More Careless Talk Read online

  Title Page

  MORE CARELESS TALK

  More Secrets And Lies In A Town Near London

  By

  David Barry

  Publisher Information

  More Careless Talk Published in 2012 by

  Andrews UK Limited

  www.andrewsuk.com

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  The characters and situations in this book are entirely imaginary and bear no relation to any real person or actual happening.

  Copyright © David Barry 2012

  The right of David Barry to be identified as author of this book has been asserted in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyrights Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  Dedication

  To Ann and Marie and members of Katapult

  One

  ‘Right!’ exclaimed Mary. ‘This is it! Action stations!’ She waved a wallpaper scraper threateningly at the living room wall. ‘I’ll be glad to see the back of this hideous paper.’

  ` Dave came in carrying two mugs of coffee. ‘Time to break for elevenses,’ he said, poker-faced.

  Mary gave him a withering look. ‘It’s not even half-nine yet.’

  ‘I know, but...’

  Mary took one of the mugs and put it down on the bare floorboards. ‘You lazy so-and-so. You can’t put it off any longer, you know.’

  He sighed miserably and blew on his coffee. ‘I know. But all this disruption.’

  ‘It’ll be worth it. God knows how you managed to live with this paper all these years.’

  ‘I never used to notice it. Much. And I’ve never been one for D-I-Y.’ He sneaked a look at his watch. ‘I’ve ... er ... just got to pop out for ten minutes. Soon as I’ve had this coffee.’

  Mary glared at him.

  ‘It’s all right: I’m not putting a bet on. Honest. I won’t be that long. Then I’ll come back and get started on this room.’

  ‘Where are you going then?’

  ‘I’ve got to photocopy my songs and send them to the musical director in Blackpool.’

  Mary dipped a sponge in a bucket of hot, soapy water. Although she had her back to Dave, he could tell by her demeanour that she was far from happy.

  ‘I’ve got to do these gigs,’ he explained. ‘The money’s not bad and it could lead to more work.’

  ‘And what do we do while you’re away? Just as the children are getting used to you.’

  ‘Well, I’m sorry, but it can’t be helped. It’s what I do for a living. How many more times do I have to explain?’

  ‘But why Blackpool of all places? And for six whole weeks.’

  ‘Because that’s where the work happens to be.’

  ‘There’s no need to shout.’

  ‘I’m not shouting. It’s just that you’re so irritating. I’ve got to do it, and that’s that. So I may as well get on with me photocopying. I’ll see you in a bit.’

  He slammed his mug down and left the room. As he squeezed his way past all the living room furniture stacked in the hall, the letter box rattled and an air mail letter fluttered on to the mat. He picked it up and saw that it was addressed to Mary. Curiosity getting the better of him, he returned to the living room and handed her the letter.

  ‘Who do you know who lives in Florida?’ he asked.

  Her hands trembled as she took the letter. ‘Oh my God! It’s from him. My ex-husband. How the hell did he find out where I’m living now?’

  He saw very real fear in Mary’s eyes.

  ‘Ronnie’s a twisted bastard. About as dangerous as you can get. I’m sure he’s got a screw loose. A real psycho.’

  ***

  The doorbell chimed and Nicky panicked. ‘It’s Jason. He’s early. And I’m not ready.’

  Vanessa laughed unkindly. ‘Let him see you as you really are. That’ll put him off.’

  Nicky looked pleadingly at her sister and asked if she would let him in.

  ‘No chance. I don’t even know him.’

  ‘Please, Nessa.’

  ‘Tell you what: you let him in and I’ll make the coffee while you get dressed.’

  ‘Yes but...’ Nicky began to protest, but seeing the wilful look on her sister’s face, she dashed out to answer the door as the doorbell chimed again.

  Vanessa smiled to herself, picturing Nicky’s discomfort as she greeted her new boyfriend in her dressing gown. Nicky’s high-pitched, panicky voice brought the contempt she felt for her sister bubbling to the surface. Nicky was such a baby. So un-cool.

  While Vanessa switched on the kettle, Nicky hurriedly showed her new boyfriend into the kitchen. ‘This is Jason,’ she burbled nervously. ‘Jason, this is Vanessa.’

  ‘Hi, pleased to meet you.’

  He waved a hand at Vanessa. She acknowledged his greeting with a nod, surprised at how attractive he was, although she had seen them both together in the shopping mall. But close up he looked even dishier. Slim, dark and rather intense looking. He looked like he might be an actor or a model.

  ‘I’ll leave you two to get acquainted while I get dressed,’ said Nicky. ‘My sister’ll make you a coffee, Jason. Shan’t be long.’

  Nicky scurried away, ashamed of the way she looked. Vanessa smiled at Jason, who said, ‘Nicky never mentioned she had a sister.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘Course, I can understand why now.’

  Vanessa raised her eyebrows enquiringly and guessed what was coming.

  ‘It must be because you’re so attractive. No wonder she keeps quiet about you.’

  Pleased with the compliment, Vanessa tried not to let it show, and got the jar of instant coffee out of the cupboard. She could feel him staring at her, undressing her.

  ‘What do you do for a living?’ she asked.

  He grinned confidently. ‘Central heating engineer. I’ve got my own business.’

  She tried not to show her disappointment either.

  ‘I had a job to finish off this morning. That’s why I thought - as I had the rest of the day clear - I’d take Nicky out. But I wish...’

  He deliberately left the sentence unfinished, hoping Vanessa would take the bait.

  She did.

  ‘What do you wish?’

  He moved a little closer to her. ‘I wish it was the other way round. I wish it was you I was taking out.’

  Vanessa tried to conceal a smile but her eyes said it all.

  ‘I don’t think that’s a very good idea. Do you?’

  ‘Because of Nicky? We don’t have to tell her.’

  ‘Tell her what?’

  ‘About us going out together one night this week.’

  Vanessa laughed nervously. ‘You’ve got a nerve.

  ‘I can’t help it. I’ve never been so knocked out by anyone before. So how about it?’

  Deeply buried resentment of her older sister being the treasured favourite of their father flashed through Vanessa’s mind. She made a snap decision and felt a surge of triumph, coupled with revenge.

  ‘Okay,’ she whispered. ‘I’m not doing anything on Friday night.’

  Two

  Tears ran down Mary’s face. Her hands shook as she read her ex-husband’s letter. ‘Oh no!’ she pleaded. ‘Please, Ronnie! No!’

  ‘Wh
at’s wrong?’ asked Dave, stifled by the inadequacy of his question. But there was no mistaking the genuine concern in his voice and Mary looked up from the letter momentarily, love and gratitude in her expression.

  Thoughts of the club bookings in Blackpool and the north west struck him, worried that he might have to make noble sacrifices. A sob caught in Mary’s throat and he chased away the selfish thoughts and gently touched her hand. He spoke softly but his voice was uncomfortably resonant in the empty room.

  ‘Are you going to tell me what’s up?’

  Mary recovered slightly, wiped her eyes, and wet her lips before speaking. ‘Listen to this - see what you make of it.’

  She read from the letter.

  ‘“My darling Mary, I still think of you as my darling, you see, babe. The fact is I can’t get over you. I know it’s been a long time and we’ve both had other partners since we split up but - who knows - we might give it another go. Because this here’s the good news. I’m coming home. Things didn’t work out with me and Sharleen. Or with her kids. Yankee brats! And blood’s thicker than water, as they say.

  ‘“I know I treated you badly, but I never stopped loving you, babe. Until death us do part. And that goes for my kids as well. I’m really looking forward to seeing them again. They’ll like it over here. Tell them I’m looking forward to taking them to Disneyland. I’ve got a great job now, hon, selling hush-hush equipment for an electronics company. So I’m going to be doing a lot of commuting across the pond. My first trip is in October sometime, so here’s lookin’ at you, kid. Love you, babe. Till death. Ronnie.”’

  Mary stared at Dave, begging for reassurance, protection. He shrugged helplessly.

  ‘I’m not sure. I ... I mean, why are you so upset?’

  ‘Because I thought I’d seen the last of him. That’s why.’

  ‘But surely he’s got a right to see his children.’

  Mary shivered involuntarily. ‘The man’s dangerous. He lives in a fantasy world.’

  ‘Lots of people do.’

  ‘Not like Ronnie. Believe me, he’s dangerous.’ She thrust the letter into Dave’s hand. ‘Take a look at the last line.’

  Dave squinted, holding the letter away from him. ‘He’s underlined “death” with a red pen.’ He frowned at Mary. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because he’s a sick bastard, that’s why.’

  ‘Dave put his arm round her, protectively. ‘It’s baking hot but you’re shivering. You’re frightened of him, aren’t you? I mean, I know he put you in hospital that time, but ... has he ever done anything to scare you before?’

  ‘Loads of times. He saw me staring at this good looking black guy in a pub one night. He didn’t say anything. Just went quiet and moody. When we got home, he stripped me off, making me think we were going to make love. Instead, he smacked me hard with his open palm, slowly, over and over in the same place, so it hurt but it wouldn’t show.’

  ‘I know this is probably a stupid question but - why didn’t you fight back?’

  ‘I was too scared. Psychological fear was Ronnie’s greatest trick. He’d do unpredictable things. He used to love watching violent videos. Anything American he adored. He bought replica guns.’

  ‘Was this before the kids were born?’

  ‘Before, during and after. He used to spoil them rotten. Then, if one of them misbehaved, he’d go to great lengths to inflict the cruellest punishment.’

  Mary’s eyes filled with tears as she remembered.

  ‘Simon’s favourite toy was his Thomas the Tank Engine. Ronnie took a hammer one day and smashed it to bits in front of him. He was only four at the time.’

  Dave exhaled slowly. He felt tense. His shoulders ached. Eventually, he muttered, ‘How could anyone do that to a young kid?’

  ‘You don’t know Ronnie. After we split up, the court ordered him to keep away from us. Thank God! When he went to America I thought that would be the last we’d hear from him.’

  ‘I wonder how he got our address?’

  Mary shook her head. ‘God only knows. Unless he somehow managed to trick my mother into giving it to him.’

  ‘I’ve got an idea. I can get loads of work up north - especially the north east. Why don’t we all move up there?’

  Mary sighed deeply. ‘If he managed to get this address while he’s living in the States, he wouldn’t find it too difficult to trace us when he gets over here. No. Running away’s not the answer.’

  ‘What do we do then?’

  ‘I wish I knew, Dave.’ She let her head fall onto his shoulder, buried her face into his neck and sobbed. ‘I wish I knew.’

  ***

  ‘Cheers!’ said Jason, sipping Mexican beer from the bottle.

  Vanessa, who was having second thoughts about this date, raised her Bacardi and Coke glass and half-heartedly toasted him in silence.

  ‘What’s wrong, sweetheart?’

  ‘I can’t help thinking about Nicky. I feel guilty.’

  Jason rewarded her with a cheeky smile, trying to charm her with his roguishness. ‘No, you’re not. Be honest. I think we’re having fun. That’s what life’s all about. Having a laugh.’

  Vanessa frowned, and echoing her thoughts, said, ‘I’m not going out with you just to get at Nicky, you know.’

  ‘Did I say you were?’

  ‘Usually we get on quite well together.’

  Jason shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it, if I were you.’

  Vanessa stared thoughtfully into her glass, swirling the ice round with her little finger. ‘I wouldn’t like her to get hurt.’

  ‘What the mind doesn’t know,’ grinned Jason.

  Vanessa looked up sharply. ‘You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you?’

  ‘Me? No. You’ve got me wrong. I’m really insecure.’

  ‘Hah-hah! Pull the other one.’

  ‘It’s just that I really fancied you. Soon as you walked in that door.’

  ‘Hang on!’ Vanessa giggled. ‘You were the one who walked through the door. You came to our house, remember?’

  ‘Oh yeah. It must be the romantic in me. In my mind’s eye I see you making an entrance, with a shaft of sunlight hitting you.’

  Vanessa laughed and shook her head, then noticed he was staring at her intensely.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘You’re not going to like what’s rushing through my head right now.’

  ‘That depends what it is.’

  ‘After we’ve had some food, why don’t we go back to my flat?’

  Vanessa’s eyes widened. You don’t believe in taking things slowly, do you?’

  ‘That’s not my style. And I know we could make beautiful music together.’ Seeing Vanessa wince, he added, ‘I wish I hadn’t said that.’

  ‘So do I. It was pretty crass.’

  He laughed. ‘That’s me. A crass remark to end all crass remarks.’

  Vanessa was suddenly distracted, and stared over his shoulder with a look of panic. ‘Oh my God! Don’t look round. It’s a friend of Nicky’s.’

  But Jason had already turned round and been spotted by the girl standing at the bar with two other girls.

  ‘Whoops!’ he exclaimed as he turned back to face Vanessa. ‘She knows me as well. She introduced me to Nicky at the party. Come on, let’s finish our drinks and get out of here.’

  Once they were out in the street, they fell against each other and Jason slid an arm about her waist. Both giggled at this heady feeling of treachery and forbidden fruit.

  Jason stopped walking and brought his lips close to Vanessa’s ear. ‘When we’ve eaten,’ he whispered, ‘will you come back to my place? Please ... will you?’

  She kissed his cheek lightly. ‘OK,’ she whispered, almost imperceptibly.

&nb
sp; Three

  Nigel began to think he had made a grave error in bringing Jackie to the same Eastbourne teashop where he had brought Mary. It was almost six months ago, yet the same plump waitress who had served him then seemed to remember him, behaving in an over-familiar way.

  ‘Buck rarebit, pot of tea for two and a selection of pastries, is it?’ She smiled, pleased with her memory skills.

  Colouring slightly, Nigel studied the menu deeply, then snapped it shut and declared loudly: ‘An excellent recommendation.’ He glanced at Jackie. ‘Does that sound all right to you, darling? Or would you like something a bit more substantial?’

  Jackie frowned abstractedly. ‘No, that sounds fine.’

  The waitress gave a self-satisfied, knowing nod, as if the order had been a foregone conclusion, before shuffling off to the kitchen. Jackie stared at Nigel, and he guessed what she was about to say.

  ‘Have you been here before, Nigel?’

  ‘I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it. I came here on several occasions with my ex-wife.’

  ‘How long ago was that?’

  Nigel made a show of trying to remember. ‘Now let me see...’

  ‘It must be quite some time ago.’

  He tittered nervously. ‘Yes, it must be many moons ago. I have to take my hat off to that waitress, she must have a wonderful memory.’

  A note of suspicion crept in Jackie’s voice. ‘Have you been here more recently?’

  ‘Well, if I’m out this way on business. I often pop in for a cream bun or something. You know me: I have an awfully sweet tooth.’

  ‘Not only sweet. I’ve never known anyone pick at crisps and peanuts like you do,’ she admonished him with a wag of her finger. ‘Little pickers, bigger knickers!’

  Relieved that the conversation had sailed into safer waters, Nigel grinned like a naughty but lovable child. He patted his stomach. ‘I must start an exercise regime soon.’

  ‘Yes,’ Jackie leaned across the table and whispered, ‘otherwise I’ll be marrying a Mister Tubby Bear.’

  ‘Not long to go now. Just another couple of weeks. Shame we couldn’t have done it in early September as we first planned. And I thought it was going to be a quiet wedding. Now the guest list seems to be growing. Mainly with your side of the family.’