' said Sadie. ‘But we don't want to be late do we?'

‘No problem Mrs Ross,' said the driver. ‘Now do you want me to wait at the court? My guv'nor wasn't clear.'

‘You're ours for the day sweetheart,' said Sadie. ‘It's up to you. We've got your mobile. We should be out by four. You do what you want. Just be there when we leave. I expect there'll be press about and we don't want to be standing outside the Bailey with our thumbs up our arses waiting for you.'

‘No chance,' said the driver. ‘I'll be there. My name's Tom by the way.'

‘OK, Tom,' said Sadie. ‘Just make sure you're waiting. My old man's on a short fuse today.'

I bet he is, thought Tom who had read about the case in the papers. ‘Count on me,' he said. ‘I've done this sort of thing before.'

‘Did they have a result?'

‘Always,' said Tom. ‘Just like Mr Ross will.'

‘I hope you're fucking right,' she said.

Eddie appeared at the door. ‘All right driver?' he said.

‘Ready anytime you are sir.'

‘Let's go then.'

Sadie went back inside and got her handbag, locked up tight, and joined Eddie in the back seat of the motor. Tom got behind the wheel and they drove off, the gates of the house closing behind them with the metallic clang of prison doors.

All was quiet at the law courts, however, when they arrived. No journalists or cameras about as Tom dropped off Sadie and Eddie, promising to keep his phone on and charged, ready to return at a moment's notice. ‘This could take days,' said Eddie. ‘But you never know. Something might happen to their main witness,' he said, menace implied behind his calm words.

Tom felt a cold chill, but showed no emotion. ‘Good luck Mr Ross, Mrs Ross,' he said as he ushered them out of the BMW. ‘I'll see you later.'

They went inside the imposing building, topped with the statue of blind justice that Eddie gave a sardonic look.

He reported to the bailiff and was led off to the cells by court officers, whilst Sadie went looking for the rest of the crew.

She found Kate sipping from a Starbucks coffee cup. ‘How you holding up?' she asked.

‘Eddie's got the jitters,' replied Sadie. ‘Who's about?'

‘Everyone. They're outside having a fag. They'll be back in a minute. What time is Eddie on?'

‘Soon.'

The others wandered in in dribs and drabs. The men were wearing pressed suits and clean shirts and ties, looking more like a convention of businessmen than a gang of villains, and the women were dolled up for a day at the races, with more Gina high heels and Fendi handbags than an episode of
Sex And
The City
. ‘Christ,' said Sadie when they were all gathered together. ‘What time's the wedding?'

Then Eddie's case was called.

Sitting up in the spectator's gallery the court looked smaller than she imagined. Big though he was, Eddie was dwarfed by the two huge warders as he stood in the dock to hear the charges against him.