Kimberley Chambers 3-Book Butler Collection: The Trap, Payback, The Wronged. Kimberley Chambers

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СКАЧАТЬ had refused. He said he wasn’t a grass and there was no way he was going to get Lenny into trouble. He had promised to one day explain that Karen had been accidently spiked up by somebody else though, but now wasn’t the right time as his family had enough on their plates with the Roy situation.

      Karen ran a bath, had a quick dip, and then dried herself with a king-sized towel. Her move into her lovely new flat had been temporarily delayed as there had been a hitch with the previous tenants. A family death had stopped them collecting their belongings when they were supposed to, but Ahmed had promised her that the situation would be resolved in the next few days.

      Having already given back her keys to her own flat to the council, Karen had hoped when Vinny suggested she stay at the club it would bring them closer together. It hadn’t though. Karen had been sleeping in Roy’s room and had not even shared as much as a kiss with Vinny. He had hinted the other day that they would share a bed when she moved into her own property though, and that thought had made Karen very happy indeed.

      Karen hadn’t seen much of her son since the evening her drink had been spiked. Only twice Vinny had brought him to the club and both times Little Vinny had seemed quite reserved and wary of her. Karen had cried after her son’s last visit when he had refused to kiss her goodbye, but Vinny had promised that this Thursday, he would let Little Vinny take a day off school and all three of them would have a nice family day out. Vinny insisted that the boy had just been scared by what he had seen and would soon forget all about it. What he hadn’t told Karen was that he had told his son that his mother had a bad drug problem, and it would be better if he didn’t get too close to her in case she started acting all weird again.

      Karen got dressed and rang her friend Debbie. Vinny had made her swear that she wouldn’t tell anybody that it was Lenny who spiked her drink, but Karen had told the two people she trusted, Debbie and Nancy. Both had been so supportive this past week, and had promised to keep what had happened to themselves.

      ‘You all right, mate?’ Debbie asked.

      ‘No, not really. I don’t remember going to bed again last night and I have a really shitty headache. I don’t know what’s a matter with me lately. That’s twice I’ve somehow got drunk and blanked out in the past week and I haven’t drunk any more than usual. Perhaps it is the after-effects of that awful bloody trip?’

      ‘Listen, don’t take this the wrong way, but I think something isn’t right. First, you get spiked with the LSD, then the lovely flat isn’t ready for you to move into. Now you’ve mysteriously got drunk twice in a week without drinking much and for no apparent reason, blanked out. Something don’t sound kosher to me, Kaz.’

      Karen was stunned by her pal’s little speech. Whatever was she insinuating? ‘So, what you saying, Deb? You don’t think Vinny is trying to poison me or something, do you?’

      ‘I really don’t know, mate. Look, I’m gonna have to go now, I’ve got to pick the boys up from school. Just be careful, Kaz, and any time you’re worried just ring me and you can come and stay here.’

      ‘Do you honestly think I’m in that much danger?’ Karen asked, her heart pounding nineteen to the dozen.

      ‘I don’t know, but watch your back, Kaz, just in case.’

      When Colleen’s relations turned up at the hospital, Queenie and Vivian decided to make themselves scarce. Colleen had been as devastated as anyone about the scan results and seeing as her family had just arrived from Ireland again, Queenie thought it only right that they should spend some time alone together.

      Queenie’s earlier sorrow had now been replaced with feelings of bitterness. Her Roy had always been a good lad. He was kind and considerate, so what the hell had he done to deserve such appalling injuries?

      ‘’Ere you go, get that down your neck. I’ve poured myself one an’ all. Think we can do with a drink after the day we’ve had, don’t you?’ Vivian stated.

      Queenie snatched at the glass and knocked the sherry back in a couple of gulps. ‘Can’t believe how cruel life can be, Vivvy. There definitely ain’t no fucking God, you know. Makes me sick that you’ve got all them kiddy-fiddlers and wicked bastards roaming the streets who never catch as much as a fucking cold. Why do bad things happen to decent people like us, eh?’

      ‘I know what you mean, Queen. I was bitter for a long time after my Lenny was born with his difficulties. I thought, why me and him? Why not some other bastard’s child? Look what an awful mother that Old Mother Taylor was. Dirty whore, and them poor little mites of hers were brought up in squalor. Nothing ever happens to people like that old cow though. Tragedy always strikes good souls such as you and I.’

      ‘I wish my Roy was dead, you know. Would have been much kinder if he had croaked it as soon as he’d been shot,’ Queenie said, in her usual blunt manner.

      ‘Aw, don’t say that, Queen. It is early days. With the right sort of treatment, Roy still might be able to lead a half-decent life, and he’s gonna be a dad for the first time. I know it don’t seem like it at the moment, but there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. It just might take a while for it to start shining your way.’

      ‘Light! Don’t make me fucking laugh. I gave birth to that boy and I can see the look of confusion and horror in his eyes. Why do you think he cries every time Colleen’s pregnancy is mentioned, eh? He don’t want his kid to have a fucking spastic for a father, that’s why. My Roy’s life is over, Viv, and the quicker we all accept that, the better. All he has got left to look forward to is endless hospital appointments, and sitting in his own piss and shit for the rest of his days,’ Queenie spat.

      Just as Vivian was about to reply, the doorbell rang and she leapt up to answer it. ‘What the hell! Where do you think you’re going? Get out of here,’ Vivian yelled.

      Freda Smart barged past Vivian and marched into the lounge. She then pointed her fat forefinger in Queenie’s face. ‘I know it’s your Vinny that’s had my Terry done in, which is why I have just been to the police station and given a statement. I hope you’re proud of yourself, Queenie Butler, for raising such a fucking monster. Now, where is my grandson?’

      Dean had been upstairs playing records with Brenda when he had heard his grandmother’s booming voice. ‘What’s up, Nan? Has Dad come home?’ he asked hopefully, as he ran down the stairs.

      ‘No, he ain’t, and he never will come home again, boy. You dad’s dead, I can feel it in my bones. It’s her evil bastard of a son that’s killed him. That psycho needs hanging from the gallows.’

      Queenie leapt out of her chair. The gossip-mongers had already been in overdrive about Terry Smart’s disappearance and even though she’d guessed that her Vinny was responsible in a round-about way, she would defend her son’s innocence to the hilt. ‘I am sick of my family being blamed for everything bad that happens in this area, and I ain’t putting up with it no more. For your information, the night your Terry went missing my Vinny was up the hospital with me. Roy had come out of his coma and we were there all night long. Ask the fucking doctors and nurses if you don’t believe me, you deluded old bat. Now, get out my house and don’t you ever come back.’

      When his nan started to argue her point, Dean grabbed her by the arm. ‘Come on, Nan, let’s get you home. I’ll stay at yours tonight. We haven’t spent much time together recently.’

      Brenda was furious. ‘And what about me? I hope you don’t think once the baby is born, you can walk out every time she has a tantrum, because I won’t put up with it, Dean,’ she shouted, pointing СКАЧАТЬ