‘Where does she think you are, then?’ Dolly asked.
‘Well, when I was in Holloway I got friends to send postcards from Malta. She thought I was working over there with the Red Cross.’
‘And now?’ Dolly asked.
‘Well, since my release, I told her I’ve been looking for a new practice. She doesn’t know I was struck off — she doesn’t know anything about me, really.’
Dolly nodded and looked at her watch: she was going to be late for the meeting with Jimmy Donaldson. She didn’t know how she was going to get all the way over to the theme park on time. Well, if he left, he left. She’d just have to rearrange the meeting.
Connie had asked the cab driver to wait. She had then hurried into the mansion block of flats. Lennie always left just before lunch, did the rounds of his girls, then checked his club for the previous night’s takings. He would then come home, change and have something to eat. Connie had usually cooked him a light meal before running his bath. He would change and leave the flat between eight and eight thirty in the evening, rarely returning until early morning. Lennie was a well-organized man — frighteningly well-organized. His girls, his club, his Porsche and his well-furnished flat came before any love or relationship. Connie knew that now. She hadn’t, not for a long time. She had truly believed Lennie cared for her. She had been with him for three years, cooking, cleaning, keeping his flat spotless. Occasionally she went to the club and they dined out frequently, but then he had started knocking her around and a few times told her to be ‘very nice’ to friends of his. When they became a regular weekly session, she knew it was all over between them, that she was no longer his ‘special’. He was getting ready for a change, as if she was part of the fixtures and fittings. He had beaten her up so badly one night, broken her nose, that he had arranged for her to have facial surgery. She had her eyes done, her nose remodelled, a cheek implant and a breast implant. She had felt wonderful. He had visited her in the clinic and been kind to her when she came home in the bandages. She had believed he’d changed, that perhaps he really did care for her, but when the bandages came off and she admired herself, preening in front of him as he lay in bed, he had said, lighting a cigarette, ‘Well, now, girl, you can make up the money, seven grand you owe. I reckon you’ve a few more years in you now so you’re going to share with Carol and Leslie.’
Connie couldn’t believe it. They were two of his girls and he was moving her out and in with them, as if there had been nothing between them. ‘But, Lennie, I want to try going straight. You know, get a proper agent and do some modelling.’
He had laughed. ‘No way. You can earn more for me than doing any bleedin’ cereal advert...’
She hadn’t said anything, not argued back, afraid he’d maybe whack her. She had simply waited for him to leave at his usual time, called Ester Freeman and said she would be free to come to the manor. She had packed fast and run off. Now Connie was back she let herself in and went straight to the kitchen. She began unplugging all the movable equipment she could lay her hands on. She then went into the bedroom and cleared out her side of the wardrobe. At least she was alone; he hadn’t moved anyone else in yet.
Lennie’s portable phone was on the stand, recharging. She was so busy filling the suitcase that she didn’t notice it. Lennie never went anywhere without his portable. Right now he was swearing as he realized he’d forgotten to put it in his pocket, right now doing a U-turn and heading back to the flat to pick it up.
The cab driver noticed the metallic blue Porsche park, watched the dapper West Indian straighten his draped suit as he headed back towards the mansion block. He returned to reading the Sun, giving a quick look at the meter. It was ticking away and he wondered how long the girl would be; she’d said about ten minutes but she’d already been gone that. He swore, wondering if she’d just done a Marquess of Blandford on him and wouldn’t be coming out, but he saw she had left a bag on the back seat so continued to read his paper.
Connie had filled two cases when he walked back in. She heard the front door slam and backed in terror. He kicked open the door and looked at her.
‘Hello, Lennie, I was just packing me gear.’
‘I can see that. You missed anything? Like the light fittings?’
‘I’ve not taken anything that wasn’t mine, Lennie.’
‘I gave you the cash for everything you’re standing up in, sweetheart. Now what the fuck do you think you’re doing and where’ve you been dossing down?’
She was terrified of him, blurting out she was staying in Aylesbury with some friends. He came closer and closer. ‘Don’t hurt me, please don’t.’
He laughed. ‘Aylesbury? You kiddin’? Who you staying there with?’
‘Dolly Rawlins, you don’t know her, but listen, Lennie, I might be on to a good thing. She’s got diamonds, a lot of diamonds and—’ Connie panicked, trying anything to stop him coming closer. His fists were clenched and she backed away, repeating what she had said, but he did not believe her and she pressed herself against the wardrobe, bracing herself for what she knew was coming. She tried to protect herself, pleading for him not to hit her in the face.
The cab driver saw the smart alec sweep out and get back into his Porsche; it roared off. He got out of his cab and opened the passenger door to peer inside. He picked up the bag Connie had left. It was full of vitamins. He tossed it on to the back seat, getting more and more pissed off, when he saw her coming out. She carried a suitcase and was wearing dark glasses and a headscarf. He took the case from her. ‘You all right, love?’
‘Take me to Marylebone station, please.’ She got into the back seat as he stashed her case up front, then he started up the engine.
‘Right, station...’ He could see her in the mirror. She had a handkerchief pressed to her face and it was covered in blood. ‘You sure you’re okay, love?’
‘Yes, yes, I’m fine, thank you.’ She could feel the swelling coming up under her eyes. Her nose was bleeding, but she didn’t think he’d broken it, her neck covered in dark red bruises. She had pretended to be unconscious so he had walked out, saying he would see her when he got back. She was never going back. She would kill him if he laid a finger on her again.
‘Kathleen? Kathleen?’ Ester shouted. Kathleen was on her bed. She’d had a few drinks and was sleeping it off. Ester barged into the room. ‘Didn’t you hear me calling you?’
‘What do you want?’
Ester shut the door. ‘I think she might be going for the diamonds today. Who do you know that we could trust to fence them?’
Kathleen lifted her head and then flopped back. ‘Well, it depends, doesn’t it? I mean, they’re still hot but I’ve got a few people I’d trust.’
Ester was pacing up and down. ‘If they were valued at two million when they were nicked almost nine years ago, what do you reckon they’re worth now?’
‘Could be double, it all depends on the quality. Soon as I see them I’ll be able to tell you the best man. Are we going to see them, Ester?’
‘I think she’s maybe doing something about them this afternoon.’
Kathleen sat up, rubbing her head. ‘Well, shouldn’t you or one of us be with her?’
‘Julia’s on her, I hope.’
‘Have you mentioned to Dolly that you know about them?’
Ester shook her head. ‘No, and we don’t. Let’s just take it stage by stage.’