Brutal Retribution

by Clive Barry

  The three siblings looked at each other and Sally gave a slight nod, giving Paul the go ahead.

  ‘Right here’s the deal mate and to us, it’s a fuckin’ big deal. We don’t need any police involvement. It appears that Sal’s husband Charlie, was in cahoots with a low life dealer called Oggy, who in turn was in with the Albanian mob. Now Charlie seems to have fucked off somewhere with whatever these people are looking for and they obviously want it back. They came ‘round here questioning our Sal about Charlie’s whereabouts, but she told them she had no idea, he’s just fucked off. Anyway, this guy, Bashkim Hamiti they call ‘im, originally didn’t believe her, and belted her one in the face. Me and our kid went out to sort him and to be honest he gave us a fuckin’ good hidin’, thus me wi’ two black eyes and a broken nose and Mike ‘ere with a couple of cracked ribs. Anyway, he fuckin’ comes back the next day and we think he believes what Sal’s told ‘im, but Mike here gives him a few slaps and sends him fuckin’ packin’ with a flea in ‘is Albanian ear. Consequently this has happened to Mam and Dad and we think it’s either Bashkim Hamiti or his boss Donika Demaci who are responsible.’

  ‘So why no police involvement? You must realise these people are already wanted, we just can’t pin anything on them for the moment.’

  ‘But that’s exactly it, and you fuckin’ won’t ever be able to pin this on ‘em either. They’re not daft Dave man, you said it yourself. They’ve used someone from outside to do this job. He’s probably on the fuckin’ ferry over to mainland Europe by now and yeh might have his fuckin’ M.O. but you don’t have a fuckin’ clue who he is or what the fuck he looks like do yeh?’

  Paul was right, at least Dave believed he was right, but was unsure what they wanted from him.

  ‘Okay, I take on board what you’re saying, but what exactly is it you want from me?’

  ‘Okay mate, now for the nitty gritty stuff. Really, we don’t want owt from you, other than a bit of a blind eye that is. I know some people who are very professional at what they do and I’ve been in touch with them and they’re prepared to come up and help out. Let’s face it Dave, we can go places and ask questions that cops can’t and we can get the fuckin’ answers a lot fuckin’ quicker, especially ‘round here mate.’

  Dave nodded, what Paul was saying had the basis of truth, the law was so tied up with red tape that it was common knowledge the judicial system appeared to be more on the side of the criminal than the public.

  The police themselves were fed up with making the arrests to have criminals back on the street before the paperwork was complete. Or some wide boy solicitor had them released on a technicality and even if it finally got to trial and they were convicted, some geriatric judge or magistrate would slap them on the wrist, tell them to behave and release them because there weren’t enough prison cells available. Or failing that, give them a fine that they had no intention of ever paying anyway.

  Dave’s mind was working overtime, he was duty bound to uphold the law, but around this area, there was no law. He knew they were never going to catch the arsonist and it didn’t matter who’d paid him. They would never be able to prove it without reasonable doubt, at least not in a court of law.

  ‘So, is that all you want from me? Just turn a blind eye?’

  ‘More or less mate. But if yeh happen to be able to get us any tasty morsels of intel, that wouldn’t go amiss either, yeh know.’

  ‘Listen lads, I’m not against yeh sortin’ this mess out on your own. The local cops are stretched to the limit in any case, so there’s no way they could give it their full attention and do justice to your poor Mam and Dad. I’ll help as much as I can, but if my bosses find out I’ve assisted yeh, or passed info onto yeh, I’m gonna go down big time. The only thing I’m gonna dig me heels in over is there must be no harm to any civilians okay? I really don’t care and neither does anyone else, what happens to the Albanians and their crew, but no innocents are to be caught in any collateral damage, understand?’

  ‘That sounds good to me, bro’ couldn’t ‘ave put it better meself.’

  Sally walked over to Dave, sat back on his knee with her arms around his neck and said.

  ‘Thanks gorgeous and welcome to the family.’

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  ‘I’m sorry Bashkim, I just can’t seem to get my head around what you’ve done and how your trying to justify your stupidity. You’ve jeopardised not only the deal I’ve been working on for months, but the whole of what I’ve spent my life trying to build and for what? For the sake of your fucking pride. Yes, you could have had him beaten, or even put away never to be seen again, but no, what you did is so fucking stupid to be beyond ridiculous.’

  ‘But sir, you are always talking about respect.’

  ‘Yes, you’re right Bashkim I am. But you may have noticed I mean respect for me, not for you. Who the fuck do you think you are? I brought you here to ensure my problems were resolved, not fucking created. To put my business in such a precarious position for the sake of your pride? Let this be an end to it, just make damn sure this cannot come back to me, do I make myself absolutely clear? Or do I personally have to ensure that you join young Oggy. Now, can we get onto the business of the goods awaiting customs clearance and hopefully delivered before the weekend and how they are to be shipped out?’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  Bashkim Hamiti, stood in front of his employer like a school boy attending the Headmaster’s office, reciting from memory the full details of the delivery plan appertaining to the drug deal that had been months in preparation.

  ‘I understand all the goods are in polypropylene bags marked forty three grade, ordinary Portland cement, and there will be a total of twenty bags on the pallets, with red sealant across the top.’

  It was intended that Demaci’s men would follow their marked container to the building site and after watching the unloading of the pallets, would leave with the white van laden with their twenty bags of Portland cement and the site foreman a thousand pounds better off.

  ‘That is correct, inside each of those fifty kilo bags is a one kilo polypropylene bag of pure heroin. If our maths are correct, that means twenty kilos of uncut heroin at two, two, five thousand a kilo, that should equate to a street value of around four million five hundred thousand, give or take. Not bad for a lay out of a hundred thousand Bashkim. Please do not fuck this up. I must check with the shipping agents later in the week to see if there is any update for the customs clearance and delivery, until then Bashkim, I suggest you go home and rest. Your face is a fucking mess and for the moment I really don’t wish to look upon it. I’ll call you if I need you. Please just go and let yourself out, goodbye.’

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  Paul sat at the little kitchen table with his mobile phone and a small kiddies exercise book to make notes in. Mike was sat opposite watching and listening, with Sally having taken Dave into the living room out of the way so they could talk. Dave felt it better this way, then he wouldn’t know or be witness to anything that Paul might be planning.

  Paul made the calls and wrote names and times down in his note book, then he looked towards his kid brother.

  ‘That’s the two I wanted, Timothy Harrison, we call him the Timber. Big fuckin’ black lad and I mean big. We may need his weight and strength. He’ll be coming in from Liverpool and Jimmy Calbert, a wee Scotsman. Hard as fuck and can be as nasty as they come. Must be his ginger fuckin’ hair, or maybe his lack of it. Jockie they call him, he’ll be alright with us though. But once I point ‘im in the right direction, he’s like a fuckin’ terrier and I don’t mean the cute fuckin’ cuddly type either.’

  ‘When they gonna get here bro.’

  ‘They reckon, they can be here by later this afternoon. We’ll put them up at our place, then we can come and go as we please without disturbing Sally and the kids.’

  ‘So, we need to do a shop then?’

  ‘Ya, we do amigo. Food, rations and equipment, Jockie and Timber are bringing their o
wn personal gear and I’ve got mine in a kit bag upstairs in the loft. We only need a few bits and pieces that can be picked up at the local boat chandlers. You and me can do that later. We’re gonna need some food as well, especially Timber, he can eat a scabby horse between two pissy mattresses for a fuckin’ snack. There’s no fillin’ him sometimes.’

  ‘When we goin’ then big bro?’

  ‘We’ll say bye to Sal and Dave, leave them to spend some time together, then we’ll call back after we’ve got the stuff.’

  ‘We could do with talking to some of the lads at the Ship and Anchor, find out what the news is on the streets, then at least we’ll have a heads up for when your mates arrive.’

  ‘Ya, maybe we’ll call in for a pint and find out. Best doin’ it before the lads get here though cos no one’s gonna wanna talk in front of strangers, are they?’

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  Dave was sat back on the big sofa in Sally’s living room with Sally laid full length, her head resting on his lap.

  There hadn’t been much talking between them. Both were tired having been up all the day before, and most of the night. Every now and again Dave would hear Sally give a big sob and a sigh and he would gently comb his fingers through her hair.

  Paul poked his head around the living room door and said that he and Mike were going out for a few hours but would be back later. He asked if there was anything anyone needed picking up, but nobody could think of anything and so they just left.

  Sally sat up, swinging her bare feet onto the cold floor. She took Dave by the hand, walked out of the living room pulling him gently behind her as she climbed the stairs to her bedroom.

  Dave was a bit taken aback and not quite sure where this was leading. That was until Sally put her arms around his neck and up on tip toe kissed him a long lingering kiss. She then started to remove her big sweatshirt and shorts standing in front of him in just her underwear.

  ‘I really need to be close to someone right about now Dave. Me, myself and I had a vote, we elected you as the one I want, whatcha reckon?’

  ‘I reckon you all made a very good decision. I woulda picked me for you as well.’

  Sally lay herself on the bed, looking long legged and beautiful. Dave kicked off his old trainers and threw his shirt in a heap on the floor, showing his lean muscular frame before climbing alongside to face this vision of sensuality on the bed. They lay looking into each other’s eyes for a few seconds before Dave took the initiative, stroking Sally’s back gently before kissing her.

  This kiss was unlike all the others. There was a physical electric charge between the two of them this time and within seconds of their lips meeting, their mouths opened, and their tongues introduced themselves to each other. Their hands began the first of many explorations, touching, stroking. This was like a no holds barred confrontation and they both went to the secret places of each other’s bodies that only couples prepared to be extremely intimate would readily allow.

  Sally reached down and unfastened Dave’s belt, unzipping his jeans and while he managed to kick them off with just his feet, he undid Sally’s bra clasp one handedly and as she lay on her back he took one of her aroused pink nipples into his mouth and began to suckle it softly. Sally in turn reached inside his boxers to find him already hard and as she slowly stroked his hardness she slipped her last vestiges of modesty off, throwing her panties across to the other side of the bedroom.

  In all this time, not a word had been spoken. Their mouths never leaving each other’s bodies for more than a few seconds at a time. Dave slowly climbed between Sally’s parted legs and as she raised her knees higher, he entered her slowly, gently sliding himself inside her already moist cavity with the minimum amount of effort, allowing the rhythm of desire to take over and they both writhed to the silent music of lovemaking. Both their mouths and groins firmly locked together on the bed.

  Throughout the heavy breathing and the deep groans of desire that Sally had for so long never known, the crescendo built to its finale and as Sally gasped her orgasm, Dave released his own, deep inside her beautiful body.

  Afterword’s they both lay naked, breathing heavily, their arms and legs still entwined, gently kissing each other’s faces and sweat soaked bodies. Touching and holding each other’s intimate places as they slowly started their second arousal. Sally then looked at her new lover and said questioningly,

  ‘Dave?’

  ‘Yes sweetheart,’

  ‘Can you do summit for us,’

  ‘Of course, I’ll do anything for you Sal,’

  ‘Well, next time, will yeh take your socks off an’ look as though yeh might be stayin?’

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  Paul and Mike went first to the boat chandlers picking up a five kilo bale of nylon line, shackles, duct tape and a multitude of bits and pieces, probably never to be used but purchased just in case. Everything was paid for in cash from the money in Mikes waders so no trace could be made. Not that the owner of the shop would say anything detrimental to anyone about the boys, he’d known them since they’d come in with their dad as young lads.

  The next stop was the big supermarket near the high street where they bought enough provisions to outfit a full battalion.

  The last stop was the Ship and Anchor, it was a bit early but there were always a few of the local lads in there who worked the night shifts or never worked at all. It was a good place to pick up local gossip and someone always knew what was going on in and around the city limits.

  The lads walked into the bar and Dougie, the owner walked over placing two pints in front of them.

  ‘These are on the house lads, it’s not much, but we all heard about your mam and dad and if there’s owt any of us can do, you just gotta say the word and I mean anything.’

  ‘There is summit Dougie, if yeh got the time that is?’

  ‘You go ahead Paul son, the place is quiet for now, what’s on yer mind?’

  ‘The fire wasn’t an accident Dougie. It looks like it was set on fuckin’ purpose by a pro from outta the area. We don’t know who he is yet, but we do know who sent ‘im and we intend really hurtin’ those Albanian bastards.’

  ‘You are jokin’. Why on earth would they or anyone else wanna harm your sweet mam and dad? They were both well respected and highly thought of around these parts lads.’

  ‘We can’t go into the details mate, but we do know for certain it was them. Who around ‘ere would have any intel about them?’

  ‘Well the only one I would know would be Jacko. He spends most of his time wi’ low lives, him bein’ one hiself. Ya, if anyone would know owt it’s gotta be Jacko.’

  ‘Where can we find this Jacko then Dougie?’

  ‘Oh, he’s out the back making phone calls and playin’ pool wi’ ‘imself. No one else’ll go fuckin’ near ‘im. Ugly little twat wi’ greasy hair, black teeth and yellow headed spots. Never gets fuckin’ washed, mucky, dirty little bastard. I keep barrin’ ‘im, but the sneaky little fuck keeps getting’ back in somehow when I’m not lookin’. Probably has the cheek to use the fuckin’ front door.’

  ‘Thanks Dougie, we’ll go an ‘ave a word if yeh don’t mind?’

  ‘Yeh go right ahead lads, feel free. Yeh can drag ‘is skinny arse outside if yeh like, an’ give ‘im a good fuckin’ hidin’ too. No great loss to me or the rest of the world.’

  The lads picked up their pints and walked through to the pool room out the back of the pub. It was almost empty except for one skinny, scrawny, ugly individual practicing his shots.

  ‘Ow mate! Are you Jacko?’

  ‘Why? Who the fuck wants to know?’

  Jacko didn’t see the slap coming, but he saw the stars and felt the tears as Paul laid one on his nose.

  ‘I fuckin’ wanna know, that’s who. Now let’s start again, are you fuckin’ Jacko?’

  ‘Ya, ya, what I fuckin’ do to deserve that?’

  ‘Nowt Jacko. When yeh do summit I’ll give yeh a good fuckin’ hidin’ okay? N
ow listen and listen very carefully cos it might be well worth your while. I want to know everything there is to know about the Albanians mobs business in this area. Where their dealin’, how and to who, do yeh fuckin’ understand?’

  ‘You’re fuckin’ jokin’ man. I won’t survive ten fuckin’ minutes out there if I spill on them. ‘Ave yeh seen the size of some of ‘em bastards? And didn’t yeh hear what they did to fuckin’ Oggy? Poor little Turk fucker.’

  ‘No Jacko, this solemn face of mine doesn’t fuckin’ joke and you won’t survive one minute out there if yeh don’t tell me what I want to know. Besides we never heard fuck all about what ‘appened to Oggy, so please enlighten us.’

  ‘His body was found on the waste ground by the railway lines. He’d been well battered. Broken jaw, broken ribs, broken neck and his throat cut from fuckin’ ear to fuckin’ ear. He was left as a fuckin’ warnin’ mate.’

  ‘Right now Jacko, we’re gonna buy you a pint of whatever it is you want and while you’re drinkin’ that delicious pint of whatever it is you want, we’re gonna listen to everything you’ve gotta fuckin’ say about those Albanian twats. Afterwards, I’m gonna give you a hundred fuckin’ quid and my telephone number and you’re gonna phone me with anything you might hear. If you don’t phone me, I’m gonna tell those fuckin’ Albanians bastards a whole bunch of fuckin’ lies and give them your name as the person who told them to me. Do you understand?’

  ‘Ya, ya, ya, I understand, I need to make a phone call first though and you can go get me that fuckin’ pint?’

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

  Sally and Dave lay naked on the bed holding hands and feeling the warm glow of after sex. They were both physically drained after their lovemaking, but neither wanted to be the first to break the magic and get out of bed. Although Sally was desperately busting for a pee, it was Dave who spoke.