Bad Company(7)

Mum touched his hand then as if he’d said something wonderful. He bent towards her and kissed her. How could she kiss him? And in front of her children. It was disgusting after what he’d done. If it hadn’t been for me it could have been like an episode from the Waltons.

Margo didn’t seem to think it was disgusting. But then, at two and a half she didn’t know any better. I tutted loudly to show them I didn’t approve, but they ignored me. Caught up in their own world as usual.

So, he was finished with all that was he? Lucky I didn’t believe him or I would have been disappointed. Next morning, after Mum had gone to work taking Jonny with her to school, who appeared at our front door, but Magnus Pierce.

Magnus Pierce. He was the Big Boss that J.B. had protected. Someone the papers described as ‘a truly dangerous man’. The police, it seemed, knew all about him, but could never get the proof they needed to put him behind bars.

I will never forget the first time I met him. A big, imposing figure, he had come into J.B.’s office and sat on his desk as if he owned the whole place, (which, of course, I learned later that he did). He oozed richness and I liked that about him. Gold rings on both his pinkies, and a very expensive gold watch and diamond studs on his shirt cuffs. I could almost see my face in the shine of his brown leather shoes. I was fascinated by him.

‘Hi, Magnus,’ J.B. had greeted him like an old friend and they shook hands.

‘Jonathan,’ Magnus said and his clear, green eyes moved to me and smiled. ‘And this is Lissa? Why, she’s beautiful. She’s so like your wife.’

(I’m not actually, I’ve got her hair and her eyes, but the ugly fizzog I’ve definitely inherited from J.B.)

If Magnus Pierce had tried to ruffle my hair then or pat my cheek I would have hated him, but he didn’t. Instead, he held out his hand to me, just as he’d done to J.B. and introduced himself.

‘I’m Magnus Pierce, Lissa. One of your dad’s associates. Pleased to meet you.’ He made me feel grown-up and special. How was I to know then just how vicious and horrible this man really was?

J.B. had shouldered all the blame for the fraud and dirty dealings which were going on in their so-called ‘business’. Just a front for all sorts of dodgy and criminal activities. He’d protected this man, Magnus Pierce. Instead of helping the police to put him behind bars where he belonged, he had protected him. And now here he was, back at our front door.

Had he watched for Mum going off to work before he arrived? I bet he had. He was certainly surprised to see me still there. When I opened the door to him he blinked. That was all, but it was enough for me to realise he hadn’t expected to see me at all. Hadn’t expected anyone to be at home but J.B. and Margo.

‘You’ve grown since the last time I saw you,’ he said.

‘Yes. Growing up happens when you’re my age.’

He smiled broadly, didn’t seem the least offended by my cheek.

‘Spirit. That’s what you’ve got,’ he said. ‘And I like that.’

How had I ever been taken in by this horrible man? How had J.B.? He was sleazy. He had it written all over him.

J.B. appeared from the kitchen with Margo clutched in his arms. He didn’t look too pleased to see him either. ‘What are you doing here?’ he asked.

‘Jonathan,’ Magnus Pierce stepped past me and into our house. ‘So good to see you again.’

I wanted J.B. to turf him out. Tell him to go. I was disappointed that he didn’t.

‘Go to school, Lissa,’ was all he said, dismissing me. I slammed the door shut in my anger.

It was all going to start again. I just knew it.

I was still feeling down about Magnus Pierce’s visit when I got to school.

‘Lissa? Is everything all right?’ It was Diane, and she seemed genuinely concerned. It seemed she’d been waiting by the gates especially for me. ‘You don’t mind if I tag along with you? I don’t know anybody else. And quite honestly …’ she surveyed the playground with a sneer, ‘… I don’t know if I like anybody else.’ Her eyes rested on Ralph Aird who was heading a football against a wall. About all his head is good for if you ask me. ‘Except for him,’ Diane said. ‘He’s a bit dishy.’

I almost choked with shock. ‘Ralph Aird? Are you kidding? Or is there something wrong with your eyesight?’

Diane drew her eyes back to mine. ‘Oh, I know, he’s so common. Not our kind of people at all.’

Our kind of people. I liked how she said that, including me in her special little circle. She didn’t know about J.B., I thought. If only I could keep it that way.