TRAPPED (31 page)

Crossing the road, Gypsy had to stand back quickly as a car sped past, showering her clothes with the muddy remains of the rainwater from the night before.

‘Oi! Thanks a lot mate,’ Gypsy shouted loudly after the car. It was totally pointless but it made her feel better. There was a large stain on the white Armani trousers she’d bought only yesterday and now they were wet, the balmy evening felt chilly.

Gypsy quickened her pace, wanting to get to her house and see if Johnny was in, if he wasn’t she’d go back to the hotel to change into some dry, clean clothes before she decided what to do from there.

When she’d walked out of the hospital the clothes she was wearing were the only ones she’d had to stand up in, but she’d gone down to some of the saunas in Whitechapel and bought some designer bits and pieces from the crack heads who came around daily.

She’d handed her house keys to Frankie in a grand gesture but she wasn’t that stupid, she’d had a spare pair in her bag. It was important she’d done that though – if she hadn’t, Gypsy knew that Frankie would’ve changed the locks, trying to make a statement. This way, as long as there was no one home, it allowed her to still be able to access the house to get her things, not that she’d make a habit of it.

The strange thing was she’d agreed to own up to hitting Lorna over the head because of the letter, but she’d never until now stopped to think who’d
actually
hurt Lorna.

Everything had been so mad, so chaotic, and then the added shock of Johnny and Maggie hadn’t given her a moment to think about it. But now, it was actually terrifying to think that a stranger had come into their home and attacked Lorna.

The house was dark and Gypsy could see the blinds and curtains were all closed. It was unusual, but the top floor shutters were closed as well. In all the time they’d lived there they’d never bothered closing them. The house was tall and regal and from the top two floors you could see above the trees and most of the surrounding shops and houses, but no one could see in. Gypsy scowled. It was probably Lorna putting her touches on the place already.

Sighing, Gypsy pulled herself back from being upset. She had to remember that whatever Lorna chose to do in the house was her business; Gypsy no longer lived there, so what her husband and Lorna did or didn’t do was no concern of hers anymore.

Striding across the residential square, Gypsy braced herself for what she knew could be make or break with Johnny. She hadn’t been this scared in a long time.

Five minutes later and there was no answer. She’d rung the doorbell but she couldn’t even hear it, it didn’t seem like it was working, which also meant the alarms would be off as they were all connected.

The house looked too dark for anyone to be in, though there was a possibility that Lorna was in bed asleep. It was too early for Frankie or Johnny to sleep. The last time either of them had found themselves in bed before three in the morning was when Johnny was fifteen, and Frankie had got sunburned out in their villa in Marbella when he’d had too much red wine at lunchtime, dozing off in the heat of the midday sun.

Gypsy wasn’t sure if she was relieved or not that Johnny wasn’t in. She’d really wanted to get it over and done with, even though she was terrified of his reaction.

Popping in a piece of gum, Gypsy wondered if it was worth the risk of using her keys to let herself in and take some bits and pieces. Then, what did she actually have to lose? If she was caught she was caught. And as much as Frankie had said everything was his, she’d been the one to support him as he built up his club empire. If Lorna saw her and didn’t like it, then she’d be more than happy to tell her where to stick her witch’s fingers.

Unlocking the front door, Gypsy walked into the dark hallway. It wasn’t pitch black due to the light coming in from the domed glass ceiling, but it was dark enough to have to step carefully. She went to turn on the small table lamp sitting on the hand-carved marble table. It wasn’t working. She tried the main light. That didn’t come on either. Power cut. Well, she’d have to get her things in the dark, though there was probably enough light to make her way up the stairs and to her bedroom.

Stepping forward further into the hallway Gypsy heard a familiar voice and a moment later, Lorna walked into the hall. ‘Is that you, Frankie? Bleeding hell I was off to the land of nod in there. Dozed right off. With these blinds shut I don’t know whether it’s day or night. Frig me, if this carries on I’ll end up like a flipping vampire …’

Lorna stopped as she saw Gypsy and even through the dark, Gypsy could see the hostility on her face.

‘What you doing here, Gypsy? Does Frankie know you’re here?’

‘No, he doesn’t. Like he doesn’t know what a lying scheming cow
you
are.’

Lorna sniffed and folded her arms, pushing up her large breasts. ‘You got what was coming and I got mine. Ain’t no point in playing sourpuss. Maybe if you hadn’t been so greedy for all these years, then it wouldn’t have come to this.’

‘Me? Greedy? We all know who’s greedy here and I’m sure it won’t be too long before Frankie finds out what you really are.’

‘And who’s going to tell him, eh? I ain’t the one with the DNA test saying Frankie’s not the father.’

‘You keep your mouth shut on that.’

‘Ain’t that what I’m doing, Gyps? You stay away and keep your side of the bargain, and in return I’ll keep my mouth shut.’

‘You’re something else, Lorna. How could you even think about doing it to Frankie and Johnny?’

‘I’m doing nothing. You’re the one who is – or rather
has
.’

‘But you would. If I didn’t falsely ’fess up to bashing you over the head, you would’ve told him. Do they mean nothing to you? You know what Frankie’s pride’s like? As much as he adores Johnny, if he thought for a second he wasn’t his father his hurt would be so much he’d push Johnny away. It’d destroy two lives.’

‘Like I say,
I
never cheated on no one.’

Anger flashed in Gypsy’s eyes. ‘You don’t know anything about it, Lorn; it’s not what you think.’

‘No? Well I see what I see. And Johnny being another immaculate conception ain’t going to wash with me.’

‘One day, Lorna, maybe you’ll realise what you’re doing girl.’

‘My heart bleeds. I ain’t going to—’

The house phone rang and interrupted the terse conversation. Gypsy moved over to get it but Lorna barged past her and grabbed the phone. ‘I think you’ve forgotten you don’t live here any more. I’ll get the phone if it’s all the same to you. Hello?’

‘Hello.’

‘Hello?’

‘Hello.’

‘Bleedin’ hell, I ain’t saying it again and going round like a merry-go-round. Who is this?’

‘Am I speaking to Gypsy?’

Lorna looked slyly at her sister in law, who was standing a few feet away. It didn’t seem Gypsy had heard the caller’s request. Lorna, curious as ever, moved away slightly before she began her pretence.

‘Yes, speaking.’

‘It’s been a long time, Gypsy. Too long.’

‘Who is this?’

‘Surely I don’t need to tell you that. Don’t you recognise my voice – or perhaps you need to see me. Would you like that, Gypsy? I know I would.’

Lorna swallowed. She wasn’t enjoying this. There was something about the caller which made her feel uncomfortable. Something about the way his voice lulled and hung in the air with a threatening tone. Lorna hardened her voice, hoping not to give away clues to either the caller or Gypsy that she was beginning to feel afraid.

‘Enough with the games. I don’t remember you, and if I’m honest I don’t want to neither.’

Lorna slammed down the phone but within a moment it rang again, cutting shrilly through the air. She hesitated and then quickly picked it up. ‘Didn’t I make meself clear?’

‘Oh perfectly, but the thing is I didn’t make myself clear. I don’t think you quite understand. You can’t get rid of me that quickly, Gypsy. Did you really think you could? I came looking for you before, thought you’d be in but you weren’t, so I had to make do with that fat friend of yours. How is she, anyway? She put up one hell of a fight in your kitchen.’

Lorna was beyond frightened.

‘Listen, I think you should do one.’

‘You’d like that wouldn’t you? Well, sorry. No can do. I’m coming to see you. In fact I’m just across the street, any second now I’ll be at your door, and then we’ll see if you remember me, Gypsy. And if you can’t then I’ll make you scream to remember. One … two …’

The line went dead and Lorna looked at Gypsy, her face taut. Gypsy was startled to see genuine fear on Lorna’s face.

‘What’s the matter, Lorn? Lorna what’s wrong?’

Lorna started to tremble, her face creasing as she began to cry with terrified tears. She ran to the front door and started to bolt it, hands trembling as she turned the key. Sweat dripped down her face and into her eyes, preventing her from seeing clearly in the already-dark hall. Lorna leant on the door, trembling and still unable to get out her words and Gypsy shook her hard, picking up on Lorna’s terror.

‘What’s wrong?’

Lorna’s words came spilling out in an incomprehensible jumble. ‘He said he was …was … he said he was coming … We’ve got to lock the windows, Gyps. Oh my Christ.’

Gypsy still didn’t understand what was happening but something was clearly very wrong, and she wasn’t going to stand around waiting for questions to be answered when the fear was etched into Lorna’s face and body. She ran to the front room and barred the windows, pulling the wooden shutters closed. Next she ran into the kitchen and did the same thing, hearing Lorna in the other rooms.

Once all the windows in the kitchen were done it was significantly darker and Gypsy took hold of Lorna’s hand, leading her up the stairs. ‘Come on, it’s lighter up here. I’ll phone Frankie.’

The phone rang again as they got to the landing and i
n the moonl
ight Gypsy saw Lorna’s face change. The ph
one seemed so
much louder than normal echoing around the hall and up to where they were standing on the first floor landing. Gypsy felt Lorna squeeze her arm tightly and as she began to walk over to the upstairs phone, Lorna pulled on her and whispered.

‘Are you sure you should get that, Gypsy? Leave it.’

‘It might be Frankie.’

Gypsy walked over to the phone.

‘Hello?’

‘Nine … ten. Coming, ready or not.’

‘Pull over! Pull over!’

Saucers’ sudden shrill voice made Frankie swerve. The Range Rover hit the bump of the kerb and before he’d fully stopped, Saucers had opened the passenger door and jumped out, running into the throng of people watching the building on Scala Street in flames.

Frankie watched as he saw Saucers speaking to a beautiful, but distressed looking woman. He was going to stay in the car; he wasn’t interested in watching buildings burn or listening to more hysterical women. The last few hours had been draining enough.

Jesus. What was wrong with him? He was Frankie Taylor and here he was feeling
drained
. Gypsy had a lot to answer for. It was almost like his fucking balls had been cut off and he’d been emasculated the day she’d walked out.

Frankie looked at his watch. The doctor had told them to come back and see Nicky in a couple of hours, though he wouldn’t, he’d just drop Saucers off. He’d done his good deed, gone against the grain in helping. He’d even called a favour in from his old buddy, Alfie Jennings, to use his ‘cleaners’ to get rid of Gary and the mess. And now he had, he was going to fuck off. Nicky was a Donaldson. Simple as. Helping didn’t change anything between their families or how he felt about them.

Frankie was about to turn his head away when he caught a glimpse of Saucers beginning to cry hysterically and start pointing towards his car. What the hell was going on? Something was happening and it looked like he had no other choice but to find out exactly what it was.

‘Oh my God.’

Saucers spoke half to herself and half to Maggie, clearly in a state of shock. She turned away from the firefighters who were still battling with the fire but were slowly getting it under control.

Maggie couldn’t take her eyes off the entrance to the flats, praying that at any moment she’d see Harley being brought down safely. Saucers was telling her something but she couldn’t answer; she could hardly think, let alone talk.

‘Nicky, we found him. He’s in hospital, but he’s okay. The doctors think he’ll be okay. I’m so sorry, I tried to stop it, I swear. Oh God, Maggie, he must have done it; I didn’t think even he was capable of something like this.’

Maggie battled back the tears. She couldn’t cope with any more; she didn’t want to hear about Nicky or listen to Saucers, much as she loved her. All she needed to know was that her daughter and Johnny were alright. Everything was spinning around in her mind. She’d have to think about Nicky later, deal with it all another time. At least he was in hospital; it wasn’t much comfort, though it was better than not knowing where he was, and for the time being he’d be safe.

A few seconds later, as Maggie watched the dying flames, a thought struck her. What had Saucers said? What did she mean by
he must have done it
? She turned to face her friend, her heart pounding as she looked at her, scared to know that what she was thinking was right. ‘Saucers – say that again. Who were you talking about? Tell me who you think must have done it?’

Saucers saw the pain in Maggie’s eyes and answered in a whisper. ‘Max. I think it was Max who did this.’

Maggie screamed, letting go of any control she’d been trying to hold onto.

‘He found out about you and Johnny, I heard him say something to Nicky about it. When I saw Max earlier he stank of petrol. Oh my God, it all makes sense now.’

Frankie stepped into the conversation as he approached them. ‘You and Johnny what? Who is this? Can someone tell me what the fuck is going on?’

Maggie ignored Frankie but he grabbed hold of Saucers’ arm. ‘What’s she talking about Johnny for?’

Saucers only hesitated a moment before speaking. ‘They were together. Maggie is Nicky’s sister. She and Johnny were together.’