Gangsters Wives by Lee Martin

She started to cry silently, and Sadie handed her a tissue to dry the tears.
    â€˜Men will always hurt you in the end, one way or another,’ said Sadie, and put her hand over Poppy’s for comfort.
    â€˜You do all right,’ said Poppy, when she’d composed herself a bit.
    â€˜Do I? You’d be surprised,’ replied Sadie.
    â€˜You’ve got your bloke.’
    â€˜What, Eddie? He’s as bad as Joe. Like I just said. He’s never around. Always in a filthy mood. You know, I think he’s going down. And I think he knows it.’
    â€˜Getaway. With his brief? No chance. He’s a genius.’
    â€˜Then why is Eddie so worried?’
    â€˜He’s just got the jitters. It’s next week isn’t it?’
    â€˜Tuesday.’
    â€˜I’ll be there for you. We’ll all be there for you and Eddie. He’s a diamond. Never said a word about the others.’
    â€˜That’s his way. And thanks.’
    â€˜For what?’
    â€˜For being a mate.’
    â€˜You’ve been more than a mate to me Sade. I don’t know what I’d do without you.’
    Sadie smiled. ‘Come on then girl. Eat up. My treat, and the duck here’s to die for.’
    â€˜I don’t think I’m that hungry, and I’ve got to watch my weight.’
    â€˜For Joe?’
    â€˜Yeah, you’re right. Pass the damn noodles.’
    As they sat in the restaurant, something began to niggle at Sadie’s brain, and for once she let it grow. She looked at Poppy, and thought of Kate and Niki and herself. Four women trapped in lives none of them wanted. Four capable women who allowed their men to rule them. To walk all over them and treat them like dirt. And the beginnings of a plan began to form.
    â€˜What you thinking?’ asked Poppy as she cleared her plate and laid her chopsticks on the side.
    â€˜Nothing much,’ said Sadie. ‘Just what I’m going to have for pudding.’

15

    Tuesday rolled around, and Eddie had the runs. ‘I can’t get off the bloody toilet,’ he shouted as Sadie got his clothes ready for court.
    â€˜There’s some Diarid tablets in the medicine cupboard,’ she shouted through the door of the en-suite. ‘That’ll sort you.’
    â€˜Fucking hell,’ he moaned. ‘I don’t fucking believe this. Fucking Diarid, what’s all that about?’
    â€˜Calm down love,’ she said. ‘You’ll only make it worse.’
    She had laid out the new Hugo Boss suit he’d bought for the occasion. Eight-hundred quid’s worth of single-breasted navy blue wool and mohair. ‘Got to put on a show for the jury,’ he’d said when they’d gone down to Bond Street to pick it out.
    Eventually he came out of the bathroom. ‘My ring feels like it’s on fire,’ he said.
    â€˜I told you not to have curry last night.’
    â€˜I fancied a ruby. Didn’t know it’d go right through.’
    â€˜It’s stress,’ she said. ‘Those pills’ll work. Give ‘em time.’
    â€˜I fucking hope so. Fucking stress. You don‘t know what stress is.’
    Don’t I? she thought. But she said nothing.
    He padded across the bedroom floor in his underwear and socks, plucked a new white shirt off its hanger and slipped it on. He knotted a navy blue knitted silk tie, put on his new trousers and highly polished, black Italian leather loafers. Pulling on the jacket he asked, ‘How do I look?’
    He was pale and had lost weight since he bought the suit, and as Sadie looked him over she felt a stab of pity for him. ‘You look like a million,’ she said.
    She was already dressed herself. A black Dolce and Gabbana suit, white blouse unbuttoned at the throat, black tights and black Jimmy Choos. She wasn’t about to let the side down either.
    Eddie looked her over. ‘Diamond,’ he said. ‘Always looking good Sade. You never