Widows

Shirley’s brother, Greg, was adamant that everything was legit and he hadn’t nicked the car he’d got for her, but she still wasn’t sure, even though it was a good price and she liked it. Audrey, on her fifth cup of tea, chipped in that Greg must have nicked it cos according to Exchange and Mart the motor was worth twice what he’d paid for it. Greg and Audrey were going at it hammer and tongs when Shirley dropped a bundle of cash on the kitchen table. They both fell instantly silent. Audrey gasped, missed her mouth with the cup and dribbled tea down her chin. Greg grabbed for the wad of notes, but Shirley got there first, peeling off the 750 quid she owed him. Handing over the keys and log book, he legged it before anyone could have another go at him.

Shirley she knew exactly what her mum was thinking. ‘The money was in a suitcase belonging to Terry,’ Shirley lied. ‘Or do you think I can make a grand on the game in less than a week?’

‘A grand?’ Audrey screeched. Shirley wasn’t a natural liar. ‘In a suitcase? The coppers missed it, did they?’

Shirley held her ground. ‘Yes! It was hidden in the seam of the case and they was too busy flirting with me to notice.’

‘And when exactly did you find this grand? And why didn’t you tell me?’

‘It’s nothing to do with you, Mum!’ Shirley snapped.

‘We’re all hard up, my girl! That washing machine you gave me didn’t walk round to mine on its own you know. I had to hire a van. They don’t cost peanuts! I’d like to have known is all I’m saying. I’m your mum after all.’

Shirley pulled fifty quid from the bundle of notes and handed it to Audrey. ‘I’m sorry my washing machine cost you money, mum, I really am,’ she said sarcastically.

If Audrey had been a better person, she’d have walked away leaving Shirley embarrassed at thinking her mum could be so easily bought. But instead, she took the fifty quid.

‘Let’s take your new car for a spin to the pub,’ she suggested. ‘Your round, Shirley.’

The little Mini Estate wouldn’t start the first time, or the second, but eventually it fired up on the third, then spluttered and kangarooed down the road. Shirley said the brakes seemed a bit stiff, and then swore as the windscreen wiper fell off.

‘Greg had better fix it, or else,’ she said furiously.

‘It might be your drivin’, love.’ Audrey remarked.

‘Terry taught me how to drive and I passed me test first time.’ Shirley replied heatedly.

After a run round the block, Shirley decided the car wasn’t so bad after all. She dropped her mum off at the pub and said she was taking it for a longer test drive. She’d agreed to buy it because there was plenty of space in the rear to stash all the gear needed for the robbery and the inconspicuous color wouldn’t stand out in the traffic afterward. She’d have picked a canary yellow car if the choice had been hers — but she could do that easily enough with her third of a million. Shirley laughed at herself — fancy buying a car for its robbery qualities!

As she trundled along, Shirley was beginning to feel more like her old self again. Her thoughts turned to having her hair done. Maybe she’d get some streaks and go a bit blonder, and maybe even have a nice massage...

Linda put her foot down on the Capri’s accelerator and watched the speedometer move quickly upward... seventy... seventy-five... eighty. It felt exhilarating, a quick look in the mirror and no one behind, so she put her foot down further: eighty-five... ninety. This motor was a good buy, she thought — and then, suddenly, a small plume of smoke wafted from the bonnet, and began to billow out, flowing over the windscreen so Linda could hardly see the road. She pulled the car over onto the layby, got out, kicked the front tire and swore at it.

As she perched on the bonnet of her smoking car, she couldn’t help but smile. ‘What the hell am I doing?’ she said out loud. One of Linda’s duties on Dolly’s list was to learn basic car maintenance — and here she was at the side of the road having just bought a shit-heap of a Capri.

Car after car drove by; men honked their horns but didn’t stop to help. Linda didn’t mind. As she sat there, she felt incredibly strong — she had money in her pocket and a brand-new second-hand car. She’d learn how to fix it properly, just like Dolly asked. She’d call Gino and get the name of his car mechanic mate from the pub. She’d learn hands-on, not from a book. She’d learn quick and she’d learn right. Not for Dolly’s stupid, pie-in-the-sky robbery, but for herself. Linda couldn’t remember the last time she achieved anything really — but that was all going to change.

Chapter 10

Boxer was sitting at Dolly’s newly cleaned dining table stuffing eggs and bacon down his face as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks. He wiped a slice of bread round the plate, put it in his mouth and slurped on his tea to wash it down before sitting back and pushing the plate forward.