The Good Life Read Online Free PDF Page B

a man who could earn, and earn well. He was tight-lipped and cunning, the qualities needed for the type of work they engaged in. They could make a formidable team.
    There was a lot of talk about Jamie Jones. Years before he had been the recipient of a serious hammering, and had been hospitalised for four months. But he had come out with nothing to show for his sufferings except a scar across his right eyebrow. Rumour at the time was he had tried to have over the Moody brothers from Canning Town. But no one was saying anything, so it was pure speculation.
    Frank Moody had been found bound, gagged and beaten to death on Southend Seafront. His brother Gerald had never been seen again. It was a mystery all right, but the general consensus was that Jamie Jones had been behind it and, as such, his rep had shot up into the stratosphere.
    The fact that no one knew the truth was just how Jamie liked it. He wouldn’t give his size in a shoe shop, he was so close-mouthed. So, all in all, Richie Jakobs was pleased with his choice of partner.
    When Jamie walked into the pub, Richie watched him for a few moments. He definitely had a presence, good-looking despite his scar. He was softly spoken, but when he did talk, people listened to him.
    Richie hailed him loudly, as if he had just come back from five years abroad. ‘You missed all the excitement! I do believe Cain Moran’s going soft in his old age.’ He quickly filled Jamie in on the story that was already doing the rounds.
    Jamie listened carefully and, when Richie had finished, he murmured, ‘The man’s a gentleman.’
    He could see that was not the answer Richie had expected. But Jamie was a shrewdie; he liked Cain Moran and everything that he had heard about him. Cain was only twenty-eight and already he was more or less at the top of his game. That was no mean feat, especially these days when the courts were handing out outrageous sentences. Jamie wanted this meet, and he wanted it badly. He also hoped that he could swerve this fat cunt Richie into the bargain. He didn’t like him and he didn’t trust him, but he couldn’t get this deal off the ground without involving him, at least at the beginning.
    Richie was unimpressed with the way Jamie had come to Cain Moran’s defence so he said carefully, ‘Never liked the schoolies myself. She’s only about sixteen. Looks older though, in fairness.’
    Jamie knew exactly where Richie was going with this, and he said in his usual careful manner, ‘You know something, Richie, I had you down as a lot of things, but a fucking village gossip wasn’t one of them.’
    One good thing about Richie Jakobs was he knew when to shut his big mouth.

Chapter Thirteen
    Cain picked up on the tension between the two men as soon as he sat down. Johnny was at the bar getting the drinks in, and Cain shook hands with Jamie, not bothering to do the same with Richie, which was noted by all.
    ‘Sorry for the delay, guys, seems I walked into a Keystone Cops style situation.’ He made light of it, but he knew there was already talk about why he had bothered to defend Eileen Riley and her daughter. ‘People forget this is my stomping ground, and I hate the Filth, especially that fat wanker Billings. If ever a man needed a fucking smack it’s him.’
    Johnny Mac laughed. ‘She is funny, though, that Eileen. I remember years ago when she beat up that bloke, what was his name? You know, Cain, short, fat Greek with a bald head . . .’
    Cain laughed too, remembering. ‘Fuck me, I’d forgotten all about that. Costas, that was it. Used to have a café on the High Road. He didn’t pay her, she used to go out the back with him while his wife was at work. He would fuck a fence, that cunt. Woman mad. She gave him the hammering of a lifetime, and then told his wife everything.’
    Richie laughed loudest before he said nastily, ‘Never trust a Tom, eh? Fucking slags. Any bird that earns a living like that can’t be trusted.’
    He had genuinely not