Queen of diamonds, p.1
Queen of Diamonds, page 1
QUEEN OF DIAMONDS
GILLIAN GODDEN
To Avril, thank you for your support.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Acknowledgments
More from Gillian Godden
About the Author
Peaky Readers
About Boldwood Books
1
THE DIAMOND LADY
The sound of bagpipes echoed through the streets of Glasgow as Beryl Diamond’s horse-drawn funeral carriage passed through. On one side of the carriage ‘Nana’ had been spelled out in beautiful red roses and on the other side was simply ‘Diamond’ in yellow ones. People came out of shops and stopped whatever they were doing to say their last farewell to the matriarch of Thistle Park Estate.
Patsy looked out of the window of the sleek black car that followed the carriage and saw the burnt-out remains of what had once been her car, and was now the last resting place of Natasha, Nick Diamond’s mistress. The car had burst into flames following a well-timed explosion from Patsy and her newfound friends in the name of justice. Patsy had discovered that Natasha had killed Nick out of jealousy and had been prepared to let his beloved nana, Beryl, take the blame for it.
‘This is so touching Patsy; no one would ever give me a send-off like this. Look, there are hundreds of people lining the streets.’ Nick’s mother, Victoria, brushed away a tear from her eye, feeling the emotion of the day building up inside of her.
‘Well, it would be touching if it wasn’t for the sound of those bagpipes. Christ, I can’t hear myself think. It sounds like cats fighting. But I know what you mean Victoria, she might have been an old cow at times, but this is real community spirit. They have known her and her family for years; she was one of the old matriarchs of Glasgow and it’s just a shame she isn’t here to see it, although she would have found something to moan about.’ They smiled at each other and Patsy reached out for Victoria’s hand, squeezing it comfortingly.
‘She was my mother-in-law Patsy, so today, for her last procession through Glasgow, we only speak well of her. I’m so pleased that no one knows that she made that silly confession on her death bed about killing Nicky. All everyone knows now is that the police have come to a dead end and put the case on hold until new information turns up, which we both know it won’t.’ Victoria cast Patsy a knowing look. ‘She did it to protect her family, her great-grandson and even Natasha.’
‘Natasha got her just desserts Victoria. Whatever you feel inside about what I did, you know I did it for Beryl and for Nick. He was my husband, and although he was going to leave me for Natasha, he didn’t deserve to be shot because of her jealousy. Beryl and I started getting on well at the end, even if it had taken fifteen years for us to do so. So let’s smile and have a drink to send her on her way.’
‘And what about Natasha?’ Victoria spoke in a hushed whisper so that the chauffeur who drove them couldn’t hear anything.
‘What about her? She had her own cremation, and we can’t exactly sieve through the ashes of the car to bury what’s left of her. She brought it on herself. She lied and deceived all of us. Good riddance to her Victoria, that’s what I say.’
‘Are those the words of a scorned wife or her murderer Patsy?’ The stern look Victoria gave her made Patsy shudder.
‘I had accepted Nick was going to leave me. That was my fate and there was no changing his mind. Natasha was young and offered him a bright new future. I was the past. But it all came to nothing, and he died for what? I shudder when I think that the last face he saw on earth was the woman he loved pointing a gun at him.’ Tears brimmed on Patsy’s eyelashes when she thought about that awful night.
It was now Victoria’s turn to comfort Patsy. ‘I know. The shock and confusion he must have felt in those last seconds of his life must have been more painful than the bullet that killed him. But Natasha was staying at my house and was almost part of the family; we have to sort something out for a funeral.’ Victoria looked out of the window of the car at the crowds of people bowing their heads. It pleased and saddened her at the same time.
‘Let’s just get today over with shall we Victoria, before you start planning your next funeral.’ The silence that followed made Patsy wish she hadn’t snapped at Victoria. She was trying her best for all of them and she knew having a funeral for Natasha made sense, but having to pay her respects to the woman who had almost destroyed her family single-handedly? It made Patsy’s blood boil to think about it.
Finally, the hearse stopped as they reached the cemetery and they made their way inside the church. ‘Thank god those bagpipes have stopped,’ Patsy whispered in Victoria’s ear as Beryl’s coffin was placed at the front by the bearers.
Victoria put her finger to her lips and gave a furtive glance behind her to the next pew where Maggie and Sheila sat.
Sheila leaned forward, her head almost resting on Victoria’s and Patsy’s shoulders. ‘You two wee lassies okay? I’ve brought Angus with me… I bet you didn’t recognise him without his bright orange rescue service jacket on. I suppose the beard gives it away.’ She giggled. They all looked up when they saw the vicar take his stand on the podium.
Once the vicar had spoken, Victoria got up and spoke about Beryl and her little ways which made everyone laugh. Instantly the mood seemed lighter, as people recalled their own memories about being on the sharp edge of Beryl’s tongue.
‘Jerusalem’, Beryl’s favourite hymn, led the procession out of the church and into the graveyard. Linking arms with each other, Patsy and Victoria walked across the grass to the plot.
‘My heels are going to be ruined with all this mud. It’s supposed to be summertime, for Christ’s sake,’ Patsy moaned.
Standing in the graveyard, Patsy lowered her dark glasses and looked up at Sheila. As their eyes met, a small grin appeared on both of their faces. It wasn’t that long ago that they were both nearly killed in this very cemetery and Beryl’s body wasn’t the first body that they had buried here.
Victoria threw a rose and a thistle onto Beryl’s coffin after it had been lowered into the ground and Patsy did likewise. Patsy surprised herself as a lump rose in her throat. She and Beryl had become better friends before she died and she respected Beryl’s loyalty to the family, which had meant everything to her. Yes, as silly as it might sound to everyone, she was going to miss her.
Everyone soon made their way back to their cars, leaving only Patsy and Victoria standing next to the graveside. Clearing her throat, looked down at Beryl’s coffin. ‘I hope you feel justice has been served Nana. Me and Victoria will take care of little Nicky, you know that. I am so sorry you suffered the way that you did. God bless you Beryl Diamond and rest in peace love.’
Coughing slightly to clear the lump in her throat from Patsy’s words, Victoria looked around at the dwindling crowd walking away to their own cars. ‘Is that your mum and dad over there, Patsy?’ Victoria nodded to the couple. ‘I haven’t seen them since they bought that villa in Greece. I must pop over and say hello. You never said they were back in England.’ Curiously, Victoria looked at Patsy. ‘You’re not ashamed of us are you Patsy, considering how things have been recently?’
‘Don’t be silly Victoria. I sent them an invite but I didn’t know if they could make it, which is why I never said anything. You know what it’s like since Dad left the air force; they’ve taken their retirement seriously and have travelled everywhere. He had so many air miles logged up and they’ve used the lot of them.’ Patsy felt uneasy but was also glad her parents were there. Looking up and following Victoria’s eye line, Patsy smiled and waved to the couple opposite them.
‘Who is that with them?’ Victoria enquired. ‘She’s beautiful.’ Victoria thought the little girl was about five or six years old. She wore a red tartan kilt and white blouse. Patsy’s parents had made a huge effort with their young charge for Beryl’s sake, which touched Victoria’s heart. The young girl’s long, sandy coloured hair trailed down her back, while her fringe was swept back from her face with a tartan headband. The little cherub face showed two dimples on either side of her cheeks when she smiled. Holding a small posey of flowers in her tiny hands, she held them up excitedly to show Victoria.
Frowning, Victoria looked at the little girl again. She felt a fleeting flash of recognition. It was as though she had met her before, but she knew she definitely hadn’t. Suddenly Victoria felt cold, but she didn’t know why. It was as if someone had just stepped over her own grave. ‘Who is she, Patsy?’ Victoria pressed again, while not taking her eyes off the little girl. ‘I didn’t know there were any small children in your family.’
‘Oh, that’s a long story Victoria and not one for today,’ Patsy replied, pleased that she was wearing her sunglasses and could avoid Victoria’s stare. Patsy waved to them all again and blew a kiss. ‘Come on, people are starting to leave and make their way to the community centre. I’m glad w
Brushing a tear away, Victoria agreed. ‘It was the only place I could think of that she would approve of. The community centre meant everything to her and it’s a good place to hold her wake. Although it does seem to be surrounded by death and corruption, Beryl loved it and that’s all that matters. You never know, I might even throw in a round of bingo!’ They both laughed at the memory of Beryl’s beloved bingo nights. That’s what had started Nick’s idea to renovate the place and use it as his drug emporium. It had seemed the perfect smoke screen.
As they made their way back to the funeral car, someone else caught Patsy’s eye. Larry was stood in the disappearing crowd, looking towards her. ‘Just a minute Victoria.’ Walking over to him, she smiled. ‘Thank you for coming Larry. Are you joining us for a drink and a well curled sandwich?’
Patsy was pleased to see him. Larry was her lawyer as well as her lover. He was kind, gentle and by all accounts, a one-woman man, which was more than she could have said about Nick Diamond.
‘No Patsy, not if you don’t mind. I just wanted to make sure you were okay and to pay my respects.’
Patsy stroked the black jacket of his suit. ‘You look taller in a black suit Larry, and very handsome. Maybe we could meet up later and do something?’ She grinned and pecked him on the cheek.
Smiling at her and showing a perfect row of teeth, he stroked her face. ‘And you, Patsy Diamond, look like Jaquie Onassis in those dark glasses. Ring me or pop around when you’re free.’
After brushing away some imaginary fluff from his shoulder, Patsy walked back to the car. Glancing behind her, she could see Larry smiling. Lowering her glasses, she gave him a slight wink.
The community centre was already filling with people by the time they got there. It looked more like a birthday party than a wake, but that was what Victoria had wanted. For everyone from Beryl’s estate, young and old, to come and give her the best send-off ever.
Sheila sidled up to Patsy, and offered her a glass of whisky, as Victoria played the dutiful hostess and mingled, thanking everyone for coming to pay their respects. ‘I see Larry was sniffing around like a helpless puppy again. Poor laddie; I wish you would throw him a bone now and again. After all that business with Natasha, he made the police drive past the estate to check on you. He really cares about you Patsy. Be kind.’ She winked.
‘I know, but having the police hanging around on a regular basis and me having to play the scared victim didn’t help matters. But you’re right, it did clear us all of any suspicion,’ Patsy replied.
‘Us?’ Sheila laughed. ‘Since when did what you organised become “us”?’
‘Well, I thought we were like the musketeers, all for one and one for all. Isn’t that what they say? No matter who makes the decisions.’
‘Oh, stop being so touchy Patsy. You know me and Vicky are backing you all the way. I take it she’s going to keep young Nicky, then? What about Natasha’s other son, Jimmy? Where does he come into all this?’
Jimmy was the son Natasha had had before she’d met Nick. By a tragic accident, Jimmy had shot Sheila’s husband, Steve, with a real gun he had found, thinking it was a toy one from his play box. The boy was now in foster care and undergoing all kinds of counselling, although Sheila felt it was pointless. He didn’t know what he had done; all he knew was that he was being punished by being kept away from his mummy.
Taking a sip of her whisky, Patsy nodded. ‘I believe social services have approached Victoria. They would like to keep the siblings together if at all possible. After all, little Nicky is Victoria’s grandson and half-brother to Jimmy. I see their point and she seems willing enough to take him on. You know Victoria, she’ll keep the brothers together and social services will be glad of one less case load for them to bother with.’
‘You’re right there, lassie; there are loads around this area that aren’t brought up by their real parents. Anyway, what about that other matter? Your new partner, or Nick’s old one.’ Sheila laughed. ‘Yes, Patsy, the French lassie with her nose in the air, like we’re just some bad smell underneath it. What are you going to do about her? She’s trouble, I can smell it.’
‘I have Larry on the case with that one. His jaw nearly hit the floor when I told him Karen Duret was alive and well. I have a meeting with her next week. Or rather “we” have a meeting with her. I don’t understand it, Sheila. She has a headstone in the cemetery. To all intents and purposes she is dead, but here she is, as large as life, claiming half of everything Nick left me. Well, I don’t mind saying, he left me with a lot of shit to clear up!’ Angry and frustrated, Patsy’s face flushed. ‘I have wracked my brain about her Sheila, but I don’t remember Nick ever mentioning her name.’ Patsy sniffed back the tears she felt forming on her lashes. ‘Yet she has legitimate bank accounts in her name taking half the takings from the pizza shops. How can that be Sheila?’ Exasperated, Patsy threw her hands up into the air. ‘I feel like I’m drowning sometimes. Well, fuck Nick, and fuck her! She’s not getting one more penny out of me!’ Picking up her whisky, Patsy gulped it back in one.
Sheila shook her head and looked around the room. ‘I don’t know Patsy. This is one mystery even Miss Marple would have problems solving. Personally, I don’t understand why she’s come now. She didn’t turn up at Nick’s funeral, or contact you through a lawyer after his death – isn’t that what other people would do? Why has she decided to show her face now? None of this makes sense. You can’t bury someone without a legal death certificate and you can’t just go putting up headstones where you feel like it. I smell a rat, a rat wearing French perfume. She wants something Patsy, and badly enough to leave Paris and come to Glasgow for it.’ For a moment the two women stared at each other. They were full of questions but had none of the answers.
Dismissing Karen from her mind for the moment, Patsy looked around at everyone toasting Beryl and sighed. ‘Let’s just get all this other stuff sorted first. You know, Victoria wants some kind of ceremony for Natasha.’
‘For Natasha? Well, I’m surprised…’ Sheila trailed off.
‘She thinks it makes sense considering Natasha was living with her and had become part of the family. She has a point.’
‘And how do you feel about that?’ Sheila asked tentatively.
Patsy’s nonchalant shrug was all the answer she needed. ‘Look, I’m sick of being jostled around in here. I’m going to get Victoria; two hours in here is more than enough. They won’t even notice we’ve gone.’
Walking over to James and Fin, Patsy shook their hands and then gave James the keys. ‘Will you lock up for me when this lot have gone? I’m going to go back to Beryl’s for a well-earned coffee and to get out of these black clothes.’ She smiled at them both. They had become good friends, even though a year ago she would never have believed it. They were an unusual mix. Judgemental people would say the dregs of the earth, but she had learnt over the last few months that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Fin was the Glasgow estate drug dealer and thief, hence his name, ‘Fin’, for fingers. He was around thirty and hadn’t had many opportunities in his life. He’d been abandoned and brought up by his ill grandmother and had been in and out of prison most of his life, but strangely enough, Patsy found him loyal and honest. He had saved James’s life when the man was going to be murdered by his Albanian business partner, Noel, and had hidden him at his aunty Maggie’s flat, who didn’t want anyone to know she was related to Fin. She came over as a cold woman but, in fact, she was very decent and had been Beryl’s best friend. James was around sixty, she guessed, a local gangster, bank robber and drug dealer. He too had done his fair share of prison sentences. He was handsome and had kept himself fit, but he had also worked for her husband, in the gangland world of Glasgow. Now, here she was, Patsy Diamond, friends with criminals, and to be honest, she was grateful for all of their help.
