by Rashad Salim
“And where did that get you?” he asked. He was serious now.
I ignored his question.
“See what pussyfooting gets you? Them boys would’ve pissed all over us if I didn’t talk to them in their language. That’s what you don’t get.” He snorted. “Shit, man, you’ve been away from Binford too long.”
And you’ve been here too long, I thought. “You think that got us in Tyrone’s good books?”
Sajid took his eyes off the road and looked at me. “Yeah, I do.”
I felt myself growing angrier with him every time he opened his mouth. “And how’s that?”
“He’s finally taking you seriously, isn’t he?”
I didn’t respond to that and we drove in silence.
He may have been right but I had other things on my mind, like how Tyrone hadn’t heard from Chantelle either. That may have been a lie too. After all, would he have told me if he had heard from her?
I looked out of the side window at all the shitty areas in town we passed and wondered if the meeting with Tyrone was still an option or not. No doubt, Andre and the others would have told Tyrone about us interrogating them at gunpoint and beating answers out of them.
If we went to the party to meet Tyrone, there was a good chance we could be ambushed. I just had to work out if finding out the truth about Thom’s actions was worth the risk.
40
Sajid and I drove out to where Tyrone said he’d be and made it there a little before 11 o’ clock.
We sat in the car across the house where the party was and waited in silence as the time got closer. I could see all the lights were on in the house and heard the music from half way down the road before we reached the place. We watched people going in and out of the house for a while. Neither of us recognised any of the party goers.
Eventually it was 11 o’ clock and we got out of the car.
I pulled out my phone and dialled Tyrone’s number. It rang several times before going into voicemail. I cursed out loud. Why couldn’t anyone answer their phone?
Earlier, before making our way to the party, I had tried Chantelle’s number again but it was no use. She still wasn’t answering her phone.
Looking around at our surroundings, I was about to suggest we get back in the car and wait to hear from Tyrone when my phone vibrated with a text alert.
It was from Tyrone. ‘Turn around’ it said. When I did I spotted a Land Cruiser with tinted windows across the street. The passenger window scrolled down and I saw Tyrone inside. He gestured for us to join him.
I looked around one more time before we began to cross the street. Two big men stepped outside the vehicle and stood beside it.
One of them raised his hand at Sajid. We stopped in our tracks.
“Not you,” he said to Sajid. “Just him.” He waved his hand at me.
Sajid and I looked at each other. “It’s okay,” I said. “Just wait in the car. If anything happens, drive off.”
He smirked and went back to his car.
The big man then opened the door to the vehicle and I stepped inside. Tyrone and I were alone in the car.
“Nice ride.”
“Thanks,” he said. “It’s legit, just in case you were wondering.”
I nodded and looked around. I was sure he had weapons stashed in here somewhere. Not that he needed them if he wanted to punish me physically. He was at least twice my size but twice the man? I wondered if Chantelle saw it like that.
“So you boys put a gun to my soldier’s head just for my phone number?”
“What can I say, you weren’t the phone book.”
He laughed at that and began pouring vodka in a glass. He offered me one but I declined.
“Now what was it you wanted to know about Thom that got your knickers in a twist?”
“Why did you have him kill those Lion Crew Carl and Marcus?”
“I didn’t,” he said, taking a sip of his drink. “I didn’t even know about it until the cops said it.”
“I heard he did it to get into your good books.”
“My good books?” he smiled.
“For a proper membership to your crew. Had to prove himself to you, didn’t he?”
“He was never gonna be one of my boys. I liked him but I didn’t think he had any balls ...to do what has to be done. He just wasn’t dependable and...” He stared into the middle distance. Either he was trying to remember something or trying to make something up.
“...And what?”
He was deep in thought. “I dunno. Something about him was always off. I can’t describe it.”
“Was he a user?” I never thought Thom could’ve been involved in drugs but nothing surprised me anymore.
“Nah, it weren’t that. I don’t know what it was about him. He just had a delicate way about him. More than the other boys his age.”
I remembered Chantelle downplaying his gangster credibility. Maybe he was too nerdy for gangs.
“Anyway,” he met my eyes again, “the bottom line is he wasn’t street enough, if you get what I’m saying.”
“What about the gun he used?” I asked. “Did you give it to him?”
He snorted. “I wouldn’t even give him a water pistol.”
“He must’ve got it from one of your boys then. So one of them must know why he did it.
“I already put the word out asking about that,” he said. “Turns out nobody knew he even had it.”
“Right,” I said, feeling like he was brushing off my entire line of enquiry. “Let me ask you something. How well do you know his sister?”
“Thom introduced us,” he said. “We were getting to know each other until all this shit happened.” He grinned. “...Why? How well do you know her?”
I studied him wondering if he already knew all the background information about me and Chantelle.
“We knew each other from back in the day,” I said. “Anyway, I better be off now.”
I got up from my seat and opened the door to get out. “There’s just one more thing,” I said.
“Yeah?”
“When was the last time you spoke to Thom?”
He frowned. “Why?”
“He was missing for a whole day and half before his body was found last night.”
Tyrone put his drink down and pointed his finger at me. “I want you to listen to me carefully, son. I hadn’t heard from him in days before... before he was found. Neither had anyone else. I don’t know what got into his head gunning down those Lion Crew. That wasn’t our style.” He shook his head. “I thought he knew that shit. And now,” he jabbed a finger against his chest, “it’s put us under the fucking magnifying glass and everyone from the cops and nosey cunts like you have been on my case. I wish Thom was still alive, okay? I’d have done anything to stop him if I knew what he was planning. Got it?”
I nodded.
He had really got himself worked up over Thom. It was the first time he had lost his cool in my presence and whether or not he was telling the truth, it showed me he was worried. If he was this worried about attracting attention from the authorities then maybe he really didn’t have anything to do with Thom’s murders or suicide.
“Good.” He breathed a sigh.
I got out of the car and shut the door. Tyrone had got out of the car from the other side and walked around until he stood beside me.
“Does that answer all your questions?”
I looked at him warily. “For now.”
“Right then,” he said, he extended his hand for me to shake. He clasped his hand around mine and held it tight. “Now I never ever wanna see you or your fucking nutcase mate set foot in my manor again, okay?”
That was when I heard the popping sounds from a distance getting louder with each one. It wasn’t until Tyrone pulled me with him to the ground that I realised we were being shot at.
41
I heard a woman scream and then the squeal of tyres and a vehicle zooming off. When I looked in its direction I saw a blue seda
n car speeding away. I couldn’t tell what model car it was let alone any of the numbers on the rear number plate.
Tyrone and I looked at each other. We were down on the ground and I was sandwiched between his body and the underside of his vehicle.
“You hit?” he asked.
It took a moment for it to sink in what he was asking me because I was still dazed.
“...No. You?”
He shook his head.
One of his henchmen crawled towards us, careful to stay as low to the ground as possible.
“Who was it?” Tyrone asked his man, who told him he didn’t get a good look.
Sajid came running across the street from his car while people from inside the house party began coming out to see what was going on.
“You okay?” he asked me.
I nodded and got to my feet. Tyrone and his henchman stood too.
“Thanks,” I said to Tyrone.
Both of us looked at the Land Cruiser at the same time.
I gasped.
There were two bullet holes across the side of his vehicle.
“...Don’t mention it,” he said. “Now get out of here.”
I nodded. “Come on,” I told Sajid and we ran back towards his car while various people began approaching Tyrone.
We got inside the car and when the doors were shut we looked at each other in shock at what had just happened.
“Fucking hell, bruv,” was all I could manage.
“He saved your life, ya know?”
I nodded. I thought of the bullet holes and was reminded of Thom.
He started up the engine and we drove off in silence. We were a few blocks away before I had managed to catch my breath.
“Did you see who shot at him?” I asked.
He shook his head. “It was too dark. By the time I looked to see where the gunshots were coming from all I saw was a car speed off. Might have been a Rover or some shit, I ain’t sure.”
“Fuck, man.”
“I know. Just tell me he told you something worth being shot at,” he said. “Good thing these niggers can’t shoot for shit. Fuck knows if you would still be alive if that weren’t the case.”
I wondered what he meant. “I thought you said you didn’t see who shot at us?”
“I didn’t.”
“How come you knew they were black then?” I didn’t have time to challenge him about his casual racism. I was trying to put the pieces together but my brain was on fire.
“I don’t ...but I don’t need to be a genius to know there’s a good chance it was other gangbangers. A scumbag like that, he probably has half the criminals in East London after him.”
“Like the Lion Crew?”
That jolted Sajid and he glanced at me like that had to be it. “Well, now that you mention it...”
We drove for another minute in silence until I realised we were going the wrong way to Binford train station.
“Yo, where we going? The station’s the other way.”
“We ain’t going to the station,” he said and then looked at me. “I’m taking you back to West London myself.”
“Nah, man. It’s gonna take you-”
“I’m taking you home, bre,” he said. “And forget about all this. This shit’s gone way out of control.”
I was surprised by his concern. He hadn’t expressed it so bluntly before. He was right too. The situation since the arson had gotten so badly out of control we didn’t know what the hell was going on and probably never would after what happened with Thom.
Watching Sajid point his gun at a gang and threaten to shoot them was one thing. Getting shot at by some faceless gangsters was another.
We drove in silence for the rest of the way. Sajid had the radio on but it didn’t ease the tension at all. There was a lot more to be said before the night was over and I had a feeling it wasn’t going to get any easier.
When we reached the area where I lived, I gave Sajid directions to my flat. Sajid parked the car outside and killed the engine. It was past midnight.
“So this is it, eh?” he said, studying the exterior of my flat. “Looks like a quiet area too... so much for Binford, eh?” he said with a laugh.
“You wanna come in? Let me show you the place.”
He raised his hand to stop me. “I can’t. I gotta get back now.”
I didn’t try to convince him to stay.
“It’s Ealing, right?” he said. “That’s where you’re working now, ain’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“Good,” he said. “...That’s good, bre. Can I give you some advice?”
I looked at him and waited.
“Forget about what happened, okay?” he said.
“Okay.”
“I mean the whole day. None of it happened. Not the shit at the estate or the shooting outside the party.”
“What if someone asks?” I said.
“No one’s gonna ask and if they do, you don’t know anything. You weren’t there.”
I nodded.
“You got a cushy new job to look forward to and it’s time you left all this gang warfare bullshit behind. Carl and Marcus are dead and fuck them, okay? They got what they deserved.”
“What about Thom?”
“What about him?” he asked. “Forget him too.”
I said nothing.
“You need to make a deal with me about that,” he said and punched me lightly on the shoulder. “I’m serious.”
“Why?”
“‘Cos if you don’t you’re gonna be one dead Paki, the way you’re going. That’s why.”
I looked down at my lap and said nothing.
“You need to forget about Chantelle too.”
I looked up but didn’t face him. I didn’t want to discuss her with him and I wasn’t prepared to meet these demands he was making about her.
“...Thom, Chantelle, all of it. I know you think you’re supposed to fix all her problems but they ain’t yours to fix. She’s not your woman, Ali.”
“What about-”
“What nothing!” he said, wagging his finger. “She’s never gonna be your girl again. You think she still might be? After her brother’s just killed himself?”
The harsh truth again.
“Alright.”
“Besides, if she wanted to talk to you she would’ve answered her phone by now.”
The thought hurt my feelings worse than anything else. That she had had enough of me despite all my efforts and what we had shared recently.
“I’m sorry, bre,” he said. “But it’s time to get on with your life while you still got one.”
I nodded. I felt so foolish for putting my life at risk and still not knowing any more about the circumstances of Thom’s death than I did the day before.
We shook hands and I got out of the car. He drove off as I walked to my flat feeling everything I had done had all been for nothing.
42
I was surprised to have slept through most of the night and into the afternoon quite easily despite having been shot at by gangsters.
When I woke up it occurred to me that Tyrone now and that he might have phoned me after we were shot at but I still hadn’t received any calls or text messages from anyone.
I spent most of the afternoon walking around Shepherd’s Bush, enjoying my last day off before my first day back to work. I had managed to avoid thinking about all the chaos back in Binford for the most part.
When I did check the news there was still a massive outcry in the press about teen gangs, knife crime and rioting. The local MP of Binford had done his best to reassure the community that the recent acts of vandalism by gangs was being tackled. There was the same theory as usual being circulated about Thom – about how he had murdered Carl and Marcus on behalf of the Binford Boyz but had panicked and killed himself to avoid capture by police. I left it at that and went out window shopping.
It was about six o’ clock in the evening when my phone rang. I was sitting on my armchair, sipping ora
nge juice and not really in the mood for conversation. I looked down at the caller ID on the fifth ring.
It was Chantelle.
I hadn’t bothered calling her again after Sajid dropped me off the night before. I had been concerned with her wellbeing and wanted to be considerate because of her family tragedy but being ignored had made me angry with her and I found myself not wanting to pick up the phone out of bitterness.
I answered her call anyway.
“Ali,” she said.
“You okay, babe?” I asked, careful to gauge her tone. “I’ve been trying to reach you for ages.”
“I know, sorry,” she said. “I couldn’t talk. I had too much to do.”
“I’m really sorry about Thom,” I said. “I don’t know what to say.”
“I know, it’s okay.” Her voice was calm and steady.
“Where are you?” I asked. “Are you alone?”
“I’m at my auntie Jolene’s.”
“That’s good,” I said. “You can’t be alone at a time like this.”
She was silent.
“I saw it on the news, about Carl and Marcus,” I said. “I had no idea at the time. If only I had known what he was going to do, I’d have done everything to stop him.”
“He wouldn’t have killed himself.”
That caught me by surprise. “...Chantelle, he must’ve been under a lot of pressure-”
“He still wouldn’t have.”
“You don’t think he was murdered, do you?” I asked, instantly regretting it. It wouldn’t have surprised me if she hung up one right then. “The police did their tests to prove the cause of death.”
“I know.”
“Look, we don’t know what was going through his mind,” I said. “I don’t think anybody thought he had it in him to kill Carl and Marcus.”
“My brother was not a killer.”
I didn’t know what to say to her. The girl was in deep denial.
“What about the evidence?” It dawned on me that she was probably still under shock and it had been stupid of me to even discuss her brother’s crimes and suicide. I had let my curiosity get the better of me once again and it had to take a back seat for now.
She was silent.
