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‘That would be an understatement. I’m sure that man lives to torment me.’
‘Well maybe there’s something we can do about that, Grace?’
‘I can handle him,’ Grace replied. She didn’t want to be in Patrick’s debt, as nice as he seemed, she really didn’t know him at all.
‘Look, Grace,’ he said with concern in his eyes. ‘Your dad was a good friend of mine. He helped me out of a few sticky situations. I know he left this life behind, but I always respected him for that. If there is a way I can help his daughter out, then it would be my privilege to do so. Besides, my lads were given hefty sentences because of Nathan Conlon’s inability to keep his trap shut, so any chance to give that greedy bastard his comeuppance would be a bonus for me.’
‘I’ll think about it,’ she said to him.
He nodded. ‘You should. You seem like a woman with her head screwed on and I bet you know what makes that fucker tick better than anyone. I’m sure you could fix your problem all by yourself, but sometimes it’s good to have a little help.’
Grace smiled at him. She couldn’t deny there was some truth in what he said. She knew her ex-husband better than anyone alive. His insecurities; his weaknesses. Maybe she really would think about it.
Five weeks later, Grace and Patrick were sitting in her living room drinking tea. He’d become a regular visitor to the pub. On the nights she wasn’t working, he was invited upstairs to the flat once Jake was tucked up in bed and they’d talk long into the night.
‘So, you, my dad and Tommy were the best of friends then?’ Grace asked.
She’d learned about her dad’s connection to Nathan’s former boss, Tommy, a couple of years earlier. It had come as a massive shock at the time. Her dad, the gangster. She’d only ever known him as a funny, loving, if overprotective, father. She’d wished she’d known before Tommy’s death. Among other reasons, it would have been nice to talk to someone who’d known her dad back then.
‘Yeah. Thick as thieves we were. Funny really when you think about it. We were thieves and we were pretty thick too,’ Patrick laughed.
‘I suppose Tommy was always the ringleader? He seemed the type to always want to be in charge.’
‘No.’ Patrick shook his head. ‘Your dad was the boss. Ever since we were kids. He was just a natural leader, you know. Me and Tommy followed him around like a pair of stray dogs until he finally gave in and let us join his gang.’ Patrick laughed again at the memory.
‘What? No?’ Grace could hardly believe Patrick was talking about her dad.
‘Yeah. Well he was a couple of years older than us. And the girls loved him; he always had loads of dough, so me and Tommy thought he was the dog’s bollocks. He had quite the little empire built by the time he left it all behind.’
‘And he gave it all up, just like that?’
‘Just like that. When you were born, your mum told him she wasn’t having anymore of his nonsense. So, he walked away and he concentrated on this place.’
Grace shook her head in disbelief at the life her father had once lived. The life she’d known nothing of until after he’d died. She felt immensely proud of her mum though, standing up to her dad like that. ‘If only I could have given Nathan that kind of ultimatum,’ she sighed.
‘Wouldn’t have made any difference to him, love. Your dad gave it all up because he loved you and your mum too much not to. All the unpleasant stuff was a means to an end for your dad. But that’s what Nathan lives for.’
‘You worked for Nathan for a while, didn’t you?’
‘Yeah, I’d just come out after doing a few years for armed robbery and went back to work for Tommy. It was a few months before he was killed. After Nathan took over the firm I just kept doing what I was told to. Until I got lifted for bloody drug supply anyway.’ He shook his head. ‘Managed to get to the grand old age of thirty-eight before setting foot inside a nick and then got two long stretches almost back to back.’
Grace swallowed the last remnants of her tea, needing to regain her composure before continuing the conversation. Any mention of Tommy McNulty’s murder always brought her out in a cold sweat. The memories of that day were burned into her brain as though someone had branded them there with a hot poker. When she was sure she could speak without a tremor in her voice, she asked him. ‘You’ve never thought of striking out on your own then? You must have a lot of contacts in the business?’
‘Nah.’ Patrick shook his head and chuckled. ‘I’m just the hired muscle, me. Never had the brains, or the inclination to be the boss. That’s for people like Nathan, who are born for it, or people like you who’ve got the brains. You know how people work. You could go far in my world, Grace. You get that from your dad.’
‘Me?’ Grace laughed. Surely he was joking. ‘That’s the daftest thing I’ve ever heard, Pat.’
‘Not daft at all. You’ve got all that money sitting there doing nothing. And everyone likes you, they respect you. And the way you’ve handled Nathan is brilliant. I was ready to have my lad go in there all guns blazing, but your idea about the fake buyer for the pub was genius.’
Placing her empty mug onto the coffee table, Grace considered what Patrick had said. She thought about the million pounds she had stashed away in bank accounts in various company names, tied up in numerous business ventures. Money she’d stolen from Nathan before he was locked up. Money, he believed the police had nicked from him, when it had been his quiet, unassuming wife who’d taken it from right under his nose. He’d never suspected a thing. Maybe Patrick was right.
‘I wouldn’t say it was genius, Pat. I just know how Nathan thinks, that’s all. He needs to believe he’s making the decision to leave me alone. It couldn’t have worked out better, him being on a wing with your Michael. Being told I’m about to do a moonlight flit with his son, is the surest way to get Nathan to leave me in peace.’
Grace smiled. Who was she kidding? It was a stroke of genius. When Patrick had told her that his son, Michael, was on the same wing as Nathan in Walton, she realized it was the perfect opportunity to beat her soon-to-be ex-husband at his own game. Suddenly, she had someone on the inside who could feed Nathan false information. Information that she wanted him to know.
She had thought about selling the pub soon after Nathan went to prison, but a lot of soul-searching had made her decide against it. The Rose and Crown was her parent’s legacy, and more importantly, it was her sanctuary. But it had given her an idea. As much as Nathan was a monster, he was also a scared little boy. He was terrified of losing the only people he’d ever loved – her and Jake. If Nathan believed she was about to sell her pub, and move abroad, he’d panic. Terrified that she would take their son and never return, he’d back off. It played on every single one of his insecurities – his fear of being abandoned by the only people he loved. The old Grace might have said it was cruel, but it was certainly effective.
‘You must have thought about doing a runner though?’ Patrick said, snapping Grace from her train of thought.
‘Yeah, of course. Many times, But, why should I? This is my pub. My home. I’ve lived here for my whole life. It’s the only place I’ve ever really belonged. The only thing in my life that has ever been entirely mine. My dad entrusted it to me. And these people are my friends. I’ve made this place a success again, all on my own. Jake is happy and settled here. Why should I give that all up for my scumbag ex-husband?’
Patrick laughed. ‘Well you shouldn’t. And like I said, you’re a strong woman, Grace. You should really think about what you want to do with your life.’
Grace picked the empty mugs from the coffee table. ‘Another one?’ she asked.
He looked at his watch. It was just after midnight. ‘Yeah, go on. Why not?’
Patrick walked into the kitchen as Grace was boiling the kettle. ‘I meant to thank you for your help with my other situation, Grace,’ he said sheepishly.
‘Not a problem, Pat. You and Michael have really helped me out with Nathan. I’m happy to reciprocate.’
When two heavy-set cockneys, with more scars than teeth, had come looking for Patrick in the Rose and Crown the previous week, Grace had known he was in some serious trouble. She’d denied all knowledge of him, but they’d told her to pass on a message in any case. If they didn’t get the hundred grand he owed by the end of the week, he’d be taking a dip in the Mersey with some lead in his head and his pockets.
A poor choice of business associate had left Patrick on the wrong side of a dangerous moneylender in the East End. A twenty-five grand debt had quadrupled in the eight weeks since he’d left London. Grace had offered him the money and he’d gratefully accepted. His cockney counterparts had left Liverpool a lot happier and richer than when they’d arrived.
‘I’ll pay you back with interest, of course,’ Patrick said.
‘I know you will.’
‘And I’m forever in your debt, Grace. I’d hate to think what would have happened if I hadn’t been able to get that money together. Anything you ever need, just call me.’
‘Thanks, Pat,’ she said, hopeful she would never need anything from him but his companionship.
As she continued making the tea she thought about Patrick’s comments earlier. Imagine her the boss of some criminal empire? Dressing in power suits and barking orders at her minions. A small laugh escaped her lips as she contemplated the absurdity of the notion. But what if? She’d have her own, personal army at her disposal. Nathan would never be able to get to her again. She’d be untouchable. It was certainly something worth fantasizing about at least.
Chapter Four (#ulink_f74175f2-6d94-50ce-80e6-05828c0b6981)
Glancing at the entrance to the pub, Grace checked her watch. It was a little after nine, and Patrick was usually always there by eight on a Monday. She had grown used to his presence in the bar most nights, but particularly on Mondays when she finished early and they would share a takeaway and a bottle of wine after hours. She enjoyed talking to him. He could regale her for hours with his tales.
Grace was beginning to feel anxious. What if something had happened to him? It reminded her of all the nights she’d sat waiting for Nathan to come home, worrying about what he was up to. At least that was until she could no longer bear the sight of him. Why did she invest so much of her time in men who were clearly up to no good?
Just as she was contemplating phoning Patrick’s mobile, he came bounding through the double doors. Despite her annoyance at him for making her worry, she felt herself instantly relax. The tension in her shoulders and chest slipping away as he made his way over.
‘Grace,’ he said excitedly. ‘I’ve got a very interesting business opportunity for you.’
‘Oh?’
‘Can’t talk in here. But I’ll tell you all about it. Shall I nip out and get us an Indian?’
‘Yeah, okay.’ She nodded. Intrigued and bemused. What possible business proposition could he have that might involve her?
Once the pub was locked up and Grace had checked on Jake, she and Patrick sat down with their curries while he poured two glasses of wine.
‘So, what’s this about a business opportunity, Pat?’
‘Well,’ he cleared his throat and smoothed back his hair – looking very pleased with himself, ‘do you remember that guy in Manchester I told you about? The one I used to work for? Solomon Shepherd?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Well, he told me he’d been hearing whispers of a massive upset with the dealers in Liverpool and he asked me to look into it. It’s not good for his business either. Well, it turns out that they’ve all been under surveillance for a massive police operation. The biggest in Liverpool for years, Grace. Even bigger than when Nathan and my lads went down. So, there is basically a massive gap in the market for someone to take control of things and everyone who’s anyone, is or has been, under surveillance, so none of them can fill it.’
‘Yet?’
Patrick nodded. ‘Exactly. So, we have to move fast.’
‘What?’ Grace laughed. ‘Us? Are you serious? What the hell do I know about drugs?’
‘I can teach you the basics. And you don’t need to know everything straight away. That’s what you’ve got me for. You can learn the business as you go. You’d have to provide the capital, obviously, but this will make you a very rich woman. You’d make more in a week than this place takes in a year. I’ll take all the risks, Grace. You won’t have to get your hands dirty if you don’t want to. And with Sol’s backing we’re already off to a great start.’
Grace shook her head. ‘You’re talking crazy, Pat. Me and you drug kingpins? You’re almost a pensioner and I’m a pub landlady!’
‘Hey, you cheeky mare,’ he laughed. ‘There’s still life in this old fella, you know. And don’t sell yourself short either. You might not realize it, but you’ve picked up a hell of a lot from Nathan about this business. Mostly, how not to do things. The lads that come in here all listen to you. They respect you. Partly because you’re your dad’s daughter and Nathan’s ex-wife, but mostly because there’s something about you, Grace. People trust you.’
Grace took a sip of her wine. ‘How would I sleep at night, Pat? Besides the obvious fact that drugs are a mugs game, and are responsible for far too much misery in this world, it’s just too dangerous. I have Jake to think about?’
‘If we don’t step in, Grace, someone else will. Besides, we won’t be at the coal face doing the grunt work. That’s the beauty of being the boss, you can pay other people to do that for you. And what better way to be able to protect Jake? You would be one of the most powerful players in Liverpool. Come on, Grace. What do you say?’
Grace considered his proposal. Was there a better way to protect Jake? Or herself? Particularly from Nathan. Was the only way to defeat the monster to become one yourself?
‘I’ll think about it, Pat,’ she said. ‘About funding you, at least. I wouldn’t want any part in the actual day-to-day operations.’
‘That’s all I ask, boss.’ He grinned at her.
Chapter Five (#ulink_cbc9cbc8-303e-5591-a716-155a9202b424)
Present Day
It was midday when Grace heard Jake emerge from the crypt that was his bedroom.
‘Do you want anything to eat, son?’ she shouted up the stairs.
‘A fry-up, Mum. The full works,’ he called back jovially.
She envied him his cast-iron constitution, and his body’s ability to burn off all that alcohol and avoid a hangover. She supposed that was what came from being eighteen. She remembered her life as an eighteen-year-old and how different it was to Jake’s. She’d had so much responsibility, yet so little experience of the world. It had been a dangerous combination. One that had left her open to the likes of Nathan – who’d seen her as the perfect target.
How easily she had allowed herself to be taken in by him. How quickly she had given up everything to him. He’d moved in within two months of their first meeting, had his name above the door within six, and they’d married just three months later. At the time, she’d thought it was true love – a whirlwind romance, just like Baby in her favourite film, Dirty Dancing. What a naive little girl she’d been. Now that she saw it for what it truly was, it made her cheeks burn with shame and anger.
Jake tucked into his breakfast with the voracity of a man who hadn’t been fed for weeks.
‘This is gorgeous, Mum,’ he mumbled, his mouth full of toast.
Kissing him on the top of his head, she sat at the table with him. ‘So, any plans for today?’
‘Dad’s going to show me his club and then we’ll probably grab something to eat,’ he replied, and her heart sank.
‘Is he coming here?’ she asked, trying to hide her uneasiness with that arrangement.
‘Yeah, he’ll be here in a bit.’
Grace got up from the table, telling Jake she needed to start getting ready for work. She hoped that she could be out of the house before Nathan arrived.
Nathan’s timing was as inconvenient as ever and he was ringing the doorbell as Grace was changing into her work clothes. She heard Jake let him in and the two of them fell into an easy banter. She wondered what reception she’d get from Nathan and whether he would still be annoyed about her rejecting his advances the night before. She hoped that they could put it behind them and at least maintain a degree of civility, if only for Jake’s sake; although knowing Nathan she didn’t hold up much hope for that.
Grace walked into the kitchen to find Nathan helping himself to some toast and coffee. He was dressed in a suit again and she marvelled at how fresh he looked given the state he’d been in the previous night. How typical of him that he’d been there less than ten minutes and was already making himself at home.
‘Grace!’ he said with a smile on his face. ‘You look lovely today.’
‘Thanks,’ she replied, not buying his nice-guy act for even a second. ‘You look very smart. Off anywhere interesting?’
‘Just some business to sort out. I’m taking Jake to The Blue Rooms. Got to show the boy the ropes, haven’t I?’
‘Sharon McNulty’s place?’ Grace asked.
‘No, my place,’ he snapped. ‘In all but name anyway. I’ve ran it since Tommy died, haven’t I? Besides, I’m buying it off her. I’m just waiting on my solicitor to draw up the paperwork and then it will all be official.’
Jake looked up at him with pure admiration in his eyes, and she had to physically stop herself from shaking some sense into him. She tried to appear indifferent in front of her son, but her stomach was churning. Jake would be off to university in a few months and then he’d be far away from his father’s grasp, but knowing Nathan, a lot of damage could be done during that time. There was no way Grace was going to allow Jake to get sucked into his father’s nefarious dealings.
Jake’s chair scraped across the kitchen floor as he stood up, interrupting Grace’s train of thought. ‘I’ll go and get ready, Dad. Be back down in a bit.’
And then there was just the two of them. Nathan’s presence in the room was, as ever, pervasive and suffocating. Every fibre of her being was aware of him and on edge. The incident from the previous night remained unmentioned, and she wondered how his anger might manifest itself.
Striding across the kitchen, head held high, Grace was not shaken by his presence; this was her house, her territory, and he was the intruder. Picking up the cafetière, she poured the remaining contents into a travel mug before spinning around on her heel, careful not to have her back to him for too long. He was up off his chair and standing in front of her before she could move another inch. He was so close that she could smell the expensive soap he’d used that morning. She glared at him. What the hell was he up to?
‘Anymore of that coffee?’ he asked, his voice low and calm. Reaching behind her to lift the pot; he almost pinned her to the kitchen counter as he did so.
‘No, all gone.’ she said, placing her free hand on his chest to create some distance between them.
‘No worries. I’ll make a cup of tea instead,’ he said before moving to the sink to fill the kettle.
‘You do realize Jake’s going to uni in a couple of months, don’t you?’ she said.
‘So?’ Nathan shrugged.
‘He doesn’t need you filling his head full of crap about how wonderful your life is in the meantime,’ she snapped.
‘I can’t help it if the kid idolizes me, Grace,’ he smirked. ‘I have that effect on people. You should know.’ He winked.
‘Ha,’ she snorted. ‘You haven’t had that effect on me for a very long time, Nathan.’
