The Jade Garden (The Barrington Patch Book 2) by Emmy Ellis (reading diary txt) 📗

kill for her, and that said a lot. “Thank you.” It was all she could manage.

“Yeah, well, I don’t want anyone upsetting you. Goes against the grain, that.”

She prepared herself to climb the fence again then remembered she could unbolt the gate from this side. She did that and walked into the alley, heading for Jason’s car. She’d get him to drop her around the front to pick her own up, then she’d drive to the squat, set Brett’s clothing and the towels on fire, and go home to chat to Mam. It’d mean waking her if she wasn’t up waiting for Cassie, but it couldn’t be helped.

Mam was really her right hand, not Jason, she just kept in the background so he could play the big man. Cassie needed reassurance that she’d handled this okay, plus she wanted to know whether Mam thought Zhang Wei would be a problem in the future. She knew him better than Cassie.

It had been a long-arsed night, and she longed for her bed, a bit of normality, but that wasn’t in her immediate future. That was the problem with running the Barrington. Sometimes, you forgot to actually live your life.

Chapter Twelve

Francis stared at her daughter from her comfy chair in the living room—well, Lenny’s favourite chair—a glass of whiskey close to hand, the ice long melted. She’d been drinking during the evenings since Lenny had died, it helped her to sleep, but tonight, with Cassie coming home so late, insomnia had taken over the alcohol’s strength, muscling in. As far as Cassie was aware, Francis only had the one nightcap. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her, and it was only to get Francis through this difficult time.

She sighed now the telling of Cassie’s update had come to an end. It seemed Cassie couldn’t see the woods for the trees, yet there was a loud alarm blaring in Francis’ head. She wasn’t one to mince words, so she’d give it to her child straight.

“Funny how Jason suggested kids must have been warning people away from the street, wasn’t it.”

There was enough sarcasm there for Cassie to pick up on it, but with her being so tired, maybe it wouldn’t click and Francis would have to spell it out—and she would.

Cassie frowned, spreading herself out along the sofa and drawing a pink velvet blanket over her. “So you’re saying he knew already?”

“It just seems off how he put the idea out there, that specific idea. I mean, come on, if he’d mentioned people warning others off, that’d be understandable, but kids? Who would choose lads? They’re not frightening, they don’t hold any weight with adults.”

Francis had warned Lenny that Jason was a bad choice, but her husband had had a soft spot for him, back from when he’d walked him home one time. He’d felt sorry for him, wanted to help him grow into a man of his own image, a Grafton without the name but with the same outlook on life—that Jason mattered and could do whatever he put his mind to. A son Francis wouldn’t give him. She’d said one child right from the start, and that was what she’d stuck to, despite Lenny trying to persuade her otherwise. He’d kept an eye on Jason for years, even going so far as to ensure the boy’s father walked out of his life and didn’t return, taking his place as much as he was able to with advice on doing well at school.

The lad had ‘ambition’, apparently, but Francis thought it was more an ego as big as a house and the aim to get so ingrained in their family setup they’d miss him if he wasn’t there. She saw right through him. Jason had his eye on the Barrington, she was sure of it.

“I see what you mean,” Cassie said, “but he didn’t act funny or owt when he said it. More like musing, coming up with ideas.” She positioned a cushion beneath her head and closed her eyes.

“He’s a clever one and would know exactly how to word it. He’s been studying you for months, I bet, feeling you out, seeing how much bullshit you’ll swallow. Studying you like you’re some lesson he has to learn off by heart.” Francis folded her arms.

“He seemed offended when I told him the kid idea was crap.” Cassie smiled and looked at Francis. “You know me, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut, had to tell him my thoughts on the subject.”

“He would be offended. You undermined his grand idea of using children. I know I don’t have proof, just a gut feeling, but it’s him behind this, I’m telling you. When you speak to Cheryl tomorrow, you’ll see her son had to tell folks you’d given the order to keep out of the street, like Jason had said. Won’t that be a coincidence an’ all…which is what you’re meant to think. He’s taking the piss, basically saying you’re stupid. Open your eyes, girl, he’s a snake in the fucking grass no matter what your dad said. Lenny was blinded by him, got it into his head he was the son we never had. What he failed to notice was, Jason has no family loyalty to anyone except his mother. And himself.”

Cassie knuckled her eyes, smudging her mascara. “I’ll admit he rubs me up the wrong way. Gets right on my nerves at times.”

Francis huffed. “He’d rub elsewhere given half the chance.”

“Mam!”

“Well…” Francis smiled. “His sort like to climb between the sheets as well as working for you. Just watch him, that’s all I’m saying. Not everything your dad said was gospel. I loved the man to death, but he did have poor judgement at times, and I had to set him straight.”

“Lou seemed to say as much earlier—not about Dad but Jason.” Cassie’s frown came back, forming two lines between her eyebrows.