David walked into the kitchen. ‘Mum said Ma Phillips had to identify her grandson’s body last night. Apparently his face was all black and blue and she reckons the Old Bill done him in and dumped him in the Regent’s Canal.’
John yawned. ‘Can’t see why they’d bother to take him all the way there when there’s the River Lea right on their doorstep.’
Renee walked in, picked up the kettle and started to fill it with water. ‘You were out early this morning — do you want a cup of tea?’
David nodded, but John didn’t even acknowledge his mother.
‘John?’ she asked.
‘No, and what did I tell you about staying away from them women, Ma?’
‘I was, but then the police started knocking on doors looking for Eddie Phillips and asking questions about the murder. A detective even came round here and—’
John banged the table hard with his fist. ‘You didn’t say I was livin’ here, did ya?’
‘No, course not, I said it was just me and David, who was a cripple, and he left. There was so much going on I wanted to find out a bit more so I went to see Nancy Phillips. She lives at the far end of the estate. Her grandson knew the girl who was—’
‘I really don’t care,’ John interrupted, wishing she’d shut up.
‘Turns out he was the last to see her alive. They arrested him and then he ends up dead and in—’
‘The Regent’s Canal. I know already.’
‘Did she tell you as well?’
‘No!’ John snapped back at her. ‘Shut up, mind yer bloody business and stay indoors. You got a new colour TV now instead of that black-and-white one, so just sit and watch it.’
‘Did you want a cup of tea?’
‘I said NO! Why can’t you remember from one thing to the next? And listen up, we’re gonna see Dad this afternoon and I can’t take you cos I’ve only room for two in the van and David’s coming with me.’
‘Dave and I can go on the bus.’
‘No you bloody can’t, so for Chrissake listen to what I tell you. I’m gettin’ sick of repeating myself — you got short-term memory loss, that’s what you got.’
‘Leave her alone, John. I’ll have a cuppa with you, Ma,’ David said as John stormed out of the kitchen saying he’d be in his room.
Renee got out a teapot, opened the caddy and started spooning in the tea leaves. ‘He should be out lookin’ for a job, not being nasty to me all the time. Where did he go this morning? He was out before I got up.’
‘He’s sorting some delivery work out, Ma.’
‘Well, since he moved back in here he’s been like a bear with a sore head. He should spend more time trying to sort out his marriage to Sandra. She never comes round to visit me no more.’
‘That’s his business. Don’t tell him I told ya, but from a letter I saw I think they’re getting a divorce.’
‘That’s terrible — no matter how badly your dad treated me I never even considered divorce. I just put up with him. John really needs to sort out his life. It was fine here before he moved back in, you know, when it was just you and me. You want a cup of tea?’
‘Yeah, yeah, I said I’ll have one. You keep forgetting stuff, Ma, and John worries about how you’ll cope when you’re on yer own.’
She pointed her finger at him. ‘When am I gonna be on me own? And you listen to me, I coped with you two each time your dad was in the nick. I’ve bloody coped all me life. He’ll be out soon and don’t think I’m looking forward to it. He’s seventy-four and I just hope to God he’s calmed down. Besides, you’ll be here wiv me, won’t cha?’
David shrugged. ‘Well, you know I got to think about my future, and it’s not easy getting up and down the stairs here any more. I’m livin’ on my disabled handouts and benefits, and you know how Dad likes his space round the flat. Maybe it’s time for me to look for a place.’
‘Have you found a girl then?’ she asked, wagging her finger at him.
‘No I haven’t, and I’m not likely to, livin’ here. Besides, Dad’s worse than John with his moods. I’ve always been scared to death of him.’
Renee poured two mugs of tea and sat down. ‘No need to remind me what your dad’s like — I’ve lived with him and his temper for nearly fifty years. But where will you go? I mean you can’t get a proper job, can you? Maybe the council will rehouse you if you complain about the stairs hurting your leg?’
David spooned sugar into his mug. ‘I’ve always wanted to go to Florida.’
‘Florida? You mean in America? How could you ever afford to go there?’
‘Might get lucky one day. Where’s the milk?’
‘Oh I’m sorry.’ She went to the fridge and brought out a pint bottle, pouring a drop into her own mug before passing the bottle to David.
‘You know, what you really need is one of them NHS three-wheeled invalid cars. I’ve seen a bloke doing his grocery shopping in one, scoots along in and out the traffic, and he’s got to be seventy or eighty.’
‘Yeah, well, I’m not that handicapped or old yet, and I’m not gonna be holed up here for the rest of my life.’
Renee got up and opened a kitchen drawer. She pulled out a plastic bag containing David’s medication. ‘You’re not up to somethin’ with John, are you?’ she asked quietly.
Ignoring her, he tipped out the pill boxes and containers, selecting one pill after another and laying them in a line on the table: antidepressants, painkillers and some for his kidney problems. He was also in constant pain from arthritis in his crippled leg, and his back throbbed like mad after his workouts with his weights.
Renee watched him and sighed. ‘I’m not stupid, you know, David. Living with your dad I always knew when he was up to no good. He could never sleep, paced round the bedroom, and then going out at all hours with a pocket full of loose change. I knew he was going to the telephone box on the corner. The closer it got to him doing a bit of illegal business the more he’d be snapping at me. That time you fell off the church roof, I said to him don’t take the boys with you and he slapped me one, but I was right. I mean look what happened to you.’
‘Don’t start on that again, Ma.’
She reached out and patted his hand. ‘I wish I could do something, son. You’ve always been the handsome one, and you can still turn a girl’s eye, so there’s got to be a nice young lady out there for you.’
‘If I can’t fuck her she ain’t gonna be interested in me, and I’m not going out with some old dog that feels sorry for me. Now go and watch telly and leave me alone.’
Renee was shocked at his language, but she said nothing and carried her mug into the lounge where she sat cupping it in her hands. She wanted to weep for David. He had always been her favourite and now he was an impotent cripple — all because her husband and his brother took him up onto that church roof.
Clifford, John and David had all received prison sentences after the botched church job. Living alone while they were all inside was the first time in her life she had found peace: no threats, no arguments, and no fear of the cops knocking on the door was bliss. Eventually, due to his injuries, David had been released early on parole and returned home where she cared for him. Having him dependent on her was not a burden: after all, he was her little boy. Without his father or brother around to influence or pick on him David was placid and they had enjoyed each other’s company.
Renee sighed, sipping her tea. She was now almost certain something was going on, and that both her boys were involved.
David washed his mug and placed it on the draining board. He then scooped up his pills, tipping them into the plastic bag before putting it back in the drawer. As he began to feel the effects of the painkillers he decided to go and lie down. He used his stick to steady himself and edged past the folded wheelchair that he hated with a passion. He could hear the TV on loud and saw his mum in the lounge fast asleep, with her eyes closed and her mouth open. On the way to his room he thought he’d see how his brother was and went into the small box room, which contained a single bed, a wardrobe, an old sewing machine and boxes of clothes and junk. John was sitting thumbing through his small black notebook.