The Traitor by Kimberley Chambers Page A

unload all the bags from the truck.
    ‘Shall I make us a cup of tea?’ she asked.
    Jed dropped the bags, grabbed her hand and pulled her close. ‘Why don’t we go in me mum and dad’s for a cup of tea? Me mum would love to see all the baby stuff we’ve bought.’
    Frankie agreed. She knew that she had to start making more of an effort, for Jed’s sake.
    Alice O’Hara was in her element as she pawed over the purchases for her unborn grandchild. ‘Look at that little suit, Jimmy. Ain’t it pretty?’ she said to her husband.
    Jimmy nodded, cracked open a couple of cans and handed one to Jed.
    With his mother and Frankie sitting on the carpet rabbiting about babies, Jed couldn’t help but smile. Once his mum and girlfriend bonded properly, his life would be a damn sight easier and he could go out partying more.
    Just lately Frankie had become too clingy for his liking. He loved her and all that, but hated feeling trapped, and that’s how Frankie had made him feel recently. He felt like a poxy bird stuck in a wire cage. It was for that reason and that reason only that he’d copped off with that pretty little filly the other night.
    Sally was her name. She was twenty-one years old, a right little goer and, as Jed thought about her, he could feel his cock rising to attention in his trousers.
    Watching his mum look at his dad like a lovesick teenager, Jed smiled. He’d only been a nipper when his mother had caught his dad knobbing some bird in his salvage yard, but he remembered it like it was yesterday. At the time he was too young to understand, so he’d sided with his mum, but years later his dad had explained the situation and given him a good man-to-man talking-to.
    ‘Jed, take my advice. Find yourself a good woman, a loyal one. Once you’re sure she’s the one for you, chain her to the cooker and the bedroom. Whatever she cooks for you, even if it tastes like shit, tell her how nice it is, then, once she gives birth to your chavvies, that woman is yours for life. Never forget to enjoy yourself though, son. Us men are grafters: we put the food on the table, therefore we’re entitled to have some fun. A travelling man will always be a travelling man, in more ways than one, boy.’
    As his dad handed him another can of beer, Jed again clocked his mother looking adoringly at his father.
    ‘Cheers, Dad,’ Jed said, clicking cans with him.
    ‘To you and Frankie,’ Jimmy said.
    As Frankie squeezed his hand, Jed smiled. ‘To me and Frankie,’ he repeated.

CHAPTER NINE
    As visiting time approached, Eddie felt his stomach start to churn. He hadn’t seen Raymond since the night he’d murdered Jessica, and even though he was desperate to see him, he was also incredibly nervous. Ed knew that Raymond understood what had happened was a pure accident. Ray had sent him quite a few letters and there was no sign of anger or blame in his words.
    ‘You OK, Ed?’
    Eddie smiled at his young cellmate. ‘Not bad, Stu. I’m a bit apprehensive, I suppose.’
    ‘Don’t worry. Ray’ll be fine with you, mate, I just know he will.’
    It had been just over two weeks since Eddie had attacked Big Bald Baz and got away with it. Five days after that, young Stuart Howells had become his new cellmate. Ed hadn’t particularly wanted to share with anybody, but he’d somehow taken to Stuart immediately.
    At twenty-two years old, Stuart was only a nipper compared to Eddie. He was from Hackney and was awaiting trial for stabbing a black lad who had later died.
    Within days of Stuart’s arrival, both cellmates had opened up to one another.
    ‘The police tried to make out it was racial, but I ain’t like that, Ed. Jonesy had it coming to him and there was no way I was letting him get away with it. I had him as soon as the police released him on bail,’ Stuart admitted.
    Eddie admired the kid’s morals, attitude and bravery. Stuart had been with his girlfriend, Carly, for two years when she had been dragged into a block of flats