The Feud (38 page)

Eddie said nothing. Chucking his keys at Raymond, he got in the passenger side and slammed the door. ‘Are you OK?’ Raymond asked him as they drove along in silence.

‘No, I’m fucking ain’t,’ Eddie yelled. ‘As for my so-called brothers, I hope they both rot in hell. I never wanna see either of them ever again!’

Jessica sat in the kitchen with a massive smile on her face. She and Vicki were discussing baby names and they had completely different ideas on the subject.

‘Angel’s a lovely name for a little girl,’ Vicki insisted.

Giggling, Jessica put the kettle on. Eddie would have a fit if she called their kid Angel.

‘I think you should opt for an American name if you have a boy. Me and Dougie quite like Troy, so what about you calling yours Travis?’ Vicki suggested.

Jessica smiled. ‘I’ve already promised Ed that if we have a boy, we’ll call it Harry in memory of his dad.’

As the front door slammed, Jessica ran into the hallway. ‘Oh, it’s you, Ed. You’re early, love. Do you want a cup of tea?’

‘Where’s Joey?’ Eddie shouted.

Jessica’s heart went over as she noticed that Eddie’s face looked as black as thunder. She knew, without a doubt, that he had been told something. ‘Vicki’s in the kitchen,’ she said, as brightly as she could.

‘Get rid of her,’ Eddie spat.

Jessica ushered her friend outside and apologised profusely.

‘I wouldn’t like to be in Joey’s shoes. What’s he done?’ Vicki whispered.

‘I bet he’s been bunking off school again and Ed’s just found out,’ Jessica lied.

As she shut the front door, Jessica felt physically sick. She had to play it cool; it was her duty as a mother to protect her son. ‘Whatever’s the matter?’ she asked Eddie.

‘Where is he? Is he out with his fucking boyfriend, is he?’ Eddie screamed, grabbing his wife by the shoulders.

‘Boyfriend? What are you talking about? You’re hurting me, Ed, stop it, please.’

Eddie let her go. Leaning with his back against the wall, he put his head in his hands and slumped to the floor. ‘He’s gay. Our Joey’s a fucking queer, that’s what the word on the street is. Do you know anything about it, Jess? If you do, tell me. I want the fucking truth.’

Jessica shook her head furiously and proclaimed her son’s innocence. ‘Don’t be so ridiculous, Eddie. Our Joey’s got a new girlfriend – he really likes her, he does. He was only telling me about her yesterday. He wants
us to meet her. He asked me if she could come round for tea.’

‘Are you sure he ain’t fucking lying to you?’ Eddie asked.

‘Of course he’s not lying. Someone’s winding you up, Eddie. Who told you? Who’s spreading these lies?’

‘Ronny told me. Terry Palmer told him. Everyone’s been told. As I walked in the Flag earlier, every bastard was sniggering at me.’

Jessica knelt in front of her devastated husband. ‘How can you believe anything that comes out of Ronny’s mouth? He’s jealous of you, he always has been. He’s making up these awful lies because he can’t deal with your dad leaving you all that money. He wants to get back at you, Ed, and he’ll resort to anything to do so.’

Eddie shrugged. ‘I’ll go and see Terry Palmer, see what he has to say. Don’t look so worried, I ain’t gonna hurt him. I just want solid proof.’

‘It’s all lies. I know my own son, Eddie,’ Jessica insisted.

Eddie shrugged. Joey had always been different – too different for his liking. ‘He is fucking effeminate, Jess. Let’s face it, Joey’s never been like Gary and Ricky, has he? Even as a kid, he was frightened of his own shadow. I mean, he dresses strange and sometimes I look at him and think that he should have been the girl and Frankie the boy. She’s got bollocks, Frankie has, but not Joey. He’s not normal, Jess, I’ve always known it, but I kept me trap shut for years for your fucking sake.’

With tears rolling down her cheeks, Jessica did her best to hold her own. ‘Of course he’s not like Gary and Ricky, or you and your brothers. I didn’t want him to end up in
your world, it was me that forced him to be different. I mean, come on, as much as I think the world of Gary and Ricky, their mum was an alkie, that’s why they’re rough around the edges. I brought Joey up differently. He’s soft, gentle, with a heart of gold, and I instilled that into him. He might be unusual, but that doesn’t mean he’s gay, Ed. It’s just different mothers, different upbringings, that’s all.’

Holding out his arms, Eddie snuggled up to his wife. ‘I’m sorry if I hurt you. I just lost me rag.’

‘Promise me, Eddie, that you won’t say anything to Joey. He’s in the middle of his exams, it’s not fair on him. You know how he takes things to heart – he’ll be traumatised.’

‘I swear I won’t say anything to him,’ Eddie said honestly. He had no intention of giving Joey a warning. If what was being said was true, he would catch him at it and when he did, he would throttle both him and his fucking boyfriend.

Terry Palmer lived alone in a council flat in Beckton. Terry had once been a man of substance, but since his wife had stung him for all he had, his life had gone completely downhill.

Opening another can of Special Brew, Terry focused on the television. He was watching the film
Once Upon a Time in America
. ‘Go on, get in there,’ Terry said, laughing.

Terry fancied himself as a Robert De Niro type. He and Rob were two of a kind, they sang from the same hymn sheet.

As the buzzer rang, Terry opened the security door automatically. His son, Darren, often stayed of a night, so he left the front door on the latch for him and sat back
down. Engrossed in the bit where De Niro actually rapes the bird, Terry barely looked up as the front door closed. ‘I’m starving – you brought any grub home with you, Dal?’ he shouted out.

‘The Chinese was shut, so I brought this round to fill you up,’ Eddie whispered, as he yanked Terry’s head back and stuck the barrel of a gun down the back of his throat.

Not knowing that her husband was currently playing cowboys and Indians, Jessica tried Joey’s mobile number repeatedly. Eddie had popped out to take the dogs for a run and she desperately needed to warn her son. ‘Please answer, son, please answer,’ she prayed out loud.

Finally, God looked down on her.

‘Whatever’s wrong, Mum? Has something happened? I’m busy,’ Joey exclaimed in annoyance.

Joey had just been having a bit of the other and the constant ringing of the phone was preventing him from reaching a climax.

‘Joey, you need to come home right now, son. Your dad knows. Someone told him about Dominic. Now, don’t worry, I’ve got you out of it, but I’ve told him you’ve got a new girlfriend. Ring up a girl mate and bring her round tomorrow for tea.’

Joey’s hands shook so much he could barely hold the weight of his phone. ‘Who am I gonna ring? Apart from Frankie’s mates, I don’t really mix with any girls.’

Jessica spoke forcefully to him. ‘I don’t care who you ring or who you know, Joey, but make sure you bring a girl round here tomorrow. I’ve just stuck my neck out for you and if your father finds out I’m lying, he’ll throttle the pair of us.’

Joey stared at his penis. His erection had deflated so
much that it now resembled a burst balloon. ‘OK, Mum, I’ll find a girl. I’ll do it,’ he promised.

With eyes as wide as flying saucers, Terry Palmer tried to speak, but couldn’t. The gun was hurting his throat and was choking him. Aware of his own urine running down his legs, he began to beg.

Eddie slowly withdrew the gun from Terry’s throat. Smiling, he pointed it at his bollocks instead. ‘You got something to tell me about my Joey, have you, Terry?’

Petrified, Terry shook his head. ‘I don’t know anything, honest I don’t. Please don’t hurt me, Eddie, please.’

Eddie pulled back the catch. ‘Tell me what your son saw, else I’ll kill you. I want the truth and I’ll know if you’re lying, you cunt.’

Terry’s mouth was as dry as a bone. It was a struggle to swallow, let alone talk. ‘I need a drink,’ he gasped.

With the gun still fixed on Terry’s meat and two veg, Eddie handed him his can of Special Brew. ‘Drink that and talk, you prick,’ he ordered.

Covering his prized possessions with both hands, Terry blurted out all he knew. ‘Darren saw Joey. He was with a bloke called Dominic in a wine bar in Liverpool Street. Him and your Joey were groping and kissing and stuff. Please don’t hurt me, Eddie, none of this is my fault. My son saw them, not me.’

Eddie stared deep into Terry’s eyes. ‘Why did you tell Ronny? You knew what would happen.’

‘I’m sorry, Eddie. I’d had too much to drink. I didn’t think. I’ll ring Ronny now, tell him Darren got it all wrong. I’ll say it was someone who looked like your Joey.’

Eddie took the silencer out of his pocket and attached it to the gun.

Realising what Eddie was doing, Terry fell to his knees
and begged. ‘I am so sorry. Don’t kill me, Eddie. I’ll move – you’ll never see me again – but please, I beg you, please don’t shoot me.’

Eddie Mitchell had never been a man to be dissuaded by tears and apologies. With little emotion, Eddie held the gun to the right side of Terry’s temple.

Seconds later, he pulled the trigger.

The twins took their last exam in June and both Joey and Frankie whooped with joy as they walked through the school gates for the very last time. They had never really caught up from all the time they’d had off, but had completed all their homework and done their very best.

‘How do you think you did?’ Frankie asked her brother.

‘Shit,’ Joey replied. He had always hated maths and, even if he hadn’t have bunked off, was sure he’d have still failed.

Noticing her brother looking a bit downcast again, Frankie did her best to cheer him up. Ever since their mum had warned Joey that his father was on his case, Joey had been down in the dumps. ‘Why does life have to be so awkward, sis? I’ve only been able to see Dominic three times in the last month.’

Frankie linked arms with her brother. ‘Look, it won’t be for ever. You said you want to work in an office. If you get a job up town as an office junior or something, you can see Dom all the time. You can meet for lunch, then shag his brains out after work.’

Joey smiled. ‘I suppose so.’

The twins had taken four exams each. Academically, Frankie was probably the brighter of the two. Trouble
was, she had never particularly liked school, which resulted in her never fulfilling her potential.

‘Look, if you’re missing Dominic that much, why don’t you invite him out tonight? Dad ain’t gonna know anyone in the Berwick Manor, is he? Mum and Dad think we’re staying round our friend’s anyway. You and Dom can book a room somewhere. Having a bit of the other might cheer you up a bit.’

Joey playfully thumped her. He was tempted, but unsure. ‘It’s too dangerous, Frankie. I promised Mum I wouldn’t see Dom locally and if she finds out, she’ll kill me.’

Frankie had always been the daredevil out of the two of them. ‘Don’t be such a wuss. Ring Dominic, enjoy yourself. Live dangerously, Joey, I most certainly do.’

Joey laughed. Dangerous was his sister’s middle name. ‘How are things going with Jed? Is it still serious?’

Frankie’s face broke into a big, silly grin. She had seen Jed almost every day since they had met and she worshipped the ground he walked on. ‘I love him so much, Joey. When I’m old enough, I’m gonna marry him and have loads of kids.’

‘That’ll please, Dad,’ Joey said sarcastically.

‘I don’t care. Sod Dad! It’s my life and I’ll do what I want with it.’

Walking around Tesco, Jessica smiled as she checked her shopping list. Positive she hadn’t forgotten anything, she made her way to the checkout.

Sunday was to be a special day for her and all the family. Her parents, Raymond, Polly, Gary and Ricky were coming over for dinner. Jessica had chosen to do a roast. She had bought two big ribs of beef and all the trimmings to go with it. It was going to be a double celebration.
Her parents and everybody else thought they were coming just to celebrate the twins leaving school, but Jessica was now ready to announce that she was pregnant.

Apart from Eddie and Vicki, Jessica still hadn’t told a soul, not even the twins. She had been desperate to get over the dreaded twelve-week mark before she announced it to the world.

Jessica thanked the cashier and walked towards her car. She loaded her shopping into the boot and leaned against it for a breather. The sun was shining, life was good and she was so excited about her future. Thankfully, the Dominic episode had now blown over with Eddie. Joey had brought a girl round for tea and Ed had believed their relationship was kosher. Jessica smiled. She couldn’t wait for the new baby to arrive and at times like these she felt like the luckiest woman alive.

Eddie stood in the hallway of the pub’s living quarters. He counted the money and nodded. ‘All right, Alec, it’s all here. See you same time next month.’

With all debts and protection money collected, Eddie gave Gary and Ricky a ring to see if everything had gone smoothly their end. Since Paulie had left the firm, Eddie had split the collections in two. He and Raymond did one half of their patch and Gary and Ricky the other.

‘All done, Dad. Everything went as sweet as a nut,’ Gary told him.

‘Good lads. You and Ricky out on the town again tonight?’

Gary laughed. ‘Going to a rave out Watford way.’

Eddie raised his eyebrows at Raymond. He was far too old to understand all this rave lark. Sometimes Gary and Ricky would go to one and not come home for two days.

‘Well, have a good time, and don’t forget Sunday, Gal,
will you? Jessica’s cooking a special meal. It’s a double celebration. Make sure you and Ricky are there by three at the latest.’

‘What’s the other celebration, then? I thought we were just celebrating the twins leaving school,’ Gary asked.

Eddie chuckled. ‘There’s more to it than meets the eye. You and Ricky behave yourselves and I’ll see you both on Sunday.’

Ending the phone call, Eddie turned to Raymond. ‘Shall we have a couple of pints somewhere?’

Raymond shook his head. ‘Polly’s off work today, so I’m gonna meet her up town. She wants to do a bit of shopping.’

Smirking, Eddie nudged him. ‘Ain’t shopping for engagement rings, are we, Raymondo?’