Kray - Stolen

Through her marriage to Reggie Kray, Roberta Kray has a unique and authentic insight into Londons East End. Roberta met Reggie in early 1996 and they married the following year; they were together until Reggies death in 2000. Roberta is the author of many previous bestsellers including No Mercy, Dangerous Promises, Exposed and Survivor.

Also by Roberta Kray

The Debt

The Pact

The Lost

Strong Women

The Villains Daughter

Broken Home

Nothing But Trouble

Bad Girl

Streetwise

Dangerous Promises

Exposed

Survivor

Non-fiction

Reg Kray: A Man Apart

SPHERE

First published in Great Britain in 2019 by Sphere Copyright Roberta Kray 2019

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-0-7515-6965-0

Sphere

An imprint of

Little, Brown Book Group Carmelite House

An Hachette UK Company www.hachette.co.uk

www.littlebrown.co.uk

In 1958 an event took place that shocked and horrified the country. A baby, Kay Fury, was snatched from the grounds of her family home and her nanny deliberately drowned in the lake. Despite a long investigation, no trace was ever found of Kay.

Two years later, Mal Fury discovered the identity of the abductor and a confrontation took place during which the man, Teddy Heath, was accidentally killed. With the death penalty still in place and fearing that he could be hanged, Mal left the scene without informing the police. The only person he did tell was his wife, Esther, a confidence he later came to regret.

Over the years, the Fury marriage fell apart but the couple stayed together. Mal, against his wifes wishes, took on the guardianship of an East End orphan called Lolly Bruce. They became close and Lolly remains fiercely loyal to him.

Seventeen years after Teddy Heaths death, Esther finally turned on her husband, revealing his secret to the police. Mal was charged and convicted of manslaughter. Hes now nearing the end of his sentence and looking forward to the future.

Lolly Bruce

Originally from the East End, the orphaned Lolly was saved from being taken into care by the intervention of Mal Fury. Now, aged nineteen, shes back in Kellston in the East End of London working on the wrong side of the law. With the past kicking at her heels, shell have to keep her wits about her. Shes experienced privilege but its street smarts shell need in order to stay safe.

Mal Fury

Mal, Lollys guardian, is currently serving a prison sentence for the manslaughter of the man who abducted his child. Once a successful jeweller, his life is in tatters. Hes clinging to the hope, however, that Kay may still be alive, and someones about to give him further reason to believe it.

Esther Fury

Mals beautiful, spoiled and selfish wife is moving on, putting the past (and her husband) behind her. At least thats the plan. Shes used to getting her own way but shes going to find out that there are some things she simply cant control.

Nick Trent

Nicks uncle, Stanley Parrish, was once employed to help track down Kay Fury. Now a private investigator himself, Nick knows better than to get dragged into the case that resulted in his uncles death. But his better judgement doesnt count for much when it comes to helping Lolly. If she needs him, hell be there.

Heather Grant

Heather, a young reporter, makes a living out of uncovering other peoples secrets, but she also has secrets of her own. As she delves into the history of the Furys, examining their pain and loss, her own demons quickly rise to the surface.

Jude Rule

The handsome, talented, obsessive Jude Lollys first love is now firmly attached to Esther Fury. But is the past about to catch up? Once a suspect in the murder of a teenage girl, the shadow of guilt, at least in Lollys eyes, still hangs over him.

Vinnie Keane

Vinnie works for the boss of the East End, Terry Street. A great bear of a man, loyal and tough and built for intimidation, he appears to be indestructible. But there is one chink in his armour. Love could be the undoing of him.

Friday 16 September. Kent

Lolly Bruce reached out from the passenger seat and angled the rear-view mirror so she could study her face, peering at her reflection with a combination of intensity and disappointment. Grey eyes, small pink mouth, brown hair swept into a topknot. She sighed. Even with all the effort she made, her make-up carefully applied, she felt she never quite pulled it off. There was something in her features that betrayed her, something more East End than West, more Kellston than Mayfair. She had learned how to imitate sophistication but not how to inhabit it.

Do you have to do that? Vinnie asked.

How else am I supposed to see what I look like?

You look the same as the last time you checked.

Lolly gave a snort. That was over an hour ago. Women of substance have to pay attention to their appearance. She applied more lipstick and dabbed at her lips with a tissue. All right. Im ready.

Vinnie rolled his eyes and then moved the mirror back to where it belonged.

Lolly checked her fake Hermes handbag, made sure the goods were still inside and got out of the car. She took a deep breath and pushed back her shoulders. Posture was everything in this game. Well, that and confidence. She had done this same thing so often but the nerves still got to her.

As she walked towards the shop, Lolly tried to tune in to that sense of entitlement which the monied possessed. I have every right to be here, every right to be the owner of some very classy jewellery. The trick was to look the part cashmere twinset, pearls, heels and to sound it too. She could manage the latter without any difficulty. Five years at Daynor Bridge, a public school for girls, had taught her how to speak with a silver spoon in her gob. What it hadnt done, however, was to wipe away all traces of her working-class origins. Acting in a superior fashion didnt come naturally to her and nor did the art of disdain.

Today her name was Anna Carter-West and she had a driving licence to prove it. The licence was as genuine as her handbag. Sometimes they asked for ID and sometimes they didnt, but she always came prepared. Stopping outside the jewellers, she took a moment to steady herself whilst pretending to study the window display. It didnt do to linger for too long; courage had a habit of draining away.

Inside, the shop glittered with its fancy lighting and pricey displays. Stepping up to the counter, with what she hoped would pass for blue-blooded nonchalance, she gave the man a pleasant smile. Good morning.

Good morning, miss. How can I help you?