Free The Know by Martina Cole Page A

brandy before saying, ‘Listen, cunt, I don’t want your arse, I just want to know what you’re involved in and if I am interested I might want a little slice, see? Now option two, which I must admit is far more in my favour than yours, is I find out on me Jack Jones and then I remove it from you for once and for all. Do you get my drift?’
     
    Jon Jon felt the heat of humiliation sweep over his face and neck. Watching, Paulie felt almost sorry for him. He liked this kid’s temerity. It reminded him of himself at the same age. He was running his first woman at sixteen - the fact it had been his own mother he kept well under wraps. She lived in Eastbourne these days and enjoyed the quiet life. He avoided her like the plague, but saw her all right for a few quid. He knew where his priorities lay.
     
    ‘So, Jon Jon, shall we sit down and start this conversation again? Only this time you are more forthcoming and I am less aggressive. What do you say, eh?’
     
    He was smiling and Jon Jon knew he was captured. But one day . . . one day he would be able to tip this man’s bollocks, and he could wait for that. He was young yet, he could bide his time. So he would. But when the time came, he would enjoy wiping the smile off this man’s face once and for all.
     
    They picked up their drinks and went to a table that miraculously became vacant when they showed they wanted to sit there.
     
    Even as he hated Paulie, Jon Jon loved the respect he got from everyone. It was what he was determined to win for himself and his family. His mother especially. He knew that whatever Joanie had done, she had done for the right reasons. He’d reminded himself of that fact since he was eight years old.
     
    He talked to Paulie when they were finally settled. Really didn’t have any choice in the matter.
     
     
Joanie was back on the kerb and she hated it. In fact, tonight she had meant to have a night off. A tooth was hurting and she was soaking cotton wool in brandy and cloves and pressing it into the hole.
     
    She was also drinking large vodka and Cokes so that when she went to sit outside with the other women she was already drunk.
     
    Kira was running round with Bethany and their laughter was loud in the summer air. A red-haired girl was sitting across from Joanie on the left-hand side of the drying area. She was very pretty and dressed nicely which was what made her stand out.
     
    ‘Who’s she?’
     
    Joanie’s voice was slurred.
     
    ‘That’s Caroline’s sister. She’s staying for a few days. Left her old man.’
     
    ‘Oh, is it? She looks familiar.’
     
    Barbara Moxon, Joanie’s neighbour, raised her eyes to the ceiling and said, ‘Don’t you remember her? Her little girl was murdered last year. Or was it the year before . . .’
     
    ‘ That’s right. I remember now. Poor girl, what a thing to have happen to your child.’
     
    ‘Go off your head, wouldn’t you?’
     
    ‘Lovely-looking girl and all.’
     
    Barbara nodded in agreement, as if being good-looking had ever warded off evil. They watched the girl as she collected her belongings and made her way up to her sister’s flat. As she walked towards the lobby doorway she turned and looked back at them for a few seconds then she walked inside and was lost from sight.
     
    The mood was flat now and Joanie took a deep gulp of her drink. Her mobile rang and she answered it.
     
    ‘What? Oh, for fuck’s sake . . .’
     
    ‘What’s the matter, girl?’
     
    ‘Monika’s been nicked, wants me to have Bethany tonight. She’s beaten up a store detective. That bird gets steadily fucking worse.’
     
    Her mobile rang again and she answered it with a curt, ‘OK.’
     
    She stood up and stretched. ‘See you later.’
     
    On her way upstairs she rang Jeanette and demanded she got herself home. Thanks to Monika she had to work tonight, toothache or no toothache.
     
    But she could have done without it. She was already three sheets to the wind and it was