CRUEL SECRETS Page 37

  Ditto was still giggling. “He is right, Blue, let’s just get the professionals in. I tell ya what. I’ve got some money saved up. We should go shopping and sort this place out. I mean, it’s been this way for years.”

  Keffa looked around at the tired furniture, the cracked leather sofas, the threadbare carpet, and the 1950s pictures on the walls. He clapped his hands together. “OK, I am calling me mate in. He will have this room sorted in two days. It will be the bollocks.”

  “As long as the bollocks are hanging up the right way,” she laughed.

  Keffa adored her sense of humour and had the urge to pull her close and kiss her.

  “Aw, for God’s sake, Keffa, can’t you leave her alone, or get a room.” Ditto rolled his eyes and left to use the bathroom. Secretly, he was pleased to see Bluey with someone who could take care of her. He loved her himself but not in that way. She was more of a sister to him.

  The incident with the doctor wasn’t mentioned. Kelly had her reasons for doing what she had done, and Keffa wasn’t going to delve too deeply. Really, he didn’t want to hear that Kelly had previously had feelings for this Peter guy, and, for all he knew, may still have them. He wanted her for himself, and he would do everything in his power to make sure she was his. Little did he know that as far as Kelly was concerned, he wouldn’t have to try too hard; she loved him anyway. When push came to shove, he was the one she ran to. In fact, she didn’t have to run: he was always there ready to fight the world for her.

  Just as they were about to go on a shopping spree, there was a loud bang on the door. Kelly didn’t rush to open it; she had learned her lesson. Instead, she put her finger to her mouth, crept back into the lounge, and peeked through the curtains. It was two policemen.

  “It’s the Ol’ Bill,” she whispered.

  Keffa shrugged his shoulders and looked at Ditto, who did likewise.

  “I’ll see what they want.” With that, she opened the door.

  “Miss Kelly Raven?” enquired the smaller of the two.

  Kelly felt a déjã vu moment coming on, but she nodded.

  “May we come in? Unfortunately, we have some bad news, I am afraid.”

  Kelly’s thoughts were in turmoil; everyone she loved ran through her brain. All except Eddie and Toni, that is. She ushered the officers into the lounge, where Ditto and Keffa stood tall and watchful. PC Monk nodded in their direction.

  Kelly offered the officers a seat but they were happy to remain standing.

  “Miss Raven, we were called to your father’s home today. I am afraid he was killed, maybe two weeks ago. Also, we found there your Aunt Toni, dead too.”

  Kelly was shocked, not upset, just surprised, and her face showed it.

  “I am so sorry for your loss, Miss Raven … Do you have any questions?” asked Monk. He was unsure how she would take the news.

  “Who killed them?”

  Monk looked at the other PC and then back at Kelly. “Well, from what we have seen, it appears that Toni shot your father and then turned the gun on herself. The thing is, we found a parcel at Toni’s house and it’s addressed to you.” He handed her the oversized packet containing a bulky object.

  “I know it’s addressed to you, but because of the circumstances, we are required to watch you open it. Is that okay?”

  Kelly was frowning but soon had the Jiffy bag open. She slid her hand inside and felt the soft velvet material of her toy bunny. As she held it in her hand, her first thought was what a sick bitch. But then she noticed a section had been carefully sewn again. The neat stitches were across the middle. She couldn’t fathom why: then it hit her. Toni wouldn’t have sent the bunny without a good reason. She was not in any way sentimental – mental, definitely.

  “It’s my toy I had as a kid. I guess she wanted to leave me something.”

  Monk didn’t know what to expect, but whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t a childhood toy. “We will leave you in peace, and again, I am sorry for your loss.”

  Keffa saw the two officers to the door and returned to the lounge. Kelly looked as though she had seen a ghost. “Are you all right, babe?” he asked, concerned by her deadpan face.

  She looked up and half-smiled. “This was the cause of all the trouble. It’s crazy because I loved this bunny. I couldn’t bear to be separated from it and now it has so many meanings … I think there is something inside.”

  Keffa reached down and took the bunny, turning it over in his hands. “It’s just an old stuffed toy.”

  “I wish it was, but it’s more than that. It has held so many cruel secrets.”

  He handed it back and watched as she carefully unpicked the stitching. Ditto stood next to Keffa and they waited with bated breath. She pulled out the neatly folded note and slowly read the words that would cut her to the core.

  Dear Kelly,

  I guess if you are reading this now, then I am dead. I will probably be rotting in hell for what I have done. I know you will never forgive me and I don’t expect you to. But I have to tell you the truth. It’s the least I can do.

  Your dear mother was Naomi McFarlane.

  She is buried under the basement flat at 407 Hillingdon Court, Richmond.

  Eddie and me, we killed her, and well, I don’t know what else to tell you, except I am sorry.

  Toni Raven

  After rereading the words, Kelly just stood there, with the letter in her hands, and understandably, she looked an emotional wreck. So, unable to wait any longer, Keffa took the letter from her and read it himself. He knelt beside her and took her hands. “It’s gonna be all right, Bluey. Tell us what you want us to do.”

  Kelly stared off into the distance. Somehow, she had to process the facts and in some way deal with them. She never knew her mother, so she shouldn’t feel such heartache, but that wasn’t the case. She swallowed hard and faced Keffa. “My God, they really were evil bastards. How could they? My poor mum, she never stood a chance.” She broke down and cried. “Why! Why couldn’t they have just left her alone? I could have been happy … Loved, even!”

  With his muscular arms, he pulled her into his chest and held her until her sobs subsided. Ditto was stunned; he paced the floor and then decided to make tea. They always had tea when there was bad news. He left Keffa consoling Kelly and headed for the kitchen.

  “I can’t even kill them with my bare hands. They didn’t even leave me that pleasure. Jesus, Keffa, how terrible is that? My mum was a kid apparently and they killed her. I just hope that I have more of her in me than the scumbag Ravens.”

  “You must be the spit out of her mouth, ’cos you are nothing like them, babe.”

  Kelly smiled. “Well, I ain’t done much to make her proud, but one thing’s for sure, I am gonna make sure she is buried properly, a funeral and everything.”

  “Listen, Blue, we are gonna have to tell the police.”

  “Yeah, of course, you can call them now. Better sooner than later, just in case it’s another fucking lie. I have had my fill of lies and secrets.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Six weeks later

  It was six weeks later when the police dug up the basement of Eddie’s flat, and, as the note said, they discovered her mother. She found it hard to comprehend that her own flesh and blood could have been so cruel. The police had done their work, and the coroner had released the papers to certify how she died, so now the remains were ready for burial.

  Kelly sat looking at the month’s profits from the fake goods: they were on the up and business was going well. Legend was sulking because she hadn’t taken him for a walk and she was feeling low herself. Legend touched her hand again and this time she sighed and got up. “Come on, then, let’s go for a walk.”

  She slipped her jacket on and clipped Legend’s new lead to his collar and stepped outside. Her mood was like the looming black clouds. As she slowly walked along the street, she observed a woman and two men sitting in a car parked across the road. She noticed the car because it was a bright red clas
sy Jaguar. The woman, in her late sixties, was giving her a fixed stare. Kelly looked away, not really interested.

  She continued walking in deep thought. That’s how she was lately, down and thoughtful. The whole incident with the Ravens had shaken her. She wasn’t so much angry as deeply sad. She thought that perhaps once she had buried her mother, she could then move on with her life.

  The sound of high heels behind her snapped Kelly out of her hazy state. She turned to face the woman who had been sitting in the car.

  “Are you Kelly Raven?”

  Kelly looked her over, but she could not place this attractive middle-aged lady. Legend sat down and stared up at her. Kelly tried to suss out if she was friend or foe. She guessed right away she was a wealthy woman. From top to toe, she was dripping in designer clothes. The two men, standing either side, wearing expensive and fashionable suits and highly polished handmade shoes, looked as though they had stepped out of a tailor’s store in Jermyn Street.

  “Who wants to know?” she answered in a flat tone. She’d had her fill of aggravation and wasn’t in the mood for more.

  The stranger had a sadness about her and said, with a half-smile, “I am Sheila McFarlane, Jack McFarlane’s widow.”

  Kelly knew the name ‘Jack’ but didn’t twig right away.

  “Naomi’s mother.”

  A cold shiver ran through Kelly; she had never even considered Naomi’s mother – her grandmother.

  Still unsure if Sheila was looking at her with hate or compassion, Kelly avoided eye contact. “I am sorry, Sheila, I really am.” With that, she turned to walk away, unable to bear any more conflict.

  “Hey, please wait!” Sheila called after her.

  Kelly stopped in her tracks. Hearing the softness in Sheila’s voice, her shoulders sagged wearily. How could she face this person who must be torn in half with grief and all because of her? If she hadn’t existed, then Naomi would still be alive. Any mother in her right mind would hate her, surely?

  She heard the clip-clop of high-heeled shoes, and feeling a hand on her arm, she turned to face Sheila.

  “You look like her, you know, you have her eyes.”

  Kelly couldn’t hold back: she choked, and like a fountain, the tears ran down. Sheila held her close and stroked the back of her hair, whispering, “It’s all right, I am here now, my sweetheart.”

  As Kelly pulled herself together, she studied them carefully. Whilst the two men and Sheila looked so alike in many ways, the familiar round green eyes she herself had were only evident on Sheila’s face and those of her dead aunt and father.

  “This here is Jack but we call him Junior, and this great hulk is Jordan, Naomi’s brothers.”

  Kelly was disconcerted to see them so teary eyed. “I don’t know what to say. I didn’t know she had …” her words trailed off, as she stared at the three of them.

  “It’s okay, darling,” said Sheila, her arm around Kelly’s shoulders. “I was grieved to think I had a granddaughter out there and I never got the chance to see you grow up. Look, can we go somewhere and talk?”

  Kelly nodded. “I live there.” She pointed to the house.

  Once inside the lounge, Junior and Jordan kept staring at Kelly and smiling. Sheila sat amiably and stroked Legend, who nuzzled up against her legs. Kelly laughed. “He must know we are related because he is very choosy.”

  They sat drinking tea. It was awkward at first, until Kelly asked, “Did you know Maureen and Eddie well?”

  Sheila nodded. “Yes, I did. Eddie was my husband’s business partner. I have no need to tell you what that business was because I am sure you know by now. He was often over at our house. He was a lot younger than Jack and me. I didn’t really mix with them, if I could help it. Then, when my daughter went missing and my Jack was found dead, I couldn’t stand it. I moved to France. I was elated that Eddie was locked up for the murder and that his wife had grassed him. Yet, I still couldn’t face her. I met you once when you were about a year old and it was strange because Eddie wouldn’t let me hold you. You were beautiful, and I remember thinking at the time how much you looked like Naomi, but of course I had no idea you were Naomi’s daughter, and so I just assumed I was imagining it only because I missed her so much.”

  Listening intently, Kelly had the sudden urge to know about her real mother. “Do you have a photo?”

  Smiling, Sheila pulled from her large bag an album. “I thought if I met you, you may ask.”

  Kelly admired the woman; her voice was placid, very gentle, and her actions slow and graceful. She was nothing like Maureen. Her grandmother was a real sophisticated lady and she would certainly stand out in any crowd. She had wavy shoulder-length hair and a petite face which emphasised her big green eyes.

  Sheila opened the middle of the album and there was the photo of Naomi. She was about seventeen and her face was beaming. Kelly was relieved she shared similar features to her mother, particularly her nose and eyes; however, her own skin was darker, and more like her father’s.

  “I do look like her.”

  Sheila chuckled. “You certainly have her voice. It’s like listening to Naomi … If only I had known.” There was a sad despair in her tone.

  Kelly could almost taste the bitterness. Sheila must have gone through hell and back. “I hate him, ya know, Eddie I mean, and Toni. I couldn’t work out why they had wanted to be a part of my life.”

  She observed Jordan and Junior slyly glance at each other.

  “But they didn’t want me, they wanted …” She stopped when she noticed Sheila on the edge of her seat, her eyes staring in anticipation.

  Shelia nodded. “What were you going to say?”

  Kelly shrugged her shoulders. “Oh, I dunno, I guess they were curious. Maybe they thought I could join their crazy family. Be a part of them, I s’pose.” She tried to sound dispassionate.

  Junior gave her an appraising look. “Kelly, come on, love, what did they really want from you?” His voice wasn’t as sweet as his expression. Kelly’s ability to read people’s body language was off the scales at this point. She knew Junior was shit at hiding his real self.

  She played it cool. “Like I said, maybe they felt I should be a part of them, and as I learned, Eddie was a man that got what he wanted.”

  Sheila’s dainty posture and compassionate face changed completely. Now she appeared spiteful and her eyes narrowed. “Kelly, you are a part of our family now and we have no secrets. We can help you.”

  Kelly jumped up and stepped back. Legend did the same and was by her side, as if he sensed something wrong.

  “Look, Sheila, no disrespect. I am sad for your loss, and me own, but I get the feeling you want more than a cosy cup of tea over a family reunion. I have had my fill with people wanting something from me. I don’t need a family. I’ve got one.”

  Sheila stood up and stepped towards Kelly; her whole behaviour had changed, and now she wasn’t a soft-hearted middle-aged lady ready to get out the knitting needles: she was a formidable woman with a confident streak.

  Kelly looked at her and then at her sons, who were a foot behind her. This was no normal family; she was definitely the boss, but of what, though, Kelly was unsure. Still, she wasn’t just their mother. Sheila emanated power and right now every inch of her radiated it.

  Legend was getting agitated. Kelly knew what he must be thinking. His walk had been curtailed, one which regrettably was way overdue, and now here she was with people who were hostile. Then Jordan confirmed her thoughts. “Might be best to put that dangerous dog away. You don’t want him hurt, do ya, love?”

  Kelly’s throat tightened. “What do you want from me?”

  Junior laughed, a high-pitched laugh, which sent shivers down Kelly’s spine.

  “What do we want? Nothing, love, we just came to see ya and offer you a home with us.” Jordan looked around the room with his nose in the air. “It’s gotta be better than ’ere.”

  Kelly was angry and insulted but she kept her tone even. “Like
I said, Jordan, I do have my own family and this ain’t so bad. I am grateful but this is my home.”

  “And, my darling, what family are you talking about?” scoffed Sheila.

  Kelly didn’t like her snotty tone. “Rudy, Tulip, Ditto, Reggie, and Keffa, are my family.”

  Sheila sucked her lips inward and slowly nodded. “Mmm, Keffa, yeah?”

  Kelly nodded. “Yes, Keffa, why?”

  Sheila looked at both her boys and then back at Kelly. “Keffa is no more your family than the queen is.”

  How would they know Keffa? It was like before: more secrets and lies. She’d had enough of this other so-called ‘family’ of hers and their menacing looks.

  “Right, out! The lot of ya. I am done with all this bullshit. You have no idea what I have been through, so you,” she pointed to Sheila, “you take your two bulldog sons and sling ya hook. Leave me in peace.”

  “Oh, dear, dear me, Kelly. You really have no idea who I am, do you?” snapped Sheila.

  “Yeah, I do, you’re a trespassing pain in my arsehole right now. So, like I said, leave!”

  Sheila gave her a scowling frown. “I think I was wrong about you. You don’t sound like my sweet Naomi. She would never have been so rude.”

  With a fake over-the-top laugh, Kelly snarled, “Don’t give me that bollocks. I don’t know what game you are playing, but count me out. And, for the record, I don’t care who you are, what you are, and who you know. If you had a real relationship with Naomi, then perhaps she would still be alive!” She had no sooner got the words out of her mouth when Sheila slapped her hard across the face.

  Kelly wobbled and clutched her sore cheek, giving Shelia a defiant glare. Legend started growling, showing his teeth. Incredibly, Jordan pulled a gun from the back of his trousers and pointed it at Legend. “Get ya mutt out of ’ere or I’ll …”

  “You’ll do what?” snapped Kelly, as she stood in front of Legend, ensuring he was out of sight of the weapon. “Go on then, fucking shoot me! A big man you are!”

  To say Sheila was astonished was an understatement. She had assumed her granddaughter was a timid young thing who had just been caught up in the wrath of the Ravens. She had no idea that Kelly could be such a hard woman. The look in Kelly’s eyes was that of her father’s all right. At no time in her life had Sheila felt uneasy; but she did now. She was used to people agreeing with her. No one had ever had the guts to blast her like Kelly had done.