Broken Dreams (24 page)

‘He’s going to have to.’

‘Tell him about Jane.’

‘I can’t. I promised Jane.’

‘It’s gone too far for that.’

‘Her partner is a policeman. It’d embarrass him.’

I shrugged, scarcely believing the reason he’d lied. ‘Not your problem. You’ve got to clear your name. It’s gone too far. If you don’t co-operate with the police, Salford is going to come looking for you, and he won’t be just talking.’

‘I can’t go to the police.’

I told Murdoch about Sam Carver, the casino worker. Doctors were still hopeful the surgery on his eye was successful and no permanent damage had been done. Either way, he had a lot of recuperation ahead of him, and that was before you considered the impact it would have on his life. ‘You’ve got to speak to Coleman.’

‘I can’t.’

I stood up. ‘We’re done, then. I can’t help you.’ Don had been right all along.

‘I need your help, Joe. I can’t do it by myself.’

Ignoring him, I opened the door, ready to leave.

‘Joe.’

I turned back and told him to spit out what he had to say.

‘Frank Salford killed your wife, Joe.’

‘Hiya, Louise. How it’s going?’ I was stood on my sister-in-laws’s doorstep.

She sighed and stared at me. ‘Joe. You’re drunk.’

I shook my head. I’d had a drink, but I wasn’t drunk. ‘Can I come in, please? It’s important.’

She leant on the door frame. ‘I’m busy.’

‘Please.’ I’d headed for the pub after I’d left Murdoch’s office. A double-whiskey had calmed me down, but I was still having difficulty processing the information. I’d tried to think it through, to find some logic in what I’d been told, but I was too emotional to think straight. All I could think about was Debbie.

Louise relented and let me in. I walked through the hallway and popped my head into the living room. It was empty and tidy, no sign of the children; children I’d barely seen in the last eighteen months. Her house was well maintained, in contrast with Lisa Day’s house, which was less than a five minute walk away. I remembered how Debbie had urged her to move out the area. They could afford to, but it was where her husband grew up and felt comfortable.

‘Kitchen’ she said to me.

We went into the kitchen and I pulled out a chair from under the table. Louise filled the kettle, sat down next to me and asked me how I was doing.

Quite a question. ‘Some days are better than others.’

‘I know.’ She brought the pot of coffee over and poured the drinks.

‘Where’s Neil?’ I asked.

‘At work.’

I nodded. ‘The kids?’

‘With my mum.’

I didn’t know where to start. Turning up on her doorstep had unsettled her. We’d agreed I’d call before I visited but it couldn’t wait.

‘Busy at work?’ she asked.

‘A couple of things on. Busier than we’ve been for a while.’

‘That’s good.’

I sipped my coffee and agreed with her.

‘It doesn’t get any easier, does it?’ she eventually said.

‘It doesn’t.’ l glanced at the photographs on the sideboard; happy faces and memories.

Louise turned away from me and started crying. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘It wasn’t your fault.’ That much was true, but every decision we make has consequences.

‘It’s all my fault’ she said. ‘All my fault.’

I shook my head and put my mug down. ‘We need to talk about what happened.’

‘Not again, Joe.’

I knew it was difficult for her. ‘It’s important. Tell me again what happened, please.’

‘You already know what happened.’

‘From the start.’

Louise shrugged. ‘Debbie offered to babysit, so me and Neil could celebrate our anniversary.’

I nodded. I was working, so Debbie had gone there by herself. She was going to stay the night.

‘We’d gone for a meal and then the theatre before coming home about midnight.’

I held her hand. ‘It’s alright.’

She shook her head. ‘The first we knew about the fire was when the taxi couldn’t get down the street for all the fire-engines and ambulances. I can still remember how noisy it was and how much smoke there was. We paid the taxi driver and hurried towards what was going on. You don’t think it’s going to be your house, do you?’

I nodded and encouraged her to continue.

‘The neighbours were all stood outside, trying to see what was going on. Once I realised it was ours, I remember screaming and trying to run to the house. The fire brigade and police had roped it off, so we couldn’t get close. I shouted and shouted and eventually someone took me aside. They told me the kids were alright; Debbie and the neighbours had got them both out.’

Debbie hadn’t made it, though. The fire brigade had done their best, but the fire had taken hold. The smoke had overwhelmed her and by the time they got in, she’d died.

‘I’ll never forget what she did for me and my family. Or forgive myself.’

I nodded. Time had started to give me some perspective and I was proud of what she’d done that night. ‘It wasn’t your fault. She made sure the kids were safe. You’d have done exactly the same thing if the situation was reversed.’

‘I should have been there.’

‘You can’t think like that.’

‘She never had the chance to have kids.’

‘I know’ I said, pushing the thought aside.

Louise stood up and found us both some tissues. ‘I live with it every day.’

‘I know you do’ I said, before changing the subject. ‘What did the police do?’

‘Neil dealt with them. I didn’t have the strength for them.’

‘I know.’

‘They investigated but didn’t get anywhere.’

Coleman, I thought. He’d been part of it and we’d fallen out. The police established the fire was started deliberately, but they never made any real progress. It was the kind of area where nobody talked to the police. The investigation had been quickly scaled back. If there was no likely arrest, they couldn’t afford the resources. It was still officially open, but it had been made clear new evidence would be needed for them to think again.

‘Have they been in touch recently?’

‘No.’

I smiled. Of course they hadn’t. Following the fire, I’d done my best. I’d investigated it to the best of my ability, but I hadn’t made any real progress. Coleman and his colleagues had been little help, officially or off the record. They’d told me to leave it to them, the implication being I should mind my own business.

I took a deep breath and sat upright in my chair. The coffee and our talk had cleared my head. ‘This is important, Louise. Were you ever threatened?’

She looked confused. ‘Threatened?’

I nodded. ‘Did anything unusual happen before the fire? Anything you told the police?’

‘We’d had a few problems. Some kids were harassing Neil a bit. We’d had some dog mess pushed the letterbox?’

‘Did you tell the police?’

‘It was just kids messing about.’

‘Why would they do that?’

‘Neil had told them off. They’d been bothering some of the older people in the area.’

I nodded and thought about what Derek had told me earlier about the area. ‘Did anyone ever offer to buy your house?’

‘How did you know about that?’

After leaving Louise’s house, I walked to Salford’s casino, only stopping in a near-by pub for a drink to settle my nerves. I now knew Salford was behind my wife’s death, and that I had to do something about it. The only thing that made any sense was seeing Salford. The casino was quiet; only a handful of people stood around the game tables and at the bar. The credit crunch was taking its toll. I ordered a whiskey and waited. I tried to make small talk with the barman, but he ignored me. Word had probably spread about being seen with me. It didn’t take long for my presence to be noted, with Dave Johnson appearing behind me.

‘What do you want?’ he asked.

‘Salford.’

‘You’re drunk.’

‘I’ve never been more sober.’

He leant in to me, so no one could hear. ‘Walk out.’

I sipped my whiskey and shook my head. ‘Not until I’ve seen him.’

‘I suggest you walk out while you can.’ The smile fixed on his face.

‘I won’t be leaving quietly.’

Johnson stared at me. I smiled, enjoying the balance of power swinging in my direction. ‘I’ll shout the place down’ I added.

‘Follow me’ he eventually said.

We walked down several dark corridors, past various closed rooms before we sat down in his office. There was nothing personal on his desk, just a small stack of CCTV monitors. I could see the one covering the bar area. He’d probably tracked my every move. Shelves lined the walls, all containing labelled folders. Despite myself, I was impressed. The operation seemed more professional than I expected.

He selected a file and sat down, ignoring me.

‘You don’t understand that at all, do you?’ I said, watching him study a spreadsheet print-out.

Johnson put his pen down and looked up at me. ‘Don’t take the piss out of me.’

‘Why not?’ I knew I was treading a fine line, but I didn’t care. ‘The money isn’t your department.’

Johnson walked to the door and told the two shadowy figures who were lurking to wait outside. He closed the door and sat back down. ‘I thought we understood each other.’

I shook my head.

‘You were going to keep your nose out of our business’ he said to me.

I said nothing.

‘You’re really starting to fucking annoy me.’

‘I want to see Salford.’

‘You’re dealing with me.’

I laughed.

Johnson leant forward, pointing. ‘You’re dealing with me.’

‘He killed my wife.’

Johnson laughed. ‘Fuck off, Joe. We don’t go around killing people. We’re businessmen; all above board. Take a look round, or have your accountant come down. We’ve got nothing to hide.’

‘She died in a house fire.’

Johnson relaxed back into his chair. ‘Accidents happen’ he said.

‘It wasn’t an accident.’

‘You’re not going to thank me for this but people are careless, accidents happen.’

‘It wasn’t an accident. It was started deliberately.’

Johnson laughed again. ‘It sounds like you go around pissing people off.’

‘Accelerant was used.’

‘Like I said, you should stop sticking your nose into other people’s business.’ Johnson was leaning forwards again, angry. His temper was a like a tightly sprung coil, ready to go off at any moment.

‘My wife was babysitting her sister’s children.’

‘Like I say - accidents happen.’

‘She’d also received an offer for her house.’

Johnson shrugged. ‘It happens when people really like the house. My wife was the same. She gave me some shit about falling in love with the house. I had to buy her it; she’d got that feeling, know what I mean?’

I told him where the house was and how generous the offer was. He had a good poker face, giving nothing away.

‘I spoke to Steve Taylor earlier today’ I continued. ‘He told me how the scheme worked. Salford’s been buying up cheap housing, whether the owner wants to sell or not, and making them available when the compulsory orders from the council came rolling in. Having Taylor value the properties probably didn’t hurt, either.’

Johnson stood up and paced his office, saying nothing.

‘How much money has Salford made from this?’ I was stood up, shouting at Johnson. ‘Enough to justify my wife’s death?’ We were toe to toe, neither of us blinking.

Johnson was the first to back down, taking a step away from me. ‘I suggest you get the fuck out of my office. You’re on very, very dangerous ground here, Joe. So far, I’ve managed to persuade Mr Salford you’re not worth bothering with.’ He laughed. ‘I’ve convinced him you’re a joke. But now you come in here, into my office, making accusations you can’t back up.’ I could see the spit around his mouth, his anger erupting. ‘I’m fucking sick of you.’ He gestured to shadowy figures who had returned. ‘Show this cunt the door.’

‘We’re not finished’ I shouted, as I was dragged out of the room.

‘Been upsetting people again?’

I handed over the right money to the barman and shook my head. ‘Nothing to worry about.’

He nodded back and walked off to serve the other waiting customers. I found a quiet corner and sat down. Johnson’s men had literally thrown me off the premises, leaving me face down on the pavement, cuts all over my face. One of them had kicked me in the stomach as I got to my feet, but I hadn’t fought back. The other guy had eventually dragged him away and I was left in peace. After getting my breath back, I limped to the nearest taxi-rank and asked to be taken to Queens, hoping to find some solace in a familiar setting. I drank the first half of my pint quickly and thought things through. I had to get close to Frank Salford. I didn’t know what I’d do or say when I got the chance, but I had to see the whites of his eyes and hear the truth, however hard it might be. If my wife died because Salford wanted her sister’s house to sell as part of the regeneration plan, I needed to know.

I thought back to the night of the fire and remembered Debbie being transferred to the hospital. I was taken there by the police and kept a vigil at her bed for almost 24 hours before she died, never regaining consciousness. What hurt the most was not saying all the important things I should have said to her. How she was my life, how I’d be nothing without her. Drying my eyes and wiping my face on the back of my hand, I quickly left the pub before people noticed. Remembering how I’d woken Lauren the last time I’d visited, I rang Sarah’s mobile, hoping she was still awake. She didn’t answer, so I left a message. By the time she’d called me back, I was sat on her doorstep.

She looked down at me. ‘What’s going on, Joe?’ she asked.

I smiled and stood up. ‘I had some bad news.’

After I’d washed my face, we sat down in the front room with hot drinks. This time the cat was nowhere to be seen.

‘How did your date go?’ I asked.

‘It was alright. We had some food and saw a film.’

‘Very nice.’

‘He was the perfect gentleman.’

‘You’ve not got him hidden away upstairs, then?’

‘Piss off.’

I wondered how to tell her the news about Debbie.