Blood Ties, page 6
‘So I’ve been told,’ said Adele.
‘She’ll knock you off your fuckin’ perch if you’re not careful,’ Anna continued.
‘She’s welcome to the “top dog” title. I don’t want it.’
Anna stayed silent for several seconds, observing Adele with a puzzled expression on her face.
‘Look, as long as she doesn’t bother me, I won’t bother her,’ said Adele, but when Anna continued to stare she asked, ‘What?’
Anna shrugged. ‘That’s not the way Shazza works.’
It was Adele’s turn to look puzzled until Anna added, ‘If she’s got it in for someone, she’s got it in for them. I just hope nobody tells her that you’re the number one.’
‘I’m not!’ snapped Adele. ‘Where on earth did you get that idea?’
Anna shrugged again. ‘It’s what everyone’s saying.’
‘Well, do me a favour, Anna, and put them straight, will you?’
‘Sure, I’ll try. After all, you wouldn’t want Shazza for an enemy.’
‘OK, thanks,’ said Adele, but Anna wasn’t finished.
‘She’s in for GBH this time, y’know. Can’t say I’m surprised. Not after she bit someone’s ear off last time she was in here.’
‘You’re joking!’ said Adele, raising her eyebrows in shock.
‘Wish I fuckin’ was,’ said Anna.
Adele stared at Anna, noting her facial expression. It was one of fear. Adele knew that look only too well. She had seen it on the faces of her family when she was a child. It happened whenever her father came back from the pub in one of his rages. And, just as it had when she was a child, that fear sparked a feeling of dread that tore through her insides like a razor blade.
Chapter 10
Caroline was ready for Adele when she walked into her cell. ‘You’ve heard the news then?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ said Adele, glancing over at Caroline’s cellmate, Cheryl, who was tidying the top of her small bedside cabinet.
Cheryl took the hint and left the cell while the two of them talked.
‘Is it true what Anna tells me: that Shazza bit someone’s ear off last time she was in here?’
‘So they say,’ said Caroline. ‘I didn’t see the incident myself, but it wouldn’t surprise me.’
‘Is she really that bad?’
‘Oh, yeah. Like I told you before, she’s ruthless. I’ve never known anyone as bad as her.’
Adele gulped. ‘Anna seems to think she’ll challenge me,’ she said.
Caroline had a look of resignation. ‘She might well do. It depends whether word gets back to her about you.’
‘I’ve told Anna to set the record straight. I don’t want her to think I’m in competition with her. I’d rather just serve my time quietly.’ Adele rushed her words, becoming anxious.
‘Unfortunately, that might not be an option,’ Caroline sighed. ‘Don’t forget about your fight with Denise. Like I told you before, that might not be forgotten and there were plenty of people who knew about it.’
‘Shit!’ said Adele.
Caroline strode across to her and put a comforting arm around her shoulder. ‘It’s OK. Try not to worry,’ she said. ‘It might not come to anything. But if it does, I’ll be right behind you.’
Adele smiled nervously. ‘Thanks,’ she said, but despite Caroline’s reassuring words, the unease that had been festering inside her since Peter’s visit was growing and she was seriously worried.
*
Denise watched Shazza saunter across to her and Louise in the recreation room. She was their friend. Despite what others said about Shazza, Denise found her alright although even she was wary of getting on the wrong side of her. Shazza was always up for a laugh and, as long as you didn’t wind her up, she was fine. They greeted her effusively.
‘What the fuck are you doing back so soon?’ Denise laughed, hugging Shazza tightly.
‘Got into a bit of bother, didn’t I?’ Shazza sniffed.
Denise smiled and raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
‘Wasn’t my fault,’ said Shazza. ‘I was just in a pub with my fella minding my own fuckin’ business when this tart walks in and starts playing up to him. And that docile bastard starts flirting back at her. I told him to pack it in but he took no fuckin’ notice. So I warned her, and the silly cow laughed in my face then walked off. I wasn’t gonna stand there and let them make a fuckin’ mug of me, was I? So I went after her.’
‘Don’t fuckin’ blame you,’ said Denise.
‘So what did you do?’ asked Louise, staring at Shazza with wide-eyed admiration.
‘I let her fuckin’ have it, didn’t I? Teach her to fuckin’ flirt with my fella!’
‘What did he do?’ gushed Louise.
‘Mike? He tried to stop me, but not straight away. I think he was enjoying it too much, ha-ha. Gets his rocks off from seeing two birds scrapping. I’d already broken the cow’s nose and had her screaming before he got hold of me. You know me; I’m like fuckin’ lightning when I get pissed off. Then some other blokes stepped in. Mike tried to drag me away from the pub before the coppers got there but I was fuckin’ blazin’ and wanted to have a go at him too for giving that tart the come-on.’
‘So did the coppers get you?’ asked Louise.
‘Well, I wouldn’t fuckin’ be in here if they hadn’t, would I?’ asked Shazza.
Denise could see that Shazza was starting to become a bit irritated by Louise’s questions so she gave her a nudge.
‘Shut the fuck up, Louise,’ Denise said. ‘What is this, twenty fuckin’ questions, or what?’
But Louise was too foolish to take Denise’s warning seriously. ‘Are you still seeing Mike?’ she asked.
‘Am I fuck! I dumped the bastard. I was sick of him messing me around. That tosser couldn’t keep his dick in his pants if you paid him! What kind of a fuckin’ mug do you think I am?’
Denise could tell that Shazza was getting rattled so she nudged Louise again.
‘So, what’s the news in here?’ Shazza asked.
‘Not much to tell really,’ said Denise. ‘We’ve got a few newbies. She’s one of them; that fit blonde bird over there,’ she said, nodding towards Cheryl, who was standing chatting with a large group of women several metres away. ‘And then there’s her, Adele fuckin’ Robinson,’ she said, pointing her finger at Adele, who was standing on the other side of the recreation area with Caroline.
‘Gather you don’t like her then?’ asked Shazza, chuckling.
Denise spat on the ground in response.
‘Like that, is it?’ said Shazza. ‘So, who’s been top dog while I’ve been away?’
Before Denise had chance to reply, Louise cut in, ‘She is. Adele.’
Shazza sized Adele up. ‘You must be fuckin’ joking! She doesn’t look handy to me.’
‘Well, she is,’ said Louise. ‘She’s a kickboxing expert.’
‘What’s she in for?’
‘Killing her dad,’ Louise replied while Denise stared contemptuously. ‘She bashed his head in.’
A look of realisation flashed across Shazza’s face. ‘Aah, I thought the name rang a bell,’ she said. ‘That’s the sick fuck who hit him with a brass ornament, isn’t it?’
‘That’s the one,’ said Denise, with a grimace on her face. ‘She’s Peter Robinson’s sister.’
‘No wonder she fancies her fuckin’ chances,’ said Shazza, looking across at Adele once more.
‘Not only that,’ said Louise, who had now become quite animated, ‘she beat Anna up. Nearly killed her. Anna’s throat was a mess.’
‘Did she fuck!’ snarled Denise.
‘Well, she hurt her, anyway,’ said Louise. ‘And what about what she did to you?’
Denise sneered at Louise. Her girlfriend’s admiration for Adele was beginning to get on her nerves. ‘That was nowt!’ she snapped. ‘She just caught me off guard, that’s all. She thinks she’s tough but, don’t worry, I’ll fuckin’ have her. I’m just biding my time.’
‘Anna’s no big deal anyway,’ said Shazza. ‘Everyone knows her bark’s worse than her bite. She might be a fat cunt, but she’s as soft as shit. How long’s this Adele been in?’ she asked.
‘Only a few weeks,’ Denise replied. ‘But she got a seven-year stretch.’
‘That’s not much for what she did, is it?’
‘They gave her manslaughter. It was self-defence. Apparently her dad was a right twat. He’d been abusing her mam for years.’
Shazza nodded her head, a look of steely determination painted on her face. ‘So, she thinks that bumping off her old man makes her a hard case, does she?’
‘It’s not just Anna who calls her top dog,’ said Louise. ‘A lot of the other prisoners are saying it, too.’
Again Shazza stared across at Adele, her eyes lingering for longer this time. ‘We’ll have to fuckin’ see about that, won’t we, girls?’ she said.
For a few seconds nobody spoke. Then Shazza said, ‘Anyway, girls, I’m off to the gym. Thanks for giving me the heads-up.’
Once she had walked away, Denise turned to Louise. ‘Why don’t you learn to keep your fuckin’ trap shut?’ she said.
‘What do you mean?’ asked Louise.
‘Adele this, Adele that, Adele the fuckin’ other. Anyone would think you were in love with her or summat. Don’t forget what she did to me!’
‘I haven’t. I was just trying to warn Shazza, that’s all.’
‘Yeah, well, Shazza knows what she’s dealing with now, doesn’t she?’ Then a smirk played across Denise’s lips before she spoke again. ‘Let’s see how fuckin’ tough Robinson is when Shazza’s finished with her.’
Chapter 11
Adele glanced nervously across at the group of women who were standing on the other side of the recreation area. So, that was what Shazza looked like! Adele took in her height and frame, and suppressed a shudder. The woman was big, and mean-looking. She noticed Shazza glaring at her and quickly looked away.
‘What do you think’s going on over there?’ she asked Caroline.
‘Dunno, but whatever it is, you can be sure they’re up to no good.’
‘She keeps giving me evils,’ said Adele.
‘Try not to worry about it. Shazza nearly always wears a scowl anyway. Don’t look at her.’
‘They seem to get on,’ Adele persisted.
‘Yeah, they did last time she was in here. Denise isn’t stupid. She knows it’s best to stay on the right side of Shazza. Denise might be tough but she wouldn’t dare take on a nutcase like Shazza so she stays well in with her. On their own they’re trouble but the two of them together are a force to be reckoned with.’
Adele’s eyes opened wide in alarm.
Caroline covered her hand with her own. ‘Like I say, try not to worry,’ she said. Then she sighed before continuing, ‘It’s as well to be prepared, though, just in case she tries anything on.’
Shazza then walked away from Denise and Louise and headed in their direction. But before she reached them she stopped and spoke to Anna, who was halfway across the room. It was obvious from Anna’s body language that she was on her guard and had been keeping her head down, hoping Shazza wouldn’t notice her.
After they had spoken a few words Shazza grabbed the front of Anna’s T-shirt and twisted it between her clenched fingers. Then she rammed her fist up against Anna’s chin and said something that Adele couldn’t hear from where she was standing. But her body language told Adele that it wasn’t friendly.
Anna’s head flew back and she took a step backwards. Then Shazza let go of Anna’s T-shirt and Anna passed her something out of her pocket. Anna’s movement was slow, her shoulders slumped, as though she had given up the item reluctantly.
‘What the hell d’you think she’s up to?’ Adele asked Caroline, lowering her voice so that Shazza couldn’t hear her.
‘She’ll be stealing cigs or something off her,’ Caroline whispered.
‘She can’t do that!’ said Adele, affronted.
‘Oh yes she can,’ said Caroline quietly. ‘She’s Shazza. She can do what the bloody hell she wants, and she gets away with it.’ Adele stared back at Caroline, the resentment written all over her face. ‘Don’t even think about it!’ Caroline advised.
‘What?’ asked Adele.
‘Saying anything to her about Anna,’ Caroline whispered. ‘You’d be a fool to mess with her. It’s best to leave it alone.’
Then Shazza left Anna and continued in their direction. Adele noticed that as she walked across the room the other inmates either kept their heads down or greeted her enthusiastically. It was obvious to Adele that they were trying to ingratiate themselves. Shazza had a confident strut. It was as though she was enjoying the attention.
As Shazza drew closer to Adele and Caroline, she stared directly at Adele. Despite Caroline’s advice not to look at her, Adele couldn’t resist taking a curious peek. Shazza’s features were rigid and unflinching, and as their eyes locked, Adele could feel her piercing glare through vivid turquoise, beady eyes. It seemed to cut right through her.
Then Shazza sauntered by, nodding and grinning at Caroline as she passed them. She didn’t say anything. But Adele knew in that moment that Shazza had made her an enemy and a cold shiver of fear ran through her.
*
Peter rang his contact Spikey. ‘Right, I’m ready to take stock,’ he said, making sure he gave nothing away on the phone.
Within minutes Spikey had arrived, bringing with him four guns. Peter handed over the cash and led him out of the flat. Then he made another call, this time to Glynn.
‘Round the gang up. We need to make plans,’ he said. A voice sounded at the other end of the phone and Peter replied, ‘Yeah, don’t worry. Now that nasty business with Dave is sorted we can concentrate on the next job. Make sure they’re here in the next hour.’
He cut the call and waited for his gang to arrive.
As soon as Peter had them all seated around his dining table he said, ‘Right, lads, first up you need to know that I’ve had to let Dave go.’
Mickey let out a gasp as he and Sam stared at Peter, open-mouthed.
Peter swallowed. ‘He’s let me down… badly. We can’t carry him any more so he had to go.’
He noticed Mickey and Sam exchange surprised glances but he wasn’t prepared to go into any more detail. It was done and there was no point harping on about it. He had to focus on the future.
‘Let’s move on,’ he said quickly, letting them know that the subject of David was now closed. ‘We’re stepping things up a bit. The next job we do, we’ll all be tooled up. I’m taking no fuckin’ chances.’
He handed out the guns to Glynn, Mickey and Sam, and put the fourth one to one side. He already had his own gun, which was hidden somewhere safe where no one would find it.
Mickey whistled. ‘Nice one,’ he said. ‘These’ll do the job.’
‘Yeah, but don’t forget,’ said Peter, ‘no fuckin’ shooting unless you have to.’
Although Peter had closed the subject of David, his mind was still on him as he briefly remembered how David had shot a security guard dead during a previous job. He could tell that his men knew what he was thinking, too.
‘These are just frighteners,’ he continued. ‘Maybe the next have-a-go hero will think twice if we’re all tooled up. Right, now down to business,’ he said.
He walked over to the sideboard and took out some plans. ‘Follow me, lads,’ he said, leading them through to the dining room where he unfolded several sheets of paper and placed them on the dining table.
The men crowded round to take a look. ‘I told you we were stepping it up,’ he said. ‘This firm takes loads of cash. It’s well worth a go.’
The men stared at the plans, which had been drawn up with meticulous attention to detail. They showed Smart and Sons’ cash and carry, together with the street where it was situated in Trafford Park and the various other buildings near to the firm.
‘We need to track what happens to the cash they take,’ said Peter. ‘Does a firm collect it? Or does one of the directors take it to the bank? How often is it taken to the bank, and whereabouts in the building is it stored in the meantime? Let’s find out their pattern. But don’t make it fuckin’ obvious.
‘You see that?’ he asked, pointing to a diagram of a pub, which was situated across the road from their target. ‘That’s where we’re gonna start. They rent out rooms. So, Mickey, you’re gonna book yourself in under an alias and then keep a lookout, see what goes on.’
A grin flashed across Mickey’s face. ‘Sounds good. I’m up for that,’ he said.
‘Don’t worry, it is good,’ said Peter. ‘I told you we were stepping it up.’
He then continued to detail their surveillance operation, giving out instructions for each of his men to follow. When he had finished, he stood up, stretching himself to his full height and asked, ‘Any questions?’
‘Yeah, just one,’ said Sam, tapping on the dining table nervously. ‘Did you tell Dave about the job before you got rid of him?’
‘No!’ Peter replied hastily. ‘Don’t worry about him. He knows fuck all, and it’s best that way… Now, is everyone clear about what’s involved?’
They all muttered their understanding and Peter strode over to his drinks cabinet. He took out the brandy and poured each of them a generous measure into a crystal tumbler. While he was pouring he heard the sound of the doorbell ringing. ‘About fuckin’ time!’ he said.
‘I’ll go,’ said Glynn.
While Glynn went to answer the door, Peter pulled a fifth tumbler out of the drinks cabinet and poured brandy into it.
He looked up as Glynn returned to the room with another man. Peter nodded at them, then turned to Mickey and Sam. ‘Guys, meet Mike Shaftesbury, the new fifth member of the gang,’ he said. ‘He’s a sound guy and comes highly recommended. Isn’t that right, Glynn?’ He smiled at Glynn, who patted Mike on the back. ‘Mike, meet Sam and Mickey,’ he added, nodding at each of them in turn.
Peter sauntered over to the dining table carrying two of the glasses while Glynn and Mike grabbed the remainder. They handed the drinks round, then Peter picked up the gun he had left on the table earlier. Once the men had a glass each, Peter held his up in a toast. ‘To bigger and better things,’ he said before handing Mike the gun. ‘Welcome to the gang.’
