Fire away.’
Barry gave her his number, then ended the call abruptly. He’d only treated himself to a mobile phone a couple of days ago and was now bloody glad he had. They were a handy invention and more and more people were starting to use them. In fact, Barry had watched a programe the other evening where they predicted in the next ten years, half of the households in the UK would own one.
‘What’s happening, then? Shall we get another drink?’ Cooksie asked, grinning greedily.
‘No, we’re going,’ Barry informed him, picking up his and Wayne’s overnight bags.
‘Who’s gonna pay the bill? We ain’t got no money,’ Potter said, with a look of dismay on his face.
Barry sighed. ‘I’ll suppose I’ll have to sort it. Listen, yous two shoot off and I’ll get Wayne to bell you as soon as I hear from him.’
‘How you getting home?’ Potter asked.
‘I’ll jump in a cab.’
‘Can’t we jump in with you? We’re well pissed and it’ll take ages to get home on a train. Potter lives in Southend and I’ve gotta get to Elm Park,’ Cooksie asked, brazenly.
Barry stared at the two drunken fools. If it wasn’t bad enough that he now had to pay for a room they hadn’t even used, and for their bar bill, did they honestly expect him to pay for their cabs home as well? ‘I ain’t going your way home, lads. I’ve got some business to attend to south of the water, so you’re gonna have to jump on a train, I’m afraid,’ he lied.
‘Can’t you lend us some money to get a cab? Jacko will give it back to you,’ Potter asked bluntly.
‘No, I fucking well can’t! Now get out my face before I change me mind about paying your hotel and bar bill, you cheeky pair of cunts.’
Potter grabbed his pal by the arm, and without a backward glance or even a thank you, he and Cooksie staggered out of the building.
As every minute ticked by, Stephanie’s worries only heightened. She tried to call Tammy, but got no reply, so rang her mother instead.
‘Try to stop crying, darling. I can’t understand what you’re saying properly,’ Pam said, worried.
‘Can you come over, Mum? I ain’t got a clue what to do and I can’t go looking for him ’cause I’ve got the kids here. Ring a cab and I’ll pay for it. I’ve got plenty of wine and you and Aidan can stay here tonight. Hopefully, by the morning, Wayne will be back and then I’ll drop you back home.’
‘OK, I’m on my way.’
Barry Franklin was deep in thought as he sat in the back of the black cab. The driver was an old boy, a talkative type, and kept rambling on about Arsenal having a crap season.
‘You got a pen and a bit of paper, mate?’ Barry asked, interrupting him.
When the driver handed him both, Barry started to write down any number that might be useful to him from Wayne’s phone. He then gave the driver his pen back and shoved the piece of paper into his pocket. ‘Change of plan, mate. Sorry to mess you about, but can we go to Chigwell first? I might be getting out there, but I won’t know until I’ve knocked at someone’s door. Between me and you, a pal of mine’s gone missing. I wanna drop his bag off and make sure his bird and kids are all right.’
‘No probs, pal. Christ, I hope your mate’s OK,’ the cab driver said, his voice full of concern.
Barry smirked. He didn’t, but he had to play the game. ‘Me and you both, mate.’
Pam gave Stephanie a motherly hug as soon as she walked through the front door. Her daughter looked dreadful and her eyes were red raw through crying. ‘Where are the kids?’ she asked.
‘In the lounge. Go and play with Dannielle and Tyler, mate,’ Stephanie replied, ruffling Aidan’s hair.
When Aidan scampered off to join his cousins, Stephanie turned to her mum. ‘I haven’t said anything to the kids about Wayne yet. Tyler’s too young to understand and I don’t want to worry Dannielle. ‘
‘So, where do you reckon Wayne is? It’s so unlike him not to contact you, isn’t it?’
Stephanie led her mother into the kitchen and poured them both a much-needed glass of wine. ‘I’m so glad you’re here ’cause it takes my mind off it a bit. I haven’t got a clue where he is, but let’s talk about something else, eh? It’s only half two and we can start worrying again later if he still hasn’t turned up,’ Stephanie said, forcing a smile.
‘What’s the betting the bastard walks in in the next hour or so, as bold as bloody brass?’ Pam joked.
‘So, how’s Lin? Have you seen her lately?’ Stephanie knew how worried her mother was about her Auntie Linda moving in with Keith.
‘She’s rung up a few times, but I ain’t seen her since she came round for Sunday dinner with him. She seems happy enough, mind. But I just can’t help but worry about her, Steph. I can’t help but picture them sitting drunk in that shithole of a flat every night, especially now she hasn’t got a job.’
Stephanie squeezed her mum’s hand. ‘If it makes you feel any better, I think Lin is the happiest she’s ever been in her life. She rang me the other night, full of beans, honest she did. Keith even chatted to me on the phone and I’m positive he adores Lin, you know.’
Pam smiled. ‘Well, I know you wouldn’t lie to me, so I suppose I’m just gonna have to accept that Lin’s a grown woman and is living the life of her choice, aren’t I? I’ve always felt so protective of her though, Steph, I think that’s why I’ve found it all so hard to deal with. I always worry about people taking the piss out of her and I imagine in my mind that in that crappy area where’s she living, that’s what people are doing.’
‘They aren’t, Mum. Lin’s got a new best friend, the next-door neighbour, and she’s incredibly happy, I just know she is,’ Steph said.
‘Mum, can me, Tyler and Aidan have some Coke and crisps, please?’ Dannielle said, skipping into the kitchen.
Stephanie took the crisps out of the cupboard and then dropped the bag on the floor as the doorbell rang. Perhaps Wayne had got so drunk that he had lost his keys? She ran into the hallway. ‘What do you want?’ she asked, as she came face to face with Barry Franklin.
‘I thought I’d better bring Wayne’s stuff back. I take it you ain’t heard nothing yet?’ Barry asked, handing her the phone and sports bag.
Stephanie shook her head dejectedly.
‘Look, all his numbers are on his phone. Why don’t you let me come in and we’ll do some searching together, eh?’
‘Uncle Barry,’ Dannielle screamed, running into the hallway with her arms outstretched, hoping for a cuddle. She had recognized her idol’s voice.
When Barry picked up her daughter and swung her around, Stephanie started to soften. Her mum was here, and any help finding Wayne was better than none, even if it was from Barry. ‘Go in the kitchen. My mum’s in there and you can tell us everything that happened last night.’
‘OK, just let me pay the cab first.’ Strolling down the path, it was a struggle for Barry to keep the big grin off his face. Wayne going missing wasn’t just good news as far as he was concerned. It was the fucking crème da la crème.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Barry politely kissed Pam on the cheek, then sat down opposite her at the kitchen table.
‘Go in the lounge now, Dannielle. The adults need to talk and I need you to look after your little brother for me,’ Stephanie said.
‘Can’t I stay out here with Uncle Barry? I want him to sing “Incy Wincy Spider”