The Traitor. Kimberley Chambers

to Ed, Raymond had also been nervous about the visit. He had no idea how he would react to seeing Eddie again, but however bad he might have felt, he knew he had to take the chance and come. ‘Shall I get us a drink?’ Ray asked.

      Ed smiled. ‘Get us a coffee and a Mars bar as well.’

      Watching Raymond walk away, Eddie relaxed a bit. Because he was on remand, he was allowed more visits than a convicted inmate. It was the old cliché of being innocent until proved guilty.

      Raymond sat back down and handed Eddie his coffee. ‘So, what’s going on with Gary and Ricky? They’re really upset, Ed, ’cause you won’t let ’em visit you at the moment.’

      Eddie shrugged. ‘They never told me about the O’Haras turning up at Jessica’s funeral. I’m fuming with ’em, Raymondo. What do they think I am? Some mug? I’d rather have heard it from their mouths than in a letter from cunting Paulie.’

      Knowing how much the boys thought of Eddie, Raymond stuck up for Gary and Ricky. ‘They thought you was in a bad way, Ed. Them boys both worship the ground you walk on and they thought by not telling you, they were doing the right thing at the time. You’ve gotta send ’em a VO. They’re devastated, mate.’

      Eddie rubbed his hands over his short hair. For some reason, Raymond always had the ability to make him see sense. What a tragedy he hadn’t listened to him on the night that Jessica had died.

      ‘OK, I’ll write to ’em tomorrow and send ’em a VO,’ he mumbled.

      Ray nodded. ‘Have you heard my news?’

      Ed laughed. ‘Yeah, someone told me you’re now a jeweller.’

      Raymond felt embarrassed. He hated his new job with a passion. ‘I hate it, Ed. I did it for Polly. Her dad offered me the job, but it ain’t me, mate. It’s so fucking boring and I’m surrounded by pricks all day long. Whaddya think I should do?’

      Feeling sorry for his pal, Eddie spoke seriously. ‘I know you wanna go straight, Ray, and I don’t blame you for that, but you’ve gotta find something that suits ya. You’ve got dough: why don’t you set up a business and let some mug run it for you?’

      Raymond shrugged. ‘Like what? Apart from being a butcher when I was a kid and working in your salvage yard, I’ve never had a normal job.’

      Eddie had no idea what to suggest. Pub protection and loan-sharking was all he really knew and that was all he’d taught Raymond. ‘Look, Ray, I know what happened that night was all my fault, but it was nothing to do with our work, was it? It was family stuff that went wrong. I know the old sharking can get a bit violent at times, but why don’t you go back to work with Gary and Ricky? Let them do the dirty work, you can take a step back.’

      Raymond shook his head. ‘I’ve proposed to Polly. We’re getting married. I can’t go back to that life, not if we’re gonna have a family.’

      ‘Congratulations,’ Eddie said, his eyes welling up. He could remember the day he’d proposed to Jessica in his gold Merc, as if it was only five minutes ago.

      ‘You must have some idea of something I can get into, Ed?’ Ray asked, obviously worried.

      Eddie shook his head. ‘I really don’t know, mate. The trouble with men like me and you is we ain’t led a normal life. From working with me to selling fucking jewellery is nigh on impossible. I don’t know what to advise you to do, Ray. The only thing I can say is that Polly must have known what sort of bloke you were when you met her and if she loves you, she’ll stand by you whatever career path you take.’

      Raymond nodded. Eddie was right, as per usual.

      ‘What you should do is go home and have a long, hard think about things. I can have a word with Gary and Ricky. If you go back to the firm, I’ll guarantee you, you won’t have to get your hands dirty no more.’

      Raymond said nothing. He’d loved his old job, but needed to speak to Polly before he could even think of going back to it.

      Eddie pointed out his new pal, Stuart, and spoke highly about what he’d done to get revenge for his girlfriend. With neither man wanting to be reminded of that awful night in Tilbury, they stuck to general chitchat for the rest of the visit. As the bell rang, Ed leaned forward. ‘There’s something I need to ask you, something important. My dad’s old brief, Larry, has taken over my case. He reckons he can get my murder charge dropped to manslaughter. I won’t let him do it unless you agree, Ray. I loved Jess, you know I did and I’m willing to do life for what I did, if that’s what you and your family want.’

      ‘Come on, Mitchell, move,’ shouted a prison guard.

      Raymond didn’t particularly understand the situation. Eddie hadn’t meant to kill Jessica, but had owned up to it, so how could he not be convicted of murder?

      Aware that a screw was approaching, Ray stared at Eddie. What had happened was a case of mistaken identity, so why should his pal do life if he didn’t have to? ‘Go for it, Ed. Tell your brief to go for it. I’ll speak to Mum and Dad,’ he said.

      Over in Tilbury, Jed O’Hara and his cousin Sammy were having the time of their lives. They were in the salvage yard where Jessica had been murdered, doing a bit of entertaining in the new trailer Jimmy O’Hara had recently bought.

      ‘Does that feel good? You like it rough, don’t ya?’ Jed asked, as he thrust his cock forcefully into Sally’s arse.

      ‘Oh yeah, I love it, Jed. When you gonna leave Frankie?’ Sally replied, groaning.

      Jed winced, then smiled as he shot his load up her harris. Sally was a good fuck, a dirty little whore, but he had no intention of leaving Frankie for her.

      As he pulled his manhood out of her anus, Sally turned over and repeated her question. ‘Are you gonna leave her, Jed?’

      Taking a plastic bag out of his pocket, Jed opened it and handed Sally another ecstasy pill. ‘Get that down your neck. I’ll leave her soon, I promise,’ he lied.

      Jed stood up, zipped up his trousers and went in search of his cousin. ‘Oi, oi, saveloy,’ he shouted, as he saw Sammy’s bare arse bouncing up and down on Sally’s best friend, Julie.

      Sammy laughed as Jed walked over and handed them both an E. Jed took a swig of water and swallowed another himself. He’d had two earlier, so already felt out of his nut.

      When his phone burst into life once again, Jed suddenly thought it would be funny to answer the bloody thing. Frankie had been ringing for the past couple of hours and he, Sammy, Julie and Sally had had a right old laugh over the story he’d told his girlfriend earlier.

      ‘Sssh, shut up a sec,’ he said, as he put the phone to his ear.

      ‘Jed, is everything OK? I’ve been so worried. How’s your cousin?’ Frankie asked in a panicky voice.

      Drugged up to the eyeballs, Jed wanted to laugh, but somehow managed to stop himself. Turning away from the others, who were all giggling, he spoke seriously. ‘Billy ain’t too good, Frankie. He’s in intensive care now. The doctors reckon they might have to take his leg off.’

      With her hormones all over the place, Frankie burst into tears. ‘Oh Jed, that’s terrible. Whereabouts are you? Joey and Dominic are still here and they said they’ll bring me up in a cab if you need me there.’

      ‘No, Frankie. You stay there with your brother and his boyfriend. I’m fine, honest, all my family are here. I might not get home tonight, but I’ll see you tomorrow, babe.’

      Usually Jed would make a reference to the baby, but on this occasion he couldn’t, as he hadn’t told Sally that Frankie was pregnant.

      ‘Take care, Jed. I love you,’ Frankie said solemnly.

      ‘I can’t hear you. The battery’s going now,’ Jed said, switching the phone off.

      Turning back to the others, Jed