The Traitor

Table of Contents

Kimberley Chambers lives in Romford and has been, at various times, a disc jockey and a street trader. She is now a full-time writer and is the author of
Billie Jo
,
Born Evil
,
The Betrayer
and
The Feud.

Also by Kimberley Chambers

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Epub ISBN: 9781409051084

Version 1.0

  

Published by Preface Publishing 2010

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Copyright © Kimberley Chambers 2010

Kimberley Chambers has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

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First published in Great Britain in 2010 by Preface Publishing

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

As always, I would like to thank my agent Tim Bates, my editor Rosie de Courcy and my typist Sue Cox. I am also extremely grateful to everybody at Cornerstone for all the hard work they have put in on my behalf.

A big thank you to cousin Simon for all his help on law and order. Best I don’t mention your surname, mate, as being related to me is hardly going to further your career!

And last but not least, a special mention for Harry Redknapp, his staff and all the players for their wonderful achievement of getting Spurs into the top four last season. Credit also to Daniel Levy, who in my opinion has done a fantastic job in getting the club back where it belongs. Having said all that, I am writing these acknowledgements before our Champions League draw has even taken place and knowing Spurs as well as I do, they’ll probably make me look a right mug by falling flat on their faces. Oh well, whatever happens, it sure won’t be the first time I’ve made a complete tit out of myself, and I doubt it will be the last!

PROLOGUE

Eddie Mitchell stared at the handwriting on the envelope. He knew who it was from but, unable to take any more pain, he couldn’t face opening it.

Ever since that fateful night in Tilbury, Eddie had shed enough tears to fill a swimming pool. Nothing was going to bring her back, so what was the point of crying any more?

Stuffing the letter under his mattress, Eddie lay back on his bunk and stared at the ceiling. He’d give anything to turn the clock back, fucking anything.

The bullets he had fired had been meant for somebody else, not his beautiful wife. To make matters worse, Jessica had been pregnant at the time with their third child. The unborn baby hadn’t stood a chance, God rest its soul. The newspapers had had a field day writing about Eddie’s faux pas, the headlines screaming ‘Gangland boss in double slaying’.

As soon as Eddie had realised his fatal mistake, he’d immediately tried to take his own life. Unfortunately for him, Jessica’s brother Raymond had lunged at him and knocked the gun away. Eddie had still managed to pull the trigger, but the bullet had whizzed through his shoulder, not his brains, as he’d intended it to.

Waking up in hospital and realising he was still alive was the worst moment of Eddie’s life. Jessica was his world and he just couldn’t live without her.

Consumed by grief and guilt, Eddie immediately admitted what he’d done to the filth. Seven days he’d then spent in hospital under police guard. Once well enough to leave, he’d been carted off to Wandsworth nick.

Eddie was shoved into a cell with an Indian guy who introduced himself as Raj Malik. Company was the last thing Ed needed or wanted. He couldn’t even eat, let alone talk.

The screws must have read Eddie’s mind when they put him on suicide watch. The pain caused by his blunder was unbearable, and if he could have found something to top himself with, he’d have done it without a second thought.

Eddie had been with Jessica for over seventeen years, and from the moment he first clapped eyes on her, he’d known she was destined to become the love of his life. She was everything a man could want in a woman. She was beautiful on the outside and had a soul to match.

Overall, their marriage was an extremely happy one. Like most contented couples, they’d had their ups and downs over the years, but their love for one another had always remained intact.

Tall, with dark hair and a rugged complexion, Eddie had looked like a scar-faced giant beside his pretty, petite wife. They’d looked good together, though. Everybody used to comment on what a striking couple they made.

Jessica had fallen pregnant within months of them meeting. Eddie married her weeks later, and even though he already had two sons from a previous relationship, he had never felt as content as the day Jess had given birth to their twins.

Frankie and Joey were sixteen now and Eddie knew that he’d lost their love and respect for ever. How could he even consider contacting them when he’d so brutally wiped out their mother’s life?

Feeling a shiver go down his spine, Ed sat bolt upright, hugged his knees and laid his head against them. He was forty-eight years old, his life was all but over, and he wished he was fucking dead.

That fateful night would haunt him for ever. It was on his mind every second of every day. Even sleep didn’t release him from his burden, because his nightmares replayed the tragedy over and over again.

As the screw opened the flap to check on him again, Eddie snapped out of his trance. Knowing the letter was under the mattress was doing his head in. He ripped open the envelope and began to digest the words.