Life of Crime: The gripping, epic new thriller from the No 1 bestseller

‘Oh, I’m looking for a way out, don’t you worry about that. But I’m worried about the kids, especially Babs. You treat that girl like a slave, and it ain’t on. You need to start cooking her some healthy food. Poor little mare is becoming obese. You got to be a better parent. I know you’re upset Rasta got bird, but it’s not as if he ever lived here or helped out with the kids. You weren’t exactly mother of the year before he got banged up, and if you don’t wake up and smell the coffee, you’ll have Social Services on your case. Then you’ll have no kids.’

Debbie was well aware that she wasn’t ‘Mother of the Year’ material, but she loved Elton and Kyle. Rasta Dave had been the love of her life and they were his flesh and blood. ‘How dare you speak to me like that? Who do you think you are, you jumped-up little shit! You’re hardly Richard Branson your fucking self, are you? Think you’re a big-shot ’cause you sell sicko films to nonces round the estate. Well let me tell you something: you’re nothing, Jason Rampling. Just a nobody who lives on the Mardyke, same as me. Get that into your thick skull.’

Jason was livid. He hated being spoken down to. ‘I’m nothing like you. I’m gonna make it in life whatever it takes. You just fucking watch me.’

Practising her words, Melissa Brooks finally took the plunge and picked up the phone. She’d had nothing to do with lads since Donte’s dad had dumped her, and her heart was beating rapidly. She couldn’t stop thinking about Jason. She’d even dreamed about him last night.

Silently praying he hadn’t given her a dodgy number, Melissa was relieved when the phone was answered on the third ring. He had a distinct voice, gruff and cheeky. ‘Erm, hi, Jason. It’s Melissa – the girl with the son that—’

‘I know exactly who you are. Never forget a pretty face, me,’ Jason interrupted. ‘How’s my little mate, Donte?’

Melissa smiled. Jason seemed so thoughtful compared to lads she’d met in the past. ‘Miserable. He’s got a cold. How’s your daughter? What’s her name?’

‘Shay. Yeah, she’s good. What you doing tonight? Let me take you out for a drink so we can chat properly. Been thinking about you a lot since Sunday, I have.’

Melissa felt a warm glow inside. She was still stunned that a hunk like Jason could be interested in her, but he was obviously very keen. ‘OK. I’m sure my mum will look after Donte. I’ll ask her in a tick.’

When Mel gave him an address, Jason grinned. He knew that road and it wasn’t council, the gaffs were privately owned. Melissa’s call couldn’t have come at a better time …

Carol Brooks was brimming with excitement for her daughter. ‘Wow! You look gorgeous. Now go knock him dead. Be confident, Mel. Nothing more off-putting to a man than insecurity, is there, Johnny?’

Johnny looked up from his Construction News. ‘You do look nice, and your mother’s right. Don’t put the bloody bloke off. Opportunities like this don’t come along every day for someone in your position. I wonder if his kid’s half-chat too? Did you ask him?’

‘Shut up, Johnny. If you can’t be happy Mel’s got a date, then sod off upstairs,’ Carol ordered. Donte had started picking up on words they used lately and she didn’t want him hearing hateful things.

Johnny held his hands aloft. ‘All right, I’m sorry. So you gonna bring him in to meet us, this mystery man?’

‘No. Last thing I want is you spouting off. He’ll run a mile,’ Mel snapped. She’d wanted to meet Jason away from the house, but he’d insisted on picking her up from her address.

‘Your dad won’t say anything bad. Promise her, Johnny,’ Carol ordered.

‘I won’t open me mouth. Honest,’ Johnny replied, performing a zip movement across his lips.

‘I can hear an engine, love. Did Jason say what car he drives?’ Carol asked, peeping through the curtain.

‘No. And come away from the window, Mum. Please,’ Melissa begged. She was becoming more flustered by the second.

When the doorbell rang, Melissa felt sick with nerves. ‘Right, I’m off now. Do not follow me outside and embarrass me. I mean it.’

Carol turned the TV down and put her ear to the door. ‘Hiya, Mel. You look amazing! Where’s me little mate? I got him a get well present.’

‘Donte’s in bed,’ Melissa replied, shutting the front door as quickly as possible.

‘Did you hear that, Johnny? He brought Donte a get well present!’ Carol beamed.

Johnny Brooks leapt out of the armchair and peeked through the curtains. Whoever this Jason was, he sounded too good to be bloody true.

Melissa Brooks smiled as Jason handed her a third Bacardi and Coke. He’d brought her to the Spencer’s Arms pub in Ardleigh Green and, although nervous at first, Mel now felt more relaxed. Jason was easy to talk to and they had lots in common.

Jason took a photo out of his pocket and slid it across the table. ‘That’s my Shay, holding the doll. The other three are my brothers and sister. Taken last Christmas, that photo was. Most recent I have of Shay.’

‘Awww. She’s really cute, Jase. So, where is her mum? Does she see Shay? You don’t mind me asking, do you?’

‘Course not. Her mum left us. Walked out when Shay was a few months old and we’ve not seen her since. Bet you could never leave your Donte, eh, girl?’

‘No way. Oh, I’m so sorry, Jason. That’s awful. How did you manage? You must have only been young yourself.’

‘Case of having to manage. I moved back in with my mum, and my nan used to help out a bit. Shay’s too lively for her now though. What about your parents? They good with Donte?’ When Jason had found out Melissa didn’t have her own accommodation and lived with her mum and dad, he’d felt deflated. Until he’d seen the parents’ gaff, that was. They were definitely loaded. And he could tell Melissa was easy-pickings. Plus she was mother material, and that’s what Shay needed. His nan was right. Becoming hard to handle of late, his daughter was. Which was no surprise, seeing as his mother was out on the lash all the time and she was left to fend for herself along with Babs and his brothers.

Melissa thought carefully before answering. ‘My mum’s been great. She’s a strong woman who adores Donte. My dad is old school, though. He thinks a girl should be married before she has children. He wanted to kick me out when I fell pregnant, but my mum stood her ground. I take after my mother. I’m a strong woman too,’ Mel said, remembering her mum’s advice to come across as confident.

Leaning across the table, Jason squeezed Mel’s hand. ‘I can tell, and that’s why I like you. No disrespect to your pal Tracey, but women like her aren’t my cup of tea. Too fake. I like real people, like yourself.’

Melissa beamed. ‘Tracey isn’t talking to me, funnily enough. She copped the hump because you gave me your number.’

‘Don’t surprise me. Girls like Tracey are ten a penny. Get ’em coming up to me on the stall all the time, and I always give ’em a wide berth. Don’t get me wrong; when I was young, before Shay was born, I was partial to the airheads. But if I’m to bother these days, I’m looking for the real deal. A woman I can potentially settle down with.’

Melissa Brooks could not believe her luck. Jason made her heart melt. He also had the potential to be her very own knight in shining armour.

‘You on the waiting list for a council gaff?’ Jason enquired.

‘No. My parents wouldn’t want me to live on a council estate. They’re not snobs or anything like that, but they worry about me. My dad would rent me somewhere private, I think – if and when I move out.’

‘Don’t you want your own gaff?’

‘Yeah, one day. But not until I’m older,’ Melissa replied. She relied on her mother to help her out with Donte on a day-to-day basis, but wasn’t about to admit that to Jason.

‘Tell me about Donte’s father. Does he see the little ’un?’

‘No. He dumped me as soon as he found out I was pregnant. He was horrible, wanted me to have an abortion. He’s better off out our lives.’

‘Is he local?’

‘No. We met at a rave. Joel lived over the other side of London, but he came down this way a few times with his pals. I’d meet him up Berwick Manor.’ No way was Melissa going to admit she’d chased Joel something rotten and all but laid it on a plate for him. That made her sound like a thick, desperate tart.

‘I used to go up the Berwick. Surprised we never met there. Want another drink?’ Jason asked.

Melissa took her purse out of her bag. ‘Let me get this round. It’s not fair, you buying all the drinks.’

Jason stood up. Melissa was pleasant enough, but wasn’t much use to him if she didn’t have plans to move into her own gaff. Shame, as she’d have been perfect to look after Shay. ‘You put your money away. Believe in chivalry, me. If a man asks a lady out, then he foots the bill.’

Melissa smiled when Jason sauntered up the bar. He dressed well. Black suit jacket, white T-shirt, faded jeans and smart leather shoes. She also liked the thick gold chain around his neck and the sovereign- and diamond-studded horseshoe rings he wore. The barmaid had certainly taken a shine to him too. Mel could sense she was flirting because she was acting like Tracey did when she fancied a bloke.

Discreetly making sure Jason was not flirting back, Mel pretended to be engrossed in searching for something in her handbag as her date returned to the table. ‘So what’s your mum like?’ she asked.

‘Not the best, to be honest. Men have messed with her head over the years, if you know what I mean. What about your parents? Do they work?’

‘Yes. My dad owns a builders’ merchants and my mum does all his accounts.’

‘A small family-run firm?’

‘No. It’s a big business. My dad has lots of men working for him. He’s got a massive yard just off the A13.’

Jason’s ears pricked up. ‘I got a pal in the building game. What’s your dad’s firm called?’

‘J J Brooks.’

Jason wanted to laugh out loud, but remained calm. Himself and his pals had stolen stuff from there before the security had been upped. Johnny Brooks was well known in Rainham and it was common knowledge he was loaded. Perhaps Melissa was worth a punt on after all …

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