by Rachel Ward
‘Who?’ said Jay.
‘Kevin, the photographer from the local rag. Might have known he’d be in on this.’
A car pulled up quite close to them.
‘Shh,’ Jay said.
The car doors opened and then slammed shut. Bea could see two pairs of feet crunching on the frosty gravel. She looked up and gasped. One of the men was Dave, Julie’s bully of a husband.
She waited until they were safely into the yard, then whispered, ‘They’re all crawling out of the woodwork tonight.’
‘Oh, shit,’ said Ant.
‘What?’
‘In the opening to the yard. Fuckin’ hell. What’s he doing here?’
Bea changed position and peered through a different gap in the hedge. ‘Oh.’
She could clearly see Ken, lurking near a group of men. Then one of them, a guy with a flat cap on and wearing a Barbour jacket, jeans and heavy boots, turned to him and seemed to be giving him instructions. Ken nodded and the man clapped him on the shoulder.
Jay nudged Bea. ‘That’s the bloke, Bea. The guy in the Barbour jacket.’
Bea felt a stab of anxiety in her stomach. Keep calm, she thought. Don’t get the jitters now.
The influx of cars slowed down. The noise of the gathering crowd diminished too, as the men moved from the yard into the barn. And then suddenly the beam of light, which had been illuminating their view, disappeared. The doors to the barn were closed.
‘It’s starting,’ said Jay.
‘We can’t see a thing now,’ said Ant. ‘Let’s get closer.’
37
‘Come on, let’s get over by the gate.’
No need to crouch any longer, they walked swiftly back along the hedge and clambered over the gate. They crept along the wall of the low building and waited by the corner.
Jay peered round into the yard. He retreated and turned to the others. ‘There’s someone there, over on the other side,’ he whispered. ‘Looks like your lad.’
‘Let me have a look,’ said Ant. He squeezed past Jay and he, too, peered round. He moved back, flattening his back against the wall. ‘It’s Ken all right. Let me deal with him.’
‘We all will,’ said Jay. ‘He’s looking down the lane. Let’s go round through the yard.’
They crept back along the wall and went round the other end into the yard. They were closer to the barn now and could hear a groundswell of shouting, cheering and jeering. The main event was under way.
Bea could see Ken at the far corner of the yard now. He had his back to them and was illuminated by the light from his phone. They were able to get right up to him without him noticing.
Ant tapped him on the shoulder. ‘Oi, what are you doing here?’
Ken jumped out of his skin. He looked like a rabbit in the headlights. ‘Nothing.’
He swiped his finger across the screen of his phone.
‘Oh no you don’t.’ Ant wrestled it away from him and held it up in the air. Ken launched a counter-attack, kicking at his shins and grabbing his arm.
‘Ant, here! Chuck it!’ Jay hissed.
Ant drew back his wrist and flicked the phone through the air. Jay caught it, held it low with both hands and then booted it into the darkness.
‘What the fuck did you do that for?’ said Ken, facing Jay and flailing his arms around in frustration.
‘To stop you phoning whoever it was you were phoning.’
‘We could’ve found out who it was, though,’ said Bea. ‘Useful to get the numbers.’
Ken dived between his brother and Jay in the direction the phone went.
‘Uh-uh,’ said Ant, grabbing him on his way through. He got Ken in an armlock. ‘So, what’s going on? What are you doing here?’
‘I’m not doing anything. Ow!’ He clutched at Ant’s arms as he jerked at his neck. ‘I’m just the lookout,’ he gasped.
‘Lookout for what?’
‘It’s not illegal,’ said Ken. ‘What they’re doing. It’s not breaking any laws.’
‘You’re kidding,’ said Bea. ‘Dog-fighting?’
‘It’s an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006,’ said Jay. ‘Fifty-one weeks in prison.’
‘Dog-fighting?’ said Ken. ‘It’s not dog-fighting. I wouldn’t get involved in that. It’s disgusting.’
Ant loosened his grip a little. ‘What is it, then?’
‘Let me go and I’ll show you. You can see in that window. They haven’t covered it up properly.’
Ant relaxed his arms for a second and Ken ducked out from under them. He sped off down the lane, feet kicking up a shower of mucky grit as he went.
‘Ken! Ken, you little fucker. Come back.’ Ant was incandescent. ‘I’ll swing for him later.’
Bea had a momentary twinge of sympathy for Ken. After all, his dad was in prison and his mum had left him. She hoped Ant wouldn’t actually ‘swing for him’, but she couldn’t think about that now.
‘Shall we go and look in the window?’ she said, then realised that Jay had already gone. She could see him now, a dark shape against the darker wall of the building. When he reached the building the top of his head was silhouetted in the light escaping from the uncurtained window.
She could hear a roar of noise from inside. The men, and it did sound an entirely male noise, were getting into a frenzy.
Ant and Bea crept up behind him.
‘What is it?’ said Bea.
There was another roar of excitement.
‘Ken was right,’ said Jay. He’d turned away from the window. ‘It’s not dogs, but it is animals.’
‘What?’
‘I don’t know if you want to see it,’ he said.
Ant nudged him aside and peered in. ‘Fuck me.’
‘I know,’ said Jay.
‘What?’ said Bea.
‘Bea, don’t look,’ said Ant. ‘It’s not very nice.’
Although the anxious knot in her stomach was twisting and turning now, Bea had to know. ‘Move aside, boys,’ she said. She had to stand on tiptoe to see over the ledge of the window. She put her hands on the cold, damp brick to steady herself and peered in.
It was difficult to see through a mass of heads and shoulders. The crowd was moving, little surges and waves of excitement. One movement created a gap and Bea could see to the centre of the room where two men, stripped to the waist, were slugging it out. Blood was dripping down their faces, from noses and mouths. The bandages wrapped round their fists were red with it.
‘Oh. My. God.’
One of the men was Tank. His opponent was much older, a beast of a man, thickset, entirely hairless, shiny with sweat and blood. They were both panting, chests heaving. Tank had a haunted look in his eyes, like he was trapped in something and didn’t know how to get out. His opponent clumped him on the side of his head and Tank reeled sideways. The man followed up with a series of sickening blows to his head, and Tank dropped to the floor. Bea couldn’t see him any more as the crowd surrounded him, shouting at him to get up.
Bea turned back to the others. ‘Tank’s down.’
They all squeezed together at the window.
‘What’s happening?’ said Ant.
‘He’s getting up,’ said Jay.
‘He’s in a heck of a state,’ said Bea. ‘They should stop the fight.’
‘It’s not going to happen, Bea. Listen to them. They’re literally baying for blood.’
It was true. There was a roar from the watching men as Tank staggered to his feet. The other guy prowled round while Tank took a few deep breaths with his hands on his thighs. Then, just as he straightened up, his opponent went for him, landing a volley of punches to his stomach. The crowd went wild. Tank doubled over and the bloke started in on his head. One blow caught him on the underside of his chin and he arched backwards and fell into the crowd. They caught him, keeping him on his feet, and then launched him back towards the bloody fists waiting for him. Another sickening blow to his head and he was down again, crumpling like he wasn’t made o
f flesh and bone but something far more delicate. His legs folded up underneath him and he dropped to the floor. This time he didn’t get up.
‘I can’t see him,’ said Ant.
Through the crowd, Bea could see the big man being led away. People were slapping him on the back, but he was looking a bit shaken up now.
‘Give us some space!’ someone shouted. ‘Get back!’
The crowd thinned out a little and Bea was able to see through to the ground, where Tank was lying. Simon, the vet, was kneeling next to him. He was pressing his fingers against Tank’s neck and shaking his head. The man who had been instructing Ken earlier seemed to be arguing with him, and suddenly Simon stood up. He was shouting back. Then he gathered his things up and pushed his way through the crowd to the way out.
‘Who’s that guy?’ said Ant.
‘It’s the bloody vet,’ said Bea.
Now the Barbour Jacket Man was cupping his hands and shouting round the room. ‘Is there a doctor here? Anyone got First Aid?’
‘Shit!’ said Ant.
‘Ant, no!’ said Bea, but he had already left their huddle by the window and was running round the side of the building, tearing off his balaclava. Bea ran after him and watched as he sprinted up to the barn door. He almost bumped into Simon on his way out.
‘Mate,’ said Ant, grabbing his sleeve. ‘You can’t leave. He needs help.’
Simon spun away from him and started running towards the parked cars.
Ant didn’t hesitate. He dived through the doors. Bea stayed where she was, at the corner of the building, then darted back to the window.
‘He’s in there,’ said Jay.
Bea strained up onto the tips of her toes. She could see Ant kneeling by Tank’s prostrate form. Now he had his fingers resting against Tank’s neck, checking for a pulse. Then he got out his phone.
Quick as a flash the Barbour man snatched it away. Ant shouted at him and they started a furious argument.
‘We need an ambulance,’ said Bea.
‘They won’t want any blue lights here,’ said Jay.
‘I don’t care.’ She got her phone out and dialled.
38
It only took twelve minutes for the ambulance to get there. Bea was timing it on her phone and they were the longest twelve minutes of her life. She and Jay stayed out of sight, while Ant tried his best to revive Tank. He took his coat off and made a pillow out of it for Tank’s head, then leaned over and used his thumb to open one of his eyes. He shone his torch in.
‘Is he dead, do you think?’ said Bea. ‘Should we go in there?’
‘I dunno. You should keep clear anyway,’ said Jay. ‘They mustn’t know you’re here.’
Ant was shouting at Barbour Jacket Man, who wouldn’t give his phone back. The crowd was getting restless and in opposite corners of the room, the next pair of fighters were getting ready for their bout.
Now Barbour Jacket seemed to be asking Ant something else. Ant was shaking his head. Some others, including Dean and Dave moved forward. They bent down and took hold of Tank’s shoulders and legs and started to half lift, half drag him away from the centre of the room.
Ant was on his feet now, screaming at them, his words reaching Bea and Jay. ‘You can’t move him. You can’t do that! You’ve got to get an ambulance!’
But move him they did, his head flopping worryingly backwards. Ant dived in and tried to support it. Tank was deposited at the far side of the room. Ant seemed to be remonstrating with Dean now, who looked, frankly, numb. He just stood there, with his hands at his sides. He was staring down at Tank, like a zombie.
The next fight didn’t start, though. As more of the crowd became aware of Ant’s fight to save Tank, an air of unease spread through the men. Bea saw a few of them make their way out of the barn. The rest hovered about, looking tense.
And now Bea thought she could hear the faint sound of a siren.
‘Do you hear that?’ she said to Jay.
Jay moved back from the window and tilted his head. ‘Yeah. It’s all going to kick off in a minute, Bea. Do you want to go back over the gate, get down behind the hedge?’
‘No. I’m staying right here.’
‘Okay, but don’t go into the yard. I think it’s going to get messy, but don’t worry. If Ant’s in trouble, I’ve got his back.’
It wasn’t just one siren. There were two or three sending their warbling notes of alarm into the night air. Now Bea could see blue-white lights pulsating in the distance, getting closer.
Bea spotted someone peeling away from the crowd and walking towards the door. He stood there for a moment, listening and looking, and then he turned and shouted, ‘Police!’
Only those nearest to him heard him, but the news started spreading through to the middle of the room. The barn doors were wide open now and there was the start of a stampede. The air was full of the sounds of engines being started, wheels skidding on the icy surface of the lane. Drivers were shouting at each other as they tried to extricate and turn their cars. And all the time the sirens and blue lights were getting closer and closer.
Bea looked back into the window. Tank was still on the ground, with Ant next to him, pressing on his chest. Dean was hopping from foot to foot, a look of panic on his face. Then he saw the open door and started running. Now Barbour Jacket was striding towards Ant, his hand balled into fists at his side.
‘Jay,’ said Bea.
‘Got it,’ said Jay. ‘Stay here.’ He jogged round the side of the building and into the barn, just as Barbour Jacket was about to take a swing at Ant.
Jay shouted at him and he looked round giving Ant time to move. The man turned and squared up to Jay, who got his phone out and took his photograph, face on, close up. This was a red rag to a bull and the guy made a grab for his phone. Jay ducked away, but not too far. To Bea it looked like he was teasing him, drawing him away from Ant.
The sirens were very close now, but Bea could see that the lights weren’t moving. The lane was clogged up. Horns were sounded, people were shouting. She checked back in the barn. Tank was still out cold. Ant had got up and was looking anxiously out of the doorway.
Bea broke cover and started running down the lane. It was crammed with cars and no one was going anywhere. She squeezed through and reached the ambulance which was only fifty metres away now. She ran up to the driver’s door. The driver saw her coming and wound down the window. She looked warily at Bea, who was still wearing her balaclava. Bea pulled the hat off to look more human.
‘Can you come on foot?’ she said. ‘It’s not far. I don’t know if he’s still breathing.’
The paramedic nodded. ‘We’re not getting anywhere here, are we?’ she said. Her partner, in the passenger seat, opened his door.
‘I’ll go and assess. I’ll radio back.’ He grabbed a couple of bags. ‘Where is he?’
‘In the big building. My friend’s with him, but he’s only got First Aid.’
‘Okay.’ He set off up the lane with Bea trotting in his wake. Bea saw Jay shoot out of the barn, followed by Barbour Jacket Man. When the man saw the lights and the ambulance guy running towards him, he stopped chasing Jay, who jogged up to Bea.
‘Bea, what are you doing?’
‘I had to fetch help,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t just stand there.’
The lane was still choked with cars. Bea looked back and caught sight of Tom and Shaz further down, behind the ambulance. Someone had opened a gate nearby and cars were starting to drive into a field, bumping and careering in their efforts to get away.
‘It’s madness, isn’t it?’ said Jay.
‘Yeah. Let’s find Ant.’
They walked up to the barn. On the way in, they passed Barbour Man. He looked at Jay with open contempt. Then he turned his attention to Bea and his eyes glittered. ‘I would have thought you’d know better.’
‘Do I know you?’ said Bea.
‘No. But I know you.’
Jay put a hand on her arm. ‘Come on.’
Goldie. Her stomach clenched with a sickening lurch. In the heat of the moment, Bea had forgotten about her. She spun round. ‘Where is she? Tell me where she is. Is she here?’
The man smiled. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
Bea stormed up to him, her fury overriding everything else. He was only a few inches taller than her. She looked up into his cruel, cool face. ‘Where is she?’
He smiled again, sneering and nasty, and said nothing.
‘Where is she?’ Bea shoved both hands into his chest, making him step backwards. He was surprised, but the smile stayed. He caught hold of both Bea’s wrists and she started to feel panicky and powerless.
‘That’s enough, mate,’ said Jay. ‘Let her go.’
Bea was girding herself to slam her knee into his groin, but at that moment he let go of her, laughing in her face. She rubbed her wrists which were sore where he’d held them. Her mind was reeling. With Tank and Ant. And with Goldie – God knows where, maybe alive, maybe not.
It was his laughter that did it. The sound of it in her ears. Even now, with the chaos all around him, he still felt he held all the cards. He was still taunting them.
She brought her knee up as hard as she could.
At last the smile was gone He doubled over, making a high-pitched whining noise.
‘Oi! I saw that. Break it up!’ Tom came running up to her.
‘Tom, thank God you’re here,’ she said. ‘He assaulted me. I had to do it to get away from him.’
Tom looked at the figure of Barbour Man, still hunched over and breathing hard. ‘What’s been going on here, then?’ said Tom, as the man straightened up. ‘It’s Eddie, isn’t it?’
Bea’s heart sank. Were this bloke and Tom friends?
‘Nothing illegal, mate,’ said Eddie. ‘It’s all above board, except for this woman here assaulting me, which you witnessed. Someone should teach her how to behave.’
39
‘Okay, let’s calm it all down. Do you need medical attention?’ Eddie shook his head. ‘Right. There’s a man down over there. Let’s get him sorted and then we’ll take some statements. None of you leave, okay? I’m going to need to talk to all of you.’
