by Carl Hancock
Turning the corner from the residential street lined with double parked cars his mood was jovial yet doomed to imminent change with the vision that faced him, outside the unit he had come to rely upon, the unit he had planned to sell for further investment yet had become attached too was numerous vehicles of different shape and size all with a purpose of their own. The cigar butt hung from his mouth as he struggled to make sense of the many people bustling in and around his unit.
The first thought to enter his mind was old bill, scanning the area as he pulled up at a distance the absence of any sign of police told him otherwise, his premises was the hub of activity and he wanted to know why. Although desperate to know the reason for the intrusion he also thought of his liberty. Nothing he knew about inside the unit was in any way incriminating yet he felt self preservation kick in with the thought of being set up.
Taking a deep breath he exited the car and glanced around for an indication as to who was in charge, he marched straight over to a man donning a hard hat and high visibility jacket who was otherwise engaged instructing his minions of their tasks. Impatient in his typical style he interrupted as the man spoke.
‘What the fucks going on here then, this is my property and I want to know now!’ he demanded.
The man turned to face him. ‘Easy mate, I’m just here to do a job and as far as I’m aware the owners already inside,’ he said. ‘Take it up with him if you’ve got a beef!’ He turned his back on Billy and continued giving his orders.
Doing as instructed he raced toward the entrance just as the roller shutter came to life, the large metal door slowly rising from the ground disturbing three suited men busily scribbling comments down on their respective clipboards. Behind him the noise of an approaching large vehicle drew his attention, spinning his head around he saw it was a recovery vehicle manoeuvring itself into position to reverse to the newly opened door. Bewildered he continued onward as his prize possession, the Rolls Royce he had kept in storage with the intention of restoring was being man handled by four men, pushed backwards toward the area the truck was destined for.
‘Get your dirty fucking hands off my car,’ he shouted. ‘You filthy fucking immigrants,’ he added in reference to their ethnic origin. Storming toward them aggressively they paused and hesitated, looking toward each other they backed away as Billy reached inside and pulled on the handbrake.
The recovery truck braked behind the car, the driver climbed out and made his way to the rear of the vehicle toward the operating controls whilst pulling on his work gloves. Whistling away he was suddenly faced with confrontation as Billy approached him holding a tyre iron.
‘If you fucking touch this car,’ he said pointing toward it. ‘I will fucking kill you right here right now,’ he threatened. ‘Understand me?’
The driver swallowed and nodded in agreement silently, he mimicked the others actions and backed away toward the safety of his cab.
Billy opened the boot and relinquished the unorthodox weapon he had grabbed from under the driver’s seat; slowly he was piecing together what was happening although he knew no reason for it. ‘What’s the world coming too?’ he mumbled to himself as he continued his short entrance obliviously.
The unit was accommodating more people than he had ever seen in it, a stream of white hard hats flowed continuously in a two way motion, the junk he had stored over the years of his imprisonment was being dragged out into the front courtyard and thrown in a skip without any consideration. In his eyes a grave error had been made, one that someone would soon regret as he had no time or patience to deal with errors of such magnitude. Most other units that neighboured his stood empty, many had been vacant for years or so he had been informed, for that reason he was confident that one of those was supposed to have been the intruder’s true destination.
‘Now who the fuck thinks they’re in charge of this fuck up?’ he shouted as he noted the door had been forced to gain entry.
Passing workmen grunted at him, nodding their head in the direction of a suited man sitting at his desk with some paperwork in front of him. The middle aged man who looked like he’d never done a physical days work in his life was talking on the phone, Billy’s landline that he was being billed for. Enraged he strutted over to the wall and grabbed hold of the telephone line ripping it from the connector box ending the conversation immediately.
‘Oh dear, I don’t think he’s going to like that very much,’ the user said calmly.
Billy manoeuvred several feet to stand towering above the unnamed man. ‘You better have a fucking good explanation for this you cunt, I want answers NOW!’
‘I…I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ came a stuttered response. ‘Who are you and what on earth do you want?’
‘Oh you want to play fucking games do you?’ Billy grabbed a tight hold of the man and pulled him to his feet; he readjusted his grip around his throat and shoved him across the desk ignorant to the observing workforce who failed to intervene. ‘This is my unit and you’re trespassing, what the hell are you doing here?’
The man’s bottom lip quivered with fear at the brusque manner he was being subjected to, he struggled to look around for assistance that was not forthcoming before realizing he was to face his aggressor on his own. ‘I’m sorry, but as far as I’m aware the new owner is on his way here now, I’m simply carrying out his instructions before he resells it later on today.’
‘I haven’t sold i,t’ Billy said through gritted teeth. ‘And I have no intention of selling it, so you must be fucking mistaken.’
‘The man tried to shake his head yet the tight grip still affecting his breathing prevented him from completing the action. ‘I did the paperwork myself, I’m a solicitor you see,’ he gasped. ‘It’s completely legit I assure you, I mean Mr. MCQuaid didn’t want it any other way!’
Billy relaxed his grip, the man tugged at his tie and loosed the top buttons of his shirt gasping for air and struggling to regain his composure, Billy stepped backwards in shock at the name he had just heard. ‘What the hell has he got to do with any of this?’ he growled. ‘He has no right to sell this place legally or otherwise!’
The legal solicitor stood to his feet and sheepishly moved to the other side of the desk edging toward the large gap left by the open shutter door; with escape route planned he felt more at ease to reply. ‘I think its better that you speak with my client about such matters, confidentiality rules and so forth prevents me from discussing such details.’
‘Well who the fuck is it then?’ Billy demanded.
‘As I said he is on his way,’ he replied glancing out into the daylight as the roar of a big engine echoed around the courtyard. ‘And I do believe that’s him now,’ he added turning to face Billy again.
Billy raced red faced with anger toward the shutter door; the unit had thinned out with the workmen making themselves scarce so not to bear witness to any crime. An accolade of vehicles drew to a halt just outside with one vehicle flanked by the others. Two men jumped out of the first car and immediately positioned themselves to the front of the convoy while two men from the last car covered the rear.
Billy stood staring and waiting in anticipation to find out who the unnamed buyer was, who in his eyes had been had over by Matt. The tinted windows prevented any clue slipping through; the driver of the middle and well secured vehicle exited the car and stood with his hands to his front ready to open the rear door. Within seconds and as if rehearsed he placed his hands on the handle and lifted it until the door swung open, a silent action that he seemed to have performed hundreds of times before. A set of legs slid out the door followed by the frame of a man that Billy knew.
‘O’Donnell!’ Billy gasped. ‘What the fuck?’
Minutes later after the group had moved inside the building, Billy continued to vent his protests despite them being ignored. O’Donnell’s bodyguards covered his every movement hindering any unwanted physical contact and ensuring all threats were kept at a safe distance.
&n
bsp; ‘Come on O ‘Donnell, I thought we were all sorted now,’ Billy said. ‘I coughed up the money as arranged, so what the fuck’s going on here?’
‘Yes Mr. Drake, you returned my money much easier than I thought you might yet I still feel rather offended that you saw fit to attempt to steal from me in the first place and then for a second time with my merchandise,’ replied O’Donnell without the politeness of making eye contact.
‘We’ve been through all this. I didn’t know anything about your deal with Locke. Why would I?’ Billy argued. ‘So why the payback?’
O’Donnell laughed, his actions causing his own men to shift nervously as he turned to stare directly at Billy. ‘Payback? This isn’t retribution William, not by a long shot because you wouldn’t see that coming,’ he rasped with a cold glare. ‘This is purely a business transaction even though it does bring the added bonus of providing some confusion to yourself.’ He moved toward him nodding confirmation to his men who instantly moved aside. ‘I suppose you’re a little in the dark then William, Matthews left it to me to inform you has he? Happy families!’ His voice was full of sarcasm as he placed his arm over Billy’s shoulders and around his neck in a menacing manner.
Billy stooped low as the weight fell on his shoulders, he was gently but undeniably forcibly turned to a corner of the unit that offered some privacy as the workman had felt safe enough to resume their duties.
‘You see William,’ the alpha male said. ‘What you seem to have forgotten along the way and quite understandable given where you have been is that this place was never yours….well not legally anyway.’ He laughed. ‘Your face simply says it all so may I explain?’
Billy indicated to continue, more than anything he wanted the riddles explained to him without seeming stupid or uninformed.
‘Well it’s like this, your lawyer Leslie Ford, I assume you remember him?’
Again Billy indicated in the affirmative.
‘Of course you do, well when you took the deal offered to you and had him stash the loot so to speak, you willingly and rather naively empowered him as power of attorney.’
Billy nodded his head as he slowly began to understand. ‘I had to, nothing could be in my name so it was the only way, why what are you trying to say?’
‘Only that in doing so you left yourself open to being defrauded and left at the mercy of a dubious lawyer.’
Billy shook his head vigorously. ‘Nah nah,’ he insisted. ‘You’re wrong, he was checked out good and proper before I hired him, he was as straight as they come….Well for a lawyer that is.’
‘Oh...That’ll be why you had him killed then would it?’ he retorted.
Billy silently returned the glare that he was receiving, his former legal representatives name was being used far too often for his liking. He didn’t want past events to resurface and bring all manner of difficulties with them.
‘Anyway the result was that these premises changed hands…well as far as legal deeds and so forth were concerned back in 2002 mere months before the chaps demise. I expect you would know of any motive that he may have had for doing that, aside from the monetary gain that is, although he himself stood to gain nothing from it,’ O’Donnell said.
Billy stood puzzled at the relevance, his mind racing as he began to realize he had been mislead. His arrogance had led him to believe that he was safe from being defrauded, that his assets were untouchable.
‘Are you saying what I think you’re saying?’
O’Donnell placed his hands together in front of him and clapped several times. ‘And finally the penny drops, Matthew was the legal owner of these premises although hidden through a vast amount of paperwork and believe me he was as surprised as you are,’ he said. ‘But now it belongs to me in settlement for what was rightly your debt.’
‘But this place isn’t worth anything near the amount your due, it falls short,’ Billy argued. ‘And when word gets around that you let him get away with knocking you then all and sundry will be out to give it a go,’ he added still reeling from the news. ‘You need to send a message!’
‘Wrong!’ O’Donnell declared. ‘I am not going to do your errands; I am not going to settle your pathetic little squabble on your behalf. My business with Matthew is settled to a mutual and beneficial arrangement,’ he said staring into Billy’s eyes unwaveringly. ‘And if anyone is stupid enough to see my decision as a sign of weakness…then so be it, it is a fault of their own and they will have to live with the consequences if they attempt anything!’ The air of confidence he projected as he spoke, the certainty in his voice that expelled all possible doubt from his statement was confirmation of the position he held and the level of belief in his own capabilities.
Billy’s throat tightened as he swallowed hard, the dryness in his mouth a combined result of shock and fear. ‘Yeah, Ok,’ he replied.
O’Donnell’s attention was drawn toward the entrance of his newly acquired unit, two figures stood outside in the morning sun dressed to impress with one holding a firm grip of a briefcase. He immediately drew a conclusion on the purpose for their visit and responded swiftly by making his way in their direction casually dismissing the ongoing revelations.
‘Where the fuck is he going now?’ Billy said to one of the guards, the response was a silent shrug of the shoulders that indicated he was only muscle privy to nothing of any importance. ‘Someone fuckin tell me then?’
The solicitor stood forward from behind the safety of O’Donnell’s security, remaining vigilant he raised his hand slightly to make himself noticed. ’I think you’ll find that that’s the new buyer.’
Billy shot him a glare before remembering he was protected. ‘Already... how the fuck?’
‘It…it was pre-arranged, it turns out that a major supermarket chain has been systematically buying up this land over the last couple of years with the intention of acquiring permission to build a store,’ he said waving his hands about. ‘They’re so desperate now after not being able to locate the legitimate owner that their willing to pay very generously for a quick sale so demolition and rebuild can commence.’
‘Nah, it can’t be that simple,’ Billy replied. ‘There must be more to it than that!’ He thought for a few moments. ‘I bet Matt doesn’t realize the profit he’s going to turn over.’
‘Oh he does actually,’ confirmed the solicitor excitedly. ‘I believe it’s going to be a sixty forty split in his favour on the profit, it just saved him having to liquidize some of his own assets.’ As he said it he edged closer to the bulking frame beside him, cautious of the flammability of the words he spoke. ‘Looks like you paid for your own mistake after all, and at a cost too!’
‘You mother fucking cunt,’ Billy rasped. ‘You think this is funny?’ He instinctively made a move forward, thoughts of aggression consuming him until the bulking frame of muscle the solicitor was relying on side stepped to create a barrier, the six foot guardian angel looked toward his employer who calmly instructed him to deal with the erupting situation. Billy sized him up, he looked to the others that began to form a circle around him keen to fulfil their duties and please their master. It was a no-win scenario for him; best case was him knocking at least one or two of them out before being placated, either way would get him no nearer the intended target who was just a means to vent his anger.
‘Ok…ok I’m going,’ he said holding his hands palm up through gritted teeth, his energy could be better used aiming it at the right person. ‘Just you pray you never see me again,’ he threatened in the solicitor’s direction.
Chapter Eighteen
‘I want to know Mum’ she said. ‘It’s about time and I’ve waited long enough already.’
‘I can’t Tina, what about you’re Father? If he finds out that we’ve been speaking about it again then we’ll never get over this!’
‘That’s the point,’ she replied in frustration. ‘And he’s not my father, I just want to know who is,’ she demanded.
‘Don’t say that, he’s the only one
you’ve ever known, give it time and let him calm down and maybe we can forget all about it,’ Sheila replied.
‘He won’t ever calm down Mum don’t be so naïve, he may pretend for a bit but only until he decides the time is right to get his own back, then he’ll drop us again just like a sack of rubbish.’
‘Ssshhh Tina,’ she said putting a finger to her mouth. ‘Suzy might hear you and he’s still her father remember!’
‘Lucky her for knowing for sure where she comes from then… how come I can’t have the same?’
Sheila shook her head in despair at the questions asked of her; the constant reminder of her youthful infidelity was beginning to take its toll. She didn’t regret falling pregnant with a love child and wouldn’t change a thing given the chance but had hoped the matter of heritage would never be mentioned.
‘It’s not that simple Tina, I wish I could tell you that he was completely the opposite of Billy but the truth is he wasn’t, he was a bit of a scoundrel himself and was only after a bit of skirt,’ she said hoping to appease her troublesome girl .
‘So what?’ Tina retorted.’ He doesn’t need to be a saint to be a decent man or father and let’s face it, Billy isn’t either is he? So where can I go wrong?’
‘I don’t understand what you want from me, I really don’t,’ Sheila wondered in despair and stood up to turn away, she sniffed and wiped the forming tear away from her newly mascara treated eyes. Stuffing the handkerchief in her side pocket she continued to enjoy the view of the garden. The sanctity it offered compelling her to wish to leave the room and bask in the midday weather without the need for such interrogation, peace of mind was all that she wanted and those few seconds began to feel like hours as she soaked in every morsel that nature had to offer.
‘I just want to know more about my real father, who he was and who I really am,’ Tina interrupted. ‘Maybe he would want to know me, maybe he’s changed over the years from the man that you knew and would welcome the chance to know he’s a father.’
