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

as I can prove to him that I am pregnant, he will be there for me and my child. I want you to address the letter to him and put your surgery number on it, so he can ring you if he doesn’t believe the story. I will deliver the letter to him personally.’

      Dr Patak sighed. Writing letters to disbelieving boyfriends was really not part of his work as a GP. ‘You will have to pay for the letter,’ he informed Denise.

      ‘How much?’

      ‘Two pounds. Is that OK?’

      ‘Well, I suppose it will have to be. Can you write it now for me?’ Denise asked, impatiently.

      ‘No. I have a surgery full of unwell patients who need my time. Pop back tomorrow when surgery has finished and I will have it ready for you then.’

      When Vinny took her to one side and told her he was arranging a surprise gathering at the club for Vivian’s birthday, Queenie was immediately against the idea. ‘Don’t be daft. We can’t have a party while poor Roy is in a coma and I never want to set foot in that club again.’

      ‘I didn’t say a party, Mum. It will be more of a family gathering. We can’t spend our whole lives in this hospital. It isn’t healthy for any of us.’

      ‘It’s a nice thought, Vinny, but I am not going back to that club. I just can’t.’

      ‘Well, how about I organize a little something at yours then? You haven’t got to do sod all. The staff at the club can do all the catering. Colleen will sit with Roy while you and Auntie Viv have a break. It will do you both good, Mum. Please say yes. It will do me good to have something to focus on as well.’

      Queenie reluctantly agreed. When Vinny put it like that, how could she say no?

      In Ipswich, Michael had just spent the past hour catching up with the uncle he didn’t remember. Bert was nothing like Albie. He wasn’t a big drinker, seemed quite normal in fact, and Michael hoped that Bert might prove to be a good influence on his father. ‘Right, Nancy and I had best be making a move now. Uncle Bert’s given me his phone number, Dad, and I will ring you in a few days to see how you’re settling in. Don’t lose that money I gave you, and don’t forget to change your details over with the DHSS.’

      ‘I’ll do it tomorrow. Thanks for the money, Michael. You’re a good lad.’

      Michael had given his dad an envelope which contained five hundred pounds, and when he tried to give Bert the same to put towards his dad’s upkeep and the bills, he was surprised when his uncle refused to take it. ‘Please don’t insult me, Michael. I’m not short of a few bob and since my Ivy died, I’ve hated living alone. Having my brother stopping with me is a pleasure, and I certainly don’t want paying for it.’

      Wondering if Bert would still be saying that in a month’s time after his father had staggered home pissed on a daily basis, Michael shook his uncle’s hand.

      ‘Don’t forget the letter, Michael. Can you let me know what your mother says about it?’ Albie asked.

      ‘Yes, but I’m not sure when I will give it to Mum yet. I don’t want to do it at the hospital, so will have to wait for the right moment.’

      Albie nodded. ‘I’ll just leave it in your capable hands, boy.’

      Pleased that he was now in his mother’s good books again, Vinny took his son back to the club with him. Money was no object to Vinny these days. His dealings with Ahmed had seen to that. The club was a lucrative enough business on its own, but importing heroin into the capital had made him richer than his wildest dreams. However, he needed to re-open soon. He had promised his mum and it was what Roy would have wanted, too.

      ‘Can I speak to Mum on the phone? I miss her, Dad,’ Little Vinny whinged.

      His son’s words cut deep into Vinny’s heart. Not once had Little Vinny ever said he missed him and he had brought the ungrateful little bastard up. About to tear him off a strip, and remind the boy where his loyalties should lie, Vinny was saved from losing his rag by the shrill ring of the phone.

      ‘All right, mate. It’s Paul. How’s Roy?’

      ‘Still the same. I’ll be opening up again soon. I’m still paying you full whack, though. You won’t be out of pocket,’ Vinny told his doorman.

      ‘It weren’t that I was ringing for. I just thought you should know that my younger brother Scott was in the Grave Maurice last night. That Terry Smart was in there. Pissed up, he was, and spouting his gob off something chronic about you, apparently. He was even joking about Roy waking up as a spastic. I just thought you should know the score, mate.’

      Absolutely fuming, Vinny thanked his loyal employee, then immediately rang Ahmed. ‘Mate, you know that little plan we was speaking about the other evening and we agreed to wait a while?’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘Well, I’ve changed my mind. We need to set the ball rolling now,’ Vinny hissed.

      ‘Leave it with me and I will sort it for you.’

      ‘Cheers, mate. The sooner the better, eh?’

      ‘Count it as done.’

      Michael and Nancy were in a hotel in Suffolk. It was nowhere near as opulent as the previous one they’d stayed in but it was comfortable and clean. Having already made love to Nancy once, Michael was about to do so again when Nancy started questioning him about them getting married. Quickly losing his erection, Michael propped himself up on the pillow with his elbow. ‘I love you, Nance, you know that, but we don’t want to rush into things, do we? Getting hitched is a massive step, and it ain’t like you’re up the duff or anything, is it? If you was, then I suppose we would have to get wed.’

      ‘But, you was the one who first mentioned it, Michael. When we spoke about my parents chucking me out, you said don’t worry, we can get married.’

      Desperate to avoid their first lover’s tiff, Michael stroked Nancy’s beautiful face. ‘And I meant it, babe, but what’s the rush? I can’t think straight with my brother being in a coma, let alone plan a poxy wedding.’

      ‘I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m sure my mum would be happier if we got married rather than lived in sin. As for my uptight dad and brother, well, they would have to accept our relationship if they realized we were that serious about one another. Obviously, we won’t discuss it in detail while Roy is ill, but we can start arranging it when he is better. I’m sure your mum and Auntie Viv would be thrilled as well, Michael. They both said to me the other day that they love a wedding and think I’ll make a lovely bride. I am positive they were hinting.’

      Suddenly feeling like a wild bird who was now in captivity, Michael leapt out of the bed. He was only twenty-one for Christ’s sake and even though he adored Nancy, he was far too young to commit himself to her for the rest of his life. Say he got bored with her like he had all the others?

      Watching Michael’s reaction to the thought of their marriage was a wake-up call for Nancy. She might be young, but she wasn’t stupid, and some of the little quips she had heard from Michael’s family made it obvious to her that Michael had had many girlfriends. Desperate not to lose the lad she loved so much, Nancy made her decision there and then. That pill she had recently asked her doctor to prescribe her, she would stop taking immediately. If trapping Michael was the only way to get him down the aisle, then trap him she would.

      Many miles away in Wormwood Scrubs prison, Johnny Preston was sat alone in a cell. Thanks to nerves, then his stupidity at trying to calm them by getting drunk, he was now looking at a long sentence. If Roy died, he might even get life. Feeling absolutely dreadful, Johnny put his head in his hands. Deborah had asked for a divorce earlier thanks to Joanna grassing him up and now he’d lost everything: his reputation, his freedom and his family.

      CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

      Vivian Harris was absolutely knackered thanks to a rotten night’s