Queen of Diamonds

Gillian Godden

Description

The gritty gangland thriller from Gillian Godden!

Is the Diamond reign over?

Head of the Diamond family, Patsy is determined to make a success of husband Nick’s gangland empire – whatever the cost. Nick was ruthless and cold-blooded, but he built a legacy that Patsy wants to protect.

So when a mysterious woman from Nick’s past turns up claiming to be Patsy’s new business partner, she senses trouble. Karen Duret demands Patsy’s help, but it comes with a catch. If Patsy refuses, Karen threatens to expose the Diamond family’s darkest secrets…

Patsy needs the help of her trusted allies more than ever, but when a rival gang start a turf war, the stakes suddenly become deadly.

Torn between loyalties, Patsy knows that blood will be spilled. And as battle commences, the question on everyone's lips is - who will be crowned the queen of diamonds?

What people are saying about Gillian Godden!

*'An edge of your seat read that will leave you breathless!' Bestselling author, Kerry Kaya.

'Characters were so real I'm still looking over my shoulder! Bestselling author Owen Mullen.

*

Sujets

• Policier & Thriller
• Policier
• White Collar Crime
• Mashups
• Thrillers
• Suspenso
• Corporate crime
• General officer
• City Life
• Organized Crime
• General
• Crime
• Family Life
• Romance
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Boldwood Books
• Date de parution: 09 décembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781802800883
• Langue: English

Extrait

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 we had that place cleaned up for today and got the caterers in.’
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 i