Chapter 3

August 1988

Jim sits on his bed by the window in the room given to him in the care home where he and Irene had been taken to after discovering their father's body. Jim looks out of the window and watches the other children play in the garden. A knock sounds at the door. Jim turns his head to look. Irene stands framed in the doorway. Jim offers her a small smile. 'Still not speaking?' Jim shakes his head. 'Please, I need you speak.' Tears start to fall down her cheeks. Jim opens his arms to her and folds them around her. He rubs her back and rests his chin on her shoulder. 'Please Jimmy.' She whispers into his neck 'Please speak.' Jim pulls back and looks at her tear stained face. He smiles weakly and brushes hair off her forehead.

'Happy birthday Rene.' He rasps. Irene smiles broadly and pulls him into a tight hug.

'Ahh look at the freaks. The wimp and the mute.' An older boy enters the room smirking. Irene flinches.

'Leave us alone.'

'The mute speaks.' The boy sniggers as Jim's expression sours. He pushes Irene onto the bed and stands up. Irene grabs at her twin brother's arm. She pulls him back and whispers in his ear. Jim smiles evilly as Irene smiles seductively at the boy. He steps back suddenly nervous.

'Leave…' Jim coughs to clear his throat 'Leave us alone or the house parents will find out who really destroyed the kitchen.' The boy glares at the two of them. The twins look back.

'You wouldn't dare.'

'Try us.' Irene replies. She steps forward and the boy turns and flees. The evil and seductive expressions fall from their faces as the boy's footsteps pound down the corridor. 'What's wrong Jimmy?'

'Mummy doesn't love us.' Jim slumps onto his bed. Irene sits next to him and pulls her knees to her chest.

'Why doesn't she?'

'Mummy would have come and got us by now.'

'She promised that she wouldn't attempt to find us.'

'Mummy would be Daddy's next of kin. She would be told that he's dead.' Irene stares at the duvet.

'She hasn't been told.' Jim looks at her suspiciously.

'Why?' Irene shrugs and looks at her twin. 'How do you know?'

'I heard our social worker tell the manager.' Jim moves across his bed to look out of the window. He stabs at the window.

'Rene come here.' Irene scrambles across to the window. 'See that boy?'

'In the blue jumper?'

'With the hood up yeah.' Irene looks at her brother. 'His dad is a thief.'

'What does that mean?'

'His dad taught him.' Irene looks at her brother quizzically before understanding she grins.

'Want me to go and get him?' Jim smiles. Irene climbs off the bed and Jim watches her leave the room. Minutes later she watches her cross the garden and approach the thief's son.

Irene tugs on the sleeve of jumper worn by the son of the thief. He pushes her away forcing her to fall. Undeterred, she regains her feet and pushes the boy into the tree he was leaning against. She stands her ground as he turns on her. 'What do you want Shorty?'

'My name is Irene.' She points up at Jim's window. 'My twin brother wants to talk to you.'

'Get lost, tell your brother to get lost as well.' The boy turns his back on her. She glances up to the window. Jim raises his hand and rubs his thumb on his fingers. Irene pokes the boy. He turns back to her. 'Don't you listen shorty?'

'It's Irene. He wants to make a deal.'

'I'm listening.' Irene smiles but walks towards the house. The boy looks at her retreating back. 'What's the deal?' she glances over her shoulder then enters the house. Minutes later, she appears at the window next to her brother. The boy watches them watch him. Seconds pass before Jim shrugs and the twins retreat away from the window.

Irene and Jim sit on Jim's bed studiously ignoring the window. Irene gets of the bed and walks past the window to the bedside table. She opens the drawer and takes out Jim's pack of cards. 'What are we playing?' she asks as she climbs back onto the bed.

'Irish Snap.' Irene shuffles the cards and deals them out. As they each gather up their allocated cards the boy appears at the door. Neither of them acknowledge his presence until their game is well underway. 'I thought you weren't coming.' Jim declares keeping his eyes on the game.

'What's the deal?'

'We want to take a look at our files.'

'And?'

'In return for your help we'll give you two weeks pocket money.'

'What's your name kid?'

'James.'

'Aren't you the mute boy?'

'Evidently I'm not.' Jim scowls at the boy.

'No but you were.' Jim ignores him preferring to concentrate on the card game. 'Ok James, it's a deal. I'll help you break in to the office so you can look at your files in return for ten pounds.' Jim frowns.

'He's right Jimmy.' Irene reassures Jim. 'We get two pounds fifty a week each right?' Jim nods 'two pounds fifty plus two pounds fifty is?'

'Five pounds.' Jim smiles. He looks up at the boy 'what's your name?'

'Lawrence Cavendish.'

'Right Lawrence, deal.' He sticks his hand out to Lawrence who steps into the room and shakes it.

'When?'

'Tomorrow night, 11o'clock. Rene will be lookout.' Lawrence nods and leaves the twins to their game.

'Happy birthday Jimmy.'

Violet sets a large cake down on the table where Mycroft is solving puzzles. Sherlock sits in his high chair and bangs his hand on the tray. Mycroft looks at his younger brother 'Lockie, stop that please.' Sherlock giggles and reaches out for his brother. Violet lifts him out of the chair and sets him on her hip. She tickles his chin making him giggle again. Mycroft glances at the cake then up to his mother.

'Yes Croft, is there are problem?'

'I didn't say anything Mummy.'

'I got your drift though young man.' Mycroft smiles nervously.

'Cake. Mama cake.'

'Yes, Sherlock, there's a cake on the table.'

'Mama I wanna cake.'

'Lockie.'

'Mama I want cake.'

'Better Lockie but?'

'Mama I want cake pwease.'

'Better again but it will do for now.' Violet reseats him in his high chair before cutting the cake. As she cuts the first slice she closes her eyes to make a wish. Mycroft copies his mother's actions and also makes a wish. Sherlock watches the both of them and sticks his thumb in his mouth,

'Mama, CAKE!' Mycroft and Violet open their eyes and share a sad smile.

'Okay Sherlock.' Mycroft reaches over to his brother and gently makes Sherlock remove his thumb from his mouth. Violet plates up three slices of the cake and dices one of the slices up before giving it to Sherlock. She gives Mycroft a second plate and sits down opposite Mycroft with the third slice. As she nibbles her slice she watch Sherlock make a mess with his slice and Mycroft absentmindedly eating his whilst solving various puzzles. 'Happy Birthday Rene, Jimmy.' She murmurs under her breath.