Slur: The Riverhill Trilogy: Book 1 (14 page)

Saturday 2
^nd
August 1986

As Julie approached Vinny’s house she saw the curtains
twitching across the road at number 25. “
Well
,” she thought, “
I
wonder what that silly little cow, Melanie Butterworth, will have to say about
this at school tomorrow
.” She smiled as she thought about Clare’s
anticipated reaction to any quizzing from Melanie. “
Knowing our Clare
,”
she thought. “
She’ll probably give the spiteful little bitch a bloody good
run for her money
.”

When she
knocked on Vinny’s front door, she felt as though her stomach had turned to
jelly. Within seconds Vinny was standing before her. He appeared like a
stranger and their conversation was stilted at first. She noted his appearance;
he was wearing a new shirt, which showed off his honed muscles and he looked
clean-cut and sleek. A feeling of desire surged through her as she smelt the
subtle but masculine scent of his body.

Without
speaking he led her through to the lounge where he had placed a bottle of red
wine and two glasses.

‘Would you
like a drink?’ he asked and, when Julie didn’t immediately reply, he added, ‘You
don’t have to if you don’t want.’

Remembering
their last encounter, when she’d not even wanted to share a bottle of wine with
Vinny, she cringed with embarrassment. ‘I’d love a drink!’ she responded and
she smiled at him as he began to pour. She knew that she shouldn’t be drinking
because of the medication she was taking but she didn’t want to seem difficult.
She therefore decided that she would pace herself and just have a glass or two.

Julie sat
down clutching her glass of wine. He took her coat from her and went to hang it
up. She sensed that they were both treading carefully, and became determined to
put things right between them. When he returned she tried to make polite
conversation. ‘How have you been?’ she asked.

‘Not too
bad. I’ve missed you but, in the end, I decided that I had to get on with my
life so me and Pete have been going out a lot. It’s been OK I suppose.’

Julie felt
an inexplicable hurt at this comment. In her naivety she had imagined Vinny
sitting at home pining for her but he was tougher than she had given him credit
for. She hadn’t given him credit for a lot of things. Julie had been too busy
chasing shadows. She thought about Mike with his slick charm. It was undeniable
that he had given her a good time for as long as it had lasted but it was all a
sham. She had analysed their date many times since that night and come to the
conclusion that his whole conversation revolved around himself.

As soon as Mike
had heard anything negative about her, he couldn’t get away from her quick
enough. And yet here was Vinny, strong and self-sufficient, but considerate too.
Even though she had pushed him aside, he had still been there for her, allowing
her the breathing space that she needed in order to sort herself out.

‘There’s
been big changes at work,’ he said. ‘I’ve jacked in my job.’

Julie
gasped in surprise, ‘You’re joking!’

‘Yeah, I
have. I got sick of them making a mug of me. Anyway, this firm called Gads
Brothers asked me to work direct for them. They said that the company I worked
for were incompetent and that I was the only builder who was any good at his job.
So I took the offer. They’ve got loads of work for me, should keep me going for
a while, and I’m putting a few adverts out to see if any other work comes up.’

‘That’s
brilliant!’ said Julie, astonished.

‘Well you
didn’t think I was going to take shit from them forever, did you?’ asked Vinny.

‘Well, to
be honest, you have put up with a lot from them.’

‘I know,
but it’s not always easy to go out on your own you know. It’s a big risk, but luckily
Gads Brothers have given me the break I’ve been looking for. It’s a bit scary
though; I’ve still got bills to pay if anything goes wrong.’

‘Give
over!’ said Julie. ‘You’ll do great. Once word gets round about how good you
are, they’ll be banging on your door for you to work for them.’

‘Well I
hope so,’ Vinny smiled.

They sat in
silence for a few minutes and Julie gazed around uncomfortably while Vinny got
up and fiddled about with his record collection. She wanted to broach the
subject of Amanda’s murderer but didn’t want Vinny to think that was the sole
reason for her visit, especially after his comment on the phone. She sensed
that Vinny knew what was on her mind but he was making her wait for the
information, testing her. Julie felt an urge to keep the conversation going so
that she wouldn’t risk losing Vinny’s confidence in her.

‘You’re looking
well anyway,’ she said.

‘Thanks,’
said Vinny. ‘You’re not looking so bad yourself. How are you feeling now anyway?
Rita said you weren’t so good.’

‘Not too
bad. It’s been hard at work, in fact I’ve ended up on the sick, but things have
got a bit better at home. My dad’s been all right with me lately, so that’s one
good thing.’ She checked herself before continuing. “
I’m rambling,
” she
thought. “
It’s all me, me, me again. I’ve got to stop it. I’ve got to let
him know how much I’ve missed him, how much I care.
” She didn’t have the
courage to speak these words, however, and she tried to disguise her discomfort
as she took a gulp of her wine.

‘I know
it’s been hard for you Julie, but I just wish that you’d have let me help you
instead of turning your back on me. I’ve missed you, you know.’

‘I know, me
too,’ said Julie, fighting back tears.

Vinny
dashed over to her and pulled her towards him. She clung to him for comfort as
the tears began to flow. Unavoidably she started to sob and felt foolish.

‘It’s all
right, it’s all right,’ he reassured. ‘You’re here now and everything’s going
to be OK. I think I’ve found out who killed your friend and I’m going to help
you sort things out.’

As much as
Julie wanted to find out what he knew, she didn’t speak for a few moments.
Instead she took comfort in his embrace, realising for the first time that this
was what she wanted more than anything; to feel his love and know that he was
there for her.

Eventually,
after composing herself, she spoke. ‘Thanks for standing by me through this
Vinny. I’m so sorry for how I’ve been! I don’t know what came over me, I just
felt as though I couldn’t cope with anybody or anything. Everybody I talked to
reminded me of Amanda and when I tried to take my mind off her I couldn’t stop
thinking about her anyway, and it was just impossible to think about anything
else.’

‘I know, I realise
that now but I didn’t at the time. I’m sorry too. So that makes us quits, eh?’
he asked as he stroked her hand and looked into her eyes.

Julie
smiled in reply.

‘Right, so
let me tell you what I’ve seen.’ He topped up their glasses before continuing.
‘Me and Pete decided to go somewhere else one night for a bit of a change. So,
we went to the Hacienda. We’d heard loads about it so we thought we’d give it a
try.  

‘We’d just
got our drinks and were having a wander round when I saw this guy in the
corner, and I said to Pete, “I know him from somewhere”, but I couldn’t place
him at first. Pete said, “Have you seen what he’s doing?”, and when I looked I
saw him taking notes off people and giving them a small package, then they’d
disappear to the toilets. We couldn’t believe it, all these bloody student
types, and he’s there flogging drugs as large as life. I couldn’t stop thinking
about it for ages. I’ve never seen anything like that in the clubs we go to.
Then it dawned on me where I’d seen him.’

He paused
for effect as Julie stared open-mouthed at him in anticipation.

‘It was at
a works do with you. He was with your mate Amanda. Right slimy git he was as
well. Thought he was bleedin’ rockerfella.’

‘Do you
mean Les?’

‘Yes that’s
right; that was his name.’

‘Jesus!’
said Julie. ‘Then it could have been him that gave Amanda the drugs, after me
and Rita left her with him.’

‘Yeah,
that’s what I thought.’

‘We’ll have
to go to the police Vinny and tell them what you’ve seen. Will you come with us
and speak to them?’

‘Course I will.
I told you, didn’t I? I want to help you.’

For the
remainder of the evening they chatted amicably. It seemed that this revelation
had lightened the atmosphere between them and Julie felt able to relax once
more with Vinny. When he couldn’t resist her any longer and chanced making an
advance, she willingly responded.

Sunday 3
^rd
August 1986

Julie stood outside the café in the pouring rain. The
downpour was so heavy that even her umbrella couldn’t protect her as large
droplets splashed against the ground and ricocheted against her legs. She was
ten minutes early so she knew she’d have to wait. The thought of sitting inside
occurred to her but she didn’t want to miss them; the occasion was far too
important. After a couple of minutes Vinny arrived.

‘What you
doing stood out here? You’ll catch your death of cold!’ he announced.

‘I didn’t
want to miss you.’

‘Don’t be
daft, I’d have found you. Come inside and we can keep a lookout for Rita
through the window.’

Julie
allowed herself to be led inside but she insisted on sitting as near to the window
as possible. While Vinny went to order two cups of coffee, Julie tried to peep
through the heads of the customers so that she could catch a glimpse of Rita
walking through the door. Before long she was rewarded with a view of her
friend who strode towards their table as Julie waved.

The other
customers were soon aware of Rita’s arrival as she noisily pulled out a chair
and plonked herself down on it.

‘Jesus
Christ, you could have picked a better bleedin’ day!’ she declared. ‘What’s all
this about anyway? You were like the bleedin’ secret service on the phone.’

‘Shsh,’
whispered Julie as she noticed an elderly couple on a neighbouring table
watching them avidly.

Just at
that moment Vinny reappeared carrying a tray containing two cups of coffee and
two cakes. ‘Hi Rita, what do you fancy?’

‘Well
seeing as how they don’t sell what I fancy here, I’ll settle for a coffee,’ she
replied.

Vinny swiftly
headed towards the counter, his cheeks beginning to flush.

‘You rotten
sod!’ said Julie. ‘You know how you embarrass him.’

‘I know,’
giggled Rita. ‘That’s why I do it.’

When she
had finished laughing, Julie began to explain to Rita why she had asked her to
meet her and Vinny.

‘I couldn’t
give too much away on the phone,’ she said. ‘My dad was earwigging and I’d
rather they didn’t know too much at the moment; not until things are sorted out
anyway. I don’t want to build their hopes up.’

Having
gained Rita’s fixed attention, she continued. ‘Vinny’s told me all about that
bloody Les dealing drugs and we’ve decided to go to the police. I thought it
would be better not to meet at Vinny’s; you never know who’s watching.’

She stopped
and looked upwards to see that Vinny had returned, carrying Rita’s cup of
coffee and a cake. ‘I was just telling Rita what we’ve decided to do,’ Julie
added. Julie and Vinny looked towards Rita for a response to their proposition.

‘Suits me,’
Rita replied. ‘I’ll come with you but I don’t think you’ll get anywhere with
them bastards.’

‘It’s got
to be worth a try though,’ said Julie.

‘Oh yeah,
it’s worth a try but like I said, I don’t think we’ll get very far. It’s too
hard to prove he was dealing drugs for one thing, and that’s if the coppers can
even be bothered to go and check it out. As far as they’re concerned, we killed
Amanda.’

Julie
became aware of the people sitting at nearby tables who were now focusing on
their conversation. Although Julie had deliberately chosen a café that was
located miles from their homes, she was taking no chances.

‘Quiet,’
she said, to which Rita shrugged her shoulders in defiance.

‘I agree
with Julie,’ said Vinny. ‘It’s got to be worth a try, and if we get nowhere
then we’ll have to decide our next move.’

‘Hear, hear,’
Julie affirmed. ‘I’m not giving up now, not when we’ve found out what that
bastard’s up to and we’re getting the blame!’

‘Right, sup
up and let’s go down to the station then! There’s no time like the present,’
said Rita.

--------------------

Sunday 3
^rd
August 1986

Inspector
Bowden was going through one of his pacing sessions. These often occurred when
he was trying to solve a crime and he would stride up and down the office,
throwing out ideas to his subordinates in the hope that they would latch onto
some vital clue that might tie up the case.

‘Think
about it Sergeant Drummond!’ he commanded. ‘We have a motive of sorts. For
starters, the suspects were drunk and out to have a good time, and as part of
that good time they wanted to see Amanda Morris make a fool of herself.’

He began to
tick off each point on his fingers.

‘Secondly,
we can place them at the scene of the crime, which I believe to be the Portland
Bars, where they were seen putting something into Amanda Morris’s drink.

‘Thirdly,
the Portland Bars did have a previous problem with a former member of staff who
was a known drug dealer, and the suspects have frequented this establishment
for the last two years.’

He was just
about to discuss the evidence given by Leslie Stevens when a uniformed officer
approached him.

‘We have
Julie Quinley, Rita Steadman and an unknown male in reception waiting to see
you sir,’ he interjected.

‘Thank
you,’ said Inspector Bowden as he rubbed his hands together in glee. He then
turned towards Sergeant Drummond. ‘Well, well, it looks like we might have the
final piece of the jigsaw. My guess is that they’ve come to confess; probably
can’t live with it on their consciences any longer.’

‘What about
the man, sir?’ she asked. ‘Who do you think he is?’

‘Probably a
solicitor.’

He marched
out of the office door and into the corridor.

--------------------

Sunday 3
^rd
August 1986

Julie was
the first to notice Inspector Bowden approaching. How could she fail to
recognise his stern demeanour? Even the sight of him sent a shiver down her
spine as she recalled the night she had spent in the cells and the torment of
his unrelenting interrogation.

He didn’t
speak to them; he didn’t need to. For most people a mere sign given by
Inspector Bowden would be enough to summon them into action. That sign was a
nod of his head towards an interview room as he carried on walking. They
followed behind.

Inside the interview
room Julie saw a table with four chairs, two on either side. The inspector sat
on the far side and nodded towards the two chairs opposite him. Vinny stepped
aside allowing the two girls to be seated, and then looked inquisitively at the
inspector for an indication as to where he might sit. The inspector touched the
empty chair on his side of the table, pushed it slightly and then nodded towards
the two girls.

Julie
guessed that Inspector Bowden thought he was too high and mighty to move the
chair for Vinny, and preferred to leave him guessing. She had become used to
his tactics by now, and watched as Vinny obliged by placing the chair next to
hers before sitting down.

‘To what do
I owe this pleasure?’ asked Inspector Bowden.

Julie spoke
with animosity. ‘We have some information that might assist with your
enquiries.’ She emphasised the last four words in a parody of police procedure.

Julie then watched
the expression on the inspector’s face change from smug to confused.

‘Carry on!’
he instructed.

Before
Julie had a chance to continue, Vinny spoke. ‘I’ve seen Amanda Morris’s
boyfriend dealing drugs.’

Inspector
Bowden adopted a blank facade and did not speak, forcing Vinny to carry on.
Julie noticed Vinny fiddling nervously with the zipper of his jacket before he
continued. “
The bastard’s got to Vinny as well,
” she thought.

Vinny took
a defensive line. ‘I think he must have given Amanda the drugs that killed her
after she got back home that night.’

‘Steady!’
commanded the inspector. ‘Where is your proof that he was dealing drugs?’

‘I saw him
doing it in a nightclub.’

‘That does
not count as proof. It is merely your word against his.’

Rita, who
had remained uncharacteristically silent until now, suddenly spoke. ‘It’s up to
you to find the bloody proof; that’s your job isn’t it? Vinny’s just telling
you what he’s seen.’

‘Do you really
expect me to take the word of one of your associates?’ Inspector Bowden asked.

‘He’s my
boyfriend actually,’ Julie replied, ‘and he doesn’t lie, and we’re not
murderers either.’

Rita stepped
up the argument. ‘I bet you’ve not searched his bloody flat, have you? You’ll
find plenty of drugs there if you bother to look.’

‘Mr Stevens’
flat was searched when he reported the death of Amanda Morris, and my officers
found nothing. Therefore Mr Stevens isn’t a suspect. We only have your word that
he is involved in drugs.’ The inspector nodded towards Vinny, ‘And I find it
all too convenient that you have found a suspect at just the right moment when
it might enable you to divert attention from yourselves. However, that tactic will
not work I’m afraid especially as all the evidence so far points in your
direction’

He
emphasised this last sentence by pointing at Julie and Rita in turn.

‘You
bastard!’ shouted Rita.

‘If you’re
not careful, I will arrest you for disturbing the peace.’

Julie
nudged Rita and beckoned her to be quiet.

‘Now then,’
Inspector Bowden resumed. ‘I had hoped that you had seen sense and that you had
come here to make a confession. However, if you persist in denying your guilt,
we will have to find another way to prove it and that will be only a matter of
time.’

‘You’re
bluffing,’ Rita yelled. ‘You haven’t got a bloody thing on us. How can you
have? We haven’t done nowt!’

Julie could
see that Rita was beginning to lose control and she herself was also becoming
angry. She rose from her chair and slammed it back towards the table. At the
same time she grabbed Rita’s arm. ‘Come on, we’re going! We’re wasting our bloody
time Rita; he doesn’t believe a word we say.’

‘I’m not
leaving here till he takes us seriously!’ shouted Rita, but Julie could see
that it was a lost cause and she sought Vinny’s help as they led Rita away from
the interview room and out of the building.

‘Well, what
now?’ asked Vinny. As both girls glared at him, he raised his hands in mock
protest. ‘Sorry, don’t blame me, I tried.’

‘Come on,
we’re not waiting around here,’ said Julie.

‘I feel
like getting pissed out of my head,’ said Rita.

‘Let’s go
and find a pub then and maybe we can decide what to do next,’ said Julie.