by Carl Hancock
‘I have heard a rumour Matt, one that concerns me so much that I have no other option but to pass it on,’ Winston folded the razor down and put it in his pocket as his entourage busied themselves around him completing their tasks as instructed, he indicated for Matt to walk with him out of earshot.
‘I aint one to interfere but if you don’t already know it then you need to hear it at once.’
Matt walked with him as urged to a quiet corner away from the hired muscle and their earshot. ‘Go on,’ he prompted intrigued.
‘My eyes and ears tell me that Billy Drake has put out a significant contract on your life, open to anyone with the only stipulation being expediency. It seems he’s pushing it to the next level and wants you out the way for good, whatever it is between the two of you I hope it’s worth it!’
Matt scoffed at the information. ‘He’s already taken one shot actually, but he’s over stretching his mark, I hear his pot is nearly empty. Whatever he’s offering I’m sure he can’t cover the bill should anyone try to collect. As much as I appreciate the heads up though, it’s nothing I didn’t already know, I’m not worried.’
‘Only a stupid man would ignore it, it’s past the stage of threat and some things just cannot be stopped.’
‘I didn’t say I was ignoring it, I’m just not that worried about it. I can handle any amateur that he can afford.’
‘Even with yer man Griggs out of the picture?’
‘He’s not the only man I’ve got.’
‘I would offer assistance but there’s more for me to tell you yet, and when you hear it you’ll understand why I’d be reluctant to involve myself.’
‘Ok, spit it out,’ Matt said.
‘Word is the contracts been taken and not by an amateur but by someone with nothing to prove, someone whose travelled the world over completing tasks said to be impossible for any man.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘My man tells me Billy has secured the labour of Arnold Wagner; I don’t need to tell you about him do I?’
Matt shook his head, he was surprised to hear the name mentioned in connection with his own. ‘Bollocks!’
‘I assume you hadn’t heard that then?’
‘Your informant is wrong, he has to be!’
‘Never let me down in five years, he says the man’s already here and has been for some time although it goes without saying we have no idea where.’
‘No…it doesn’t make any sense, why would a pro like him accept a job paying chicken feed. He can’t need the money and there’s no glory to be claimed,’ he wondered aloud.
‘No idea but a foe like him is not an envious choice; maybe Billy is more connected than you thought. Maybe an extended hand could get him to cancel the contract although not without penalty.’
‘I’m not going cap in hand begging for my life, I’ll be finished for good!’
‘What’s the alternative?’
‘If your info is correct, although I highly doubt it then I have only two options and both need a little faith in order to work.’
‘Buy Wagner off or kill Billy first and hope he leaves empty handed? The first is more of a long shot; his rep will be on the line now.’
‘Then the time for deliberations is over,’ Matt made a movement toward the door after acknowledging the help.
‘Don’t trust anyone Matt, no matter who they are. Greed is infectious, jealousy even more so. Can I offer you a lift from one of me bitches?’
Matt followed his nod, the stocky men who shared similar builds as if their specific job requirement stipulated it continued to busy themselves in the distance, loyal and obedient but obviously so very dangerous. It made him wonder if he was right to question the way his old friend controlled his mob as it certainly seemed to work. ‘No, but thanks anyway!’
‘That’s what I’m saying, taking it onboard already huh?’
Two of the men carried the still bleeding man past him, cowering with fear and uncertainty to if his punishment was really at an end.
‘Who is he and what did he do anyway?’ He indicated to the man. ‘Encroaching on your patch was he?’
Winston raised an eyebrow. ‘Him…nah he aint no player, he hasn’t got the balls to be in this business.’
‘Then what’s he done, why do this to him?’
‘This here’s a teacher to one of my little un’s; he keeps giving the bastard detention even after I sent him a warning. He’s sure to listen now though isn’t he?’
Matt conveyed disapproval at the harsh sentence carried out.
‘You had great potential Matt, brains and ambition yet your conscience was always going to hold you back. You should let go of it, discard it and do what’s necessary. Think family first and strike first because he isn’t hesitating about doing you!’
Chapter Twenty Three
Relentless feelings bubbled inside him; conflicting desires locked in a battle to win control over the situation fought each other with no concern for his well being as the host. Torn between the urging desires for revenge and to extract a brutal physical form of harm on his foe and the most basic of decent morality he felt at a loss. For all of his confidence and usual unquestionable self belief he found this to be the hardest decision of his life. To dispose of Billy once and for all, to kill his fiancées father and then swear to spend the rest of his life with her seemed too hard to commit to regardless of how much he deserved it.
A gentle tap at the door followed by it being pushed open ajar, with just enough space to squeeze through Suzy entered with tea for one and placed it on the desk. He had scattered numerous articles of paperwork around him for this very purpose, contracts for new buildings and works lay strewn as cover for his demands to be left alone. Fortunately for him, the relationship that was theirs worked well with each other enjoying their own interests without the need to go into too much detail when alone time was needed…. Or so he thought?
‘Tell me what’s wrong Matt?’
Her question took him by surprise, a bolt out of the blue although on reflection it would be difficult to miss the fact that he had something on his mind.
‘It’s been two days since Mum and Tina came to stay and you’ve hardly said a word or left this room, it was your suggestion remember?’
How could he forget? The reasons behind his offer were largely what tipped the scales toward the course of action he now deliberated over. One moment his mind was made up and the next he was dissuaded from acting at all.
‘Nothing…everything’s alright!’ What could he say? I hope you don’t mind but I may have to murder your father.
She looked unconvinced, without realizing it he hadn’t even attempted to disguise his white lie or even sugar coat it. ‘I’m sorry Suzy but I have to get on.’ He grabbed the first piece of paper in front of him to look busy.
‘Is it because of Dave?’ She walked around the desk and gestured for space. Despite his protests she sat down on his lap and placed a concerned arm around him. He felt uncomfortable accepting the affection, with what he was considering it felt wrong to seek any form of comfort from her. Undeserving of her worry he felt he had betrayed her already and was relishing in her love out of false pretences all the time knowing that every day after this could be the same. The years that followed would be marred with the same feelings, every touch re-enlightening his feelings of guilt until eventually and inevitably driving them apart. Could he live a life like that or even force it unknowingly onto her? The alternative would be to sit aside and allow her Father to go unpunished for his actions and continue to torment others with his antics in the hope that one day, sooner rather than later he would cross the line so far as to ensure an outside party takes care of him. A dilemma for him, what if Tina, Sheila or even Suzy were to be hurt in an attack from an outside source further down the line? What if an amateur were to take a dislike to Billy’s actions and go off half cocked injuring innocent bystanders along the way. His kids maybe, should they be blessed?
&nbs
p; ‘Well?’
He stirred from his mindful slumber and considered his reply carefully. ‘Yes,’ he said ‘I’m worried about Dave’ he lied. He told himself it was a half truth; it was easier to swallow that way.
She sighed and told him not to worry, that the doctors had said he was now stable and in the best possible hands with the best possible care being provided for him. Her naivety shone through as she continued trying to ease his guilt, although he felt sympathy for Dave’s situation he felt no such blame attached to him. To prevent awkward questions being asked by her and others he had let it be known Dave was on the clock, on company time fulfilling his wishes and errands in that part of town. Since receiving the witness statement his eyes had been opened and past questions had been answered, niggling doubts of certain events had suddenly made sense.
‘It’s not just that though is it?’ she quizzed. Being astute and as close as she was to him she felt there was more to it. ‘You can share anything with me you know.’
He knew that wasn’t true no matter how much she may have believed it or wanted it; certain things had to remain a secret from her for her own good. ‘It’s nothing,’ he replied.
‘Come on,’ she prompted. ‘I know there’s something else bothering you.’
Nothing would have given him greater peace of mind than to unburden himself by telling her everything, the cold hard truths spilling from his mouth as she was forced to listen aghast to the details of why he hated her father so much and why the feeling was shared by many close to him. His revelations would undoubtedly be denied by Billy wholeheartedly and she would be forced to choose a side, splitting the family apart further than it already was while also bringing what remained of his family into the equation too. Although he employed Steve to look after some of his business interests he had so far managed to keep it legal, his younger brother had never been involved in the dark side of his work and he wished to keep it that way.
‘Is it the promise you made Dave?’
Stunned, he wondered how she knew and even more importantly, how much she knew?
‘I visited him yesterday and he was in a right state, he told me he had asked a favour of you,’ she explained seeing his curiosity
‘It’s nothing really,’ he replied. ‘I don’t think I can do what he asks anyway, give it time and he may realize it was too much to expect.’
‘A promise is a promise Matt and if there’s one person I thought would never fail to act on one, it’s you.’
‘It’s not as simple as that,’ he said. ‘There’s other thing’s to take into account!’
‘What’s more important than a duty of care to your employees?’ She asked a rhetorical question. ‘I assume it’s to do with the attack?’
He nodded silently, the situation was expanding to a level of interest that he was uncomfortable with.
‘If you went to the effort to agree, whether in a spot or not then you must have felt it a reasonable request.’
Again he nodded. ‘Under any other circumstances I wouldn’t be hesitating, the promise would already be fulfilled.’
‘Then what’s the problem? Why the second thoughts?’
‘The less you know the better; it’s my problem to deal with in my own time. Dave will have to wait until I’m ready to decide.’ He wondered if she would be so accepting if she knew exactly what she was prompting him to do. A small part of him hoped she would be, it would have made the whole messy scenario much easier but was completely against her character and what he loved about her.
‘I’m sure whatever you decide will be for the best for everyone involved,’ she said. ‘Whatever you choose to do I wouldn’t think any less of you.’
Her words of comfort and support stung like a hive of bee’s staging a coordinated attack, he didn’t feel very worthy as she said it. For a second he could almost kid himself that she knew what she was saying. That she was giving him permission to kill her father without feeling any guilt, yet the moment passed swiftly as he knew that wasn’t the case.
She stood up and prepared to leave the room quoting the amount of work he had left to do. Stopping at the door she turned to face him. ‘You’ll do the right thing Matt, I know it.’
As she left the room he hoped she was right, because he felt that whatever he decided someone would believe otherwise, the phone rang and he picked up the receiver holding it to his ear.
‘Matt, I’ve been so worried about you,’ the familiar voice said.
He switched the receiver to the other ear to free up his right hand; he shifted paperwork around on his desk trying to locate a misplaced document. ‘What’s up Anna?’
‘I’ve been trying to get hold of you ever since I spoke with Steve, he says you don’t seem your usual self and that worries me,’ she replied.
Admittedly he had ignored several of her calls until it got to the point where he felt it suspicious, her name flashing on the display screen was an unusual image, inwardly he debated his decision to answer even now. ‘I’m fine; you don’t need to concern yourself about me!’ His abrupt response was not well thought out, a reflex reply when pushed into a corner. If he had time then he would have kicked himself.
‘Under normal circumstances I know that, only too well,’ she replied. ‘But the information that you got from me the other day would upset and confuse anyone, I don’t want you to do anything rash Matt!’
The concern in her voice was obvious and he knew without a doubt that it was genuine and unlike others who hid ulterior motives behind such confessions. He felt even guiltier for not answering her calls before and for responding so rudely now, he ceased his fruitless search and sat back in the office chair. ‘I appreciate the concern Anna…I really do but I have to do what I have to do, sometimes you can’t just sit back and bury the truth. Wrongs have to be righted at whatever cost!’
The line was silent, no reply forthcoming. ‘Anna…you there?’
‘That sounded like a judgment against my actions,’ she finally said.
‘Of course not’ he replied. ‘I didn’t mean it like that.’
‘I kept quiet to keep you from doing anything stupid, I didn’t…’ she paused. ‘I don’t want any harm to come to you or Steve. I know it was wrong to keep secrets for so long but this is why I did it. All this worry, I know that I’m certainly paying for it now.’
‘You did the right thing, I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel otherwise. Maybe if I knew before what I know now then I may have rushed off and done something completely stupid and you’re right to think that Steve may have been inadvertently dragged into it but it’ll be different now. Whatever happens I can assure you it’ll be well thought out and Steve will be kept well out of it, I assume you didn’t mention any of this to him?’
‘Of course not, but what about you?’
‘No, and I won’t be,’ he replied.
‘That’s not what I meant’ she said at the misinterpretation of her question. ‘Will you be kept out of it, will you be safe?’
It was a question he hoped she would avoid asking so no not to have to hear the answer or for him to have to lie to her, he couldn’t promise or predict what would happen let alone guarantee his own safety in the process. His hesitance betrayed him although in one way it did him a favour.
‘There’s no shame in walking away, letting it slip by as we are the only two that know anything about it, and I won’t judge you like others maybe would.’
She had skipped waiting for his reply, hadn’t even bothered to urge him to answer and then he knew that she understood her fears were justified, his only comfort was that she might draw a little peace from knowing his brother would not be drawn into the feud, even if he was just as entitled to revenge as he was.
‘Listen Anna, I’ve got to go now. I have some business to take care of Ok?’ The document he had searched in vain for was suddenly right in front of him, hiding in plain sight. He wasn’t being dismissive but felt that all to be said on the matter had been said.
‘
Alright Matt,’ she replied reluctantly. ‘Take care.’
Chapter Twenty Four
The heavy breathing aside him encouraged him that the time was right, unable to allow himself the luxury of sleep he had bided his time, waiting until he could leave without disturbing her. What Matt was about to do was weighing heavily on his mind, it had shown to be an inevitability that he couldn’t escape from, lurking in the shadows as if it were predetermined and he had no control or say in it whatsoever.
Climbing out of his bed, the night sky looked darker than usual outside the window, an unusual occurrence or possibility that he believed was more of a reflection of his own mood than an act of nature. His movements did not awaken her as he gently lay the duvet back, he stroked her hair moving the obscuring fragments from her face for one final unhindered glimpse of the beauty he risked by carrying out the unspeakable.
The stairs creaked as he made his way down them, each one sounding louder than the last as he cringed with every chance of disturbance. Entering his office, the sanctuary of his own uninterrupted space greeted him, he pulled on the comfortable yet disposable clothing that he had chosen for the deed and opened the safe.
The cold metal of the untraceable handgun felt even stranger in his hand than earlier that day, the moment was gaining momentum with no obvious alternative left open to him.
Matt knew where his prey would be and exactly how to snare him, providing he kept his timing and plan on schedule then the task should be completed without complication.
Checking he had everything, although in theory there was very little required to achieve success, Matt ran through the plan again in his mind. His phone was in his pocket, loaded gun in his waistband ready to serve its intended purpose and an equally untraceable vehicle parked strategically for his use.
Ironically, what he hated and despised about Billy, his brash cocky manner and the way he instinctively behaved as if he were better than everyone else and even untouchable were the very part of his plan that was indispensible. He was relying heavily upon the assumption that to carry out his nefarious night time activities undetected then Billy must travel alone and unguarded.
