The Jade Garden (The Barrington Patch Book 2) Page 13

“Ah, the murder plot by any chance?”

  Brenda jolted, her chest seeming to hollow with the skip of her heartbeat. “How did you know?”

  “Informants everywhere. It’s all in hand, but thank you for letting me know, seeing as she’s your best mate. That shows me where your true loyalty is.”

  Brenda shook with relief, at how casual Cassie sounded. “I couldn’t let her go through with it.”

  “She’ll receive the usual treatment, just so you’re aware. If she does a runner before our meeting, one she isn’t aware of yet, I’ll know where to come next. Your door. Warning her wouldn’t be a wise move.”

  Brenda shivered, knowing exactly what that would entail. “I’m telling her nowt. She’s gone mad, she has. I want nowt to do with her.” She thought about Jason. Should she confess? With Karen destined to disappear, if Brenda kept her chat with him to herself now and Cassie found out later down the line, Brenda would disappear an’ all. Fuck it, she’d tell all. “And while we’re at it, something else has been bothering me.”

  “What’s that then?”

  “I kept quiet about it because I was going to catch the little fucker in the net myself, then bring you the evidence, a recording I was going to make, but I think you ought to know now. Jason has plans to take over from you an’ all.”

  “So Mam told me.”

  How did Francis know? Fucking hell, she must have a hand in the Barrington as well as Cassie, more than I realised. “I told him to stay in the background, do as he was told, that his idea was silly. Has he?”

  “A bit, but you know Jason, always has to push it. Don’t worry about it. That’s also in hand.”

  Thank God she didn’t bite my head off. “Good.”

  “How’s it going with Sid?”

  “He’s already on the verge of making the withdrawal.” Brenda imagined the lovely wedge of cash she’d receive once the old man handed it over. Every bloke she fleeced took a vast sum out of their bank, thanks to Brenda convincing them she was the love of their soon-to-end lives. “I might well be able to get this one to leave me everything in his will an’ all. He’s spoken about it, and I haven’t even been his ‘carer’ for long.”

  “You’ve obviously charmed him. Right, I have somewhere to be. Keep your ears open.”

  “Will do.”

  “And again, thanks. You’re a diamond. I’ll pop some cash to yours in a few. You deserve a bonus.”

  The line went dead, and Brenda stared at the phone. Fucking hell, if she’d known Cassie was all about bonuses for passing on info, she’d have grassed Jason up the day he’d told her what he was up to. Mind you, Lenny had died that night, so maybe not.

  She smiled, imagining how much it would be and what she’d buy with it.

  It paid to be on a Grafton’s side, Lenny had always told her that.

  Seemed he’d been speaking the truth.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Cassie had parked outside the high-rise to take Brenda’s unexpected call. While she should be seething about the woman keeping it to herself regarding Jason, she’d taken a breath to listen to her properly instead of jumping down her throat. Cassie had reminded herself Brenda was a good sort, and any decision she’d made would have been for the right reasons, not to dupe her. When she’d said she’d planned to record Jason, trap him, Cassie had acknowledged that was what she needed to do for her own trap. He must think Brenda was trustworthy if she hadn’t told Cassie about him by now, that his secret was safe, the sneaky little prat.

  She stared across the grass outside the high-rise and thought about her chat with Cheryl in the break area out the back of the salon. The poor woman hadn’t known her son was messing about in the street, paid to tell people to get lost, and she’d got straight on the phone to him, school lessons be damned, and told him to go to the loo so she could speak to him.

  Cassie had taken the phone once the lad said he was in a cubicle.

  “It’s Cassie Grafton,” she’d said. “Nowt to worry about, you’re not in any bother. How did last night go?”

  “We scared people off for you, like the man said.”

  Cassie’s tummy had clenched. “Which man?”

  “I dunno his name. He came to speak to us when we were dicking about in the park.”

  So he’d picked them out, chosen them for the job? “What did he look like?”

  “He had a beard, big eyebrows an’ that. He said you wanted us to tell people they weren’t allowed in the Jade, and if they went there before nine, you’d hurt them with some weapon.”

  That could be anyone. Her weapon had been mentioned in The Life. “Did he say why people couldn’t go there?”

  “Nah, just that you’d be angry with us if we let someone past. But someone did go in. A man. Then he went to The Pudding. I feel right bad about that.”

  She’d felt sorry for him. “It’s okay. How come that man went inside?”

  “We were messing about by the lamppost outside the laundrette, not concentrating, like, and he came along in his car and parked right in front of the Jade. He’d gone in by the time we ran towards the Chinese to stop him.”

  “Did you see anyone else in the street?”

  “Yeah, some bloke by a hedge.”

  “What was he doing?”

  “Staring at the Jade. A bit later, he went over there, like the park man said he would, so we legged it. That was what we were told to do. Am I really not in bother?”

  “No, you did well. What else can you remember about the man—the one from the park, that is?”

  “He had a beanie hat on, black clothes, and a gun in a holster, like he was some copper. He showed it to us. Said he’d shoot us if we fucked up.”

  A holster. “What colour was it?”

  “The holster? Brown.”

  Jason. “Right. If he approaches you again, you agree to do what he wants so he doesn’t think you’ve told me owt, but go home and tell your mam straight after. She’ll let me know, then you don’t do what he wants, okay?”

  “He said if we didn’t, he’d kill our mams, like.”

  Cassie’s anger had gone haywire, and she’d clenched the edge of the worktop that was stained with tea rings. “I won’t let him do that. He’s a nasty man, and I didn’t send him to you for that job. He was lying, and he might lie again. Can you tell your friend what I said? Make sure he understands what he has to do if you see the bloke again?”

  “Yeah. You won’t kill me mam, will you?”

  “Not likely. She’s done my hair nice.”

  He’d laughed at that, the poor little sod.

  “But your friend can’t tell any other friends what’s happening, got it? Your mam says it’s okay to keep this secret. I can tell him myself if you don’t want to.”

  “Nah, it’s Ronnie Stevens, he’s a scaredy-cat and will do what I tell him.”

  She clenched her teeth now, thinking of Jason putting a beard and glasses on, pretending to be someone else, threatening those lads. It had to be him—she didn’t know anyone else with a brown holster—and she’d make him pay for what he’d done.

  For now, she’d go and see Jimmy, get him on her payroll, and give him his first set of instructions.

  At his door, she knocked hard so it was heard over the thumping music coming from next door. Jimmy opened up, and she held back laughter at him in a flowery pinny.

  “What the fucking hell?” She pointed to it.

  His shoulders drooped. “Shirl moans if I get my clothes dirty when I’m cleaning. I splashed bleach on a top she bought me once. Never lived it down. Mam gave me the apron.”

  Cassie smiled. “While I like a bit of banter, I need to come in.”

  “Shit, Shirl will have my guts for garters. I’m meant to get the kitchen done before I go to work. She spilt dinner on the hob last night, and it went all black. I can’t get it off for love nor money. Caked on, it is.”

  “I’ll send one of my cleaners round to do the whole oven, just let me in.”

  He step
ped back. “That’s kind of you. What do I need to do for that?” He seemed wary of accepting her offer.

  “Nowt. Go on, get in that kitchen and make me a cuppa. I can’t chat with a dry throat.”

  He made the drinks, and they sat at the table.

  “What’s all this about then?” He farted about with a spoon, maybe from nerves.

  “My mam told me you’re a good fella, that you worked for Dad once.”

  “Yeah…”

  “What’s keeping you occupied at the minute?” She sipped some tea.

  “Work. Nowt else. Got a shift this aft.”

  “Fancy getting paid by me instead?”

  His eyebrows rose, his cheeks going red and camouflaging his strawberry-coloured pimples. “Doing…?”

  “Being my grass. It involves a lot of time at The Donny, so watch Shirl doesn’t accuse you of liking beer more than her.” She laughed darkly. “Maybe she’d like to be in on it an’ all. Can’t be nice where she works, gutting fish all day.”

  “No, and she stinks when she gets home.” Jimmy screwed up his nose.

  “You’ve been with her a few years now, haven’t you.”

  “Yeah. Trust her with my life, so you can, too.” He studied her. “How much are we talking?”

  “Five hundred a week.” She paused. “Each. Plus half your rent off.”

  His eyes widened. “Fuck me, just for listening?”

  She nodded. “And reporting back to me, maybe a few other things you need to shut up about.” Another sip of tea had her relaxing a tad. It was nice to take a load off and sit while working, and Jimmy was easy company.

  “Fine by me.” He picked up his cup and blew.

  “If you mess me around…”

  He held up his free hand. “I know, I know. You don’t need to spell it out. I’ve heard it all off your old man before, then you when you paid us that visit recently. I haven’t got cloth ears.”

  Cassie smiled again, liking him more by the second. He seemed genuine, someone who’d fit on her close team. She went on to explain that if he heard owt, even if it didn’t seem like much, she wanted to know about it. Plus, “And get off the weed.” She took a smartphone burner from her pocket and pushed it across the table.

  “Do you want to lay it all out for Shirl, or should I come back later?” she asked.

  “I’ll do it. She’s shit scared of you.”

  “Fine. I’ll send someone round with another burner for her later, once you’ve let me know if she’s in or not.” She told him about the code words. “And use WhatsApp—people normally text, but that’s changing now. My number’s already in there. I top them up with credit, so don’t worry about that.”

  He swiped the phone and switched it on. “Nice.”

  “I’ve got a job just for you—with Shirl there, the person I want you to chat with won’t open up.” She dug in her bag again, producing an envelope with the five hundred in it, plus another with the same amount. “This one,” she passed it over, “is your weekly wage, which will be dropped round each Friday by one of my runners. And this one,” she thrust the other across to him, “is for the job I just mentioned. Any word of this getting out to my target, you’re fucking dead, do you understand? Marlene will have you after I do.”

  He bobbed his head, conveying with the force he used how much he wanted to stay alive. “I won’t fuck with you. I respected Lenny too much to do owt like that.”

  “Good, now here’s the plan. Tonight, at The Donny, Jason will be there.”

  “Your Jason?”

  She grimaced at that. He wasn’t hers and never would be now. Her instincts must have been warning her all along, and that was why she’d tried to get out of dating him. “Hmm. I want him drunk and talking. You tell him I need taking down a peg, that I’m an annoying little cow, whatever it takes, be as mean as you like—but make sure no one else hears you. I have ears all over, and they’ll think you mean it and maybe do something to hurt you on my behalf. See if Jason tells you what he’s up to—I’m well aware of what that is, by the way. Record the convo on that phone there.” She pointed at it then drank some more tea.

  “What if he doesn’t show up?”

  “He will. I’ll be with him at first—he’s been after a date for ages, so he’ll think that’s what it is. I’ll get a few drinks down his neck before I leave—I’ll conveniently have a work matter I need to attend to, and he won’t be able to come with me because he’ll be pissed up—then you take over. Use cash from that five hundred to pay for the drinks, and I’ll reimburse you. Imply you’ll do anything to see me off the Barrington. D’you get what I’m asking?”

  Jimmy nodded, his eyes narrowing. “He’s not loyal to you, is he?”

  “No.”

  “But he’s your right hand.”

  “Yep, but that doesn’t make any difference to someone like him. He’s after taking over, and I need to have proof of that. Then he’ll cop it.”

  “Bloody hell…” Jimmy swiped at the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. “What a dickhead.”

  “Great minds and all that.” Her phone buzzed, and she took it out, glancing at the screen beneath the lip of the table.

  Doreen: She’s swallowed it.

  Cassie: Come round mine. Have a chat with me and Mam.

  Doreen: On my way.

  Cassie rose. “I have to go. See you in The Donny. I’ll get him there for six so there’s plenty of time for him to get bladdered.”

  Jimmy stood and held out his hand for her to shake. “You won’t regret this.”

  She clutched his fingers tight and squeezed. “See that I fucking don’t. And message me about Shirl. If she’s with us, expect someone to drop the phone and her envelope round later. You’ll be at The Donny, so tell her to listen for the knock on the door. I’ll see myself out.”

  Cassie rushed into the lift and down to the ground floor. She got in her car and sped to Mam’s, eager to know what Doreen had to say.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Zhang Wei had arrived in the UK. His wife clutched his hand, and their small children, Jiang and Yenay, rushed ahead down the street towards the Jade Garden, a place that promised riches and their dreams of a better life coming true. As far back as he could remember he’d wanted better, more, believing there was something out there waiting for them if only they could root it out. Li Jun had found it, and now they’d run an empire together.

  Zhang Wei stared at the fancy sign lit up from within and smiled at the yellow glow, the red writing. It seemed to solidify things, proving this wasn’t his imagination that he stood on a northern street in England, his English limited, stilted, but enough to get him by. Li Jun had taught himself the language three years ago in readiness, knowing this island was the place they’d end up, and he’d passed that teaching on to Zhang Wei, who in turn had educated his wife and children so they had the basics.

  Over the phone, Li Jun had explained the deal here, how he’d come to run the takeaway, and what they had to do in order for them to remain in Lenny Grafton’s employ. Zhang Wei was willing to do it all, despite it being wrong, but he’d wrestled with his conscience for days and many sleepless nights prior to coming here—people taking those drugs could harm themselves, maybe die if they overloaded on cocaine—and his morals had been tested. Yet he was here anyway, his family his main priority. He didn’t want to admit money was also his primary goal.

  Life in their tiny village in China had been akin to a prison, crushing their souls, their spirits whispering that they’d never make anything of themselves if they remained—“Look at your mother and father, slaves to work with little to show for it. Do you want to be just like them?” Now he’d been let out on parole, given the chance not many had, to help run his brother’s business and step up the ladder. If he reneged on the deal, if he broke any of the parole rules, he’d find himself in another form of prison, one where Mr Grim Reaper came calling, whisking him away.

  A frightening prospect and one that would ensure he k
ept his mouth shut.

  This Lenny was not a man he could cross. Li Jun had expressed how important it was for Zhang Wei and his wife, Hua, to follow the rules, and Zhang Wei had no intention of breaking them, especially after Lenny had spoken to him on the phone, too. What a scary man, so very able to kill the smaller Zhang Wei with just his fists and his heavy boots, kicks that would ruin his insides, Lenny describing how he would be killed.

  Zhang Wei pulled himself out of his head and into the present. Jiang and Yenay waited outside the Jade, jumping up and down with excitement, their dreams also realised. They’d get a decent education, wouldn’t be stuck in the village classroom with seventy other children, and their prospects were good here. Yes, Zhang Wei would prefer them to remain in the takeaway business once they became adults, all of them sticking together, but if they chose to branch out, he wouldn’t stop them. Not everyone wanted to be a chef.

  He pushed open the door, and the familiar scents of Li Jun’s cooking enveloped him. He’d craved that smell since Li Jun had moved away, the reminder of it bringing memories of standing beside his brother in the market, helping to dish meals out. It would be the same here but on a bigger scale, and they’d never have to hope some food was left over so they could eat. Never have to return home to their parents and tell them their bellies wouldn’t be filled today—the money they’d made on the stall had to pay rent, and their mother and father didn’t earn much, so food was scarce.

  Funny how they’d fed others but went without themselves.

  “Ah, you’re here.” Li Jun lifted a hatch in the counter and came through, hugging Zhang Wei and mumbling how much he’d missed him. “This is what we always wanted, and we have it in our hands now. A chance to do well.”

  Time had passed, the children growing, enjoying school and new friends, Nuwa giving birth to her sons, and life was as good as the promise, except Zhang Wei still couldn’t get over the drugs and their effects on people. They came in, these customers, some of them looking as though they smoked weed rather than eat, their hair unkempt, shadows beneath their eyes, solid proof that the ‘gear’ did harm. Nightmares had plagued him since the day Li Jun had told him how things were going to be, and there came a day when he couldn’t stand it any longer.