FORTY

Billie had just managed to drift off to sleep when she heard the knocking on the door. 'Silly sod,' she said to herself as she chucked on her dressing gown. 'I bet he's forgotten his key.'

The sight of the Old Bill standing there looking sombre filled her with terror. She stood rooted to the spot, unable to speak. In the police car on the way to the hospital, Billie held DJ tightly and tried to recall what the policeman had said. She couldn't remember exactly, the shock wouldn't allow her to. All she could recall was nodding to confirm that Jamie lived there, hearing he had been involved in an incident, and the words 'Oldchurch Hospital'.

As she reached the hospital one of the policemen helped Billie out of the car and led her inside. The walk through the corridors seemed never-ending and at one point her legs were shaking so much that she had to stop for a moment before continuing the dreadful journey. She was led into a relatives' room, given a cup of water and told that a doctor would be along to see her shortly.

'Please God let him be alive,' Billie kept repeating to herself over and over again. She couldn't understand what had happened to him. She knew Romford could be quite rough and had a bad name, but surely Jamie hadn't got involved in a fight, he just wasn't the type. Maybe he'd been hit by a car or something, she thought, as she searched for some explanation.

'Mummy, Mummy! I want to go home.' DJ's tearful voice and his need for comfort seemed to snap her out of her daze.

'Ssh, darling. We have to be here, Jamie's not well and the doctors need to make him better.'

DJ's tears were wet on her shoulder and Billie held him tightly. She didn't feel like being strong, but knew she had to be for his sake.

'Hi, I'm Dr Kelly. I'm sorry to keep you waiting.'

Billie could tell by the doctor's serious expression and the patronising way he asked her to sit down that the news wasn't going to be good. 'What's happened, Doctor? Please tell me. Is Jamie going to be OK?'

'Bring a nice strong cup of coffee for Miss Keane.' A nurse scurried off and left the doctor alone with her. 'I'm afraid Jamie is very badly hurt. He's been stabbed five times, his lung has been punctured and he has some internal bleeding. We need to operate immediately and to be honest, it's not looking particularly good. The next twenty-four hours are critical, but I promise you we are doing everything in our power to save Jamie's life and he will have the best care we can give him. Now, are you his next of kin?'

Billie felt panicked, but tried desperately to hold it together. Her voice wobbled as she spoke. 'We're only living together, so his mum will be his next of kin, but I don't know her number. Who stabbed him? What happened? Was he involved in a fight?'

'I'm not sure of the details. The police will inform you about the incident, that's their job. My job is to operate on Jamie, so I need to contact his mother.'

Billie knew the road she lived in, but not the number. She had only met her once and Billie had come away with the distinct impression that Mrs Jackson thought her beloved son could do a damn sight better than to take up with a single mum.

'The police will probably be in to speak to you shortly, and as far as any update on Jamie's condition goes, you will be the first to know.' Dr Kelly left the room.

Two minutes later Billie's howling could be heard at the other end of the corridor. The two nurses on duty tried to calm her down.

'Drink this,' one said, thrusting a strong black coffee into her hands.

'Is there anyone who can come and collect your son?' the other one asked, noticing how distressed the child was becoming.

'I'm OK now. I'm OK.' Billie sipped the hot drink and took deep breaths. 'I have a neighbour who lives near me. I'll call her, she'll pick up my son for me . . .

'Tina, I'm so sorry to wake you. I'm at the hospital and I need you to come and pick DJ up for me.'

Tina was wide awake within seconds. She thought the world of Billie Jo and would walk on hot coals to help her one and only true friend. 'Whatever's wrong, Billie? What's happened?'

Billie tearfully told her the story. 'I'm waiting for the police to come and see me now. I don't even know how it happened yet. No one's told me anything. All I know is that Jamie has been stabbed and they're operating on him.'

'Right.' Tina's voice was calm. 'I want you to stay put. I'm gonna call a cab and I'll chuck some clothes on, quickly get Alfie dressed and I'll be there in half an hour. I'll find out what's going on and get some answers for you. I've got a bottle of brandy in the cupboard. I'll bring that with me, it's good for shock. You just be brave, Billie. I'll be as quick as I can.'

'Thanks, Tina.' Billie ended the call and sobbed at the unfairness of it all.

Tina was true to her word and half an hour later she was sitting beside her friend, comforting her. 'I've disguised the brandy and mixed it in here,' she said, handing her friend a big bottle of Diet Coke.

Taking a few gulps, Billie almost choked. 'Christ, that's strong.'

Tina squeezed Billie's hand. 'I poured a whole bottle of brandy in. It's mixed half and half. Just drink it. I always used to keep a bottle hidden and drink it after Robert had beaten me up.'

Billie managed a half-smile and took another swig. Seeing the police walk in, she quickly put the lid back on the bottle.

'Hello, I'm DI Atkinson and this is my colleague DS King. I'm sorry if no one's been in to explain anything to you, but I wanted to come and speak to you personally.'

'That's OK,' Billie said meekly.

Noticing the two boys sitting on the floor playing with a couple of toys the nurses had provided, the DI nodded towards them. 'I need to ask you a few questions, Billie. Maybe the boys would be better going outside with your friend for a few minutes.'

'I want my friend to stay here with me.' Billie didn't mean to sound abrupt, but she needed support and didn't want to be left on her own again.

'OK. Perhaps a nurse will look after them for a few minutes then.'

DI Atkinson's mood automatically changed to serious once the children had left the room. 'Your boyfriend was stabbed, Billie, in an unprovoked attack on South Street in Romford. We have a couple of eyewitnesses who are at Romford police station giving statements at the moment. Now, what I need off you is some information. Did your boyfriend have any enemies? Had he had an argument or any trouble with anyone recently?'

'No,' Billie answered honestly. 'Jamie wouldn't hurt a fly and he certainly hasn't had a falling-out with anyone. He doesn't go out on his own, tonight was a one-off. We're always together, apart from when he goes to work.'

'Think carefully, Billie, because this is important. This wasn't a fight or a bunch of lads involved. This incident, from what the witnesses have told us, looked premeditated. Your boyfriend was attacked from behind by a lone man. Is there no one you know who may hold a grudge against him?'

'Danny,' Tina piped up.

Billie looked at her in amazement. 'No, surely not. He doesn't even drink in Romford.'

Tina shrugged. 'I bet he was tonight. I'm telling you, Billie, I bet Danny's done this. He left them messages on your phone saying he was gonna ruin your life and how he was going to get his own back. He's done this.'

DI Atkinson could feel the excitement rising inside him as he took down vital information on Danny O'Leary. A lot of questions were fired at Billie. Did she know where he was living? The threats he'd made to her. The phone calls. The ongoing court case with the child. Billie informed him that the police were already aware of the threats that Danny had made.

DI Atkinson stood up. 'Thank you for your help, Billie and Tina. I'm going to get some officers to check out this information immediately and we'll be paying Mr O'Leary a visit. We have our eyewitnesses, so chances are, if he is the culprit, they will be able to identify him. As soon as I have any new information, I'll be in touch.'

Billie sat in silence as the police left the room. She knew in her heart of hearts that Tina was right. She could feel it in her bones that Danny had done this. This was the bastard's idea of revenge.

Tina squeezed her friend's hand. 'Are you OK, mate?'

'Not really.' Billie wiped the tears away that had started to form in the corners of her eyes. 'It's DJ I feel sorry for. If it is Danny, then I've produced a child by an animal, maybe even a fucking murderer. How is my baby meant to live with that? What if he turns out like him? He's half of him, at the end of the day. I know he's cute and sweetness and light at the moment, but what if he turns into him as he gets older?'

Tina hugged her friend. 'Don't be so silly. Your DJ's an angel, he's nothing like his father. I thought that about Alfie. Many times I worried that he'd turn out to be a sadistic rapist like his scumbag of a dad, but deep down I know he won't. He's a kind, loving kid like your DJ and they've both been brought up right. They'll be OK, the pair of them. You mark my words.'

Billie couldn't think straight. She just wanted Jamie. 'Do us a favour, Tina. Go and find us a doctor. I need to know if they've operated yet. Go and get someone for me. I need to see him, even if he's not awake. I need to be near him, to be by his side if he wakes up.'

'I'll find out what's going on and ask how soon you can see him. You leave it with me.' Walking down the corridor, her heart pounding quickly, Tina prayed that she would return with some good news. Unfortunately, she returned with none at all.

* * *

Danny O'Leary sat in the living room of Debbie's poky flat.

'You all right, babe?' Debbie asked nervously.

'No I ain't, and for fuck's sake stop asking me the same stupid question.'

Scuttling into the kitchen, Debbie returned with another beer. 'That's the last one, Dan.'

Searching through his pockets, Danny handed her fifty quid. 'Go down to that all-night offie in Seven Kings and get me a bottle of JD.'

'How am I meant to get there?'

'Ring a cab, you silly fucking tart.'

Hearing the door slam, Danny breathed a sigh of relief. He needed to think straight, sort out a story. Grabbing his gear, he shoved as much up his nose as he could. He had left Romford immediately after the stabbing. He'd planned to go back to Brannigan's and carry on drinking with the little sort, but his clothes had been splattered with blood. He was no mug. He always kept a change of clothes in the motor in case of emergencies, so he'd stopped at a field on the way home, burned the gear that he'd been wearing and changed into a tracksuit.

Romford was swamped with CCTV. If the Old Bill did turn up, he couldn't deny being there. Eleven o'clock, he'd say he arrived home. Debbie was his alibi. She would stick her head in a gas oven if he asked her nicely. Worst ways, he would use the other little bird as his get-out clause. Emma worked in a local shoe shop. Tomorrow he would pay her a visit and set her up with a story. A bit of the O'Leary charm and she'd be putty in his hands.

Hearing Debbie return, he grabbed the bottle of JD from her. 'Thanks, babe,' he said, pecking Debbie on the cheek. He had to play her, keep her sweet. Slurping his drink, he thought of the night's events. An image of Jamie lying in a pool of blood flashed through his mind. Smiling, he wondered how Billie Jo must be feeling.

Billie Jo sat opposite Mrs Jackson and felt like smacking her one. Instead of bonding together and praying for Jamie's well-being, Mrs Jackson was more interested in finding someone to blame for Jamie's situation, and that someone was Billie.

'I knew he was playing with fire getting involved with a girl that had another man's child.'

Billie ignored her and stared at the wall. Tina had gone home now and was looking after DJ for her, so she was lumbered with Jamie's mum on her own. Sick of being blamed, she finally spoke up for herself. 'Look, I know you're looking for someone to blame, but please don't blame me. I love your son dearly and hopefully, please God, we'll spend the rest of our lives together.'

'Hmm. He's a meal ticket for you,' came the sour reply.

Billie angrily marched out of the room, before a full-blown row developed. Collaring a nearby nurse, she demanded some more information. She had been told nothing of Jamie's condition since she'd spoken to the police and the lack of facts was beginning to piss her off. Billie stood at the nurses' station and flatly refused to move. At last a doctor approached her.

'Jamie is still in the operating theatre. The doctors are doing their very best for him, but as yet, there is no news.'

Billie felt physically sick. Needing to get some fresh air, she told the nurses that she was popping home for a change of clothes and a shower.

'Please, call me on my mobile if there's any change. I'll be about an hour or so.'

As Billie walked towards the reception, she noticed a free phone number for a minicab firm next to the telephone on the wall. She dialled it. She didn't have a clue where she was going. She couldn't bear to go home as everything about her flat reminded her of Jamie. From his boots in the hallway, to his clothes still lying wet in the machine, she just couldn't face home at the moment.

'Cab for Billie Jo,' a voice called out. Billie climbed into the dark Mondeo and on the spur of the moment decided her destination.

'Corbetts Tey Cemetery please. If I pay you up front and pay the waiting time, can you hang about half an hour for me?'

'No problem,' said the nice Iranian driver.

Billie found her dad's grave immediately. She had only been to visit him twice since his funeral. Staring at his gravestone had been far too upsetting for her and she'd vowed never to return. Today, though, she needed to speak to him. Wiping the dirt off his plaque, she knelt down beside where his body lay.

'Hi, Dad, it's me, your little Princess. I miss you so much and I hope wherever you are that you're OK. I've come today to ask you for a favour. I know by now you must have met God and I'm sure he must like you very much. Everyone down here liked you, Dad, so I'm sure that it must be the same up there.'

Billie wiped her tears away. Her hands were covered in mud and the dirt smeared into her cheeks. Half laughing, half crying, she carried on. 'Please, Dad, have a word with God for me. Tell him not to take my Jamie away. He's far too young to go up to heaven. I really love him and I need him to stay down here with me.' Billie sobbed as she kissed her father's headstone.

'Thanks, Dad.'

As she walked away, Billie could have sworn blind that she heard a man's voice. Scanning the cemetery, she was surprised to see that the only person there was an old lady tending her husband's grave. I must be going mad, Billie mused. Either that or I'm over-tired.

Clambering into the back of the cab, a strange feeling washed over her. She wasn't mad, she had definitely heard that voice. It had sounded a bit like her dad but she couldn't be sure. She wasn't stupid, she didn't believe in ghosts, but had found the moment comforting.

The cab driver noticed Billie's dirty tear-stained face in his mirror. 'Are you OK?' he asked politely.

Billie smiled. She felt weird, calm in fact. 'I'm absolutely fine. Take me back to Oldchurch please.'

On the other side of London, Michelle was having a heart-to-heart with her cell mate. Chelle had recently been offered her own cell, but Jane had pleaded with the screws to carry on letting them share.

'I can't believe how I treated her, Jane. I mean, it wasn't Billie's fault that her dad didn't love me. I can see it now, but why couldn't I see it before?'

Jane squeezed Chelle's hand. 'Don't blame yourself, Chelle. It was the drink, it wasn't you. Drink is the root of all evil, trust me. My life was shit until I gave it up. It takes a while for them clouds to clear, but once they do, things are very different. You need to keep going to AA, Chelle. I swear by them meetings.'

Punching Jane playfully in the arm, Chelle laughed.

'They weren't for me them meetings, full of not-rights. They couldn't have been much good for you either, you ended up back in here, you dopey cunt.'

Jane laughed and put Michelle into one of her headlocks. The pair of them spent hours putting the world to rights, and playfighting was a favourite source of entertainment. Letting Chelle go, Jane reverted back to serious mode.

'Listen, Chelle, seriously. I was dry for years. Once, I fell off the wagon and look what happened, I ended up back in here. Me, Chelle, I've got no one. I'm an only child and both my parents are dead. You've got everything going for you. You have to make it right with Billie and your grandson and the only way to do that is stop drinking completely. People like me and you can't have the odd drink, Chelle, we're alcoholics. Don't waste your life, girl, because at the end of the day life is sweet.'

Chelle looked into Jane's eyes and noted the sincerity in them. Seconds later, they shared their very first kiss!

The hospital felt different as Billie made her way back through the many corridors. The awful feeling of earlier had been replaced by a feeling of hope and optimism. One of the nurses smiled at her.

'Billie, I was just going to call you. Dr Kelly wants to talk to you. Apparently, he's got some news.'

Ten minutes later, Billie and Jamie's mum sat side by side looking expectantly at the doctor.

'The operation has been a success. We're very hopeful. Having said that, Jamie is still in a poor condition. He has suffered a punctured lung, internal bleeding and has lost a lot of blood. We've given him a transfusion and although he is not out of the woods yet, Jamie has been a very lucky man. Two of the stab wounds were within millimetres of his vital organs. We all have our fingers crossed for him and the next twenty-four hours will be critical.'

'Can we see him?' Billie asked tearfully.

Looking solemn, Dr Kelly opened the door. 'Not at the moment, I'm afraid. We need to stabilise him first. Hopefully, you may be able to spend five minutes with him later.'

Jamie's mum burst into tears. She had hardly cried all day, but now she couldn't stop. Not knowing what to do, Billie held her in her arms.

'Ssh, come on now, we must be strong for Jamie. He's going to be OK, Jamie's a fighter and I just know he's gonna pull through.'

Valerie Jackson squeezed Billie's hand. 'I'm so sorry I blamed you earlier. You're a nice girl and I know my Jamie loves you very much.'

Billie sighed. 'It is my fault. If I hadn't have got involved with Danny, none of this would have happened.'

'It is not your fault, Billie. I was taken in by Danny O'Leary too. Many a time, years ago, he'd knock round mine for Jamie and I thought he was a lovely boy. I always invited him inside and made a fuss of him. Danny is one of life's charmers and we were all conned by him, Jamie included.'

Billie nodded and tried to smile. She'd felt terrible earlier, when Valerie had blamed her. Now she felt better. 'Do you fancy a coffee?' Billie suggested.

'I'd love one. I'll come with you.'

Billie smiled. No words were needed. Their friendship had begun.

Danny peered out the window and pulled the curtain back across. The street was desolate, thank God. If the Old Bill knew it was him, they would have been round by now. Necking the JD straight from the bottle, he threw an empty fag packet at Debbie. The silly tart had been asleep on the sofa for the past hour.

'You all right, babe?' she asked sleepily.

'No, I'm bored and I feel horny.'

Debbie smiled. Danny walked around with a permanent hard-on.

'Shall we go to bed?'

Danny unzipped his trousers and unleashed his cock. 'I ain't going to bed. Come over here and get your mouth round this.'

Debbie liked to feel wanted. Lifting her pregnant frame off the sofa, she knelt down and duly obliged. Danny rested the back of his head on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. He was thinking of the sort that he'd met earlier. Emma. As he pictured her long tanned legs in her miniskirt, Danny felt himself about to come.

As the door splintered and the flat shook, a drunken Danny thought he was having the orgasm of a lifetime. He'd heard the old saying 'Did the earth move for you?', but this was something else.

Danny let out a yell as he realised what was happening.

Unfortunately for him, the police had arrived at exactly the same time as he had!