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

got history.’

      Stephanie Crouch hadn’t had the best of mornings, Tyler had had one of his little tantrums and had broken her favourite plant pot. Dannielle had been sick three times. Then, to top it all, the alterations lady had brought her wedding dress back and Stephanie still wasn’t happy with the way it fitted. Trying Wayne’s number again, Stephanie began to feel the first stirrings of unrest. Wayne had known how worried she was about him going out with Barry, and her husband-to-be had promised to ring her the moment he opened his eyes this morning. It was noon now, and his phone was still bloody well switched off. Guessing that he had probably got plasterered and was currently sleeping it off, Steph rang Tammy. ‘Where you been? And why ain’t you been answering my bloody calls, you inconsiderate bitch?’ she asked, laughing.

      ‘Sorry, mate. Richard paid me a surprise visit and we went to a party last night. I didn’t take my phone with me, so never got any of your missed calls until this morning. Was you pissed? You must have rung me about six times,’ Tammy replied.

      ‘No, I was just bored and wanted a chat. It was Wayne’s stag do last night, weren’t it?’

      ‘Shit! I’d forgotten about that. How did it go? Is Wayne home yet?’ Tammy asked.

      ‘No, I can’t get hold of the bastard. Probably still pissed out of his head somewhere,’ Steph said, chuckling.

      ‘Why don’t you ring one of his pals? Make sure he’s OK. I don’t trust that Barry Franklin. He’s a wrong ’un, I’m telling you, Steph. I bet he’s tied Wayne up and left him somewhere, or even worse.’

      Stephanie sighed. Ever since the night Tammy had come over with Richard, her friend had kept harping on about how she didn’t trust Barry and how she thought he was out for his revenge. ‘I haven’t got any of his mate’s numbers. Wayne’ll be fine. I bet his phone battery has run out. The drippy bastard forgot to pack his charger and is probably on his way home as we speak. Why don’t you and Richard come round tonight? Wayne will definitely be back by then and I’m sure a nice takeaway will cure his hangover. There’s a lovely Indian I’ve just found near here and they deliver.’

      ‘I’d have loved to, Steph, but Richard’s flying back to Spain this evening. I’ve promised to take him to the airport. He only came over for a flying visit. He had an important business meeting up town somewhere.’

      About to tell Tammy about the fiasco with her wedding dress, Stephanie heard Dannielle calling her name. ‘I’m gonna have to go, mate. Danni’s got a bug and I think she feels sick again. Let me go and see to her and I’ll call you straight back.’

      ‘Don’t worry about ringing back, Steph. Richard’s taking me out for lunch, so I’ll call you tonight after I’ve dropped him off at the airport.’

      After tending to her sick daughter and making her son a sandwich, Stephanie picked up the phone and rang Wayne again. The phone was still switched off and, remembering Tammy’s words of warning, Steph immediately rang her mum.

      Pam was in no mood to listen to her daughter ramble on about Wayne’s whereabouts. She’d had the morning from hell herself, what with Angie not turning up to collect Aidan. ‘I’m gonna kill that selfish little mare when I get my hands on her, Steph. I know I told her I wanted nothing more to do with her, but how can she treat that little boy like that, eh? He’s been sitting ’ere crying his eyes out, bless him. Look, I’ll have to go. I’ll call you back a bit later. Don’t worry too much about Wayne. I bet he’s on his way home as we speak.’

      ‘OK. As soon as I hear from him, I’ll let you know, Mum,’ Stephanie said, ending the call. Dialling Wayne’s number again, Stephanie swore at the receiver in temper as the recorded message informed her that his phone was still switched off. If Tammy was right and her ex had played some stupid, evil prank on Wayne, she would kill Barry bloody Franklin with her own bare hands.

      Back at the hotel in Soho, Barry was at a loose end at what to do next. The rooms had to be vacated by twelve noon, so he had collected his and Wayne’s bags and had sat at the bar awaiting his return. Potter and Cooksie were both well hammered and about as much use as a chocolate teapot so, running out of ideas, Barry decided to search Wayne’s bag. ‘Bingo, lads,’ he said, as he pulled out Wayne’s mobile phone.

      ‘No wonder you couldn’t get through to him,’ Potter slurred.

      Barry switched on the phone and was relieved that it still had battery life left.

      ‘Who you gonna ring?’ Cooksie asked, struggling to sit upright.

      ‘Steph. Jacko might have felt guilty spending the night with Angela and fucked off straight home,’ Barry replied, smirking. He punched in the contact that read home, then gleefully waited for an answer. ‘Is that you, Steph?’

      ‘Yeah, who’s that?’

      ‘It’s Barry.’

      ‘What do you want? Where’s Wayne?’ Stephanie asked, frantically.

      ‘To be honest I was about to ask you the same question. I take it he hasn’t rung you or been home yet? It’s Wayne’s phone I’m calling you on.’

      Stephanie felt her stomach lurch. ‘No, what have you done to him, Barry? If you’ve played some dumb prank on him, you’re gonna have me to deal with.’

      ‘I ain’t done nothing, mate. We ended up in a club last night in Soho and Wayne left early. Actually, let me ring that young fella Lee who works for him. Lee got slung out the club for puking up and Wayne went off to look for him. Perhaps he took him home in a cab and stayed round his or something. I’ll ring him now and call you straight back, OK?’

      ‘No, I’m not OK, and why have you got Wayne’s phone?’ Stephanie asked, in an extremely distressed voice.

      ‘Because he left his bag in the hotel room and the phone was in it. I remember him ringing Danno when we dropped our bags off before we went out last night, and he must have switched his phone off and left it in the room. I’ve only just found the poxy thing, otherwise I’d have rung you earlier, Steph.’

      ‘Ring Lee then, and ring me straight back,’ Stephanie ordered.

      Barry turned to Potter and Cooksie. ‘Jacko ain’t at home, so I’m gonna ring Lee to see if he’s with him.’

      ‘Why don’t you ring Angie? She’s probably got his cock in her mouth as we speak,’ Potter said, laughing.

      Barry grinned, then scrolled through the phone once again. He found Lee’s number and rang it. ‘Is Jacko with you?’ he asked.

      ‘No, why?’

      ‘When you got slung out the club last night, he came looking for you. No one’s seen him since, so we wondered if he took you home or something?’

      ‘I can’t even remember leaving the club, let alone seeing Wayne. I remember trying to get a black cab, but none would take me, then I think some foreign geezer pulled up, said he was a minicab and he took me back to Woodford for twenty quid.’

      Barry ended the call and, as promised, rang Stephanie straight back. ‘I’ve just spoken to Lee and he hasn’t seen Wayne either. I dunno what to do, Steph. Me, Potter and Cooksie can’t sit ’ere all day waiting for him. We got chucked out of our rooms ages ago.’

      ‘So, where the hell is he? What have you done to him?’ Stephanie asked, panic-stricken.

      ‘Calm down. We ain’t done nothing to him. Wayne left the club long before me and the others did. Ask the others if you don’t believe me. Cooksie and Potter are both sitting here beside me.’

      ‘No, I don’t want to talk to them. Do you think I should call the police?’ Stephanie asked, near to tears.

      ‘You can’t ring the Old Bill, not yet anyway. If you tell them that Wayne was out on his stag night, they will laugh you off the phone. I’m gonna grab a cab in a minute. Do you want me to come round?’

      Debating