The Lipstick Killers

bit,’ said Margaret. ‘But mum would’ve killed me.’
    ‘I’ve been thinking a lot about mum lately,’ said Roxie, as Margaret carefully lifted the towel off the dressing table.
    ‘Me too,’ said Margaret. ‘Right now, I’d’ve loved to be able to talk to her about what’s happening. The job; now Monty.’
    Roxie went to the table, cut out a line with Margaret’s credit card, rolled the ten pound note next to it tighter, knelt, and snorted the drug. She drew in a sharp breath. ‘Good stuff,’ she said.
    ‘Good dealer,’ said Margaret. ‘I cut him some slack a while ago, and now he lets me have the best for a knock-down price.’
    ‘You must introduce us.’
    ‘Maybe. Maybe later. Who knows when all of this will be over.’
    Roxie sat on the bed again. ‘Remember that party?’ she asked, deep in thought.
    ‘Which one?’
    ‘My sixth birthday. The day mum collapsed.’
    ‘I’ll never forget it. How could I? Ambulance, and then the bad news.’
    ‘Seems to me, it was the last day I was really happy.’
    ‘Dolly, I’m so sad to hear that. But the same goes for me.’
    ‘Jesus, that sucks,’ said Roxie. ‘Mum would have wanted us to live our lives.’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘Remember that bloke?’
    ‘Which one?’
    ‘Some hanger-on arsehole. One of those Z-list crims that used to hang around the house, always pissed. Asked you what you were going to do when you grew up.’
    Margaret laughed. ‘I remember.’
    ‘You told him you were going to be a copper, and arrest people like him.’
    ‘Yeah. Mum gave me a bollocking for that.’
    ‘His face.’
    ‘And I ended up doing just that, did you know? Not him personally, but some of the family.’
    ‘You didn’t .’
    ‘Had no choice. Part of the job. They were testing me.’
    ‘And you passed, I’m sure.’
    ‘With flying colours. It wasn’t a choice. I didn’t want to be part of that world anymore.’
    ‘Fuck ‘em,’ said Roxie. ‘They soon vanished after mum went. Left us up shit creek.’
    ‘Yeah, so much for brotherhood amongst the criminals . They couldn’t wait to muscle in on her patch and leave us high and dry. And poor dad.’
    ‘Maybe we should’ve realised this a bit more at the time, the pair of us. Instead of acting up like we did.’
    ‘We weren’t much help were we?’ said Roxie.
    ‘More of a hindrance.’
    ‘But he had Frankie. She took over.’
    ‘And look what he did to her. Knocking her about. And she took it just to save the rest of us, without a word.’
    ‘I know,’ said Roxie. ‘Do you think I don’t feel bad? We didn’t know at the time. And we were only small. You know we can never repay Frankie for what she did for us.’
    ‘God, oh why did mum have to go like that?’ said Mags suddenly, feeling a rush of sadness at the thought of her mum, and the sister who bore so much to save her sisters.
    ‘Dad never got over mum did he?’
    ‘No. Never. Even with those other women.’
    ‘And the booze – and the drugs.’
    ‘Talking of drugs, can I do another line?’
    ‘Help yourself,’ said Margaret. ‘But leave some for me.’

27
     
     
     
    It didn’t take long for Spike to get back to Margaret, and he wasn’t pleased. ‘Christ,’ he said. ‘What the hell kind of people was your brother-in-law mixing with?’
    ‘I don’t know. That’s what I want to find out. So what’s the problem?‘
    ‘Those numbers you gave me were both red flagged. I could get into all kinds of trouble if anyone asks why I was making enquiries.’
    ‘Who are they then?’
    ‘Thanks for your concern.’
    ‘Spike, I know you. You don’t leave any trail.’
    ‘Maybe not. But you could’ve warned me,’ Spike said, still sounding agitated.
    ‘I thought it was bloody obvious if I was asking. I’m not using you like the Yellow Pages.’
    ‘OK, OK – same old spiky Doyle. But that date’s on, all right. You owe me one, after this.’
    ‘When this is all over.’
    Spike seemed to be placated by that. ‘Right,’ he said. ‘The London number is for a couple of businesses with offices in Kensington. Haywood Properties and Antarctic Holdings.’ he gave her the address. ‘The mobile belongs to Roger Haywood himself, and right now he’s at the office.’
    ‘Brilliant,’ said Margaret. ‘I really do owe you one.’
    ‘And I’ll collect.’
    Over my dead body, she thought. ‘OK, Spike,’ she said. ‘But I’m going to be busy for the foreseeable.’
    ‘I can wait.’
    ‘And you’re sure