Everyone laughed. They each refilled their glasses and raised a toast.
‘Another year out of the way, thank fuck for that.’
‘I’ll drink to that, mate.’
They were chatting among themselves when Des Harker’s mobile bleeped with a text message. As he read it, Cain saw his friend’s face change and, when he put his hand over his mouth in obvious distress, all the men at the table stopped talking and stared at him. Des shook his head in disbelief.
‘Everything all right, mate?’
Cain put his hand on his friend’s arm as Des gave him the phone, saying, ‘I am so sorry, Cain . . . just so fucking sorry, mate. Jesus fucking Christ. The bastard . . . the absolute bastard.’
Cain looked down at the message; the rest of the men were bewildered as to what the fuck was going on.
‘What is it? For fuck’s sake, tell us.’
Cain looked around the table with tears running down his cheeks.
‘Jason Biggs murdered my boy tonight. My Cain. Jenny will go off her head, he has a baby on the way . . . Oh, dear fucking God!’
He was sobbing bitterly and every man at the table was at a loss as to what to do. Des Harker put his arm around his friend’s shoulders and held him as he cried, wondering all the while at how a man could be so cruel, no matter how justified he felt his actions might be.
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-One
Michael Moran was still in shock. He sat holding Eileen’s hand as they waited in the hospital to find out what would happen to poor Linda. Jenny had been sedated, thank God; her screams had been like a wild animal’s. Linda’s parents were with them too, and they all were waiting silently to hear if she was going to be OK. The poor girl had been in absolute bits.
Michael wiped his eyes again, and Eileen squeezed him to her. She was crying silently too, unable to believe what the night had brought on them. The cruelty of Jason Biggs waiting until Christmas Eve was something she could not comprehend. It was evil. But that was what the criminal world could be, and if you weren’t able to allow for that you should not be a part of it. Still, to see her grandson blown away was not something she would ever forget. That handsome, kind boy with a baby on the way and his whole life ahead of him. It was evil all right, and it would finish off her poor Jenny for sure. Her only son – her only child – taken from her so brutally.
She was crying even harder now and, as she and Michael continued to hold one another, Jenny Moran lay in a hospital bed dead to the world, sleeping the sleep of the just. She would have to wake up at some point, though, and then the nightmare would begin all over again.
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Two
Cain was handcuffed to two Prison Officers, but they at least had the decency to keep as low a profile as possible. Jenny looked awful and, as she cried into Cain’s chest, he held her as best he could. The service had been beautiful and as they’d left the church it had begun to snow. It was a bitterly cold day and Cain was consumed with thoughts of making Jason Biggs pay.
Linda’s parents were supporting their daughter as far as they could. The only saving grace was the baby was still there – if she had lost that too it would have been unbearable. But, as Jenny kept saying, there was still a piece of her boy in the world.
They made their way slowly to the grave and Cain looked around him, wondering how it could have come to pass that he was burying his treasured son. He felt the sting of tears again just as his son Michael put a hand on his shoulder, and he smiled sadly. Michael was a good lad; there was no doubting that.
As they approached the grave, Cain saw his mother being helped along by Eileen. She had taken the murder of Cain Junior really badly – they all had. How else could a death like this be taken?
‘I knew if I waited long enough you’d get what was fucking coming to you!’
Everyone closed their eyes as Caroline stood spouting her usual hatred and vitriol.
‘I prayed for this – for you to lose everything – and you have.’
She was laughing now, but the sight of her son Michael left her so shocked she couldn’t say another word.
‘Go home, Mum. This is not the time or the place.’
As he started to walk towards Caroline she backed away as though he had the plague.
‘She got you and all, did she? She’s taken everything from me and now she has taken my son too, is that it?’
Caroline was becoming hysterical. Everyone was gawping at her; this had not been on the agenda and they didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Jenny stood staring at the woman who had been a thorn in her side for years, and eventually said loudly, ‘Can you really blame him, you mad bitch? Just go home and let us bury our son with a bit of dignity.’
Michael started dragging his mother away from the graveyard; she was not happy to be going. Cain was shocked at the sight of his ex-wife, and couldn’t understand how someone who had once been such a beautiful and vibrant woman could now look like someone from a Hammer horror film. It was proof of just how long he had been locked away.
He pulled Jenny towards him awkwardly and they resumed the walk to their son’s graveside. The snow was coming down thicker now and the ground was frozen solid. Cain looked around and felt pleased with the turnout for his boy; it was a mark of how popular he had been. All his old schoolmates were there, as well as ex-girlfriends, work associates and the other men he had come to know over the years. It reminded Cain of the fact that he still was part of a community and he felt a strong sense of gratitude that he had not been forgotten – he still had a place in the world he had chosen all those years ago. There were flowers everywhere and the snow was starting to settle on them. There was going to be a blizzard by the looks of it. Cain kissed his wife’s head and held her hand tightly as the priest started the final prayers.
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Three
Jason Biggs had a new bird and her name was Jemima. She was very posh and owned a lovely cottage just outside Manchester, which suited Jason as it was away from his wife’s prying eyes. Jemima also had a lot of money and plenty to say for herself – as per usual he had picked another nut-job. She was dark-haired with startling green eyes and small, juicy little tits. She also had the tightest snatch he had ever encountered and that was a big part of her attraction.
She was naked, on her knees, giving him a mind-bending blow job. He was in seventh heaven. She was new to the area and he could not believe it when she had come into his club and made a beeline for him. Not only did she have a voice like Princess Anne, but she could fuck like a train; she was everything he wanted, gift wrapped in a pale-grey Mercedes sports car. As he felt himself coming, he relaxed and let his mind wander a bit. He wanted to keep this feeling for as long as possible. So few birds enjoyed giving head, and when you found one who relished it you had to make the most of it. It was only manners, after all. But when he opened his eyes, he saw a man standing across from him with a gun. It was at that moment that he realised Jemima had set him up.
She was standing now, and she said in a broad cockney accent, ‘Get it over with, for fuck’s sake. I need to get back to Canning Town.’
The man was only too happy to oblige.
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Four
At Eileen’s flat, Cain was negotiating a deal with the local Chief of Police, Geoff Dawes. They went back years, and had a grudging respect for each other. The snow was bad and Cain was hoping to persuade the Police Chief to let him have one night with his wife.
‘Come on, tonight of all nights. Do you really think I could go on the trot and leave her in this state?’
Geoff Dawes was inclined to agree with Cain’s request. Ten grand was a big sum to pass up and there was Jenny Moran standing with the cash in her hands. It seemed the two POs were happy enough with the situation; if Cain went on the trot they would be in the clear with two grand each, which wasn’t to be sneezed at either.
‘All right. But I want your word, Cain, that you won’t get up
to any funny business.’
Jenny looked sharply at her mother before she had the chance to answer them with a ribald retort. Eileen looked suitably shamed.
‘I am putting a couple of blokes outside, OK?’
Cain nodded and they shook hands on the deal.
When the police had left, Eileen tactfully retired to her bedroom with a bottle of vodka. Alone at last, Cain and Jenny looked into each other’s eyes. Jenny began to sob as Cain held her tightly, glad that, if nothing else, he could be there for her tonight of all nights. The night they had buried their only son.
‘It’s done, babe.’ She cried into Cain’s chest as he stroked her hair, and continued gently, ‘Jason Biggs is dead.’
She looked up at his handsome face and kissed him fiercely on his lips, her tongue slipping into his mouth, and he kissed her back deeply.
‘Thank you, Cain. Thank you . . .’
With that, he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Five
Michael Moran was sitting with his mother, listening to her rant on as usual. Sometimes he felt as if he was living Groundhog Day over and over again.
‘Look, Mum, he is my dad. I was supposed to bury my little brother today, but instead I am here with you. You have got to listen to me for once.’
Something in her son’s voice broke through the fog in Caroline’s mind and she looked at him expectantly.
‘This can’t go on, Mum, I can’t live like this any more. I am going to move into my own place permanently and you’re going to have to start taking responsibility for yourself. You’ve got to keep up your medication and stop drinking so much.’
Caroline remained quiet, afraid of what her son was telling her. She was terrified at the thought of being alone.
‘You do so well in the diner – you’re the star of the show there. Why can’t you act like that all the time and be the star of your own life? Now, one of your staff members, Carole Borden, has said she is willing to move in here with you so you have a bit of company. You and her get on well, don’t you? I’ve seen you having a laugh together at the diner.’
Caroline was nodding now, and her bloated face looked so forlorn Michael was almost tempted to change his mind. But he knew that if he didn’t do this now he never would.
‘She will see that you take your pills on time, and she can cook for you.’
He had a feeling that would be the clincher, and his mother was looking happier already. Her and her fucking food, it would kill her in the end.
‘Michael . . . You won’t leave me for them, will you? Promise me, darling.’
He shook his head and hugged her tightly. She smelled of Chanel No. 5 and stale sweat.
‘’Course not, but I needed to see my dad. Jenny is all right, Mum. She isn’t like you would think.’ He felt her stiffen in his arms then and he knew he had said the wrong thing. ‘What I mean to say is that I tolerate her for my dad.’
Caroline Moran was terrified of losing this son of hers and she knew she had to keep him on side. The only way she could do that was to go along with whatever it was he wanted.
‘God help me. I love you, Mum, but you can’t half be hard work at times.’
She smiled at him then, and he wiped her eyes and brought her a huge piece of cake. He had said what he wanted to and the world hadn’t ended. As he watched his mother eating he wondered if Cain Junior was in a better place now. He certainly hoped so.
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Six
Cain and Jenny were both spent as they basked in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Jenny could not believe that her Cain was here with her – that she could touch him and smell him like this. It was as though they had never been apart. She felt tears gather in her eyes and he held her even tighter.
‘What a fucking day.’
Jenny didn’t answer him. She didn’t know what to say.
‘That fat cunt turning up and all. Fuck me, I swerved a bullet there, girl!’ Jenny laughed despite herself, as he had hoped she would. ‘At least the baby is all right.’
Jenny settled herself so she could look into his face and said, ‘If it’s a boy she is going to name him Cain.’
‘She’s a nice girl, Jen, I like her. Good family too.’
Jenny nodded her agreement. ‘He was lucky to have her, but – oh, Cain! – the pain I feel in my heart makes me think I will never know another truly happy day again.’
She started sobbing again and Cain held her and soothed her, willing himself not to cry too. He had to be strong for her.
‘Only another few years and we will be back together for good. Keep your mind on that, darling. We have had our fair share of trouble, but we’ve got this far and we are still here and tight as any two people could possibly be.’
Jenny knew that was true. ‘Cain?’
He kissed her head gently and answered, ‘What, darling?’
‘Can we give it all up now: the business, everything? Can we just be like normal people? We have plenty of money and I don’t want this any more. It’s taken you and our son from me. This isn’t the Good Life, darling. It hasn’t been for a long time.’
He digested her words before finally saying, ‘If that is what you want, then that is what we will do. I will sort out selling everything off, OK?’
‘Do you promise me?’
He looked into her lovely eyes and smiled as he said, ‘I promise you, Jen.’
She was as lovely now as she had been when he had first seen her in that Soho pub all those years ago. If he had known then everything that would happen between them, would he have embarked upon the same course? The answer to that question was simple: he would not change a day. He loved Jenny with all his heart and soul, just as she loved him. They were meant to be and that was all there was to it. They fell asleep finally in each other’s arms and, for the first time in nearly twenty years, they held each other like a normal couple.
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Seven
Eileen lay in bed alone and wondered at her daughter and Cain together in the next room. She knew she could never have waited that long for anyone. It wasn’t in her nature; a six-week romance was enough before her eye would start to wander and she was on to the next one. She felt so sorry for her Jenny today, burying her only child. It was a terrible thing for any woman to have to do. At least there would be a grandchild – that was something.
Eileen welled up as she remembered Cain Junior climbing on her lap when he was little, always holding her hand or giving her a kiss. He had been such an affectionate child. She thought of how her Jenny had loved him and played with him. Eileen had actually enjoyed being with the child, and that was something that had never appealed to her before. She wished that things had been different while Jenny was growing up, and that she had understood sooner a child’s need for parental love. Jenny had put up with her mother’s drinking and her bringing men back for money and had even been taken into care on occasion. Yet that girl still wanted her in her life, and still gave her the affection that she now craved. Life was a funny thing all right, there was no denying it.
She picked up her grandson’s photo and kissed it lovingly. At least she had done right by him, even if she had struggled to look after her Jenny. She was rightly proud of her for coming through the worst the world could throw at her and surviving it all. It was no mean feat. Eileen Riley liked to think her daughter had inherited that strength from her. After all, she must have got it from somewhere.
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Eight
Jenny had made Cain and the POs a huge cooked breakfast before Cain had to leave and go back to Parkhurst. After the men had departed, Jenny ran herself a bath and locked the bathroom door before gratefully easing her tired and aching body into the hot water. She lay back with a large mug of tea and a packet of cigarettes, savouring the memories of the night before. She knew they would have to keep her going for a long time. It had been so wonderful to breathe in Cain’s smell – to feel his to
uch all over her – and it had taken some of the heartache out of a terrible day.
She closed her eyes and, thinking once more of her gorgeous son and the life he had lived under her care, she cried bitter tears. She knew, though, that as long as she had Cain Moran beside her she could cope with anything life might throw at her. He had done the one thing she had asked of him, taking out Jason Biggs, and she hoped that bastard had died in the knowledge that it was retribution for her boy’s murder. For the first time in her life she’d wanted revenge and Cain had made sure she’d got it.
There was a part of her that blamed Cain for their son’s death, though she knew she could do nothing about it. There was no denying that his lifestyle had been the cause of every major upheaval in their lives together. Now she needed to concentrate on healing. That was what she had learned as a child under the erratic care of Eileen Riley: if you waited long enough, things generally got better. At the very least, they couldn’t get any worse. It would take time but she trusted that eventually it wouldn’t hurt so much and that life would go on.
Epilogue
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Revelation 21:4 (King James Bible)
David Hannan was a happy lad. Cain Moran had been quite friendly and talkative as they had driven away from Parkhurst, asking the young man questions about his mum and dad and his beautiful daughter Mae. It had been a dream come true to be entrusted with picking up the infamous Cain Moran from the nick. They had arrived at Joe Biggs’s offices so Cain could pop in to thank the man for the lift.
Joe Biggs felt nervous as he heard Cain Moran walking through the office. He was being hailed by all and sundry and that annoyed him. This was his business now, not Cain’s, and it had been since the cunt killed Jason. He kept a smile plastered across his face and tried to look calm and business-like.