Reckoning (2 page)

CHAPTER 2

Jules knocked on the front door, which was opened by Jez.

“Hello little bruv. Looking good,” she said, indicating his white shirt and black trousers. “You’re a bit dressed up for tea at home, or are you waiting on table?”

“This is a dinner party, not tea in front of the telly,” he frowned. “And why are you covered in oil?”

“My bike broke down for the first time ever. She’s not given me any trouble since the day I bought her. I managed to get her going again but it was messy,” she said, holding out her hands, which were coated in dirt and grease.

“Come in,” he sighed, “but leave your boots in the hall.”

As she stepped inside Cathy appeared wearing a short, clingy black cocktail dress and Jules’s eyes widened.

“You must be Jules, it’s so nice to finally meet you,” smiled Cathy, holding her hand out to her.

“I would shake but I don’t want to ruin that gorgeous dress,” said Jules. “Sorry I’m late, my bike broke down.”

“That’s alright. You’re here now. You can get cleaned up in here,” she said, opening a door that led into the downstairs toilet.

“I didn’t realise we were dressing up,” said Jules, unzipping her black leather jacket to reveal a black hooded jumper beneath.

“I told you it was a dinner party,” said Jez. “Couldn’t you have made more of an effort?”

“Jez, don’t speak to our guest like that. The important thing is that Jules is here,” chided Cathy. She turned her attention back to Jules. “I’ve been wanting to meet you for ages. It’s so lovely to have another sister-in-law.”

“It’s lovely to meet you too,” said Jules, flashing her best smile. “And it wouldn’t have mattered what I wore, I wouldn’t have looked half as gorgeous as you.”

Jez’s eyebrows shot up when Cathy giggled coquettishly.

“Back in a sec,” said Jules with a wink at Cathy before disappearing into the bathroom.

Cathy caught her husband’s frown and her smile fell. “What?”

“Nothing,” he sighed.

“You wait here for her then show her into the lounge. I need to see to dinner,” she said before hurrying back into the kitchen.

Five minutes later Jules emerged, freshly washed. “I did my best but I couldn’t get all the oil out from under my nails. Will I be allowed to sit at the table or would you prefer it if I ate in the kitchen?” she said sarcastically.

“You’ll do and remember your manners, Cathy’s gone to a lot of trouble for tonight.”

“You’re a lucky fella, she’s gorgeous. Are the kids here?”

“No, Jack’s got a bit of a sniffle so they’re both staying with Cathy’s parents tonight.”

“Oh,” she said, disappointed.

“You’re here to meet Cathy and Amber tonight. If you behave yourself you’ll meet the kids next time.”

“Amber’s here?”

“Yeah, course. Why?” he said suspiciously.

“No reason,” she quickly replied. She was aware Jez thought there was something going on between her and Mikey, although the most that had ever happened was a kiss in Devon after they’d rescued Ryan from the serial killers.

“Right,” he said slowly, brow knotted. “Come on through then.”

Jez’s house was large but not overly grand or ostentatious, a smart move. An overt display of wealth was a sure way to get the police interested in you. It didn’t have the taste of Ryan and Rachel’s place but it was still welcoming and homely.

They entered the lounge to find Mikey sitting on the couch with a stunning but tiny redhead. Jules was the picture of nonchalance as she strolled into the room. Amber and Mikey got to their feet to greet her.

“Amber, this is Jules, Mikey’s cousin and my big sister,” announced Jez.

“Nice to meet you,” said Amber sweetly. “Mikey’s told me so much about you.”

“All bad I bet,” retorted Jules. “Only joking,” she added when Amber’s smile fell.

“She does that a lot, you get used to it,” said Mikey dryly.

Jules’s eyes locked with his. “Hello little cuz, how are you?”

“Good thanks.”

Although he was displaying no outward signs, Jules could read Mikey well enough to know that he was nervous about her and Amber being in the same room. He was probably worried she was going to blurt out something that he really didn’t want his wife to know. Jules enjoyed mischief but she wasn’t about to be cruel to these people who had accepted her into their family, so she resisted the impulse to wind him up a bit. “It’s nice to meet you too Amber,” she smiled. “Love the hair.”

“Thank you,” she said, unconsciously running a hand through her long red curls. “Yours is nice too, have you gelled it?”

In contrast Jules’s thick dark hair had been remorselessly hacked to her jaw and stuck out at odd angles. “No, it’s oil. Bloody bike broke down but I got it going again.”

“Push bike?” said Amber innocently.

“Motorbike. A Harley,” she added, frowning when Mikey sniggered.

“Ooh, I like them,” said Amber. “I asked Mikey to get a motorbike once, he can ride them but he won’t, he likes cars.”

Jules turned her gaze on Mikey, who stared back at her unflinchingly. “Mikey, that’s cruel. You can have a lot of fun on a motorbike. Well, if he won’t take you out on one Amber, I will.”

“Really?” she said, her excitement almost child-like. “That would be so much fun, but is it working properly now?”

“I’ll take you out on one of the others. I have three.”

“Three?” she exclaimed. “Wow, I’d like to see them.”

“Then we’ll have to arrange that.”

“Will you have time Jules?” said Mikey, tone heavy with warning. “We’re busy at work and you’ve got your shop to run too.”

“I’ll make time,” she said, waving a dismissive hand in his direction. “This is family.”

As Amber beamed, Cathy entered the room to announce very formally that it was time for dinner.

“What, no gong?” grinned Jules, her smile dropping at Jez’s scowl.

The bookies was just closing for business when three masked men armed with shotguns burst in.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing you silly little sods?” exclaimed the old man who’d worked there since Frank Maguire had opened the shop twenty five years ago, refusing to be intimidated by the weapons that were thrust into his face. “Have you any idea who owns this place?”

“Yeah, that’s kinda the point,” retorted one of the men through the balaclava before whacking him in the face with the butt of the gun.

The scream of sirens cut through the night air, a crowd already gathered, kept back from the danger zone by uniformed police officers. All they could do was watch as the firemen leapt out of the truck and began the serious business of tackling the inferno that had engulfed the garage.

“Anyone inside?” the Crew Manager asked one of the PC’s on guard duty.

“Just this guy,” he replied, indicating the soot-covered man coughing on the ground. “He’s the night watchman. We found him trussed up just inside the door. No one else is in there.”

“Lucky for them,” replied the firefighter, “because we’re not going to be able to save this building.”

“Can’t say I’m surprised,” said the PC. He grinned wickedly. “Do you know who this garage belongs to?”

“No, who?”

“Someone who deserves to have their business burnt down.”

They all filed into the dining room, Amber and Jules chatting easily, and took their places around the table.

“So what’s this shop of yours?” said Amber as Cathy dished up a beautifully cooked ham, accompanied by vegetables and roast potatoes.

“A tattoo parlour,” replied Jules, tucking into the food.

“Do you do the tattoos yourself?”

Jules nodded. “I’ve got a friend of mine working there too who’s amazingly talented and I can’t always be there.”

“Is it busy?”

“Yeah. I’ve always worked freelance before but now I’ve got my own place my customers have followed me. I’ve taken some business from other studios but they’re sensible enough not to complain about it.”

Amber was about to ask what she’d do if they did but the look on Mikey’s face told her the response wouldn’t be good. “Are you married?” she said instead.

Jules chuckled. “I don’t think there’s a man mad enough to take me on for life.”

“Boyfriend?”

“Nah, not really.”

“Girlfriend?” said Cathy playfully, surprising the others.

Jules was amused. “Not one that’s lasted longer than a night.”

“You live quite an adventurous life,” said Amber tactfully.

“Yes, I can certainly say it’s not dull.”

“I hope Mikey and Jez are treating you nicely at work,” said Cathy. Both she and Amber were fully aware what sort of business their husbands were in but that was always how they referred to it. Work. Neither of them wanted any details.

“They’re tough but fair,” she smiled, entertained by the conversation. “They’ve put up with a lot from me and it’s the first time I’ve ever had a boss at work, never mind two, so it’s been a learning curve for us all.”

Mikey and Jez both nodded graciously.

The dinner passed smoothly enough, apart from a call for Jez, who had to leave the table to take it. Jules and Mikey could see he was troubled when he returned but he didn’t say anything. If it was to do with business he’d let them know at the appropriate time.

That time came half an hour later. The moment dinner was over Jez turned to Cathy. “I hope you don’t mind Babe but I’d like to speak to Mikey and Jules in private. A bit of business has come up.”

“We don’t mind, do we Amber?” she said.

“No, we’ll enjoy a drink in the lounge while you talk.” Both women were used to these impromptu meetings and to being excluded from these conversations and that was how they liked it, so they collected their drinks and left.

“I take it this is about that phone call?” said Mikey.

“Yep,” replied Jez, eyes bright with fury. “Two of our businesses got hit tonight - your bookies Mikey and my fucking garage.”

“Christ,” he exclaimed. “Anyone hurt?”

“Bill in the bookies got a shotgun butt in the face and the night watchman at the garage got tied up and left to burn but they’re both okay.”

“Thank fuck for that. Any idea who did it?”

“Charlie, the night watchman, recognised one of their voices. It was Lyle Nilsen, Bobby Nilsen’s little brother.”

“That bastard?” snarled Mikey.

“Never heard of him,” said Jules.

“I’m not surprised, Bobby goes out of his way to keep under the radar,” said Jez. “This isn’t his style at all, he likes a quiet life.”

“Looks like Joel and Ollie Starklaw have back-up,” said Mikey. “The sneaky little bastards. Bobby went to school with Ollie.”

“Bobby and Ollie? Sounds like a double act,” grinned Jules.

“They are, fucking Laurel and Hardy,” seethed Mikey. “How dare they think they’re capable of taking us on?”

“Joel’s being released from hospital tomorrow,” said Jez. “Ollie’s already been released.” He broke into a satisfied smile at the memory of smashing his fist into the irritating little sod’s jaw.

“Fuck,” hissed Mikey. “Nilsen’s strong and well connected.”

“He knows Jared Slattery’s backing the Starklaws,” said Jez. “He thinks with the support of that southern ponce they can take us on. He’s been after what we’ve got for a long time.” Secretly he was worried that one day they’d encounter someone actually strong enough to take it. With Jared Slattery behind them the Starklaws and Bobby Nilsen might just be.

“So, what do we do?” said Mikey.

“Kill them,” spat Jules.

“I think we should look at all the options first,” said Jez. “Murder’s only a last resort.”

“If we don’t we’re going to look weak,” she retorted. “Then every scumbag within a fifty mile radius will start trying their luck.”

“And we’re still being watched by the police after Alex’s…disappearance,” said Jez tactfully. “We have to be careful.”

“Then let’s do it subtlety,” she pressed. “Wait until both Starklaws have been released from hospital then me and Mark Cameron can take them out nice and quietly. You’ve got the top two assassins in the city on your payroll. Use us.”

When Mikey appeared tempted Jez said, “we’ve got to play this carefully.”

“And how do we do that?” said Jules belligerently.

“We find Nilsen as soon as possible,” said Jez.

“Is that it?” retorted Jules.

“It’s enough for now. If we need to get rid of him in a big messy way to send a message then we will but I don’t want the police’s attention on us any more than it already is. Are we agreed?” he said, looking sideways at Mikey, who nodded.

“You’re going to regret playing it so safe,” said Jules.

“We’ve made our decision and that’s the end of it,” said Mikey sternly.

“Fine. In that case can I get back to my drink and your lovely wife?” she said to Jez, whose jaw tensed.