CRUEL SECRETS Page 30

Tired of looking at the four blank walls of her flat in North London, Toni was pacing the floor. She would rather have been inside with her prison mates than all alone with no one to talk to. She missed her brother and hated Kelly, in equal proportions. Finding the toy bunny would enable her to be back in Eddie’s good books. It had been as important as Kelly’s right arm as a child, never leaving her side. Remembering when she had taken it from her, Kelly had almost clawed her aunt’s face to get it back. Toni never bothered again.

  She knew where Kelly lived; she had seen the address on the letter. If Kelly still had the bunny, then it would be in that house. She would have to get inside and search; it was the only way. Without a decent plan in place, she left her flat and drove over to Peckham. She found the house quickly and parked up the street but still in view of the front door. It was mid-morning and the mad rush hour had died down. She stared intently, only for a short while, and then the door opened and out walked a black woman, with purple hair, followed by a tall Jamaican with long dreadlocks and a lively spring in his step. He opened the car door for the woman and then jumped into the driver’s side. No sooner had they gone when the door opened again; Kelly was there with four men, and they were helping her carry boxes to a van and loading the back. Three got into the van, and Kelly, with the fourth man, climbed into a car. That was it; if she remembered rightly, that was all the occupants. Now she had to find a way in. She assumed the front room, which had a partially opened sash window with the pink curtains and new nets, was her niece’s. She must have left her bedroom light on. Without giving any further thought to her objective, she stepped out of her car and hurried along the road, looking around, ensuring no one was watching. At that time of day, most people were at work. She knocked on the door, first to make sure no one was in, and then she leaned across the side of the steps and used her long arms to push up the broken sash frame. A last look about. No one was in the street. She had carried out many break-ins in her time and this was too easy. Almost diving in through the window, she slithered like a snake, landing on the floor, before jumping to her feet, and surveying the room. Little did she know that someone was eyeballing her every move.

  She guessed the bedroom was Kelly’s. It was basic and spotlessly clean – with minimal furniture. There, on the cabinet, was a brush and comb, a few bits of make-up, and odd fake pieces of jewellery. The bed was made and neatly turned down. She had no time to waste. After opening the top drawer, she found prison letters, a few coins, and more cosmetics, including perfume and nail clippers. There was no evidence of any bunny.

  Tommy was sitting upright, watching the house; he looked at his phone and quickly dialled the number. Kelly was stuck at the end of the street, behind cars waiting to edge out onto the main road, when her phone buzzed. “Hello?”

  “Kelly, it’s me, your daily stalker. Ya need to go back home. Toni has just climbed through your window.” Pleased with himself, he stared at the house to watch for her to reappear.

  Ditto didn’t have enough room to turn around in the street, so he reversed up, stopping just before the house. Kelly dashed out of the car, ran up the steps, and entered the house.

  Toni froze. Decisions – her only hope was that whoever had just returned to the house would leave again shortly without discovering her. Getting out of the house without what she had come for was pointless.

  Kelly was ready, with a knife down the back of her jeans. She thought it safer to carry one, since Eddie was so dead set on something and she was now at risk. Legend was lazing in the lounge and didn’t hear Toni in the bedroom, but he heard Kelly and was always ready to greet her. He jumped off the sofa, trotted down the hallway, and leapt up. But Kelly was onto him, getting him to calm down, without saying a word.

  She opened her bedroom door – where is the bitch? – to find no-one. Then she laughed out loud: there, hiding under the bed was her aunt. She did look a prat!

  “Seize, Legend, seize!” she commanded. Legend jumped on the bed and began sniffing and growling. Then, in a flash, he jumped off and crouched down, trying to get at whatever was underneath.

  “Here, boy!” she said firmly. “Get out, before I set my dog on ya!”

  Toni was trembling; she hated dogs and all she could see was the animal’s huge head and teeth. She shuffled from her position and backed herself up to the wall. Kelly laughed once more at her aunt. Toni, however, looked totally dishevelled and very embarrassed.

  “What are you doing here in me room?”

  Toni was wide-eyed and stared at Legend. He was going crazy, lifting his lip and snarling.

  “I said, what are you doing in me room?”

  Toni was immobilized with fear, unable to speak, or take her eyes off the dog.

  “Legend, sit!” instructed Kelly. “Well?” glared Kelly.

  Relieved that the dog was not going to pounce on her, but still wary, Toni said, “I have come for something that you have and me brother wants.”

  Kelly stood with her hands on her hips, looking Toni up and down. “What would that be then, Tone?”

  “You know what it is,” replied her aunt, who was now wound up firstly for being caught and secondly for being interrogated by Kelly.

  “Actually, Toni, I have no idea, but whatever it is, it must be important. Only ya brother’s turned me bedroom over once already, and now you, ya sly scumbag, are doing the same.” She took a step closer and watched as Toni recoiled.

  “What’s up, Tone, scared of something?”

  Toni was really livid now: this was such a piss take, by her niece of all people. “You think you’re something special, but you ain’t. You’re nothing without Eddie, nothing.”

  Stepping closer still, Kelly sarcastically said, “Oh, is that so? Well, Toni, tell me what it is that me father wants and ya never know. If I have it, you can take it, because I want nothing to do with you or your brother!” At that moment, Kelly jumped over the bed and was toe to toe with Toni, with a knife to her throat. Toni swallowed hard but kept eye contact.

  “So, spit it out, Toni. What the fuck is it you want?”

  Toni could feel Kelly’s breath on her face and the cold blade against her neck.

  “The bunny,” she croaked.

  Kelly removed the blade and stepped back. “What? That dirty old comfort toy, I carried around?”

  Toni nodded.

  Kelly walked around the bed and opened the bottom drawer. “What this?” she questioned, holding up the grey and worn-out beanbag toy.

  Toni’s eyes lit up but nervously she glanced from the bunny to Kelly.

  “Catch,” laughed Kelly, as she threw the toy to her aunt.

  With a deft movement, Toni caught the bunny in mid-air. It was heavier than it looked; the tiny grains of rice weighed it down.

  “Ya got what ya came for, now piss off. If you ever come near here again, I will slit ya throat and let me dog eat ya.” She stepped aside, leaving room for Toni to leave. Toni needed no further encouragement.

  As Kelly watched her aunt run up the road, she smiled. She then looked over at Tommy and put her thumb up.

  Tommy watched the expression on Toni’s face; it was full of anxiety and panic. He then looked back at Kelly and observed the cool, calm expression. She was telling him the truth; she really wasn’t afraid of Toni. Tommy took comfort in being on Kelly’s side; she wasn’t some daft kid, she was bright and fearless, and – no question – a match for Eddie’s bitch of a sister.

  Ditto was standing at the bottom of the steps, waiting and listening, knowing full well that Bluey was in control. He had heard her harsh voice and was surprised because it didn’t sound like her at all. Then he too observed the frightened look on the woman’s face, as she fled the house, and the smug expression on Bluey’s. A strange feeling gripped his stomach: Bluey was not the same kid who went to prison. She was assured and intense, as if nothing could faze her. He wondered about her past. Was she really an innocent woman, or was she just a good actress? They walked back to the car in silence
, with Ditto having a lot to think about.

  Casually, she asked, “What’s up, Ditz?”

  “Nothing, but I think you need to be careful. Your father is a serious gangster,” replied Ditto, in a resigned tone.

  “Sorry you had to hear that, only she is a nasty piece of work. She could have asked for the toy. I would have given it to her. There was no need to break into my bedroom and go rooting around. I spent time inside with her and watched her bully her way through the system. I hate her, and I certainly hate Eddie poxy Raven.”

  Ditto decided that Bluey was acting that way because she had been browbeaten by Toni and had probably taken all she could. He still couldn’t get her voice out of his head though – she sounded like a totally different person, very switched on and calculating, and it sent chills up his spine.

  Commercial Road seemed busier than Kelly remembered. Hasan, the main buyer, was just the same and eager to do business as usual. He held his arms out when he saw Kelly. “Ahh, look at you! Living in Spain has done you good. You look well.”

  Kelly hugged him and winked at Ditto.

  “So, what do you have for me?” Hasan asked, eager to do business. He had made a fortune when Kelly was around and they had built up a good working relationship. But his money had seriously dropped when he’d heard she went off to Spain.

  Reggie and Phoenix unloaded the boxes and carefully removed the tissue-covered bags. Kelly removed the outer covering and held up an elegant white Channel clutch bag edged in gold, a stunning piece. “These are in Selfridges at £900. There is no difference. Look, see, the chain clasp has the Chanel logo indented. Perfect copies. There are others floating about but check them yourself. They don’t have the stamps in the right place.”

  Hasan opened the bag and scrutinised the product. “It’s good, and these are the latest design?”

  Kelly nodded. “These are the summer line, and over there are the winter ones, not even on the shelf yet. But look in Vogue. They are there ready for the October changeover.” Phoenix opened the next box and she smiled. “Take a look at these beauties.”

  Hasan was excited, like a child at Christmas. “It’s good to have you back in business. I will take the lot.”

  Kelly laughed, “On a sale-or-return basis?”

  Hasan shook his head. “No point; everything you supplied before flew off the shelf.”

  Reggie unloaded the boxes, whilst Kelly collected the money. They contained their excitement until they were out of sight. Then, they all high-fived each other.

  “Ditz, I am going to pop over to Selfridges and have a good look. We need to up our game. He wanted everything we had, and I think he is selling them on, which is fine by me. We make our money, and really, he is taking the risk.”

  Ditto was nodding. “Cor, Blue, we are going to clean up.”

  She laughed and high-fived him again. Then she looked at the tatty van.

  “Ditz, I think our first investment is a new van. That one will get us pulled by the filth. We don’t want to take any chances, not now we are going to make a mint.”

  Ditto agreed, and that afternoon he went with Reggie to check out the van showroom, leaving Kelly to go off alone.

  Hatton Garden, the home to the invention of the machine gun, is the focal point for London’s jewellery trade. Kelly had made an appointment with a man called Phillip Armstrong at Hammonds, a rare gem specialist.

  She arrived outside and pressed the buzzer. The shop front was unusual: there was just one section of glass, perhaps a foot high, which displayed a few pieces of jewellery; otherwise, everything behind the window was hidden from view by a black velvet screen.

  The door was opened by a security guard who reminded her of Frank Bruno.

  “Hi, I have an appointment with Mr Armstrong,” she smiled.

  The guard looked her over. “Your name, Madam, please?”

  “Toni Raven,” she replied.

  The guard led her up a flight of stairs to a short corridor with four doors on either side. Kelly was impressed with the appearance, all glass and chrome, with not a speck of dust. As the door opened, she stepped inside to be greeted by a young man, in his late twenties, dressed in a royal blue twill business suit and a bow tie. His hair was long and tied back in a ponytail. Kelly grinned; he wasn’t what she had expected, not after hearing his posh voice on the phone.

  “Come in, Miss Raven, please take a seat.”

  Kelly gracefully sat in the armchair and surveyed her surroundings. They exuded class and self-consciously she felt scruffy in her jeans and jacket. Perhaps she should have worn her Chanel suit or her black dress after all.

  Phillip didn’t seem bothered at all: he was eager to see the gem.

  “So, this blue gem you have. You said it’s been passed down through the family?”

  Kelly nodded. “Yes, I believe it’s Persian. It has been in my family for generations since before Persia changed its name to Iran.”

  Phillip had no reason to doubt her; she obviously had some foreign blood in her, judging by her olive skin.

  “So, do you have it with you?”

  Kelly pulled from her pocket a small suede pouch and handed it to him. She watched his whole face light up, as he removed the gem from the pouch and held it up to the light. He turned it over and then switched on the desk lamp and surveyed it again.

  Turning towards Kelly, he looked up, seeing her in a different light from when she entered his office five minutes ago. Nevertheless, there was still something somewhat incongruous about discussing serious business in a room holding gems having a collective value well north of £50 million with such a very casually dressed young woman.

  Was she the genuine article? “I need to run this through some tests, but it looks authentic.”

  “Okay, how long does that take?”

  Phillip stood up. “It will probably take our gemologist up to an hour. I’ll get it done right now. In the meantime, would you like some refreshments while you wait?”

  “That would be great, thank you.”

  “I have to say, Miss Raven, I am very excited. It’s been a while since I held a blue diamond and never one this size and cut.” Kelly could see he was trying to be cool but was overcome with elation.

  As she waited patiently in the office, she checked her iPhone for messages, but there weren’t any. Gazing across the room, she was impressed by the evenly placed gold-framed pictures which showed gems magnified many times so the customers could appreciate the intricacies of the stones.

  The authenticity and valuation checks took slightly less time than Phillip anticipated. The relieved and excited young man was back with a huge smile on his face.

  “Well, Miss Raven, it is certainly authentic and a real exquisite piece. Now, I am assuming you want to know its value?”

  Kelly leaned forward. “Mr Armstrong, I am afraid I do not have children and I won’t be able to have them. I cannot pass this on, so I have decided to sell it.”

  Phillip’s eyes widened and his chest pillowed. “Really? Do you have any idea how much it’s worth?”

  Kelly nodded. “I believe I do, but I am sure you are going to tell me anyway.”

  “Oh yes, quite, quite … well, taking into account the 4Cs, colour, clarity, cut, and carat, the current value is £1.25 million.”

  Kelly remained composed although inside her heart was pounding.

  “I have a buyer, if you are serious about selling it,” he informed her, clasping his hands in front of him.

  Kelly paused for a second. “Who?”

  “Well, we don’t give out that information. However, in this instance, I can tell you. It’s me. I have wanted a blue diamond for my father’s collection for years and this one is ideal, so I will offer you £1 million.”

  With a casual nod, she agreed. “I will accept your offer, if it’s in cash.”

  Phillip gasped. “Cash? But do you know how much that is? I mean, I can give you cash, of course, but it’s a lot of money to carry around. Are you sur
e? I can easily transfer it into your bank account.”

  Kelly shook her head. “No, the tax man will swallow that up.”

  Phillip nodded, so eager to get his hands on the gem. He knew it was easily worth £1.5 million. He could make a huge profit, with a buyer already lined up.

  “Okay, not a problem. I will get it for you. Give me a few minutes.”

  Kelly smiled, trying to contain her excitement. An hour later, she was still waiting.

  Eventually, he returned with the guard, who stood impassively at the back of the room. The notes were neatly stacked in a massive case, which was a cross between a brief case and a suitcase. Kelly’s eyes nearly popped out from the shock.

  “Shall we count them?”

  Kelly shook her head but reached in, pulling out a wad of fifties. Flicking through, she nodded. “I’m happy.”

  Hastily, Phillip pulled from the drawer a form, before she had a chance to change her mind. “I need you to fill out the details. I can then send a bill of sale in the post.”

  Kelly looked at the declaration and began entering what was required. She gave Toni’s name and Eddie’s address. Scribbling an illegible signature, she passed the form back to Phillip.

  Eager to get this over with quickly, as he had a buyer to call, there was one remaining formality. “Oh yes, did you bring any paperwork pertaining to the gem? Also, I need some ID.”

  Kelly stood and searched her pockets. “Oh, damn, I have left my passport back at home, and when the gem was passed down to me, there was no accompanying paperwork.”

  Too excited to care, he decided to waive the obligation. “Never mind. Gus, here, will see you into a taxi, unless you have a car?”

  Holding the overlarge briefcase, she left the office and stepped into a black cab. “Primark in Oxford Street, please.”

  The driver looked her over and frowned. “Primark, Miss?”

  “Yes, I need some bits and pieces.”

  He looked at the case. “You might look out of place,” he laughed.

  “Oh, yeah, it’s me dad’s old paperwork he left behind when he retired. He sent me on a mission, just ’cos I said I was going to London.”