Cutting the Cord Read online

  “Come quick, Joyce, you’re not going to believe what’s on the TV.” Elsie knew better than to not go when Tommy called so she walked out of the kitchen and into the living room, drying her hands on a tea towel as she went.

  “What’s not to be belie—” began Elsie until, suddenly, she was stopped in her tracks as her glaze fell upon the TV set in the corner of the room. There, in full technicolour, was a picture of her with Freddy. It had been taken the summer before she’d run off with Derek, on the forecourt of the garage. His arm was draped across her shoulder and they were both beaming at the camera. Then suddenly it was replaced by a close-up photograph of her taken that same summer. Elsie felt the colour drain from her face. Her ears were consumed by a large buzzing sound and the room was spinning round her, then everything went black.

  “Damn, scared the life out of ya, did that, eh? Joyce?” Tommy said as she opened her eyes. He’d obviously laid her down on the couch and was seated beside her, leaning right over her.

  “There was me thinking I was the big bad criminal in this family and it turns out it was you instead,” Tommy boomed out in laughter. “Got the whole of England, Ireland and Spain looking for you, they have. Quite a big shot murderer by all accounts, Joyce, aren’t ya? They say you’re wanted in connection with the murder of your own son.” Tommy stopped talking and handed her a glass of brandy.

  “Sit up and get this down your neck,” he offered. Elsie pushed herself up into a sitting position then, taking the glass, drank down its contents in one go. Tommy took the empty glass from her and placed it on the table.

  “So, what are you gonna do, Joyce? I mean, I can’t have the filth snooping round my affairs, can I? Got too much to lose, as you well know. I should kill you for this, Joyce. I mean, how could you bring so much trouble to my door and think you could get away with it? I’m not some mug you can have over, you should know that. You’ve put me in a nasty dilemma, Joyce. Your face is as familiar round here as mine is. People are going to know it’s you the filth are looking for. I can’t be dragged into this, Joyce. If I kill ya, like I ought to, then the police are going to come after me. So, I’m afraid, Joyce, that’s not a viable option. So instead I suggest you take your lying, scheming, murdering self out of my sight as quickly as possible. Do you understand me?” Tommy roared at her. Joyce flinched under the full force of Tommy’s words, but she was not by any means about to skulk off into the distance. Pulling herself up fully she raised her defiant chin and looked straight into the face of Tommy Jones.

  “I’ll go, Tommy, but not without your help and financial support until the day I die. I mean what would do your reputation more harm? Me been found out as a murderer or you being a bona fide SHIRTLIFTER?” The sound of Tommy’s fist connecting with her right cheek was most definitely bone crunching and the searing pain kicked in instantly. But still Elsie wasn’t beaten.

  “I may well be a murderer and I may well be running away from a life sentence but I’m not ashamed of who I am or what I’ve become. If I get caught I’ll hold my head high and take what’s coming to me but what about you? Mr Big Shot Tommy Jones? What will happen to you and your precious empire of crime? Who’s gonna be afraid of a QUEER, a NANCYBOY? Eh? Not those goons who you mug off, that’s for sure. Because, so help me God, I’ll shout it from every roof top that you’re sleeping with Carl not me. After all, like you said, you can’t really kill me; too many people think I’m your wife. I’ve got nothing to lose, Tommy, but you sure as hell have if you don’t get me safely out of here and keep me in the splendour I’ve become accustomed to.” Tommy drew back his fist to pummel this piece of shite before him, but her words stopped him from doing so.

  “Go ahead, Tommy, hit me some more. I’ll only end up in hospital somewhere and the police will put two and two together,” she spat out. Tommy lowered his fist and then let out a hearty laugh.

  “Okay, Joyce, you win for now. I’ll get you a safe passage out of Spain and I’ll even stump up the money to keep you there but one day, one day, Joyce, the heat will die down from the filth then I’ll know just where to find you. Then I’ll chop you up into little pieces and send you back to the family you shitted on.” And with that Tommy rose from the couch and left the room to make the necessary arrangements for Joyce to disappear.

  TOMMY

  Tommy Jones slammed his office door shut behind him and snatched up the headset of his private-line telephone and dialled Barney Brown. Barney was his right-hand man, the only other living person, apart from his dear old mum, that he trusted. Barney picked up on the fourth ring.

  “Boss,” was all he said.

  “Joyce wants to take the yacht out, do a spot of night fishing. Said to ask Carl if he wants to join us. Meet at the marina in, say, half an hour?”

  “Course, Boss. Any live bait needed?”

  “Nah, frozen will do.” With that, Tommy hung up. Barney would know what was expected of him now. Elsie was in the bathroom, pressing a cold flannel to her cheek, when Tommy found her.

  “You’ve got an hour to get yourself and your belongings together before I come back for you. I’m off to set up your safe passage outta here, so make sure you’re ready to go when I get back.” He ordered her. Then he headed off to the marina.

  Barney was already aboard the yacht when Tommy arrived. Tommy quickly filled him in on what needed to be arranged then returned to the villa. Elsie was out by the pool waiting for him. Tommy strode inside and quickly packed an overnight bag. As he exited the villa and opened the boot of his car, Elsie quickly gathered up her bags and scurried after him. Tommy didn’t offer to load her bags in the boot; instead, he just slid behind the steering wheel and revved the engine. Elsie threw the bags in the boot and slammed it shut, then scrambled into the passenger seat. Before she’d even closed the door, Tommy was pulling out of the driveway. Tommy drove to the marina in silence. He just wanted rid of this woman as quickly as he possibly could, but it rankled him that he couldn’t just slit her throat and be done with her.

  Tommy didn’t help Elsie load her bags onto the yacht either and he stopped Barney from doing so as well. Once they were safely aboard, Barney went ashore and Tommy steered the yacht out of the marina and out to sea. Elsie watched from below decks, as the Spanish coast disappeared from view.

  “Joyce,” Tommy called. “In the safe is all you need. Passports, cash and the account details set up in the name of Marianne Thomas-Smythe. Everything you need to know about accessing the funds are there as well. There’s a pretty penny in there so it should keep you going for a good while. That, along with the money you’ve no doubt been squirrelling away, should see you all right.” Elsie winched at the mention of her hidden cash but made her way into Tommy’s cabin and opened the safe he kept in there. Altogether, there were nine passports. Elsie quickly sorted out the ones she’d be needing then gathered the cash and a large brown envelope with the name Marianne Thomas-Smthye on. A quick peek inside revealed all that Tommy had said it would. She placed the items into her handbag and joined Tommy at the helm.

  It was pitch back now but Elsie could hear the faint sound of an engine in the distance. She couldn’t see it but the noise was definitely getting louder and closer to them. It was almost alongside them before the small powerboat became visible to her. Tommy had already killed the yacht’s engine and was letting it drift towards the approaching boat. As it drew near, it too killed its engine and the man threw a rope for Tommy to catch. He deftly secured the powerboat alongside and then helped the man aboard.

  “Fahd,” Tommy greeted the man.

  “It is an honour,” began Fahd, “to be of service to you, Señor Jones.” Tommy turned to face Elsie.

  “This is the lady I need you to escort to safety, Fahd. Her name is Miss Adams. She is very dear to me and I need you to keep her safe and answer only to her, do you understand Fahd?”

  “Oh, yes, Señor Jones. Fahd will take great care of Señora Ad
ams.” With that Fahd bowed to Elsie, then offered out his hand.

  “Come, quick, Señora Adams. I will have you safely ashore before the sun begins to awaken.” Elsie, grabbing her handbag, stepped towards Fahd.

  “My bags,” she began.

  “Once you’re safely aboard Fahd’s boat I’ll toss them across. Now, get a move on, Joyce, time is not on our side.” Fahd had by now alighted from the yacht to his boat and was holding out his hand for Elsie to take. Clutching her handbag even tighter than before she stepped to the edge of the deck and reached for Fahd’s hand. He quickly grabbed her hand and in one easy pull he’d hauled her aboard the powerboat. Tommy rapidly began to toss her remaining bags onto the floor of the boat. They fell onto the deck around Elsie’s feet. Tommy then cast off the powerboat and gave it a gentle nudge away from the yacht. Fahd powered up the engine and without another word whisked Elsie off into the night.

  Tommy stayed up on deck until the engine of the powerboat could no longer be heard then he headed down to his cabin. Putting on a pair of gloves he removed one of the passports from the safe then, from his jacket pocket, he took out a second passport and placed both passports inside a plastic bag. To this, he added a bundle of notes then sealed the bag up. He next removed the remaining passports, placing them in his jacket pocket before leaving the safe open and making his way to the back of the yacht on its lower deck. Before long the sound of another boat approaching could be heard. This time it was just a small dinghy, manned by Barney and containing two other passengers, a man and a woman. Tommy and Barney loaded them into the yacht’s dinghy, then Tommy handed them over the sealed plastic bag.

  “You both know what do?” asked Tommy. The pair nodded obediently. Tommy beamed at them.

  “If all goes well, you will both be handsomely rewarded on your return to Marbella.” Again, the pair nodded. Then Barney cast them off. The man started up the outboard motor and gently pulled away before setting off at full speed in the opposite direction to the one Fahd had taken. As they waited for the sound of the engine to be swallowed up into the silence of the dark night, Tommy handed over the contents of his jacket pocket to Barney. Barney pocketed the passports, then, checking the dinghy was long gone, opened the storage trunk on the deck. It normally stored the fishing gear but tonight it held the chained-up, dead body of Carl Adams. Together, Tommy and Barney hauled Carl overboard, where he instantly sank without a trace. While Barney retrieved the fishing gear from the galley, Tommy quickly doused the inside of the trunk with disinfectant then hosed it out. Barney replaced the fishing equipment in the chest, then followed Tommy into the living area of the yacht. As Tommy reached for a glass from the bar, Barney slugged him from behind with a whiskey bottle that he had hidden by the door earlier. Tommy crashed to the floor. Barney knelt beside his fallen boss and with his gloved hands checked for a pulse. He found it pulsating away strongly. With that, Barney returned to his dinghy and headed back for the shores of Marbella.

  JANIE

  Within hours of Derek Collins’s release from prison, Janie’s family home had been besieged by reporters. She understood better than anyone their need for a story, as she had designs on becoming a journalist herself, but the way they had hounded her and her family was beyond belief and days on from the TV appeal for her mum had aired they were still encamped on their doorstep.

  “Do you think they’ll give up?” Janie asked Megan.

  “Eventually,” she responded. Megan had been in this situation before. After all, her mum had killed her dad.

  “Eventually isn’t good enough,” announced Charlie from the girls’ bedroom door. “I say we make a stand and go out and face them. What do you say, Janie?” The thought had crossed Janie’s mind. Perhaps if they did go out and give them a statement they’d go away. Janie turned to face her older brother.

  “I’m willing to give it a go, but do you think Dad and Aunt Bea will let us?”

  “Don’t see why not. I mean, it is our choice. Let’s go downstairs and see what they say. Janie started to cross the room when she noticed that Megan hadn’t made to get up.

  “Come on, Megan. United front and all that.”

  “I’m not so sure it’s me they want to see,” Megan responded.

  “They’re raking it up every day about your parents, Megan,” began Charlie. “We need to show them how much it hurts. We’re not responsible for what our parents have done. So why should we be held prisoners in our own home?”

  “He’s right, Megan. It’s affecting all our lives. We may as well put our side of the story.” Megan couldn’t argue with that, so she followed Charlie and Janie downstairs to confront both the adults and the media.

  Neither Harry or Bea was keen on their idea but finally relented to go along with it as long as they had a prepared statement to read out. Janie had volunteered to read it out, with Charlie and Megan standing either side of her for support. Harry reluctantly opened the front door and was immediately greeted by the flash of cameras going off and questions being hurled at him. He calmly raised his hands in the air to quell the noise and flashes so that he could be heard.

  “Charlie, Janie and Megan are going to come out in a moment and Janie will read you a statement they, together, have prepared. They will not be answering any questions but ask that you listen carefully to what they have to say.” Harry then stepped aside to allow the three of them to exit the front door and to stand side by side on the front step. The camera flashes went off like fireworks, lighting up the entire front of the house. Janie, Charlie and Megan waited patiently for the flashes to subside before Janie finally spoke.

  “The events of the past few weeks have just been the last in a long line of dreadful things, we, as children have had to deal with. From our mother deserting us, to the horrendous murder of our brother Freddy. As a family, we are pleased that the man known to us as Derek Collins has been acquitted and freed from prison. However, finding out our own mother murdered our beloved Freddy has shaken us to the core. Megan joined our family to put the horrors of her own parents’ demise behind her. Now, you all see fit to plaster your newspapers and our TV screens with the dreadful events that led Megan here, to our home. So today, we stand before you and ask that you leave us in peace to come to terms with these new revelations. We ask that you focus your attentions on helping to track down the woman that has caused her children, her husband, her family so much pain and heartache. Let us go about our daily lives as normally as we possibly can under the circumstances. If you allow us our privacy, we promise that once Elsie Arnold is arrested we’ll willingly, as a family, sit down and give a collective interview. Thank you for listening to us.” As Janie and the rest of her family turned to re-enter the house a round of applause erupted from the reporters and camera men. They all smiled and waved then re-entered the house, with Harry closing the front door behind them. Janie collapsed onto the bottom step of the stairs from the stress of it all. Charlie meanwhile was peeking through the letterbox and watched in amazement as press began to leave. He turned to Janie in excitement.

  “We did it, sis. We did it,” he screamed out. “They’re packing up and leaving.”

  “It’s true,” joined in Bea from the living room. “They’re going.” Harry, Janie, Megan and Charlie all joined Bea in the lounge and watched from behind the lacy net curtains as one by one the line of vans and cars were packed up and driven off.

  “Who’d have thought?” said Harry.

  “I told you it was worth a try, Dad,” announced Charlie. Harry ruffled his son’s hair.

  “That you did, son, that you did.”

  JACK

  Dec 1978

  DCI Jack Wilde wondered into The Manor restaurant and took a seat at a table right by the staff-only door and waited to be served. He browsed at the menu on the table while he waited. He’d been on the road from Blackpool down to the East End of London for most of the day and he was feeling both thirsty and
hungry. Eventually, a spotty youth with greasy hair ambled over to his table.

  “What can I get you?” he asked without making eye contact. Jack placed the menu down on the table.

  “A pint of your best bitter, a medium steak with chips and all the trimmings and a word in Tommy Jones’s ear if you please, sonny.” Jack placed his police badge on the table as he spoke. The spotty youth shot up straight and stared open-mouthed at Jack.

  “Pick your jaw off the floor, laddie and go do as I asked,” ordered Jack. With a new-found speed, the waiter hurled through the staff-only door. Jack leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and waited for a response.

  The aroma of the steak being placed on the table in front of him roused DCI Jack Wilde from the catnap he’d been enjoying. To his surprise there was also a pint of beer on the table. When he looked up from the table he expected to see the spotty youth hovering over him but instead found the man himself, Tommy Jones.

  “Mind if I join you while you eat?” he enquired.

  Jack gestured to the empty chair opposite him.

  “Be my guest,” he replied. Tommy sat down and watched as the DCI added condiments to his food and cut off a large piece of the steak, admired it, then placed it in his mouth. Jack savoured the taste of the meat in his mouth before swallowing it, then rinsing it down with a hearty swig of the beer.