Reckless Moments

by Debs60

A/U: Charles has always wanted to be in the army and Molly has always been fiercely loyal and independent. They have known each other since they were children but had very different upbringings and career direction, despite this their paths continue to cross through to adulthood. Will their differences pull them apart or were they always destined to be other half of each other?

8. Chapter 8

Reckless Moments

Chapter 8 – Home to Roost

While Molly was driving back to the yard it was all she could think of. She had been looking out across the river earlier in the day, she had always liked it down by the river, which was rather surprising considering she couldn't swim, well none of them could. She couldn't remember if there was an opportunity to learn at school but then she didn't go often enough to find out. The fact that Gary and Jack couldn't swim either said to her that wasn't part of the curriculum in their neck of the woods.

She knew this was Jack's domain really, he loved it down here, the sights, the sounds, the smells, he got on well with the men, the camaraderie, she much preferred the glamour of the clubs, not to mention it was warmer. He may be the boss but he always joined in with the manual work when it was required, never expected any of them to do something he wasn't prepared to do himself. His years in the gym boxing with his brother, had made him a strong man. Every one of them respected him and would go the extra mile, he helped where he could and rewarded them well for a job well done.

When Jackie had made the comment about the boats coming in and out and how she loved to watch them it had made her engage her brain. That boat she had seen today was pointing back to the estuary, they hadn't taken a delivery and a boat with containers wouldn't have gone that much further up river, so where had it been and why was it just sitting there up from their wharf, something was leaving but she didn't remember seeing anything in the logs and felt she needed to recheck to make sure she hadn't missed anything.

The yard was in darkness when she pulled up in her car. Well that was odd, Jack wasn't here and it looked like their Dockers had gone so who would be doing the loading, perhaps she had been mistaken, still she was here now so may as well check and she could look in on Bill and Ben. She went round to the boot of her car and took her heels off and replaced her footwear with trainers. No point in wearing the heels they would just sink into the mud. She walked to the gates and noticed that they were unlocked and her eyes swept to the porta cabin which was in darkness. Jack wouldn't go off and leave the yard unlocked. Where were Bill and Ben, they could have got out if he had, she thought to herself as she walked into the yard. She could see some of the lights on at the wharf and yet the rest of the site seemed to be in darkness, only the odd security light shining in the gloom. She could see a van with its rear doors open. Where was everyone, if they were bringing something in, then it would be a hive of activity down here trying to get it unloaded and cleared as quickly as possible to attract less attention. Something didn't feel right, as she moved into the shadows and crept forward to take a closer look. She could see people there, maybe three men. As she got closer she thought she recognised Andrew, what was he doing down here, she never had him pegged as someone that would be into heavy graft down at the dock, he was more suited to his fancy clothes and working in the Casino. She was about to call out to him when she was grabbed from behind and something was put over her head, she couldn't see, didn't like the smell of the sack as she struggled for breath, her instinct to fight kicking in as she screamed and tried to turn. She felt the punch to her face, she never saw it as she sagged to the ground dazed. She heard the footsteps, heard a voice shouting, she was sure she recognised it. She was being picked up and carried somewhere. She'd heard somewhere that people sometimes saw stars if they got a whack to the head. She wasn't sure it was stars but while she realised she was in trouble here, her brain felt too fuzzy to do anything about it.

She didn't know where she was but under the hessian hood she knew she must be indoors somewhere, it was lighter in here. "What are you doing" said a distant voice that sounded frightened "You can't do that, you could kill her", she could hear shuffling as if there was a struggle before she felt a sharp pain at the base of her neck, shit they were injecting her with something, her heart racing as she tried to struggle "might do, probably won't but the beauty of ket is that she won't remember nothing" it was an accent she thought bit like Artan but it wasn't his voice. "Leave her here" it was another voice one she hadn't heard before while they were talking but she was sure she knew it if only she could think. She felt woozy, like she had a skinful, but she had less than half a glass of wine, she knew that she had driven here. "What have you given her" the scared voice demanded "What's bloody Ket" and she heard someone laugh. It was a different voice, how many of them were here with her, Molly felt herself getting more confused "Ketamine" "Oh shit, you've bloody killed her, that's what they use to dope horses isn't it" that posh voice again, there was that laugh again "Or girls who are a bit uptight and need to relax".

The posh voice was speaking again as everything seemed to be swirling around in her head "I thought we were just expanding the business, I didn't think…" the voice seemed to trail away. She thought she heard barking and fireworks, why were fireworks going off, it wasn't New Year or November 5th. Was it. No course it wasn't.

-OG-

Jack had pulled up behind Molly's car just outside the yard. He parked up, looked into her car window, just in case she was back at the car and ready to leave, it was dark out here and with her being so short you wouldn't see her above the car seat and headrest. He turned to the gates and walked through, like Molly he noticed the wharf lights on and the van which was all wrong. He scanned the area and saw the porta cabin lights were off. There was definitely something wrong here, his sister's car was here and yet apart from the wharf lights there was no indication that she was here. He pulled out his phone and dialled his brother. He was talking with his brother, saying he couldn't see Molly but her car was here, when the shots rang out. Fuck, it sounded like someone had a machine gun or something with the amount of noise.

"Wait for us Jack" he heard his brother say as he crept forward "Christ, they've shot Bill and Ben" he whispered down the phone to Gary "Jack wait" screamed Gary down the phone. Jack heard a popping noise his eyes following the direction of the noise and he looked straight into a face he recognised. "Jack what's going on" Gary still talking to him as he sunk to his knees, the pain he felt indescribable "I'm in trouble Gary" he whispered hardly able to get the words out he felt so much pain. Where was Molly, had they hurt her like this, he tried to move forward but couldn't as he lay there in the mud his eyes closing with the searing pain he felt in his shoulder. As he lay there he could still hear Gary calling him, screaming his name down the phone, telling him that he was on his way and he would call Dad to get over there, as he was nearer.

Somebody kicked his hand and he dropped his phone, he couldn't hear Gary anymore. He saw a shadow run passed him, heard the gate swing back. As he lay there, he heard the vans doors slam shut and it roared away out the gates. Engines, he could hear engines, the boat was leaving. He hoped his Dad wasn't too long, he felt a bit cold lying here.

-OG-

Dave, Fred and Sam had left the Earl quickly not even bothering to finish their pints. To say that they were all concerned about Gary's phone call was an understatement. They drove to one of their bookies on the estate, Fred walked through to the back and punched in the code to a hidden panel in the wall and they each took one of the guns hidden there. None of them really liked guns but sometimes they were a necessity and tonight was one of them. They certainly never carried them about with them, a tug for a minor misdemeanour could turn into a shit storm if you were carrying. Getting back into the car they floored it to the yard.

With their detour they arrived only minutes before Gary. They were already out the car and loading the guns, the boot lid still open as Gary approached them. Dave passed him a weapon and Gary loaded it. Charles had already walked up and was standing beside Gary. Dave raised his eyebrows and looked across to his son "Didn't realise you were bringing the bleedin army with you" out the corner of his eye spotting Elvis and Georgie also joining them. "Oh gawd and a bleedin skirt an all"

In her wildest dreams Georgie had never envisaged being in the East end of London on a mission that wasn't a simulation exercise, as she looked across to Elvis for support. "She's a medic, if someone is hurt she will know what to do" started Elvis but was talking to Dave's back as he was already walking to the wide open gates of the yard. He had to find his kids, the rest could wait as far as he was concerned, it wasn't open for discussion.

They found Jack pretty quickly lying on the ground. Sam ran to the porta cabin and turned on the lights so they could see most of the yard now. Fred already looking around but there was nothing there, just piles of metal that was due to be shredded. The yard equipment casting shadows over the now lit area. Georgie had already knelt beside Jack, checked for a pulse and was assessing the wounds. Shoulder and upper right chest. She gently turned him and heard him groan, "Shoulder, straight through" she stated noticing the exit wound "chest wound possible punctured lung, heavy blood lose" she barked straight into army medic mode "We need to call an ambulance"

Dave knelt down by his son his heart breaking at the sight of him, he looked so pale. Belinda would be devastated if anything happened to any of their kids. Crickey, he would have to tell her. "Jack" he called "Can you hear me Jack" he felt he was pleading with him to wake up as Jacks eyes fluttered "You hang in there son, your mother will be pissed if you don't make a bit of a bloody effort" and he was rewarded with a small grin from his son "It'll be alright Jack" he felt a lump in his throat and he looked up grimacing at Gary who was kneeling next to him nearly as pale as his brother he was so shocked to find him like this, his face blank of all emotion "This girl here will get you to the hospital" he continued as Georgie's eyes opened wide "We need an ambulance" she tried to insist. Dave stood up his face a stern mask of indifference to her. He looked across to see Fred standing there looking shell shocked at seeing Jack lying there, he had already found Bill and Ben who were a few feet away, both of whom had been shot, he shook his head at what he had seen, the state of them, somebody had taken pleasure out of killing them.

Fred walked towards Jack and crouching down felt in his pockets until he found his car keys, this was hard enough for him seeing Jack like this, he had no idea how Dave must be feeling and looking across to him he looked like he had aged about 10 years in the last 10 minutes. Turning back to Georgie and Elvis who was standing next to her he passed the keys to Elvis "Look son I've only met you a few times through our Charles and I'm taking you on trust here mate, so take Jacks car and deliver him to the nearest hospital"

"We can't move him" started Georgie "We need to call an ambulance"

"We'll have the cops crawling all over this place if we do that" he sighed looking sideways at Dave who was still kneeling next to his son and Gary looking like his world was ending tonight. He handed the keys to Elvis giving him a hard stare as Elvis looked to Charles for guidance. Charles wasn't sure about any of this, they should surely get the police involved but as he looked at Dave and Gary, their concern for Jack and they still hadn't found Molly yet he somehow felt that he should agree with his uncle and do what he said. He nodded towards Elvis, who gave a slight nod back and between Elvis, Sam and Fred they lifted Jack and put him on the back seat of his car. Georgie sitting in the back with him, keeping up the pressure "You tell the law you found him in the back of his car outside the club" ordered Fred. Elvis wasn't happy about this at all, what had started as a nice weekend in London with Georgie was turning into a nightmare, what the hell was Charles up to, and Molly, where was she and more importantly what were her family involved in. He trusted Charlie, knew him, and served with him so he would do as he was asked but he would certainly be having a quiet chat with him after this was all over. He too had gone over to look at the so called beasts, whatever they were that's what they looked like now. He had been to war zones, so was not necessarily shocked at the sight, what did shock him though was that it was a pair of dogs in a scrap yard in East London and it looked like Jack could consider himself very lucky he was still breathing.

As soon as the car carrying Jack sped away it galvanised both Dave and Gary to continue their search for Molly closely followed by Fred, Sam and Charles who had been getting increasingly worried after having seen Jack and now seen Bill and Ben. More than anything he hoped she hadn't befallen the same fate as the beasts and Jack. That she was still alright. He didn't know what he would do if she wasn't, how he would cope without her, she had become so important to him over the last year. He felt sick about what they might find.

They all started walking slowly towards the warehouse noticing that the lights were on inside. Charles was now the only one there that was unarmed and he couldn't help but feel that this was all a little bit wrong, he was the only one in the army and trained to shoot. He could almost feel their adrenaline pumping as they moved forward into the warehouse and hoped that they didn't just randomly fire indiscriminately and shoot Molly, she could be in there somewhere. He needn't have worried, they all knew what was at stake here, they wouldn't be taking any risks.

Gary was the first to notice a chair to the side of the huge warehouse with someone sitting on it, their head down and covered with a hessian sack. "Molly" he called out, he would know his sister anywhere and without any thought started to run towards her, not once thinking if anyone was still here and pointing a gun at him. Charles likewise, spun round as soon as he heard Gary call out and saw the head lift. He pushed the three older men out the way to follow Gary's path to Molly, she definitely moved, she was still alive under that head covering.

Gary got there first and pulled the sack from her head, Charles noticed that her arms were taped to the chair so she couldn't move. As his eyes lifted to her face he saw the blood from her nose and cut lip and he felt a burning rage that someone would hit her and tie her up like this. He could see that her eyes were swollen and red from crying. "Hello Gaz" she slurred her head wobbling on her shoulders unable to hold it straight, her voice sounded raspy from all the screaming and crying she had done when she realised, she was on her own "Is she pissed" said Sam and Gary moved closer held his sisters head and using his thumbs opened her eyes properly "No, she ain't pissed look at her eyes, she's doped to the eyeballs". Charles dropped to his knees next to her as Gary cut her bindings and she looked across at him grinning "Hello Charlie, missed you" as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He could hear Dave snort in the background "of all the times to announce that you and her are an item and she bloody well picks now" he knelt down in front of her "Molly love, what happened". She turned to look at him her face full of confusion as to where she was and what was she doing here, and why were they all here too. She felt her eyes fill with tears again as she shook her head trying to remember but it all seemed so hazy, like a dream and she wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't. She reached out her hand to touch Dave's face the tears starting to spill down her cheeks, his heart racing with rage at the look in her eyes "Dad, you're here" she sighed "I remember thinking that boat shouldn't have been here and coming back to the yard, and there were men here and I'm sure I know them, somebody gave me a clump on me boat" and she winced as her fingers touched her lip.

Dave helped his daughter stand up, holding her in a tight embrace that she appeared to be fine, although drugged up with something. Belinda was going to have a blue fit about all of this, Jack shot and Molly whacked and drugged. He suddenly remembered all the extra security they had secretly added to the site after they found out the Albanians were trying to cash in and use their boats for smuggling. Not only had they added in the extra cameras and security they had also altered the hidden compartments in the containers. They were only bringing in fake booze and bricks of Coke from time to time other things if they were asked by one of their friends. Nothing big so they reduced the length and depth of the compartments. Whatever these bastards were up to hopefully it had failed. It had probably worked out safer to spread the loads over multiple containers anyway and it had worked well for them for quite a while now.

Fred gave a small cough to bring them back to here and now reminding them there was still work to do tonight. "Charlie take Molly's car and get her home"

"No" piped up Dave "I need to speak with Bells, tell her about Jack, she will want to go straight to the hospital and she ain't gonna be happy if she sees the state of Molls either" he took in a deep breath he really wasn't looking forward to having to tell Belinda about Jack but he had to do it "The old bat can look after Martin, but I'm not having her give our Molls one of her tongue lashings while she is like this"

"I'll take her to the hospital" said Charles he was very concerned about the state of Molly, who knows what she had been given, she certainly seemed very unsteady on her feet judging by the way Dave was holding her up.

"No" said Fred and Dave in unison, Dave staring blankly at Charles and shaking his head "The cops are gonna be all over this with Jack, take Molly in too and we ain't gonna be able to move without having to swat a blue bottle" he looked across to Fred before turning his eyes back to Charles "You were going to stay with your brother at the casino, weren't you" and Charles nodded "Take her there, she can stay in the flat with the pair of you until her head is straight" he walked closer to Charles "I expect the pair of you to make sure she stays safe, while we figure out what has happened here tonight"

All of them walked towards the gates and Molly's car, putting her into the front seat and closing the door. Dave couldn't help but keep looking at the changing expressions on his daughters face, fear, worry and confusion as she tried to piece the hazy images together as to what had happened. They just had to hope that it was all clearer in the morning.

Charles was standing next to the driver's door as Dave continued to hand out tasks. He had always found Dave to be the joker of the group, always very bonhomie, him Fred and Sam always trying to outdo each other on the jokes and pranks. He had never seen Dave this angry, he had never seen his Uncle Fred with such a determined expression on his face. He was certainly seeing a different side to them tonight.

"Right Gary and I will go to Wanstead and tell Belinda, well if the cops haven't already been. We'll go to the hospital from there" turning to Fred and Sam "You two go through every one of the security camera's footage and see if those toe rags were silly enough to get themselves on candid camera." Looking at Fred "Once you have all the details, destroy the files" then looking back towards the yard "and can you do me a favour Fred" and he felt his voice crack as Fred nodded "get one of the digger drivers to dig a hole for me mate, there is a nice bit of waste ground with a bit of grass behind the porta cabin" he pinched the bridge of his nose digging his fingers into the corner of his eyes and coughed "bury the dogs and make sure it don't look like it's been recently dug, we can't have the cops round here and digging them up and finding them full of fucking bullets"

"We could weigh them down put them in the river Dad" Dave swung round to his son raising an eyebrow and speaking sharply "Do you want to tell your sister that's what we did when she finds out they're dead" Gary hung his head, shaking it. Molly would go mental if they did that, and although the whole family had called them the beasts, they all loved those bloody great hairy things. He felt like crying himself, he would miss the way they ran up wagging their tails as soon as any of them came here. Dave had a sudden flashback of Martin on Bill's back riding him like a bloody horse round the house. He had to pull himself together or he would be blubbering himself any minute. There was far too much to do, people to see and payback for what had been done here tonight.

-OG-

Fred and Sam stood at the gates watching as Molly's car driven by Charles and Gary driving his, with a very pale and worried Dave as his passenger, all left. "I'll bring my car into the yard" said Sam in a strained voice "We can close the gates turn off some of these bleedin lights before anyone realises there is something going on here"

"Good idea" sounding equally strained and torn between wanting to go to the hospital and see how young Jack was and finding out who the scrot was that shot him. "I'll get the kettle on in the cabin, this is gonna be a long night" They were both seated with mugs of coffee in the porta cabin. Fred looked up the number of Terry one of the drivers, who had worked with them for years down here, definitely trustworthy and he was sure he could come and help do the business. Terry couldn't believe that the dogs were dead, he knew they were getting older and slowing up a bit, once you got over your initial shock at the size of the bloody things they were smashing dogs, really friendly, all the men who worked here liked em and gave them bits of their sandwiches. Bloody good bark on them though if someone they didn't know came in. He was going to miss them. "I'll get Colin to help if you don't mind Fred, try and get the grass up so we can lay it back down again after"

"Thanks Terry, there will be a wedge for the pair of you and I think you both know that Molly will be happy if you make a good job of it"

"Christ she must be gutted" Fred didn't answer, there was nothing to say, yes she would be when she found out and they still had to tell her about her brother. That girl was going to be in a world of pain when she woke up tomorrow. "The gates are closed but not locked" Fred responded "bring your car in"

"OK Fred see you in about half an hour then"

-OG-

While he had been talking with Terry, Sam had booted up the PC and started opening up the files for the different cameras and tonight's recordings. The first file showed the camera on the wharf. They saw the boat dock and both of them looked at each other, it was one they had used many times over the years, they knew the Master, he was on their payroll, they would certainly be having words when he next docked. Why didn't he think to call any of them, surely he must have realised this wasn't one of their normal exports. They saw the Captain come onto the wharf and the back of a man coming to greet him, shaking his hand in recognition, again they looked at each other. If this had happened before they would have seen it. The two men had a brief conversation, the Captain returning to his boat and the other man turned and they got full view of him. By the end of the video they realised that nothing had been loaded, three men were arguing, the crates were still on the dock as they picked them up. They could see the boat moving off.

"Shit" they said in unison, having recognised him instantly. No wonder the captain hadn't queried anything it was only bloody Derek. "You know" said Sam in almost a whisper "I always wondered about him after that job back in 81 or 82 when it all went tits up and Dave got sent down"

"The job was in 81 Sam, but by the time Dave got out of hospital and it went to court it was 82" growled Fred he would never be able to forget when he left his mate "That Judas has been playing us all these fucking years"

"Let's watch the next file" said Sam "He weren't alone was he, we know that much" and he clicked on the file launching the recording, which still showed the wharf in the background but was further into the yard. They saw as the white van came into view and a man got out and opened the rear doors, another man got out of the driver's door and seemed to vanish off screen but they couldn't see where he was at the moment. Another man also got out and started walking towards the rear of the van. The camera caught both their faces, none of them aware that there were security cameras, they hadn't bothered to cover their faces even though they were wearing dark clothing. They both knew who they were and Sam looked out of the corner of his eye to see how Fred was going to react He saw him draw in his lips to a thin grim line, his eyes narrowing they looked almost black instead of their normal dark brown, even his skin colour looked like it had paled, his mouth opening and closing as if he wanted to say something but just couldn't get the words out.

"Come on Fred" said Sam gently "We still ain't got the full story yet, we just know that he's involved" Fred nodded and they moved onto the next file, this showed the side of the porta cabin and out onto the main part of the yard. They saw what they already knew and the van drive in and it picked up all four of their faces in the front. They fast forwarded a bit and saw Molly come into view. She was creeping close to the porta cabin. They saw her lift her hand as if she recognised someone, well she would wouldn't she. She didn't see the man behind her before the sack was pulled over her head. They could see her struggle and saw the man pull back his arm and hit her with his fist. Watched while she staggered back and fell down. They couldn't see his face only the rear of him as he went to grab her again, even with her head covered they could see she was trying to fight him off, they could clearly see her hand near his face, looked like he might have scratch marks. He pulled his arm back and hit her again when Andrew ran up trying to stop him it was only seconds but they could see her go limp, she stopped struggling. They could see that Andrew was arguing with this man and neither of them knew him. Derek and Artan both came back into view. The one they didn't recognise started to carry Molly off. All of them vanished out of shot, heading towards their warehouse which is where they found Molly tied up.

Artan came back into view within seconds and they were trying to work out what he had in his hands although the quality of their cameras fairly good the lighting was dim and it was difficult to make out until they saw him turn and there were flashes of light.

"Shit" exclaimed Sam "It was him that killed Bill and Ben, look at it" they were both transfixed as they continued to watch, waiting but fearful of what they were going to see next. It was Jack running into view but the man they didn't know was back, he pulled something from the back of his jeans and there was a blinding flash of light. They saw that Jack still had his arm up his hand to his ear, talking with his brother. Couldn't stop looking as he fell to his knees his arm out and trying to crawl forward. The man who they didn't know who had hit Molly and carried her off, was grinning and kicked the phone away, Andrew tried to pull him away but he shoved him as he shot Jack again. They hadn't been able to stop watching as it all unfolded both grateful that Dave wasn't here and horrified that people they knew were involved. Shocked that someone they trusted would go up against them. They watched as Andrew looked on open mouthed and horrified, watched as he looked between the dogs and Jack, then he took off. They assumed from the angle, he ran to the gates. He didn't help Jack or Molly, he fucking legged it. They both wished they had sound because Derek was speaking. It wasn't long before the van left the site.

"Do we look at the last file Fred" and if he was being honest he really didn't want to, that would be in the warehouse itself. "Do you think, do you think they…" and he couldn't get the words out. Fred shook his head "Nah didn't look like it, reckon they just tied her up, frightened her a bit, drugged her with whatever it was they gave her, tying her to a chair with a sack over her head was gonna give her a bad trip" clenching his fists "They'll fucking pay for that"

"Look mate" sighed Sam and he couldn't imagine how his friend must be feeling after seeing these files, knowing that his own nephew was in on it, although it did look like it all got out of hand, not what he was expecting.

"Don't make excuses for him" and all he could think about was wringing his bloody neck when he caught up with him and that would be a mercy because if Dave did, it didn't bear thinking about "It's one thing going against us, even I could see he had bitten more than he could chew" taking a lung full of air as if he couldn't breathe "but he legged it, he could have phoned me, told me they were in trouble, but he didn't he left them here" flexing his fingers into fists "left them to fuckin die"

"I don't know what to say mate"

"Don't say nothing" he sighed "I'll deal with him" and he stood up his expression blank

-OG-

Charles was pulling up in the side turning behind the Casino. He could see that it was still open, he had never understood how people could gamble like that. He looked across to Molly whose head was resting against the window and she looked like she was asleep. He wasn't sure that Dave was right about not taking her to the hospital, she seemed unaware of what had gone on tonight. He turned the engine off and got out to go round to the passenger side opening the door "Molly come on I need to get you upstairs" her eyes flickered and she grinned "You trying to lure me into bed Charlie" as her arms wound around his neck. He couldn't help but snigger "I don't think you are in any fit state Molls" as he put his arms around her waist lifting her up to a standing position as she staggered against him. He locked the car and started guiding her slowly to the rear entrance of the Casino that would take them up to the flat and private areas. She giggled as she pushed him against the wall "You need to loosen up a bit Charlie" she felt like she was floating on air, whatever it was that she had drunk tonight had certainly made her want to tell him things. Did Charlie not realise just how much she loved him, had done ever since she saw him with that blonde and he only thought of her as that little kid that came to visit. Where had he vanished to, all she could see was his chest "I've shrunk Charlie, how did you get right up there" he laughed "You haven't shrunk, you're just not wearing those bloody stilettos of yours" she was well out of it and again he thought about the wisdom of not taking her to the hospital. She looked up and grinned "Oh yeah, I can see you now". She must have banged into both walls as he tried to guide her up the stairs and in the end he thought it safer that he just picked her up and carried her to the flat.

Her arms wrapped around his neck and he could feel her breath on his neck as she started to kiss his neck, Oh god now she was starting on his ear. "Stop it Molly" he didn't mean it to come out harshly but she thought he did her eyes glistening like emeralds as she stared at him. He put her down at the door and unlocked it using the key his brother had given him, guiding her through the hall and into the spare room. He noted that lights were on in the flat which surprised him as he thought Andrew would still be down in the Casino.

Molly saw the bed it didn't look familiar but she was feeling incredibly tired and pulled back the covers and got in pulling them up round her neck. Charles sat next to her "Come on Molls, I didn't mean it like that, you can't go to sleep dressed like that" as he tried to pull back the covers. She wasn't going to open her eyes, she felt really woozy and the room had only just stopped spinning "Piss off Charles, I can do what I like, you don't own me" and she yanked the covers over herself again, turning her back on him. He ran his fingers through her long and now tangled hair pushing it away from her face sighing as he did it "I didn't mean it Molly, not like you think, tonight has been difficult and there are things I am going to have to tell you later when you're feeling a bit better" he bent down and kissed her on her cheek, she still wasn't opening her eyes "I love you, you know that" She still didn't open her eyes "Did I make a complete tit of myself in front of Elvis and Georgie" and he saw a tear trickle out of her closed eye and across her nose ""No of course you didn't" she really couldn't remember what had happened tonight and at some point he was going to have to tell her that her brother had been shot "I'll go and make a cup of tea for you" as he got up and left the room.

-OG-

He jumped out of his skin as he flicked on the switch for the kettle and realised that his brother was sitting in darkness in the kitchen.

"Fuck" he exclaimed bringing his hand to his chest as he saw his brother looking pale a bottle of whisky next to him and a half empty glass. "She alright" asked Andrew which made Charles frown and sit down next to his brother. Andrew was staring into space, not even listening for an answer so engrossed in his thoughts. He stood up and got another glass from the cupboard pushing it in Charles direction.

He'd been thinking all evening ever since he ran from the yard after Victor had shot Jack. He had listened to Derek and the whisperings in his ear, ever since he had come to work with his Uncle Fred, that the firm could be bigger and more profitable if it wasn't for the old fashioned attitudes of Fred, Dave and Sam, if they wanted to stay ahead of the game they had to move with the times. If they could prove that the new lines of imports and exports were infinitely more profitable than scrap metal and a bit of counterfeit booze then they could be raking it in. Guns and heroin was the way to go, it didn't occur to him to consider who the guns or heroin were being sold to. That the people who dealt in those sorts of commodities were very dangerous people. He just thought of the money. As he sat there sinking the bottle of whisky he thought about his life, it was moneyed and privileged in comparison to the Dawes upbringing, even his mum and Fred told him how tough it was in the east end, their dad having run off when they were kids, which is why he never knew his granddad from his mother's side. He just thought that he could prove himself to his Uncle Fred and make a mint with very little effort. He was naturally lazy, which is why he bombed out of Uni for selling drugs, it was easy to get the students to buy, a captured market. It had always seemed a glamourous life, the one his Uncle Fred led, he never seemed to work that hard but always had money. Now for the first time he saw the other side to the life, he couldn't believe that Artan and Victor had just shot Jack and those bloody dogs without any compunction, drugged Molly. What had he done, just run, couldn't face it, thought it would be easy just shipping those guns, there was a huge profit in the sale. They hadn't even managed that, they wouldn't fit in the hidden compartments. The sizes had been changed and the crates wouldn't fit, Victor had been bloody furious. It would take too long to strip them down and the captain wouldn't wait. The whole thing was a bloody mess and now he had learnt a valuable lesson, he really wasn't cut out for the rough stuff. It was bad enough when Artan opened fire on the dogs like that, but when Victor shot Jack that's when he thought he would be sick.

Now here he was sitting in his kitchen waiting to be told that Jack was dead and he was a part of it. Not once did it occur to him to think of his father and Charles and where those guns were going to end up. The fact they were going out in bulk should have told him it wasn't some gang war, this was an organised supply chain. How could he have been so bloody stupid.

He told Charles everything and watched the look of despair on his face, not a word from him saying how disappointed he was in his older brother, just that look of disappointment the same one their father had given him when he didn't try hard enough. Charles stood up not having touched his drink, grabbed a mug out the cupboard and a tea bag making a cup of tea his only words that he couldn't leave Molly too long and walked back into the spare room. Leaving him there with his thoughts and a half drunk bottle of whisky.

-OG-

Charles walked back into the spare room. He couldn't believe what his brother had told him about tonight and his involvement. He hadn't said anything, he wanted to tell him that he could be selling guns to terrorists who could ultimately shoot one of his men. He wanted to shout and scream at him, ask how he got himself involved in something so stupid and dangerous, he's the older brother, the one who should be sensible. He wanted to hit Andrew for what he had allowed to happen to Molly and Jack. The fact he hadn't heard anything from Elvis or Dave he had to assume that Jack was holding his own, was still alive. He wished he could go down there and check, Jack and he had always got on well, being virtually the same age, and he wanted to know that he was alright, but he was needed here. There was no way he was leaving Molly, he couldn't trust his brother. He stopped in his tracks, he couldn't trust his own brother, he never in a million years thought he would ever think such a thing. Again he wondered at the wisdom of staying here and should he really just take her to the hospital.

He looked down at a sleeping Molly, her lip swollen and split from being hit and still to find out about her brother and the dogs, that Artan and his brother were involved. Should he tell her or leave it to Dave. He put the tea down on the bedside table and sat down next to her. Since he had been gone she had turned towards the middle of the bed. She stirred and turned onto her back opening an eye and grinning at him "I made you a tea" he said

She looked around the room not recognising it "Where am I" lifting the quilt and looking down at herself in her underwear "Did you take me clothes off" and he shook his head "No you must have done that while I was making you a tea, you're in the flat over the Casino"

"Did something happen tonight Charlie" she asked, he could see that she was confused a frown on her face, her eyes showing worry. The look of concentration on her face as she tried desperately to remember what had happened and what was just a dream. He nodded "Drink your tea Molls, it'll make you feel better, I'll get you some water for later" as he stood up "You are coming back ain't you Charlie" looking worried and still not sure what was happening, why she wasn't at home. He nodded and kissed the top of her head sighing "I'll be back in a minute with some water"

It didn't take him long and he completely ignored his brother who was still in the kitchen drinking. He filled a big glass of water and walked back to the bedroom. She was still drinking the tea he had brought in, a deep frown on her face as she looked up at him as he came back in. He put the water on the cabinet next to her. She put the mug down, looking at him with those intense green eyes of hers. "I know I was in the club, and I remember going back to the yard, there were people there, I'm sure I know them but I just can't get their faces to focus" He turned off the main light the bedside lamp creating a warm dim glow about the room. "I heard noises, people talking but it's all jumbled" her voice starting to get agitated "I promise I ain't been drinking Charlie, I drove my car to the yard" He took his shoes and socks off before sliding in next to her.

"Has something happened to Jack" her voice hitched as she leant across towards him. Charles lifted his arm wrapping it around her shoulder and pulling her across so her head was now laying on his shoulder "I'm sure I heard him call me". Charles sighed, he could no longer put off telling her, gathering her into his arms as he told her what had happened this evening.

The hazy images she had in her head suddenly becoming vivid but still not entirely sure what she actually remembered as she gripped hold of Charles her arm around his waist, her head moving down to his chest as she listened to his quiet voice telling her that her brother had been shot. They had found him in the yard, Georgie had stopped the bleeding and both her and Elvis had taken him to hospital, he had lost a lot of blood but he was alive.

He told her that they had found Bill and Ben and they were both dead and he was so very sorry, he knew she loved them but they had been trying to save her and Jack. She had been drugged and she should go to sleep, let it wear off and he would take her to the hospital to see her brother first thing in the morning. Her Dad knows where she is and he is at the hospital with Belinda and Gary, Dave didn't want her dealing with the police while she was drugged. She didn't make a sound, just nodded occasionally, didn't ask questions, and quietly listened as he told her everything he knew. He slid down the bed so they were both lying down, kissing her on the top of her head and whispering, everything would be fine, she was safe pulling her as close to his side as he could and holding her tight as her quiet sobs subsided and finally she was asleep again, his own eyes starting to close as he knew she was safe and the tiredness washed over him with the events of the night and what was yet to come.

-OG-

Charles felt like he had barely closed his eyes when he heard the front door bang into the wall and heard footsteps walking quickly up the hall. This was quickly followed by a loud crash in the kitchen and what sounded like glass breaking. Molly briefly stirred but he shushed her and she rolled over and went back to sleep. He got out of bed quietly going through into the hall to investigate.

"Uncle Fred what are you doing" he called trying to pull his uncle off Andrew. He had him pinned against the kitchen cabinets his forearm across his throat "Piss off Charles, this is between me and this treacherous snake". Still Charles pulled his uncle off Andrew "Lets calm this down" he ordered "talk about it rationally"

"Rationally, rationally he says" Fred's eyes blazing as he turned to face Charles "Do you know what he has been up to, do you know what he has done tonight" Charles nodded "He told me when we got here" Fred virtually threw Andrew across the room before sitting down on one of the kitchen chairs.

Fred was still shaking his head, the disgust clearly visible on his face and clenching his fists trying to contain his anger "You have absolutely no idea what you have done tonight do you" spoken through gritted teeth "Do you think it's like that bleedin film with those Kemp brothers, that it was all glamour, you'll get a pretty bird on your arm, plenty of cash on the hip and no one's gonna do nothing if you start a fucking war going around shooting people" Fred shook his head looking down at the whisky bottle nearly empty before looking at his nephew "It was a bleedin film, it was never like that, they were vicious and you would already be on the permanent missing list"

"I'm sorry Uncle" as Fred continued to stare at Andrew he was reminded of the small boy and he suddenly saw what had always been in front of his nose, that he always wanted something, never satisfied with what he had. If he had Beth and his upbringing, father fucked off and mother working all hours to put food on the table would he have turned out different from the spoilt brat sitting in front of him. "Derek reckoned that the business would be more profitable with guns, he said I should prove myself and then when we had the business up and running you would realise this was the way to modernise, give people what they want now"

"You still don't get it do you, that this is nothing new, they were selling guns for big profits back in the sixties" Fred poured himself a large whisky from the bottle that was still on the table, sighing and taking a large gulp from the glass, hoping it would calm him "You didn't get the guns away did you, we were onto him" leaning forward closer to Andrew who had picked himself up off the floor and had just sat at the chair opposite "Victor and Artan, your business partners, do you know what else they are into or didn't you bother to ask" Andrew shook his head "I know they wanted to bring in drugs, they said you did it" his chin jutting out, and Fred nodded, saddened that his nephew had wanted into this life but was so naive he hadn't got a clue. "We bring in fake booze but that just means the tax man doesn't get his cut, but who cares about him" Fred shrugged "You are right we do bring in some Coke but it is not widely distributed, it mainly stays in our clubs, our dealers, our suppliers all controlled, we don't want some kid coming into the club and buying off some skanky idiot who has no idea how it was cut and dropping down dead as a result." He sighed "This is our way of trying to keep our clubs clean"

"I didn't realise" said Andrew quietly

"You didn't ask did you" responded Fred his anger starting to mount again at the arrogance of youth "Do you know what else your new mates get up to" and Andrew shook his head "So you don't know about the trafficking of girls who come believing they have jobs as waitresses or nannies" Andrew shook his head again his eyes opening wide and wondering what his uncle was going to tell him "Didn't think so, young girls brought here, given a bit of GHB or Ket, makes them easy to manage see" he paused narrowing his eyes at his nephew before lifting them to Charles who was leaning against the kitchen cabinet, looking back at Andrew he continued "Then they get them on the heroin or crack after that they will do anything, literally anything to get their next fix" Andrew was horrified as his imagination started to work overtime at what some of these girls might be expected to do.

Fred let that sink in for a minute while he drank more of the whisky "You ran off Andrew, if Jack hadn't been on the phone to Gary when he was shot, if they hadn't realised that help was coming, what do you think they would have done with our Molly". Charles stood up straight horrified at what his uncle was implying, that Molly could have vanished to god knows where. He walked to the cupboard and pulled a glass out, he wasn't really a whisky drinker but right now he felt he needed one. He sat down with his uncle and his brother and poured himself a large measure "Does Dave know all this" and Fred nodded

"The conundrum we have is you betrayed us, your family Andrew" his eyes boring into Andrews "You also ran out on your business partners, who know you are a witness to what happened"

"What can I do to help" asked Charles realising instantly that if he thought this night was trouble what came next was going to be even worse

"What are you gonna do Charles, get your squaddies to come in all guns blazing, cos that's what's gonna have to happen now after what he's done" Fred nodded in Andrews direction who was now looking very pale and worried, his uncle implying that both Dave and Derek would probably be after his blood now.

Fred swallowed the last of his whisky in one gulp standing up and putting his glass back on the table "I'm going to the hospital now, see if Jack has come through his operations OK" turning to Charles "I know you will make sure Molly is safe for what's left of tonight and bring her to the hospital in the morning" then finally looking at his other nephew Andrew a look that was a combination of disgust and disappointment "You stay here, they will be looking for you so best you don't let anyone in"

"What's going to happen Uncle Fred" he asked more frightened than he had ever been. Fred shrugged "Don't know yet son, but whatever it is you will be there to watch the consequences of what you have done tonight"

"I can't Uncle, I just can't"

"You will" Fred growled at him

"Will Dave kill me" Fred laughed, actually laughed and Andrew couldn't believe it "No Dave won't kill you" Fred had known Dave since childhood and he knew he wouldn't do that. Andrew was Beth's son and his nephew, Dave would leave it to him to decide what was to happen to him "Although after what you've done he would be within his rights" he walked up close to Andrew leaning down into his space "But you won't ever be included in the business again" he put his hand on his shoulder "Trust and loyalty is what is needed in our game and you have neither". Andrew had never felt so ashamed in his entire life. What on earth possessed him to listen to that bloody Derek, he thought he could handle this sort of life, it was exciting. His Uncle Fred, Sam and the Dawes family were never going to trust him again after this. What would he do now, or more importantly what could he do now.