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

drooped. “Shirl moans if I get my clothes dirty when I’m cleaning. I splashed bleach on a top she bought me once. Never lived it down. Mam gave me the apron.”

Cassie smiled. “While I like a bit of banter, I need to come in.”

“Shit, Shirl will have my guts for garters. I’m meant to get the kitchen done before I go to work. She spilt dinner on the hob last night, and it went all black. I can’t get it off for love nor money. Caked on, it is.”

“I’ll send one of my cleaners round to do the whole oven, just let me in.”

He stepped back. “That’s kind of you. What do I need to do for that?” He seemed wary of accepting her offer.

“Nowt. Go on, get in that kitchen and make me a cuppa. I can’t chat with a dry throat.”

He made the drinks, and they sat at the table.

“What’s all this about then?” He farted about with a spoon, maybe from nerves.

“My mam told me you’re a good fella, that you worked for Dad once.”

“Yeah…”

“What’s keeping you occupied at the minute?” She sipped some tea.

“Work. Nowt else. Got a shift this aft.”

“Fancy getting paid by me instead?”

His eyebrows rose, his cheeks going red and camouflaging his strawberry-coloured pimples. “Doing…?”

“Being my grass. It involves a lot of time at The Donny, so watch Shirl doesn’t accuse you of liking beer more than her.” She laughed darkly. “Maybe she’d like to be in on it an’ all. Can’t be nice where she works, gutting fish all day.”

“No, and she stinks when she gets home.” Jimmy screwed up his nose.

“You’ve been with her a few years now, haven’t you.”

“Yeah. Trust her with my life, so you can, too.” He studied her. “How much are we talking?”

“Five hundred a week.” She paused. “Each. Plus half your rent off.”

His eyes widened. “Fuck me, just for listening?”

She nodded. “And reporting back to me, maybe a few other things you need to shut up about.” Another sip of tea had her relaxing a tad. It was nice to take a load off and sit while working, and Jimmy was easy company.

“Fine by me.” He picked up his cup and blew.

“If you mess me around…”

He held up his free hand. “I know, I know. You don’t need to spell it out. I’ve heard it all off your old man before, then you when you paid us that visit recently. I haven’t got cloth ears.”

Cassie smiled again, liking him more by the second. He seemed genuine, someone who’d fit on her close team. She went on to explain that if he heard owt, even if it didn’t seem like much, she wanted to know about it. Plus, “And get off the weed.” She took a smartphone burner from her pocket and pushed it across the table.

“Do you want to lay it all out for Shirl, or should I come back later?” she asked.

“I’ll do it. She’s shit scared of you.”

“Fine. I’ll send someone round with another burner for her later, once you’ve let me know if she’s in or not.” She told him about the code words. “And use WhatsApp—people normally text, but that’s changing now. My number’s already in there. I top them up with credit, so don’t worry about that.”

He swiped the phone and switched it on. “Nice.”

“I’ve got a job just for you—with Shirl there, the person I want you to chat with won’t open up.” She dug in her bag again, producing an envelope with the five hundred in it, plus another with the same amount. “This one,” she passed it over, “is your weekly wage, which will be dropped round each Friday by one of my runners. And this one,” she thrust the other across to him, “is for the job I just mentioned. Any word of this getting out to my target, you’re fucking dead, do you understand? Marlene will have you after I do.”

He bobbed his head, conveying with the force he used how much he wanted to stay alive. “I won’t fuck with you. I respected Lenny too much to do owt like that.”

“Good, now here’s the plan. Tonight, at The Donny, Jason will be there.”

“Your Jason?”

She grimaced at that. He wasn’t hers and never would be now. Her instincts must have been warning her all along, and that was why she’d tried to get out of dating him. “Hmm. I want him drunk and talking. You tell him I need taking down a peg, that I’m an annoying little cow, whatever it takes, be as mean as you like—but make sure no one else hears you. I have ears all over, and they’ll think you mean it and maybe do something to hurt you on my behalf. See if Jason tells you what he’s up to—I’m well aware of what that is, by the way. Record the convo on that phone there.” She pointed at it then drank some more tea.

“What if he doesn’t show up?”

“He will. I’ll be with him at first—he’s been after a date for ages, so he’ll think that’s what it is. I’ll get a few drinks down his neck before I leave—I’ll conveniently have a work matter I need to attend to, and he won’t be able to come with me because he’ll be pissed up—then you take over. Use cash from that five hundred to pay for the drinks, and I’ll reimburse you. Imply you’ll do anything to see me off the Barrington. D’you get what I’m asking?”

Jimmy nodded, his eyes narrowing. “He’s not loyal to you, is he?”

“No.”

“But he’s your right hand.”

“Yep, but that doesn’t make any difference to someone like him. He’s after taking over, and I need to have proof of that. Then he’ll cop it.”

“Bloody hell…” Jimmy