CHAPTER 10
Over the next few weeks
Clinton and Joel were making names for themselves with some out this world
performances in the four, fifty over games they played in with Clinton getting a couple of half
centuries and on two occasions he got three wickets in an innings, with Joel
getting two five wicket innings and a fine seventy nine not out in his first,
they were doing so well that the were starting to be noticed by some unruly
characters on the other side of the world, who were looking to get them both in
the club and start paying them to fix matches and Charlie King was so eager to
get Clinton that he was willing to do anything to get him on side.
The phone rang in a plush flat
in the centre of London,
“Hello sexy, still as sweet as
ever” a deep voice said at the other end
“Hello P how are you or should
that be what do you want, I am in a bit of a rush you know things to do n all
that” replied Cresandra
“No need to be like that my
Love, need you to do me a favour, I have a job for you to do and I would like
you to get onto it asap” replied Charlie (P) King on the other end of the phone
“What do you want, I am in a
rush going out for drinks with friends so it will have to wait till the morning
but please go on” Cresandra replied very annoyed
“Well we have been hearing
about a new young sensation you have over there that has played in a few one
day games, Clinton Radford I think his name is” replied Charlie King with a
chuckle
“Yes and what about him, what
is he to do with you and what do you want with him” replied Cresandra angrily
“Well he is Curtis’ step son
and he has been tipped for big things and we want him to join us and he could
make us a great deal of money if he does as we want him to” replied Charlie
King
“Who is he I have not heard of
him and if he is Curtis’ boy get him to deal with him, why do you get me to do
it all the time” replied Cresandra with some anger in her voice
“YOU LISTEN HER YOU WHORE, YOU
WILL DO EXACTLY AS I TELL YOU TO THAT’S WHY, TURN ON YOUR CHARM AND GET
HIM ON OUR SIDE AND HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO HANDY ANDY, IF SO HAS HE DONE WHAT WE HAVE ASKED HIM TO DO AND YES IF YOU DON ’T
DO THIS YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN” Charlie King replied shouting down the phone
at Cresandra
“P YOU ARE
OUT OF FUCKING ORDER BRING HIM INTO THIS’ HE HAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS AND IF
ANYTHING HAPPENS TO HIM I WILL” replied Cresandra shouting angrily down the
phone at Charlie King
“You will what
my girl, just do as you are told and nothing will happen him, now has handy Andy
done what we have asked of him” replied Charlie King
“No he has not, not been able
to get in touch with him, but when I do it will get done” replied Cresandra
“See that was easy wasn’t it, now how about
Clinton Radford can you work your magic on him and get him to join us” Charlie
King asked
“Well what are you offering
him and most of all how old is he if he is Curtis’ boy he must be young”
replied Cresandra with some trepidation and nervousness in her voice.
“Well we will start with ten
grand and take it from there, if he becomes an international we will up it to
forty grand, I think he is seventeen” replied Charlie King
“YOU ARE
BLOODY JOKING P, SEVENTEEN, NO WAY AM I GOING ANYWHERE NEAR A SEVENTEEN YEAR
OLD BOY , BLOODY HELL WHAT DO YOU
TAKE ME FOR” replied Cresandra angrily shouting down the phone at Charlie King
“Listen my sweetness I take
you for the sweet little whore you are, who will do anything for a little bit
of extra cash even sleep with a seventeen year old lad I’m sure you would love
a nice bit of young meat, NOW YOU
WILL DO WHAT I ASK, never stopped you before has it, what about that eighteen
year old baseball player a couple of years ago hay, never stopped you then did
it” replied Charlie King angrily
“Listen Charlie I have some
pride and I draw the line at seventeen year old lads” Cresandra replied as she
was putting her navy blue silk dress on for her night out
“Well we will just have to do
something about you know who then won’t we, how will he react if we tell him
about how you will sleep with any old Tom, Dick and Harry Hum ask yourself that
question my girl” replied Charlie King
“You wouldn’t dare” Cresandra
replied
“Try me, just try me”
“Ok I will see what I can do,
what does he look like, you will have to send me a photo of him, is that it now
can I go” replied Cresandra
“No not yet you horny minx,
just one more thing don’t ever do that again and question my authority or you
will never see you know who again so don’t even try it ok, you little whore
have a nice night out bye” with that the phone went dead at the other end and
Cresandra put the phone down and put her knee length boots on to go out but she
could not get you know who out of her mind.
The you know who, was Cresandra’s seven year old son Daniel who Cresandra was
forced to give up by the boss who did not want his main asset to be a single
parent and out of use for a few years, so arranged for him to be put into
foster care so that he did not get in the way of any future deals and a hold
over Cressandra.
Back in the Thompson house the
Thompson’s were sat around the table having supper when the telephone rang in
the study
“Ring, ring”
“Yes he is having his supper
is everything OK Karen” replied Reginald
“Can you just get him for me”
replied Karen Nixon
“CLINTON IT’S FOR YOU its
KAREN NIXON FOR YOU AND IT’S
URGENT” Reginald shouted to Clinton
“OK BE THERE NOW ” replied Clinton
Clinton got up from the table
and went to speak to Karen Nixon on the phone
“Hi Karen what’s the problem”
asked Clinton with some concern in his voice
“Well its Joel he is in
hospital in intensive care, he tried to kill himself earlier this evening”
replied Karen Nixon choking back the tears
“And they don’t think he is
going to make it through the night can you come out here, I need and Joel needs
you I don’t know what to do”
“Look Karen I’ll be there as
soon as I can I’ll get my mother to run me out straight away, just hold on in
there ok”
“Thank you Clinton”
“No problem” Clinton then put
the phone down and returned to the dining room and looked at the family with
tears in his eyes
“What is it Clinton” asked his
mother Chelsea
“It’s Joel he tried to commit
suicide and they don’t think he will make it through the night and Karen wants
me to go to the hospital and be with her” replied Clinton with tears running
down his cheeks
There was a look at shock on
the whole the families’ faces and Isabella told Clinton
“Clinton go down there and be
with your friend and phone us as soon as you have some news”
“Come on my son lets go” said
Chelsea
When Clinton got to the
hospital he was greeted by a posse of press outside the hospital and inside he
was greeted by Karen Nixon
“Not sure believe he took a
cocktail of drink and sleepers” replied Karen Nixon to Clinton’s question
“Sleepers” asked Clinton
“Sleeping tablets son” replied
Chelsea
“Sleeping tablets he never
said anything”
“yes he had been on them since
the story broke that he was gay, he could not sleep it had really got to him
and he was getting some rather nasty remarks from some fans and other players,
here is the note he left”
Joel
“Not your fault Clinton” said
Chelsea
“You weren’t to know”
“That bloody Harry Clark, he
has a lot to answer for” replied Clinton
There was then a commotion in
the intensive care suite as the doctors and nurses were running around like
mad.
“What is going on what has
happened” asked Clinton
BEEEEEP BEEEEEEP
“HE HAS
FLAT LINED, GET THE CRASH CART” a
voice shouted out
“What do the mean, JOEL I HERE,
MATE I’M HERE” Clinton shouted out
“Clinton come on let them do
there job” said Chelsea
“And you Karen let the professionals
do there jobs”
They went and sat down in the
family and friends area and waited for news, a few minutes later the doctor
came in
“Hi I’m DR Hussein consultant
on call tonight, I’m afraid that Mr Henderson passed away a few minutes ago the
his heart just could not take any more”
“No your lying he is still
alive” Karen Nixon replied to the news she had just been told
“No he is dead the alcohol he
had drunk and the tablets he had taken were just to much for his heart to take
and if he had survived he would have had severe liver and kidney damage and
almost certainly would have needed a transplant and his cricket career would
have been over I’m sorry we did do all we could” replied Dr Hussein
“Thank you doctor we know you
did all you could, can we just have some time on our own please” replied
Chelsea
“I’m going to have to face the
press and tell them he is dead I can’t believe it, I can’t believe he has gone”
replied Karen Nixon sobbing into Clinton’s shoulder
“Why him, Why him”
“What about Jose who is going
to tell him, come to think of it where is he” asked Clinton
“He is in France at a
conference I’ll phone him later, I’ll phone his mother now” replied Karen
“Well Karen let me do this one
thing let me speak to the press out there, your in no fit sate to do it so
allow me” asked Clinton
“If you don’t mind that would
be great” replied Karen to Clinton’s offer sobbing
A nurse came into the room and
asked
“Would you like to see him before
we move him to the morgue?”
“Yes please” replied Karen
Karen Nixon, Clinton and
Chelsea then left the room to go and say there last farewells to Joel.
“He looks so peaceful there so
at peace with the world” said Karen Nixon with tears running down her face and
sobbing uncontrollably
“Yes he does” replied Clinton
Clinton and Karen then hugged
each other and cried and cried, Clinton the left the room to give Karen and
Joel some time alone, for Karen to say good bye to him, Clinton then started to
write a statement that he would read to the press
Tonight former
Barbados, Hampshire, Hamilton Junction and West Indian fast bowler Joel
Henderson passed away after being take ill earlier this afternoon at home, he is
proceeded by his partner Jose and his mother Brenda a further statement will
follow in due course.
Clinton then went to see Karen
in the room with Joel to ask her to read it.
“Hi Karen I know it is a tough
time but here is the statement I have done and will got out and read it to the
press in a few moments, just wanted you to read it first” asked Clinton as he
handed the statement to her
Karen then read the statement
and looked at Clinton and said “That’s fine are you sure you can handle doing
it”
“Yes” replied Clinton he left
the room and went to the hospital entrance and stood on the steps and read out
the statement
“Tonight former Barbados,
Hampshire, Hamilton Junction and West Indian fast bowler Joel Henderson passed
away after being take ill earlier this afternoon at home, he proceeded by his
partner Jose and his mother Brenda a further statement will follow in due
course”
“I will answer no questions at
this time”
“Clinton can you tell us did
Joel take his own Life” asked one journalist
“I have said all I am going to
say as stated a further statement will be released in due course, you must
understand it is a difficult time for everyone at the moment” replied Clinton
angrily
Clinton turned around and
walked back into the hospital to be with Karen Nixon and His mother.
“Karen they are asking
questions out there they want to know if Joel took his own life, we do need to
tell them the truth soon” said Clinton
“Ok Clinton but not at this
moment in time they can wait” replied Karen Nixon
“Ok” replied Clinton
Back at the Thompson house the
rest of the family and Isabella were still sat around the table in the kitchen
listening to the radio when the news came on:-
“BBC
Radio Hampshire with the nightly news, Former West Indian and Local cricketer
Joel Henderson Dies” the news Reader said
“What” Isabella said with some
shock in her voice?
“Never” said Reginald
“Ring, ring”
The telephone rang in the
living room and Georgia got up from the table to answer it.
“The Thompson household
Georgia Thompson speaking”
“Hi Nan its Clinton got some
sad news Joel died earlier this evening” replied Clinton with a lump in his
throat
“Yes I know just heard it on
the radio, how are you coping” replied Georgia
“I’m ok thanks nan but Karen
Nixon is very cut up, I want to ask a favour can she spend the next few days
with us as I do not want her to be on her own at this time” replied Clinton
“No problem Clinton she can
stay in the box room until she feels up to facing the world what happened how
did he die” replied Georgia
“he took a cocktail of Alcohol
and Sleeping tablets and his body just could not take it and his liver and
kidneys were damaged so his cricket career was over all because that fucking
bastard Harry Clark had to do that article about what he had overheard and
stigma of it all got too much for him and I feel partly to blame if only I had
not found out about him being gay” replied Clinton angrily
“Clinton you can’t blame
yourself, it would have come out sooner or later you know what the press are
like, they will find things out” Georgia replied
“Thank you Nan we should be
home soon bye” replied Clinton
“Bye” replied Georgia
Georgia then put the telephone
down and went back to the kitchen
“Who was that” asked Isabella
“It was Clinton he should be
home soon, Joel took his own life he took a cocktail of Drink and Sleeping
tablets, I just didn’t know what to say” replied Georgia
“JOEL DID WHAT WHY” asked
Reginald
“He took his own life he could
not handle the stigma of being gay in the game of cricket and the report in the
paper a few weeks back took its toll on him and he was getting rather nasty
remarks when he was playing I think, I’m sure Clinton will fill us in and we
have a lodger for a few days Karen Nixon is coming to stay for a few days
Clinton doesn’t want her to be on her own” replied Georgia
“Bloody papers they have got a
lot to answer for and only natural for Karen to come and stay with us would not
have it any other way, she needs people she can trust around her at this time”
replied Reginald
“How was Clinton Georgia, how
was he coping” asked Isabella
“He is not coping to well, he
is blaming himself about it all” relied Georgia
“HE IS WHAT” asked Reginald
“He is blaming himself love”
replied Georgia
“But why” asked Reginald
“Because it was Clinton who
was having the conversation with Joel when that reporter over heard that Joel
was Gay” Georgia replied.
“Fucking reporters, excuse my
language but they are, poking their noses into other people’s lives that have
nothing to do with them just to get a quick story on the front pages they are
an absolute disgrace” replied Reginald
“Don’t get to worked up please
love remember your blood pressure and you heart I know how you feel” replied
Georgia
“Ok but that bastard Harry
Clark has got a lot to answer for, if he had spoken to poor old Joel first then
this may not have happened”
“Look love he is a reporter
what do you expect” replied Georgia
“True”
At the hospital Karen Nixon
had the unenviable job of calling Mrs Henderson Joel’s mother to tell her the
bad news.
“Hello is that Mrs Henderson”
asked a soft sweet voice choking back the tears
“Yes my love this is her, who
are you” a sweet West Indian voice said at the other end
“I’m Karen Nixon and I have
some bad news for you, your son Joel passed away some forty five minutes ago I
am very sorry” replied Karen Nixon crying as she spoke to Mrs Henderson
“No, no, not my lovely Joel my
sweet little boy” replied Mrs Henderson crying and whaling as she did so “No,
no, no” she went on
“Why my little boy, why”
“Mrs Henderson I am so sorry
about this, but he, I can’t do this” Karen Nixon said as she broke down on
Clinton’s shoulder and Chelsea took the phone from her
“Mrs Henderson are you ok”
asked Chelsea
“No my love I’m not but how
did he, die” asked Mrs Henderson
“Well Mrs Henderson it is a
long story, but a few weeks ago a story was run by a local paper about his
sexuality, how he was homosexual and then this afternoon Joel took a cocktail
of Sleeping tablets and Drink and his heart stopped that is as simple as I can
put it for you, I am so sorry” replied Chelsea
“No he did not do that to
himself it’s not true he never killed himself not my Joel, not my Joel he would
not do that” replied Mrs Henderson with that the phone went quiet and another
voice of a younger lady Joel’s sister Anna came on the phone “What has
happened” she asked
“Who’s speaking please” asked
Chelsea
“Anna Henderson, Joel’s
sister, who May I ask who I am speaking to and what has happened” replied Anna
“I’m Chelsea James-Rowe and
your brother passed away earlier this evening he had taken a cocktail of
sleeping tablets and drink and his heart stopped” replied Chelsea
“WHAT, NO not Joel, not Joel”
replied Anna Henderson
“I’m very sorry”
The phone then went dead and
Chelsea turned to Clinton and Karen Nixon “are you two ok” she asked
“Yes mother we are, can we
have a few minutes on our own please I need to talk with Karen” replied Clinton
sobbing uncontrollably with Karen Nixon
“Ok son I will only be
outside” replied Chelsea
“Thank you mother dear we will
be out soon, just need to calm Karen down and then we will take back to the
house and put her to bed” Clinton replied crying with Karen Nixon
A few minutes later Chelsea,
Clinton and Karen Nixon left the hospital via a side entrance as to avoid the
press that amassed that were congregating at the front entrance after the story
of Joel Henderson’s death had broke.
As the three of them got back
to the Thompson residence a lone reporter was stood outside the property
waiting for them to get back it was Matthew Thomas who Clinton had given an
interview to a few weeks earlier.
Clinton got out of his mothers
car and went into the house with Chelsea and Karen Nixon, before going out the
front to see Matthew Thomas.
“Hi Matthew what are you doing
here or should I know the answer to that question after the news that broke
earlier” asked Clinton in a shallow sad voice
“I’m sorry to hear about Joel
Henderson, Clinton a very sad day it is today for us all” replied Matthew
Thomas.
“Yes it is Matthew, but what
can I do for you why are you here, tying to get a story I bet” replied Clinton
angrily
“No not here for a story, well
yes and no , if you know what I mean, I don’t want to know the inn’s and out’s
of how Joel Henderson died just would like your view on it and how you are
feeling at this moment” replied Matthew Thomas to the question asked of him by
Clinton
“Well Matthew to be honest now
is not the time for this, the whole thing is still raw with everyone and I am
still in shock at losing such a good friend and fellow cricketer so you must
understand I need some time to grieve” replied Clinton to Matthew Thomas’
question
“I understand Clinton it must
be tough and I will leave you now, but when you are ready to talk you have my
contact number give me a call and we will do and interview but not for the
paper I would like you to come on the drive time show and do it on the radio,
that way people can hear what you have to say and hear what your feelings are
about the death of your friend” Matthew Thomas replied
“Ok Matthew thank you for the
chance to do that I will get my mother to phone you in the next day or two and
we will do that” replied Clinton shaking Matthew Thomas by the hand before he
left
Clinton then turned around
walked up the path back to house and went to the kitchen to see his
grandparents while his mother Chelsea was putting Karen Nixon to bed
“What did that bastard want”
asked his grandfather Reginald with some vigour in his voice
“He was only asking me how I
was Granddad and he is not like the rest he cares about people and does not
print malicious stories, he writes the truth” replied Clinton angrily to his
grandfather
“The truth, the truth, they do
not know the meaning of the word, they live of tarnishing perfectly good
peoples lives and printing absolute crap” replied Reginald to Clintons outburst
“look granddad I don’t want to
get into an argument with you about the who are and who are not right and what
or what not the press print, all I know is I trust Matthew Thomas and I always
will until he says or prints anything bad about me on the radio or in the
papers” Clinton replied to his grandfather
“Well lad that’s up to you I
don’t trust any of them” replied Reginald
Chelsea Clinton’s mother then
entered the kitchen.
“How is Karen” asked Clinton
“She is asleep” replied
Chelsea
“Good” replied Clinton
“What was that heated
discussion about then you two” asked Chelsea looking at her son Clinton and her
father Reginald
“Nothing mum” replied Clinton
“Nothing, tell your mother the
truth, we were having a conversation about the press and reporters and how they
print, tell lies and destroy peoples lives” Reginald replied angrily
“I don’t trust them”
“Listen you two this is not
the time to start squabbling over the question if the papers tell lies or the
truth a young man died earlier tonight and he is the one we should be thinking
about, so you two stop it and think of what that young woman upstairs going
through she was close to Joel for over seven years and now he has gone, so
please think about how she is feeling” replied Chelsea angrily and turned
around and stormed out of the kitchen and walked to the living room to join
Isabella who was there reading and putting her feet up.
“Well we know who to blame for
this happening don’t we the bloody press if they had not poked their nose in
where it was not wanted none of this would have happened” said Reginald
Clinton did not reply to what
his Grandfather had just said, he just left the room shaking his head in
disbelief at what his grandfather had just said and went to join his mother and
Isabella in the living room.
“Mum?” Clinton asked
“Yes son” replied Chelsea
“In the morning can you please
ring Matthew Thomas and sort out for me to go to the radio station and do an
interview with him on the drive time early evening show” asked Clinton
“Yes I’ll do that for you but
why would you want to do that after what has happened today” replied Chelsea
“Yes love why would you want
to do that” asked Isabella looking a bit stunned at what she had just heard
from Clinton
“Well I trust him and he has
not printed or said anything bad about me and it will also give me the chance
to put my feelings out there about, Joel being homosexual and how we had formed
a close friendship over the last few weeks since the story broke” Clinton
replied to Chelsea and Isabella’s questions
“Well if you think you are
doing it for the right reason’s, then I will do it for you in the morning but I
will have to speak to Karen first just to ask her feelings if that is ok”
replied Chelsea
“Ok that’s fine mother, I’m
sure she will be ok with that” replied Clinton as he walked and sat next to
Isabella put his arm around her and giving her a kiss on the lips and asking
her how the baby was.
Elsewhere Cresndra Drake was
out with friends when her mobile phone started to ring
“Hello Cresandra Drake here
who am I speaking to” she asked
“Hi sexy it’s Handy Andy here heard
you have been trying to get hold of me for something sorry but been away for
awhile” replied Hand Andy
“Hi Handy yes I have got a job
for you to do and it needs to be done ASAP if you can” replied Cresandra
“Ok but how much and what do
you want done” replied Handy Andy
“Well I’m not sure how much
about a grand I think, well that is what I’ll tell Charlie King what it will
cost anyway and we will split it fifty, fifty if that’s ok and it is a woman
called Georgia Thompson she has been causing Curtis James-Rowe some grief, all
we need is a frightener put on her no harm to her just a word in the ear if you
know what I mean” Cresandra replied
“MMMMM yes that sounds fine
but we will have to go seventy five, twenty five for it to be worth it to me,
sorry but that what I want ok” replied Handy Andy
“Well if that’s the deal I’ll
have to take it won’t I, but worth a try” Cresandra replied laughing
“Right I’ll phone you when I
have done it, bye” replied Handy Andy
“Thanks Handy speak soon bye”
replied Cresandra as she finished the call and went back to her friends to
enjoy the rest of her night out
Handy Andy then got on his
phone to find out what he could about Georgia Thompson and his first port of
call was Curtis James-Rowe, Georgia’s son-in-law a member of the syndicate.
A mobile phone rang in a hotel
room where a forty something man was in bed with two prostitutes
“Hello, uh, James-Rowe
speaking” a voice replied
“Hello Curtis enjoying yourself
are we, you dirty old dog you how many with you this time two or three” replied
Handy Andy at the other end of the phone
“Hi handy only the two mate,
Juliet and Heather and they oooohhhh are I say doing a good job on me, blowing
my mind mate” replied Curtis James-Rowe with ecstasy coming from his voice at
the pleasure he was getting from his two friends
“You lucky bugger you, anyway
what is the problem you are having with you mother-in-law then mate, been told
I need to have a word with her” replied Handy Andy
“Yes, hang on a minute”
replied Curtis James-Rowe and he could be over heard saying to the two
prostitutes “give me a minute girls I need to take this call go and have a
drink and we will carry on when I finish” “OK” two very soft sweet voices replied.
“Right handy, yes I need
someone to have a word with her, but Charlie has asked for her not to be hurt,
Bollocks mate I want you to frighten the fucking life out of her, I need this
message to hit home and I want her to understand the only person who is going
to get hurt is her, her precious daughter and her precious grandson” replied
Curtis James-Rowe angrily down the phone
“Ok mate but what has she done
why do I have to be so forceful” Handy Andy replied
“Listen handy just do the
fucking job, make sure she gets the message, she needs to know she can’t fuck
with me or the syndicate, she has all our names even the boss so she needs to
be told ok” Curtis James-Rowe replied angrily
“You what she knows who the
boss is” asked handy Andy
“Yes she does and she knows
all the names of the syndicate she has done ever since that Radford guy died
years ago apparently he gave here a book with all the names in before he died
that is the reason I married that bitch Chelsea to try and get the book but, it
is in a safe somewhere but I am not sure where if it were to get into the wrong
hands we would all be done for and the bosses name would be exposed and we
can’t have that happening can we” replied Curtis James-Rowe
“No we can’t have that now can
we, I’ll sort it out ASAP” replied Handy Andy
“Good and make sure no one
sees you and it is done out of sight we need to keep discretion on this one if
anyone finds out it is the syndicate or sees you your on your own got it”
replied Curtis James-Rowe
“Listen here Curtis, I do my
business and you do yours, I will be as discrete as I can and if I do get
caught you have no need to worry, so long as you pay me the asking price of
five thousand pound up front and another five thousand pound when the job is
done” replied Handy Andy
“You what, you must be joking
that much for that job I’d rather do it myself” replied Curtis James-Rowe
“Well go ahead do it yourself,
but just make sure YOU DON’T GET CAUGHT” replied Handy Andy angrily back down
the phone at Curtis James-Rowe
“Ok ten thousand pound it is
but makes sure she gets the message and if she gets hurt I’ll pay you another
two thousand pounds on top, no damage to the face, you can do the knees if you
want or maybe the ribs but not the face or head got it” replied Curtis James-Rowe
“Listen Curtis you sure are a
nasty bastard, I never hit women I only warn them, but on this occasion I can
make an exception and if I do anything it will be the knees but let me try the
softly, softly approach and have a word in her ear” replied handy Andy
“Well what ever you feel best
but just get it done” replied Curtis James-Rowe
“OK bye” replied Handy Andy
“Ok bye, come on girls carry
on where you left of before we were disturbed” Curtis James-Rowe replied as he
ended his call to handy Andy
The following morning Cresandra
was going to start to put her plan in place to get Clinton into the fold and on
the payroll of the syndicate and try and persuade Clinton with an offer of
forty thousand pounds to bowl badly and to score twenty runs in his next two
one day games for Hampshire but she first had to get in touch with him to
arrange a meeting, so she gave Clinton’s step-father Curtis James-Rowe a call
to find out how to get hold of him.
Curtis James-Rowe’s mobile
phone went off.
“Hello Curtis James-Rowe her
how may I help” he asked
“Hello Curtis my sexy man how
are you today” Cresandra replied
“Hello baby not to bad, thanks
for getting hold of Handy Andy for me, what can I do for you” Curtis James-Rowe
replied
“Your welcome Curtis, I am
phoning for your step-sons mobile number as P wants me to make him an offer to
join the syndicates payroll, as he thinks he could make some good money from
his help” Cresandra replied
“You want what, fuck me does P
know what he is doing, He will never agree, but her you are any way
07981212345” replied Curtis James-Rowe with a bit of trepidation in his voice
“Thank you that was not to bad
was it Curtis” replied Cresandra with some anger in her voice at Curtis’
reluctance to give the number to him
“Listen here don’t be so cheeky
and do as P asks of you remember who is in charge you bitch” replied Curtis
James-Rowe with anger in his voice at the sarcastic remark he had just received
from Cresandra
After that comment Cresandra
hung up and started to put her plan in progress to try and get a hold of
Clinton and try to tempt him with an offer but she knew this would take a few
meetings and she had an idea of how to gain Clinton Radford’s trust and the
idea was to say to him she was doing an article for a new cricket magazine and
as he was a new player on the circuit and how it had changed his life, so she
used the number that Curtis James-Rowe had just given him.
Clinton’s mobile phone rang in
the Thompson house.
“Hello Clinton Radford
speaking” Clinton replied
“Hello Mr Radford my name is
Cresandra Drake and I an a writer for a new cricket magazine that is coming out
in the next month or two and was wondering if I could do an interview with you
about your experiences on the county circuit and how it has changed your life and
views on things” replied Cresandra Drake in her subtle sweet husky voice
“I sorry what was the magazine
called again Miss Drake” replied Clinton
“I never said, but it is
called Hit for Six monthly” replied Cresandra
“Ok I am a bit busy at the
moment a close friend of mine passed away last night and I have a prior radio
interview I have got to do in a couple of days, but maybe we could meet up for
the interview next week maybe Monday or Tuesday if that would be any good for
you” Clinton replied
“OK Mr Radford will Tuesday be
ok and could we meet at The Sea Front Café”
“Yes that would be fine what
time do you want me there”
“About twelve noon ok”
“OK Bye”
“Bye see you Tuesday at noon”
Cresandra replied as she put the phone down thinking to herself this is not
going to be easy, but she thought he could be persuaded as he was young and
impressionable and a sexy young woman, with her sexy clothes with her husky
sexy voice and her eyes could get this young man on side, what Cresandra did
not know that Clinton has eyes for only one girl and that was Isabella and she
was five and a half months pregnant with Clinton’s twins.
That would not stop Cresandra
being at her manipulative best and try to get Clinton in the fold and taking
the bribe she had for him, but it was going to take a lot of hard work and
maybe just maybe she would do it, just like she had got his father James
Radford to do the same thing all those years ago in here younger days, when he
took Ten thousand pounds to bat badly and double crossed the Syndicate and paid
the ultimate price for this double cross.
“Ring, Ring”
“Hello” a voice answered at
the other end
“Hello P how are you doing
babe, I have set up a meeting with this young Radford kid next Tuesday, can I ask
who is he” Cresandra replied
“Well done honey, you are not
just a pretty little face are you sweetness, the kid Clinton Radford is James
Radford’s son, you know the bastard who double crossed us all those years ago
the first one you got in the fold, you know that drop dead handsome one you
slept with, so now do you know” P replied
“What James Radford the one
with those come to bed eyes, him bloody hell, he is his son is he I just hope
it is like father like son because he was good was James Radford” Cresandra
replied with some joy in her voice
“Listen Cresandra don’t get to
excited as you have a job to do, yes I believe he is handsome but don’t let
that disrupt the job that needs to be done” replied P
“I won’t let that happen, P”
replied Cresandra
“Ok then take care and phone
me when the job is done when you have got him on side and in the fold with the
syndicate and I will make it worth your while girl a few grand will come your
way if you get this done”
“I will P, I will” Cresandra
replied before putting the phone down
Charlie P King sat in his
chair looked at the mirror opposite with a broad grin on his face thinking if
this comes off he could exact revenge for James Radford’s double crossing years
ago
Matthew Thomas turned up at
the Thompson house with his recording equipment to interview Clinton about the
effects the death of Joel Henderson had, had on him and his family, the boor
bell rang.
“I’ll answer it Love” said
Reginald as he opened the door
“Hello Mr Thompson I have come
to do the interview with Clinton for the drive time show tomorrow evening”
Matthew Thomas said to Reginald Thompson as he answered the door
“Hello Matthew no problem come
in and I will get Clinton for you he is in the kitchen, would you like a cup of
tea” replied Reginald as he showed Matthew Thomas to the study to set up ready
for the interview
“Thank You Mr Thompson that
would be very nice milk and one sugar please” replied Matthew Thomas
Reginald then went to the
kitchen to get Clinton and Matthew Thomas’s cup of tea.
“Who is it” asked Isabella
“Matthew Thomas, come to do an
interview with you Clinton” replied Reginald looking at Clinton
“O is see for you is it my
love you never told me about that” replied Isabella
“Yes mum sorted it for me he
wants to talk to me about Joel’s death and a few other things” replied Clinton
looking at Isabella
Clinton then left the kitchen
to go to the study with Matthew Thomas’s cup of tea to do the interview.
“Hi Matthew here is your Tea
and where would you like me to sit” said Clinton handing Matthew Thomas his tea
“Just over here if that’s ok
and we can make a start”
“Ok Matthew”
Matthew Thomas started the
recording equipment and started the interview
“Hello and
welcome to sports time here on drive time with me Matthew Thomas and this
evening we have an emotional interview with local rising start Clinton Radford
on the death of his friend and fellow cricketer Joel Henderson who tragically
passed away a few days ago”
“Hello Clinton
and thank you for doing this interview at such an emotional and sad time for
you and your family” said Matthew Thomas
“Your welcome
Matthew it has been a difficult few days” Clinton replied in a soft voice
“Right Clinton
first of all how did you find it playing in the say side as such a colossal man
as Joel Henderson, who as you know played first class and test cricket in the
past” Matthew Thomas asked
“Well Matthew it
was less than twelve months ago that we were arch enemies on the pitch and not
so long ago he was trying to knock my head off, but in those couple of days we
played that second eleven game I got to know the quieter gentle side of the man
and he gave me some very sound advice in those days to, I will miss him”
Clinton replied with so sadness in his voice
“Yes he was a
quiet and gentle, I had the pleasure of interviewing him a few times over the
past few years and his knowledge of the game was second to none, how did you
find out he was gay” Matthew Thomas answered
“Well I stumbled
over it by accident while looking up some information on Joel via the internet
a few people were commenting on him on a social network site at the time and
when I asked they told me it was Joel Henderson a former West Indian test
player, I don’t think they realised I knew of him” Clinton replied.
“That must have
been a shock to the system for you, as you were about to play in the same side
as him”
Asked Matthew
Thomas
“yes it was
Matthew but it did not bother me really that Joel was gay, it was his life and
he lead it how he wanted to and who am I to tell him how to lead his life”
replied Clinton with some anger in his voice at the tone of the question asked
“Sorry if I
upset you there Clinton didn’t mean to, Harry Clark printed a story about Joel
and it was not taken very well around cricketing circles why was that do you
think” Matthew Thomas asked
“No it was not
taken to well by some people but others were very supportive and were very
critical of that Harry Clark article, my grandfather being one, along with the
county chairman and the rest of the County side and Hamilton Junction” replied
Clinton angrily
“And no need to
say sorry Matthew, I know you are only doing your job and if by doing this
interview other sports people come out and admit their sexuality then Joel
would not have died in vain”
“Well said
Clinton, now the day that Joel passed away and I know this is going to be hard
for you, but could you explain to the listeners what happened “asked Matthew
Thomas
“Well Matthew I
had a phone call in the early evening from Joel’s manager Karen Nixon to say he
had been taken ill that afternoon and was in intensive care and I can say this
now Joel took his own life he could not cope with the stigma of being a gay
sports man, but most of all he could not cope with the with the nasty comments
not only from fellow cricketers but the hate mail he received as well from
members of the public, he took a handful of sleeping tablet and drank a bottle
of Jamaican rum, Karen Found him on his living room floor and as they say the
rest is history so now you all know as to why a man like Joel Henderson took
his own life” replied Clinton angrily
“Sorry Clinton,
all we had been told was that Joel had been taken ill at home”
“Yes I know I
wrote that statement it was better that way until we had told his family and
now we have, we can tell people the truth about what happened to Joel and hope
that the people who sent those nasty letters and said those nasty things about
his sexuality to him are proud of themselves, he never hurt them and would
never impose his sexuality on anyone and because of these bigoted and naive views
a good man took his own life, these people should be locked up and the key
thrown away” ranted Clinton banging his fist on the table
Matthew Thomas then stopped
the recorder and turned to Clinton and said “I’ll stop if you want to Clinton I
can see you are very emotional and upset, we can carry on later if you want”
“That would be great Matthew,
sorry for the rant but this whole Joel thing has got to me” replied Clinton
“No need to say sorry Clinton
I can see he meant a lot to you and had become a close friend, so we will take
a break there” Matthew Thomas said looking at Clinton who had tears running
down his face
With that Clinton got up and
went to the kitchen and to the back door and out to the garden to get some
fresh air
Chelsea walked out behind him
to see if he was ok, Isabella followed suite and they both found Clinton sat on
the patio step sobbing his heart out, they both went up to him put their arms
around him and said nothing just cuddled him with Clinton resting his head on
Isabella’s shoulder and holding her hand, Chelsea got up and went back into the
house to leave Clinton in the capable hands of Isabella, as he sobbed
uncontrollably.
Clinton then
made his way back into the living room to finish his interview with Matthew
Thomas, he walked in the room sat down and looked at Mathew Thomas and said
“Sorry Matthew, just feeling a
bit emotional, the last few days have taken there toll”
“That’s perfectly fine
Clinton, I can’t imagine what you are going through I can only guess, Joel was
a good man” replied Matthew Thomas
“Thank you Matthew”
“Would you like to stop or do
you want to carry on” asked Matthew Thomas
“Let’s carry on” replied
Clinton
Matthew Thomas then gathered
his papers and pressed the record button on the recorder and restarted the
interview
“Right then Clinton your debut for Hampshire, in a forty over game was a
very quiet affaire not many runs and a couple of wickets”
“Were you very
nervous?”
“To be honest
Matthew I can’t remember much of it, it is all a blur as it went to quick, Joel
had already said to me it might be like that, but to enjoy every minute of it”
“Yes, but what
about when you dropped that catch off the first ball”
“Thank you
Matthew, I was trying to forget that, Joel gave me another piece of advice when
that happened and that was, put it in the back of your mind we all make
mistakes and we all drop catches, we are not all perfect, that’s what makes us
who we are, but just make sure you catch the next bloody one” Clinton replied
Laughing at the answer he had just given
“And you did
that just two balls later, how did that feel?”
“What that catch
at cover, we it was a doll, a catch I could not drop”
“True”
“You’re batting
that day was at time un-bowl able to, you were pulling some amazing shots out
of the bag and at times made the bowlers look like clowns”
“Yes I felt good
out there until I tried one outrageous shot to many, but when you are on a roll
like that it is very hard to pull in the rains and calm down the adrenaline is
pumping and you believe you can hit everything out of the ground and that was
my down fall”
“Yes it was but
you nearly cleared the boundary fielder, if he had not been six feet eight, you
would have, and did anyone say anything to you in the dressing room”
“Not really,
only Joel he told me that I needed to calm down take the game situation into
account and play for the team, but he did understand way I played that shot, it
was there to be hit”
“So Joel
Henderson was a giver of some sound and sensible advice”
“Yes he was, you
know he had played test match cricket and had a test ton to his name, basically
he had been there and got the T-shirt, when Joel Henderson talked people
listened, he will be missed his knowledge of the game was second to none”
“That’s what I
will miss about him his knowledge and advice” added Clinton
“Yes he sure
will be missed” added Matthew Thomas
“Right Clinton
the last question, You are know being touted for international honours,
especially in the one day side, can you envisage yourself playing for England
in the near future, your name is out there no, I personally think it won’t be
long” Matthew Thomas asked
“Well Matthew
that is a difficult on, that would be up to the selectors, if it came along
then I would grab it with both hand, as they say if it is meant to be, it’s
meant to be” replied Clinton
“Well Listeners
that was an interview with the rising star of the local cricket Circles Clinton
Radford, I would like to say thank you to Clinton and all the best with the
future” Matthew Thomas said before he finished the recording and looking to
Clinton and saying
“Thank you for that Clinton, I
know it was hard, it will be edited and will be on tomorrow nights Drive time
show”
“No thank you Matthew for
allowing me the time to get my feelings out” Clinton replied
“Your welcome, by the way how
is Karen Nixon, how is she coping it must have hit her hard, is she still
staying here with or has she gone home”
“To be honest and this is off
the record, she is putting on a brave face, but I know deep down she is
devastated, Karen and Joel had been through a lot together and I think Joel’s
death has broke her” Clinton Replied
“I bet she is, any way take
care I have to go now get this recording sorted and an article to write”
Matthew Thomas replied
“So bye and please let me know
when Joel’s funeral is please”
“Ok Matthew Bye and I’ll phone
you and let you know, it will more than likely be Next Monday when we have the
memorial service before they fly Joel’s body back to Barbados to be repatriated
with his mother”
“Ok thank you”
Matthew Thomas gathered his
equipment and left the Thompson house to return to the studio to edit the
recording for the following evening broadcast
The telephone rang at the
Thompson house, Reginald answered it
“Hello, Thompson house
Reginald Thompson here how may I help” he asked
“Hello can I speak to Mrs
Georgia Thompson please” a deep male voice asked at the other end of the phone
“Who may I say is asking for
her” asked Reginald
“It’s the bank sir” a voice
replied
“GEORGIA DEAR IT’S THE BANK ON THE PHONE FOR YOU” Reginald
shouted out
“Hello Georgia Thompson here”
“Yes Mrs Thompson, listen to
me and listen to me good, we know you have the book, you know the book with all
the names of the syndicate in, so if you know what is good for you, you will
hand it over to me” a stern deep voice said
“Who are you and what book are
you on about?” Asked Georgia
“You know perfectly well what
book I am on about, the book James Radford gave you with the names in and the
name of the boss, so stop being funny and if you know what is good for you, you
will co-operate or things could get nasty”
“Ah that book, ah no and ah
no” replied Georgia
“Well be it on your head what
happens and if you go to the police, I won’t be responsible for what my friends
will do and may be we should start with your grandson’s pregnant fiancé
Isabella Thomas, may be a few punches to the stomach should do the trick and
cause her to miss carry or maybe we will knock her to the floor and give her a
good kick in the face so no one recognises her again, do you get my drift
Thompson”
There was not a sound on the
phone
“Lost your tongue have we,
maybe we could”
“COULD WHAT YOU BASTARD, COULD
WHAT” Georgia said with some vigour in her voice
“Now, Now Mrs Thompson as I
said you be good and nothing will happen all I want is the book, so meet me at
the Train station tomorrow at noon and nothing will happen”
“Why would I do that when I
don’t have any book” Georgia Replied
“Well that’s up to you I have
played the nice card now, maybe direct action is needed and on your head be it”
The phone then went dead and
Georgia put the receiver down and walked into the kitchen with an ashen face
“What’s up Love, look like you
have seen a ghost” asked Reginald
“Nothing Love I’m fine”
Georgia Replied not wanting to let her husband on to the conversation she had
just had on the phone
A telephone rings in a plush
Central London Flat
“Hello” a soft sweet husky
voice replied
“Hello Miss Drake, Handy Andy
here, just got off the phone to Mrs Thompson, I think we are going to have to
do things the hard way as she is not going to play ball”
“listen Handy leave it till
next week I have a meeting with her grandson Clinton next Tuesday and I’ll
see what I can get of him and see what
he knows and then and only then can you take direct action ok” Cresandra drake
replied
“Ok Miss Drake but Mr James
Rowe wants it to teach her a lesson, even if it means I have to hurt her”
“Ok Handy leave it with me
I’ll speak to Curtis for you, I know the orders off P and the Boss is just to
give her a warning and no physical stuff” Cresandra replied
“I know but apparently she has
got a book with all the names of the syndicate in even yours”
“Does she Ok?”
“Handy leave it till I phone
you and we will come up with a plan, ah hang on a minute, I am meeting Clinton
Radford her Grandson next Tuesday maybe I will ask him to bring her along with
him and while we are doing the bogus interview I could ask him to ask her to go
to the chemist for me for some aspirin, if you wait around outside I could text
you when she leaves and you could put the frighteners on her, that way we could
kill two birds with one stone and remember if you do get physical nothing on
the face” Cresandra the evil cow suggested to Handy Andy
“Sounds like a good plan to me
where are you meeting up”
“The Café de Royal on the sea
front, walk past so you can see what she looks like, there is a lane not fifty
yard from it wait there I will text you when she is on her way” replied Cresandra
“OK Miss Drake will see next
Tuesday, ah yes and Daniel sends his love, he is doing great and he said thanks
for his toy” Handy Andy replied and the phone went dead
Cresandra put her phone down
went to the sofa sat down and burst into tears at the message she had just
received from Handy Andy about her son Daniel who she had not seen since
Christmas day and was not going to see until early October, He Had been taken
away from her by the boss and been fostered out to a family, at the other end
of the country, but things were to change in a drastic way for both Cresandra
and Daniel in a positive way in the not to distant future, a future that would
involve a young man doing the right thing.
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