TWENTY-FOUR

January 2004

Billie Jo sat on the park bench, watching Danny Junior excitedly feeding the ducks with the loaf of bread she'd given him.

'Now be careful, Danny, don't go too close to the water, there's a good boy.'

Chucking the last of the bread at the head of some poor unsuspecting Canada goose, Danny ran back to where his mum was sitting and climbed onto the bench next to her. 'Want McDonald's.'

'Of course, darling,' Billie said, zipping his coat up tightly. Although the winter sun was shining, it was still quite nippy. At McDonald's, Danny tucked into his Happy Meal with a big smile on his face. Billie watched him affectionately and almost burst with pride when some people sitting at the next table commented on what a beautiful little boy he was. Billie popped to Sainsbury's to get some food shopping and was worn out by the time she arrived home.

Billie put Danny on one side of her double bed, she clambered in the other side and read him a story. His eyes shut almost immediately. Billie crept out of the room so she didn't wake him and poured herself a glass of chilled wine. Armed with her Hello! and Heat magazines, she quietly returned to the bedroom. Flicking through the pages, Billie quickly gave up. She had far too much on her mind to be able to concentrate on celebrity gossip.

There had been so many events and changes in Billie's life over the last couple of years, that lately she often felt the need to sit down in silence, and try to think things through. She'd been happy recently, living on her own, just her and the child. The two of them had developed a wonderful understanding and a happy routine.

Danny Junior had grown into a handsome, lovable, intelligent little boy and Billie Jo idolised every bone in his body. With his dark spiky hair, his big blue eyes, his cheeky smile and humorous nature, Danny Junior was a natural at winning people over. In minutes of meeting people, even at twenty-seven months old, he had them eating out of the palm of his chubby hand. Billie Jo kept him immaculate. Young as he was, DJ had a designer wardrobe, including Dolce and Gabanna, Timberland, Nike and Baby Gap. Not a week went by when DJ didn't have a new pair of trainers, jeans, trackie bottoms or trendy jacket.

Money hadn't been a problem for Billie Jo. Firstly, she had the money her dad had invested for her, which she'd received on her eighteenth birthday. Secondly, Davey Mullins had turned up round about the same time and handed her an envelope with five grand in it. He said it had been her dad's and he wanted to give it to her and DJ. Billie had been over the moon to see him, as he was now living in Spain.

He'd come in for an hour or so and the pair of them had spent that time laughing and crying over old times, with Dave telling her all sorts of funny stories about her dad. Dave had hugged her as he left and given her his new phone number, telling her if she ever needed money or help with anything, he was there for her. Billie had stood at the door and waved him goodbye, tears flowing down her face at his kindness. She hadn't wanted to take his money since Jimmy the Fish sorted her out on a regular basis. 'It's what your dad would have wanted,' Dave had insisted as he left.

Hearing DJ stir and whimper, Billie leant over to check he was OK. He was still sound asleep, but must be having a bad dream. Kissing him on his forehead, she went into the kitchen to refill her glass. She rarely drank in front of her child and usually only indulged in a glass when he was in bed, whether it be afternoon or evening. Sometimes she worried that she'd end up like her mother, but deep down she knew that would never happen. She'd only been drinking more recently because Danny was due to be released shortly. Part of her relished the thought of them becoming a family again and part of her dreaded it. She hadn't told Danny of her decision yet. She'd kept him waiting.

Billie sipped her drink and thought about all the nice things that Danny had said and promised her. She really hoped he was genuine and when he was released they'd become a proper family and live happily ever after.

Tonight, she would tell him that she was giving him one more chance. She wasn't thinking of herself when she had made her mind up, she was thinking of her son. DJ deserved to have his daddy around him. He also deserved to live in a nice house and have nice things. Making her relationship work with Danny was a small price to pay if it meant keeping her son in the style he'd become so accustomed to.

'You got a spare fag I can have, Dan?' Fishing about under his mattress, Danny pulled out an unopened box of Superkings and chucked them at his cellmate.

'You can have the whole box. I've got plenty to see me through the next couple of days and I ain't going to need them after that, am I?'

Carl Smith accepted the box gratefully. 'Cheers, Dan, you're a top man. I'm gonna miss you when you go, mate. I wonder who I'll be sharing with next.'

'Dunno,' said Danny. All he was bothered about was getting out of this shithole. Just two days, two more fucking days and he was a free man. He couldn't bloody wait.

Danny couldn't wait to see the back of Carl Smith. Life inside had been an easy ride until he'd been convicted. The actual court case had been over in days. Jimmy's top-class brief had laughed the Old Bill's theories and accusations straight out of court.

Danny's confession had therefore stood up. Once convicted, he'd been forced to share his living quarters with a complete dickhead. He'd got a three stretch in the end, but had ended up doing eighteen months. Jimmy had sorted him out with a top solicitor. It'd been a different one to Jimmy's own, as his brief wasn't allowed to represent more than one person on the same case.

Personal use, the cocaine had gone down as. Danny had admitted to having a habit and seeing as the gear was in one big lump, had thankfully got away with it. It could have swung either way, and had they done him with intent to supply, Danny would have been looking at a five stretch, at least.

Telling Carl to 'Shut the fuck up', Danny lay back on his bunk and pictured his homecoming. He had always been confident that Billie would take him back, but nevertheless, he was elated when she'd actually given him the green light. He was one of the lucky ones, who had a family to go home to. Some of these geezers on the inside would give their right arm to be in his position.

Thinking of his time inside, Danny thought of Razor. He'd looked after him from day one and Danny had arranged to keep in touch with him on the outside. Razor was on a long stretch, so seeing one another in the near future was totally out of the question. 'I reckon the Fish'll throw a big bash for ya,' Razor had told him only this morning. Danny didn't expect a mass celebration, but he did wonder exactly what Jimmy would do for him. A decent business proposition was what Danny hoped for. He'd earned it, he deserved it and surely now he was destined to reap his rewards.

Jimmy the Fish knocked on the grubby-looking door of the run-down council house and was shocked to see it opened by two little coloured kids. 'Er, I dunno if I've got the right flat,' he said, thrown by their appearance. 'I'm a friend of Danny's. I'm looking for Mrs O'Leary. Does she live here?'

Jermain O'Leary eyed Jimmy suspiciously. Brandon, the younger of the two, stood behind his brother, picking his nose.

'Who is it?' Brenda O'Leary marched to the door and shoved the kids out of the way. 'Get inside, you nosy little bastards. Who are you?'

'I'm Jimmy the Fish. Are you Mrs O'Leary?'

'Yes, I am. You're Danny's friend, aren't you? He's spoken highly of you, he has. Come on in, I'll make you a nice cup of tea.'

The musty, pissy smell hit Jimmy's nostrils as soon as he got in the hallway and he decided against the cuppa. 'I can't stop, love. I just popped round to let you know I've organised a surprise party for Danny on Saturday and I want all his family and friends to be there. It's being held in the hall at the back of the Cross Keys pub. The drinks are free, there'll be plenty of grub and kids are welcome as well.'

Brenda smiled and tried to put on her poshest voice. A man called Leon had been dropping an envelope round to her once a fortnight with some cash in it to help her out while Danny was inside, and she knew that the money came from the man that stood in front of her. 'I'd love to come, what time does it start?'

Jimmy edged towards the door. The smell was making him feel ill and he couldn't wait to get some fresh air. 'We're getting all the friends and family to arrive about seven. I'm gonna take Danny out for a meal and get him there about half past. Oh, by the way, if he pops round before, don't mention it to him, as I want it to be a surprise.'

Brenda let out a huff. 'There's not much chance of me seeing him. Since he's been with that girl, all he does is pop round and drop money off and he's gone within ten minutes. I haven't even seen my grandson yet. He promised he was gonna bring the baby round to me, but he got locked up soon after, so that was that. Anyone would think he was ashamed of me.'

Jimmy said goodbye and cursed himself. He was sure that Danny wouldn't want his mum at the party and who could fucking well blame him, the state of her? No wonder he'd never mentioned his family. Still it was too late now, he'd dropped a clanger and invited her. He just hoped for Danny's sake that she didn't turn up.

Leon waved goodbye to Michelle and drove off in his car. Chelle poured herself a vodka and got straight on the phone to Hazel. 'Hazel, you're not doing anything on Saturday night, are you?'

'No, Chelle. Why?'

'Danny comes out of nick tomorrow and there's a big surprise party being held for him. One of Jimmy the Fish's boys has just been round here to invite me. Do you fancy it?'

'Where is it?' Hazel hoped it was somewhere plush. She knew that once Michelle got a bee in her bonnet, she'd be made to go anyway, whether she wanted to or not.

'The Cross Keys in Dagenham, but don't be put off by that. There's a free bar all night, a disco, a karaoke and it's bound to be full of villains if it's anything to do with Jimmy.'

'Fucking hell, Chelle. How can we go for a night out in Dagenham? What are we meant to wear, bulletproof vests? It'll be like something off the Trisha show.'

Michelle couldn't help laughing. 'Oh, go on, Hazel, come with me. You know how close I was to Danny. I had the hump with him over the visit stuff, but now I can't wait to see him again. There has to be some eligible men there for me and you. Every bloke I meet nowadays hasn't got a pot to piss in. The last one that chatted me up was a bus driver, for fuck's sake. At least we know most of them there, and if they're Jimmy's pals they're bound to have a few bob.'

'All right then. A night out in Dagenham, I can't bloody wait.'

Hazel sighed as she switched her phone off. Chelle was a bloody nuisance and would probably be the death of her, but she loved her all the same. They'd fallen out briefly a while back, when she'd confronted Chelle over her drinking. Chelle had been furious at her interference.

'Who are you all of a sudden? Mother Fucking Teresa!' she'd shouted at her indignantly. 'Don't come round my house being all self-righteous. I thought you was my friend, Hazel. If all of a sudden I've become an embarrassment to you, it's best you fuck off and don't come back.'

Hazel had slunk off with her tail between her legs. She hated falling out with people and had truly had her best pal's interests at heart. Chelle had rung her within days. They'd rekindled their friendship immediately and Hazel had decided that unless asked, she would never interfere with how Chelle lived her life again.

Chelle smiled to herself. She knew Hazel wouldn't let her down and all she had to do now was plan her outfit. Knocking back her vodka in one, Chelle picked up her keys, jumped in her car and headed straight to Bluewater.

Hearing the bell ring, Billie Jo answered the door and was surprised to see Jimmy the Fish standing there. He normally sent somebody else to her house, whether it be for financial reasons or a lift to the prison. She'd only ever had one visit from Jimmy before. It had been when Danny had first been locked up and he had called in to assure her that she had nothing to worry about.

'All right, what's up? Is something wrong?' Billie's first thought was that something had happened to Danny.

'Nothing's wrong, love. I just popped round to tell you that I've organised a surprise party for Danny on Saturday night, at the hall in the back of the Keys. I didn't know if you would want to get a babysitter, or bring young Danny with you. There's plenty of kids going, so your little 'un will have the time of his life. What I'm gonna do is pick Danny up late Saturday afternoon and take him for a meal. I'll drag him down the Keys after and tell him we're just popping in for a quickie. Unbeknown to him, all his family and friends will be waiting there. All the drinks are on me. I've laid on a load of food, a disco and a karaoke. What do you think? Will Danny be chuffed or will Danny be chuffed?'

'Yeah, he'll love it,' Billie said unenthusiastically. Thanking Jimmy, she said goodbye. Sitting down on the sofa cuddling Danny Junior, Billie Jo could have cried. She craved normality, not a bloody big party.

Mixing with a load of lowlifes and watching Danny being patted on the back every five minutes like he was some kind of a fucking hero wasn't Billie's idea of a good night out. Still, it was only one night out of her life. She was his partner, the mother of his child. It would look awful if she didn't turn up.

She decided there and then to take DJ with her. She would do the right thing, chat and be polite to everyone, then escape after a couple of hours, saying that the baby was tired. Danny would stay there and get pissed, she would get a cab home. At least that way she would have done her duty and everyone would be happy. Story of her life really, making other people happy. Mug, she thought to herself as she picked up the phone and dialled Jamie's number.

Jamie was in a pub in Liverpool Street and didn't hear his phone ring. Seeing the missed call, he rang Billie's number. 'You all right, girl? What's up?'

'Have you heard about the party on Saturday, Jamie?'

'Yeah, one of the boys rang me up earlier. You are going, aren't you?'

Billie took another gulp. 'Yeah, I'm going, I'm gonna take the baby with me. Apparently there's a load of kids going so I know Danny would want DJ there so he can show him off and that. I wondered if you would pick me up? I don't really want to walk in there on my own.'

'Course I will, babe.' Jamie walked outside the pub. The jukebox was blaring and he could barely hear her. 'I'll get a cab and I'll pick you up at seven. My new girlfriend, Lucy, will be with me. She's staying with me the weekend as my mum's going to Butlins. She's lovely and I can't wait for you to meet her, Bill.'

'OK, see you at seven.'

Billie felt a strange feeling wash over her as she put the phone down. She'd had no idea that Jamie had a new girlfriend and for some reason she felt uneasy about it. Jamie hadn't had a girlfriend since Carly, so maybe that was the reason why she felt so pissed off.

As Billie finished off her bottle of wine, she delved through her feelings. She didn't want to admit it, but deep down she knew that her bout of jealousy was sod all to do with Carly and more to do with herself. Many a time when Jamie had taken her and DJ out, Billie Jo had wondered what might have been. Watching Jamie lovingly take baby Danny into his arms and on all the rides at Southend's Peter Pan, Billie had often wondered if she'd picked the wrong bloke.

Annoyed with herself, Billie walked into the bathroom and doused her face with cold water. Staring intently into the bathroom mirror, she noticed how old she'd started to look. Must be all the worry, she thought inwardly. She knew she had to pull herself together. Danny would be home tomorrow. He had promised to change and to make a go of it and she knew she had to do the same because DJ needed a father. She'd had so many wonderful family days out with Jamie that it had given her an insight into what family should be like.

Deciding this was one of those times that she needed God's help, she chose to have a quiet word with Him. 'Please, will you help Danny change into a nicer person? Please encourage him to become a good partner and father.' Billie had loads more to ask God for, but her prayers were cut short by her sobbing. Unable to stop the tears, she put her head under the quilt and rocked herself to sleep.