Barking Boy Read online

  Chapter Twenty

  Jimmy was incensed. After spending the past thirty minutes hauling the bags of gold over the cemetery railings and across the grave stones, he and Tommy had finally reached Davey’s burial plot.

  He took the shovel Tommy handed him, slammed it into the hard ground, and leant against it. “So, what am I supposed to tell him then?” He spat out the words, his cheeks red, and his eyes flashing dangerously.

  Tommy shrugged his shoulders. “I dunno, just spin him a load of old shit.”

  With only the moon to illuminate Tommy’s face, Jimmy could tell by his brother’s nonchalant attitude that he really didn’t give a toss about the predicament Aiden Coleman found himself in. Earlier that morning, the Irishman had come to the betting shop, terrified. He’d stood in front of Jimmy a quivering wreck. The cause of his fear was Freddie Smith. “I can’t do that, can I? We made him a part of this by getting him to give out information on the club, and you know Smith is gonna kill him if he gets wind of that.”

  Tommy sighed. “Well, I dunno. I’ll throw some cash at him, and he can fuck off someplace instead then, can’t he?”

  “What d’ya mean, you’ll throw some cash at him and he can fuck off? He might not want to fuck off.”

  “Fucking hell, Jimmy. What exactly do you want me to do? He’s your friend, and I use that term loosely. So, come on, you tell me, because I’m all ears. What do you want me to do?”

  Jimmy was quiet. The truth of the matter was, he really didn’t know how to help the Irishman. He shrugged his shoulders in defeat. “I don’t know, but all I’m saying is that all thanks to us, he’s in a right state.”

  “Well, there you go then. I’ll chuck him a couple of grand and he can fuck off back to Ireland.”

  “A couple of grand, is that it? You’ve torn apart his fucking life. He’s shit scared of what Smith is going to do to him, and you’re going to give him two grand as compensation?”

  “Jimmy.” Tommy shook his head at his younger brother. “I didn’t hold a gun to his head and make him talk, did I? He did that all by himself. So yeah, two grand is all he’s gonna get from me, and believe me, that’s me being generous.” He began digging at the hard earth. “Like I said, tell him to go back to Ireland, and he’ll have a couple of grand in his back pocket for his troubles. Everyone’s a winner.”

  “You really don’t care, do you? He can’t go back to his family, they’re fucking catholic and don’t know he’s, you know … gay.”

  Tommy stopped digging and blew out his cheeks. “Fuck me, Jimmy. Don’t you think I’ve got enough troubles of my own, without your boyfriend adding to them? I’ve not only got Freddie Smith, but I’ve also got Danny McKay, Moray Garner, and more than likely the whole of Freddie’s firm, ready and waiting to rip my fucking head off if they get wind of my involvement in all of this. Not to mention Mark Hopper, who apparently is a fucking psychopath, so excuse me for not jumping through hoops to help the Irish bloke out. Fuck me, as much as I love you, Jimmy, you’re really starting to do my nut in. If you wanna help him so much, put your hand in your own pocket and help him, but leave me fucking out of it.”

  Jimmy raised his eyebrows. It was the first time Tommy had referred to Aiden as his boyfriend. In that instant, his mood softened toward his brother. “Are you really that worried?”

  “What do you fucking think?” Tommy crouched down. He wiped his hand across his jaw as he looked up at Jimmy. “I’m this close to being hauled in front of Freddie Smith.” He placed his thumb and forefinger an inch apart to emphasise his point. “I need to be able to think, Jimmy. I need to sort this out, otherwise we are all in a lot of fucking shit. And I’m sorry, but the Irishman isn’t my top priority at the moment. I have to keep you lot safe, my wife and kids safe, myself safe.”

  “Tell me what I can do to help.”

  Tommy shook his head. “There ain’t nothing you can do, bruv.” He stood up and resumed digging the grave. “Right now, we just need to get this gold hidden away, that’s our top priority. As long as they can’t find it, then I can keep telling them it was nothing to do with me, and that’s gotta be a big bonus for us, hasn’t it? Because the minute they find it, we are all dead.”

  “I’ve never seen you this worried.” There was concern in Jimmy’s eyes.

  Tommy sighed. “That’s because I’ve never been this worried. I’m starting to think Mad Dog was right, and we should have left the gold where it was. To be perfectly honest, bruv, I think we’ve bitten off more than we can chew, and I don’t know if I’m coming or going with it all.”

  Jimmy clasped his brother’s shoulder and resumed digging the grave. It wasn’t like Tommy to make such an epic fuck up. He blew out his cheeks from the exertion. He had a feeling this was only the start of their troubles.

  As Tommy had predicted, it didn’t take long for his name to come up on Freddie Smith’s radar. Moray Garner and Danny Mckay hauled him out of the scrap yard office, and threw him across the back seat of Moray’s car. The scent of the highly polished leather seats hit Tommy’s nostrils, filling him with dread. Sitting quietly with his head bowed, Tommy wracked his brain on a way to get out of the situation he’d put himself in. He closed his eyes as he tried to think, his stomach churned, as realisation set in that there was no way out. All he could do was deny all involvement, and hope and pray Freddie believed him.

  Moray pulled the car to a halt outside the Ilford Palais, and Tommy looked out of the window toward the scene of his crime. “Why’ve you brought me here?” He looked across at the two men. He had to play the game. “What’s this all about? Why does Freddie want to have a word with me?”

  The two men remained silent. Moray switched off the engine and opened the car door. He climbed out, and began to walk around the car, to where Tommy was sitting on the back seat.

  “He’s got nothing on you.” Danny spoke quietly, he kept his head forward.

  Tommy turned to look at Danny. He felt his heart leap. “Then why the fuck, have you brought me here? Why does he still need to see me?”

  “Just get out of the fucking motor, and do us both a favour and keep your mouth closed. Whatever you do, don’t start getting lairy with him.” Danny began to ease his body out of the car.

  Feeling a lot more confident, Tommy followed suit. Flanked on either side by McKay and Garner, Tommy walked inside the club. He was taken up a staircase, leading to where the offices were situated. They walked along the same corridor Tommy had walked just days earlier. The concrete floor sounded even louder underneath their feet. Tommy kept his face forward, resisting the urge to glance across to the room where the safe was kept. He knew instinctively that just a flick of his head in that direction would give the game away.

  They brought him to a halt outside a room at the far end of the corridor. Taking a deep breath, Tommy battled to regain his composure. Moray Garner rapped his knuckles on the wooden door. It took just a few moments for it to be flung open, and with a sharp shove in the small of his back, Tommy was pushed inside the room.

  Sat behind a desk, was Freddie Smith. “Well, well, well … here he is himself, the Barking Boy. Now, where’s my fucking gold?” He spoke with a low growl.

  Before Tommy could answer, he was slammed down into a chair opposite Freddie. He shifted his weight, making himself more comfortable. “What gold?”

  “The gold you fucking stole.” Freddie gave the younger man a cold stare.

  Tommy shrugged his shoulders. “I dunno what you’re talking about.”

  “We both know you do. Five geezers. Actually, to be more precise, five cunts stole the gold from my club. This very club,” he spread out his arms. “And there just so happens to be five Carter brothers. Bit of a coincidence that, isn’t it?”

  “Actually there’s six of us. I think you missed out my little brother, or are you accusing him in this conspiracy of yours as well?”

  Freddie snarled. He was done playing games. “Do I need my lads to rough you up a bit? Maybe even cu
t you open? Is that what it’s gonna take to make you start talking?” He stabbed his finger toward Tommy. “Because believe me, there is nothing that would give me greater pleasure, than to see you bleeding out like a pig on the floor in front of me.”

  “I haven’t got your gold.” Tommy’s voice was strong, unwavering.

  Freddie sighed. He gave a nonchalant flick of his hand. “Smash him up.”

  “Whoa, whoa,” Tommy held up his hands. “There’s no need for that Freddie, is there? Come on, what more do you want me to say? I don’t know anything about your gold. I swear to you, it wasn’t me.”

  Freddie sat back in his seat. He steepled his fingers in front of him. “It’d be a shame if anything was to happen to that little brother of yours.”

  “What?” Tommy leant across the desk facing Freddie, his face paled, and an ice-cold shiver ran down his spine. “What’s my brother got to do with this?”

  Freddie smirked. He raised his shoulders in a shrug. “Like I said, it’d be a shame if anything happened to him, or if that pretty little face of his became disfigured in some way. You’ve got forty-eight hours to give that gold back, otherwise …” He left the sentence heavy in the air. “Now, get him fucking out of here.”

  Tommy shrugged Danny and Moray away from him. A snarl spread across his face. “You are one fucking cunt,” he spat out each word. More than anything, he wanted to wipe the smug grin from Freddie’s face. He curled his fists, ready to pounce across the desk.

  Freddie glanced down at his watch. “Forty-eight hours Barking Boy, and time’s ticking.”

  With as much dignity as he could muster, Tommy walked out of the room, slamming the door closed behind him. Out in the corridor, he brought his hands up to his head. He felt sick to his stomach at the dilemma he now found himself to be in, and he took deep breaths in a bid to quash the sickening waves that began to ripple through his body.

  He glanced back toward the door he’d just exited, resisting the urge to smash it down and batter Freddie Smith to within an inch of his life. Instead, and against his better judgement, Tommy tore down the corridor, picking up speed as he descended the stairs. He had to get out of the club. More than anything, he needed air.

  Out on the street, Tommy placed his hands on his thighs and lent his weight upon them. Hunched over, he gasped for breath. He looked around him, straightened his body up, and ran across the street toward the taxi rank. “I need a taxi,” he shouted through the glass partition. “I need to get to Gold’s Gym in Barking, as quick as you can.”

  The familiar scent of sweat hit Tommy as soon as he pushed through the gym doors. He looked around him. It had been years since he’d stepped inside the gym, and in that instant, he realised just how much he missed it. He recalled the hours of training he’d put in over the years, all that hard work that eventually had led to nothing, all because he’d seen a future with Davey Abbott instead of a career in boxing.

  Even above the consistent pounding of leather against leather, as men swung their gloved fists at punching bags, Tommy could hear his father’s voice from across the room. He recalled a time when he had lived and breathed boxing, and it had been him listening to the familiar orders Frank barked out.

  He walked toward the boxing ring, where his youngest brother was sparring. He stood back slightly, not wanting to get too close. He felt like an outsider. “He’s good.” Feeling awkward, Tommy shoved his hands into his pockets.

  Frank Carter glanced behind him at his eldest son, his body immediately tensed. “You were better.”

  Tommy gave a small smile. He could still feel the tension between his father and himself. Frank had never fully forgiven him for quitting the ring. He continued watching, as his brother threw a succession of quick jabs, and he listened to the instructions Frank gave. He had to give credit to his dad. If nothing else, he’d always been a good trainer. “He’s got a fight coming up, hasn’t he?”

  Frank turned to face his son. “What is it you want, Tommy?”

  Tommy shrugged his shoulders. “I just wanted to see how he’s getting on, that’s all.”

  “Well, you’ve seen how he’s his doing, now you can leave.” Frank turned his attention back to his youngest son. Pausing, he spun his body around once again to face Tommy. “You’re not taking another one of my boys,” he said as he stabbed his finger toward his son. “You’ve already taken the other four. Jonny is the only one I’ve got left who’s still interested in the business.”

  “I haven’t come for that.” Tommy shook his head at the accusation. His father’s words stung him and he lowered his eyes. “I just wanted a quick chat with Jonny, that’s all.”

  “Well, you can wait outside. You’ve no business in here.” Frank nodded his head toward the exit, before turning his back on his son.

  Tommy sighed. “Okay, I’ll be out there.” He pointed his finger toward the doors. He gave Jonny one last glance, then walked across the gym floor, his head down.

  Frank glanced over his shoulder and watched his son leave the gym. He shook his head, then turned his attention back to Jonny.

  * * *

  Forty-five minutes later, Frank and Jonny emerged from the gym. Tommy smiled as his youngest brother walked toward him. His cheeks were flushed pink and his hair array, still damp after his shower. It was an image Tommy instantly recognised, having seen himself and his brothers each emerge from the gym looking the exact same way.

  “Did you come to watch me, Tommy?”

  Tommy smiled. “Yeah, you did good.”

  A wide grin spread across Jonny’s face at the praise his elder brother gave him. He held his fists up toward Tommy and bounced on his feet. “I’ve got a fight coming up in a couple of days.”

  “I know.” Tommy nodded his head. He glanced toward Frank before continuing. “Look Jonny, I want you to do me a favour. I don’t want you to go out with your mates for a few days.” He could see the confusion in his brother’s eyes and continued. “Just stay at home with Mum and Dad for a couple of days, okay?”

  “Why?” Standing stock still, Jonny narrowed his eyes, his forehead furrowed. “Why can’t I go out?”

  Tommy blew out his cheeks. How was he supposed to tell his baby brother that his life was in danger? “There’s just some things going on with my work, and I need you to stay at home, so that I know you’re safe.”

  “Have I done something wrong? Am I in trouble?”

  “No, no of course not. This is to do with me, not you.” Tommy placed his hands on his brother’s shoulders. He swallowed down the hard lump in his throat. “Promise me Jonny, you’ll stay at home, just until you’ve had your fight.”

  Jonny shrugged his shoulders, unaware of just how much danger he was in. “Okay.” He smiled at his brother.

  “Good.” Tommy looked across to Frank. “Go on, you’d best go. I think Dad wants to leave. And I’ll be there to watch you fight. We all will.” He raised his own fists. “You’re gonna smash it, bruv. It’ll be a win for us Carters.”

  “Thanks, Tommy.” Jonny gave a wide grin, before running across the carpark to meet his father.

  Feeling as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, Tommy watched as his father’s car pulled out of the drive, before making his own way home.

  Stacey was worried. Her Tommy had been so quiet, even the kids hadn’t been able to lift his mood. “Are you okay, babe?” She stood beside the living room door, watching her husband intently.

  Tommy nodded his head. He watched absentmindedly, as Karen and Liam played, a thousand thoughts ran through his mind. Maybe he should send Stacey and the kids away on a holiday. It was a sure way of keeping them safe. Who knew just how far Freddie was capable of going to destroy him. Would he come after one of his kids next? Not to mention what Mark Hopper would do to his family, when he found out he’d taken the gold. He’d heard rumours that Hopper was hiding out abroad, and due back in England at any time. The very thought was enough to bring him out in a cold sweat.

  He
sat chewing on his thumb nail. He needed to get his wife and kids away from the area, he decided. He turned toward Stacey. “Why don’t you take the kids to see your nan and grandad in Norfolk for a few days?”

  Stacey narrowed her eyes, surprised. Tommy had more than taken her aback. “Why?” She paused. “Why would you even suggest that?”

  “I just thought you might want a little break.”

  “What’s going on, Tommy? You’ve never suggested anything like this before.” She glanced down at their children, lowering her voice. “Are you in trouble?”

  Tommy gave a dry laugh. “No, of course not. It was just a suggestion, that’s all.”

  “I’ll think about it, okay?” She smiled at her husband and left the room. Walking through to the kitchen, Stacey bit down on her lip. She took her mobile phone out of her handbag. Tommy had her worried all right, something wasn’t quite right with her husband. She scrolled through her contact list, her finger hovered over Jimmy’s phone number, and quickly she glanced toward the door, making sure she wasn’t being overheard, then pressed dial. She waited for the call to be answered, then spoke. “Jimmy it’s me, Stacey. I need you to come and see your brother. Something’s not right with him.”

  Within the hour, Jimmy had arrived at Tommy’s home. Stacey let him into the house and motioned with her hand toward the living room, for him to go through and see Tommy. “Find out what’s going on,” she whispered, before making her way into the kitchen.

  Walking into the room, Jimmy took a seat on the leather sofa opposite his brother. “What’s going on, Tommy? Stacey called me.”

  Tommy looked up. He raised his eyebrows, surprised to see his brother.

  “She’s worried about you.”