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

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      CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

      Barry politely kissed Pam on the cheek, then sat down opposite her at the kitchen table.

      ‘Go in the lounge now, Dannielle. The adults need to talk and I need you to look after your little brother for me,’ Stephanie said.

      ‘Can’t I stay out here with Uncle Barry? I want him to sing “Incy Wincy Spider” with me,’ Dannielle pleaded, her lips pouting with disappointment.

      Barry grinned at Dannielle. ‘You do as your mum says and look after your little brother and I promise we’ll sing “Incy Wincy Spider” later on.’

      ‘OK then,’ Dannielle said, smiling shyly.

      When her daughter skipped out of the kitchen, Stephanie got straight down to business. ‘I want to know everything that happened last night from start to finish,’ she demanded coldly.

      ‘Offer the boy a beer or a coffee first then, Steph,’ Pam ordered her daughter.

      Barry stared at Stephanie as she poured a can of lager into a glass for him. They had been so close once upon a time, but he felt as if he barely knew her at all now. She had definitely changed over the years; seemed much more cynical and harder than the soft, fresh-faced girl he had once known and loved.

      ‘Fire away then,’ Steph said, sitting down next to her mother.

      Apart from admitting that they were at a lap-dancing club in Soho, or mentioning Angela, Barry spoke truthfully about everything that had happened the previous evening.

      ‘So, how drunk was Wayne when he followed Lee out the club?’ Stephanie asked.

      ‘He weren’t that drunk at all. He wasn’t really drinking until the latter part of the evening.’

      ‘Why not? That don’t sound like Wayne,’ Steph asked, supiciously. If Barry was lying to her, he was wasting his time, because Steph knew Wayne better than anybody did.

      ‘I dunno if you know, but Wayne’s been on tablets, antidepressants, and that’s why he wasn’t drinking much. He told me that the tablets and booze don’t mix very well.’

      Stephanie scowled at Barry. Wayne taking antidepressants was the most ridiculous yarn she had ever heard in the whole of her life. ‘Antidepressants and Wayne, don’t make me laugh. You’re lying, Barry, I know you are, and if you don’t tell me where my fiancé really is, I’m going to call the police and have you arrested.’

      Barry shook his head. ‘I’m telling the truth, Steph. I wouldn’t lie over something serious like this. Wayne had a small strip of tablets in his trouser pocket. He showed them to me and told me what they were. Have a look in his sports bag or upstairs in his bedside drawer. He must have more of ’em hidden somewhere.’

      Stephanie unzipped Wayne’s sports bag and angrily tipped its contents all over the kitchen floor.

      ‘Now, don’t lose your temper, love,’ Pam said, softly.

      ‘I bet you planted them there,’ Stephanie shouted, picking up a packet of tablets that were in a small white pharmacy bag.

      Barry stood up. ‘I’m going. I came round to help you, not to be abused. Apart from fishing around in that bag for Jacko’s phone, I haven’t even looked through his stuff. I just guessed he might have the tablets in there, because the strip he had in his pocket looked almost empty.’

      Pam snatched the tablets out of her daughter’s hand. ‘Is Wayne registered with a Doctor Patel in Collier Row?’ she asked.

      Stephanie nodded her head. ‘Me and the kids have registered with a new doctor in Chigwell, but Wayne hasn’t changed his yet.’

      ‘Well, in that case I think you should apologize to Barry, because they are definitely Wayne’s tablets. They have his name on the box and your old address is printed on the pharmacy bag,’ Pam said sternly.

      ‘I’m sorry, and please don’t go. We need your help,’ Stephanie mumbled.

      Barry sat back down again and, as he did so, his mobile rang.

      ‘Is it Wayne?’ Stephanie asked, hopefully.

      Barry shook his head. ‘No, it’s my girlfriend. I’ll call her back in a bit.’

      Steph put her head in her hands. ‘It’s gone three now. What time should I leave it to until I call the police?’

      ‘Give it till tomorrow morning, and if he still ain’t home, ring ’em first thing. I’m sure the Old Bill have some policy where people have to be missing for twenty-four hours before they do anything, and they certainly ain’t gonna bust a gut to find some geezer who’s just been out on his stag night,’ Barry said bluntly.

      ‘When is Daddy coming home, because Tyler wants to go to the park?’ Dannielle asked, walking into the kitchen again.

      ‘Daddy is at work I think, love. How about if I take you, Aidan and Tyler to the park? I could do with some fresh air,’ Stephanie offered. Why her son had such a fixation with parks she would never know, but ever since he had learned to say the word, there wasn’t a day went by when he didn’t demand a trip to one.

      ‘Can Uncle Barry come with us?’ Dannielle asked.

      ‘No, Uncle Barry’s going to stay here and keep your nan company. Now go and get your and Tyler’s coats and we’ll go,’ Stephanie said, in a none-too-happy voice. It really pissed her off that her daughter had taken such a shine СКАЧАТЬ