by Edie Baylis
Maggie glanced towards Eliza, who shrugged.
STUART WALKED AWAY from the window scowling. Another bloody visitor? That dappy cow this time. Always people turning up - just not the right people.
Having spent virtually all week positioned by the window so he wouldn’t miss any of the action when the cops showed up, he was getting frustrated. He’d been so looking forward to it, but had it happened? No it fucking well hadn’t and he wanted to know why the hell not.
After all, he’d given the pigs enough information to sink a bloody battle cruiser and it was starting to look like they weren’t going to do anything with it. He seethed inwardly. If they weren’t going to raid, then he’d have to jump to his next plan - which he might just do anyway. That would wipe the smile off the smug cow’s face.
Stuart slammed his hand down sharply against the table. It was no good. There was no way he could sit here any longer without knowing. It was driving him mad. He’d have to go back up the cop shop and ask what the crack was. He’d have to be careful though. He didn’t want to be recognised.
MAGGIE FORCED A SMILE and curled up in the armchair, hoping to make herself as small as possible. Earlier when she’d got out of hospital, she hadn’t known what else to do but go to Jane’s even though she was worried about how she’d react.
She was also terrified of facing Seth again, but she really needed to talk to someone about Ian. She certainly didn’t want to discuss it with Eliza. The trouble was Jane didn’t seem the full ticket and as for Seth, well he definitely wasn’t.
Maggie wasn’t sure she could handle any of Seth and Jane’s weird shit right now. Furthermore, how could she ask to stay there at the moment with what had happened with the baby?
Seth lay languidly on the sofa and scowled as Eliza consistently droned on from the other chair over the programme he was trying to watch.
Jane glanced at the television and frowned. There seemed to be a load of foreign people running around dressed up as toilet rolls. “Aren’t you supposed to be meeting Phil?”
“Shit. Yeah....” Glancing at his watch, Seth swung his legs off the sofa and shoved his feet into his boots. “I’m fucking late!”
Eliza felt another flush creep up her face as she watched Seth shrug his shirt on.
PHIL HAD BEEN SAT IN the cold at the park for an hour and had just been about to give up and leave when he’d heard the Senator screech into the car park.
Watching Seth stagger over he realised he’d definitely made the right decision. Not only was Seth late, but the man could barely stand up and was still slugging at a whisky bottle like it was a can of pop.
Phil was sad it had come to this, but what choice did he have? Seth was too unreliable right now and none of them could afford that.
Plonking himself heavily down on the bench Seth smiled coldly.
“What’s going on?” Phil asked, genuinely concerned. He waited patiently as Seth clumsily fiddled in his pocket trying to locate his fags. He’d known Seth for over ten years. Although he’d always been a loose cannon, he’d always been one of the best, if not the best, but he’d never known him to spiral out of control to this extent. That shit on the job last week had been the last straw.
Phil pushed again, determined to try and at least scratch the surface of what was eating at his friend. “Mate,” he placed his hand lightly on Seth’s sleeve. “You need to tell me what the fuck’s going on.”
Seth’s eyes filled with tears. “Jane lost the baby.”
Phil frowned. “Shit, I’m sorry to hear that, I truly am. I didn’t even know she was pregnant until Digger told me after you got back from that job.”
Seth put his head in his hands and leant forward unsteadily, saying nothing.
“I can see now why you didn’t want her doing it.”
“She lost it that night Phil,” Seth sucked in his breath. “We were arguing and I fucked off and left her. When I came back.... I didn’t know that she was going to.... that it was going to happen.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Phil attempted to console Seth as best as he could. “These things happen.”
“Not to me they don’t!” he hissed. “I wanted that kid. Really wanted it.”
“How’s Jane?”
Seth’s eyes narrowed. “Oh she’s fine. She don’t give a shit.”
“Don’t be crazy! Of course she does.” Phil was perplexed. “She loves you. Everyone knows that.”
“She doesn’t tell me that!”
Phil looked down at his hands. This was a nightmare and would be harder than he thought. He was a biker not a fucking counsellor. “Women mate ain’t it. I’ve never pretended to understand them.”
“I know I fucked the job up.” Seth changed tack, interrupting Phil from his thoughts, “...and I’m sorry.”
“Two things,” Phil turned to face Seth. Now was the time. “One is that I got wind this morning your gaff’s on line for a raid.”
Seth looked up. “Right. When?”
“Don’t know, but if you’ve got any gear, then get rid tout suite!”
Nodding, Seth suspected he knew what was coming next. “And the second?”
“You need to take a break for a bit, mate.” Phil looked into Seth’s glazed eyes, hoping he’d remember the conversation when he sobered up. “Just until you get yourself sorted.”
“I don’t need to.” Seth sparked up another fag. “I’m fine.”
“You need some time to sort your head out about the baby and everything.”
“Are you binning me off?”
“No, I’m telling you that you need to take a break. All the shit going on is impairing your judgment and you’re intelligent enough to know that makes things dangerous.”
The last thing Phil wanted was to lose Seth, but he couldn’t afford any more mistakes. The job last week had shown exactly how things could fuck up if emotions got in the way. Now one of them was dead and the cops were sniffing around. It didn’t mean he didn’t want Seth back once he was back to normal, because he did. If he ever got back to normal, that was.
“Well, that’s me fucked then!” Seth muttered angrily. “Thanks a lot!”
“Don’t take it personally. You’d do the same if you were in my shoes. It’s for your sake as well as everyone else’s.”
Seth stood up unsteadily. “So you’re saying I’m a fucking liability?”
Phil grabbed Seth’s arm not wanting him to leave like this, but it was wrenched away. “I mean it,” he smiled, “have a week or so to yourself and we’ll talk again? Get yourself home, cut back on the gear and booze then we’ll see how the land lies.”
“Don’t dictate to me, you cunt!” Seth roared.
Phil sighed. He wasn’t going to rise to it. “Jane needs you.”
Seth laughed. A horrible empty laugh which echoed around the deserted park. “No she doesn’t.” Turning, he began to walk away. “She never has....”
JANE WASN’T HAPPY, but unsurprised to hear that Phil had binned Seth off. Everything was going tits up quicker than she could keep track of. When he’d muttered something about clearing out the spare room, she knew what that signified as well. At least they’d got some warning.
She sighed. She needed to find another job. Ok, they’d got their pay-out for the botched job, but that wouldn’t last for long the way they got through it. Besides, Seth had got no reason to keep her under his scrutiny anymore. She’d go loopy if she was stuck inside for much longer - especially as he was hell bent on getting her pregnant again and she had to make sure that didn’t happen.
Jane frowned. It was bad enough he’d lamped the vicar during the christening they’d gone to at the weekend. She knew it had been a bad idea to go two days after the miscarriage, but Seth had been adamant.
He’d been unusually jovial, but she’d known he was pretending, because she could see it in his eyes. After the never-ending service, everyone had gathered near the font to exchange pleasantries and Jane had glanced at the door, trying to work out whe
n she could leave. She’d needed another drink.
Even when she’d been passed the baby she’d managed to make the right noises, until Seth took the kid from her arms.
“Oh, she’s beautiful!” he’d slurred drunkenly. “Ours will be beautiful too Jane.” Smiling, he’d placed his other arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, pretending to stare adoringly from her to the baby and back again.
Jane had stiffened, not needing shitty game playing. “What are you doing?” she’d hissed, trying not to draw attention to them and hoping no one had heard.
Unfortunately they had because the vicar wandered over. “Ah...!” he’d exclaimed. “Did I hear there’s going to be an addition to your family?” His smiling face had beamed benevolently at Jane.
Go away. Please go away.....
“You can always have your little one christened here after y...”
The vicar had hit the floor with a thud as Seth delivered a swift upper cut to the side of his jaw. Casually stepping over the man, he’d walked towards the door of the church and Jane quickly followed, ignoring the stunned faces of the rest of the congregation.
SETH DIDN’T UNDERSTAND what Dodge’s problem was. He only wanted to use the lock up until the cops had gone cold.
Yes, he knew the guns were still there from the other week and yes, he’d said he’d shift them and yes, he knew he hadn’t done so yet.
Gritting his teeth, he realised he couldn’t lose his temper. He needed the favour. Finally after promising to shift both the guns and the drugs by the end of next week, Dodge had reluctantly handed him the keys.
Sparking a fag up, Seth sat in the driver’s seat and smoked it in peace, a grin spreading across his face. The generous amount of coke he’d got through whilst clearing out the spare room had removed his earlier drunkenness and he was feeling a lot clearer.
Even though that earlier shit with Phil had upset him more than he cared to admit, he knew what had been said was true. He was a fucking liability right now and would have to sort it out. He was embarrassed and ashamed. He didn’t appreciate feeling like a cunt, but that was exactly how he felt.
Seth rubbed his hand across his face. He’d thought for a while they could be normal, but maybe Jane was right and it just wasn’t possible?
He didn’t know anymore. Actually, he didn’t know much of anything anymore, apart from that he needed to pull himself together soon and that was exactly what he would do.
Besides, once Jane was pregnant again, everything would be alright.
Turning the key in the ignition, Seth gunned the engine and made his way towards the lock up. He’d offload this shit and then he was going home to fuck his wife.
FORTY
OPENING HIS EYES PAINFULLY, Digger attempted to focus in the dim light. What on earth was going on?
He tried to concentrate on the fuzzy shapes around him, but everything was in triplicate. With rising panic he desperately tried to recall where he was and how he’d got there, realising he’d got no memory of anything recent. The last thing he recalled was being on his bike, but even that was a dim recollection - lost in time and space.
What was that?
Something was moving across the other side of the room. Trying to raise his head, Digger found he couldn’t. It felt like it was made of lead.
A weird, disembodied voice emanated from the shape moving in the shadows.
The shape that was getting closer.
JANE LOOKED AT THE list in front of her with a bored expression. The second day at the new warehouse job was going as slowly as the first and her hangover wasn’t helping. Even the two cans she’d necked at lunchtime hadn’t touched the sides, but at least the coke and pills had woken her up a bit.
Glancing at her watch, she realised with relief there was only another hour before she could go home. When she’d left this morning Seth was still laying face-down in the lounge where they’d spent the night. It seemed not getting to bed these days was becoming a habit.
Jane sighed, accepting they were no nearer to getting their lives into a better state. There had been a temporary respite when Seth had returned from the lock up the other night. It was almost as if someone had waved a magic wand because he’d been full of life. They’d had a really good night down the Dragon, spending the evening laughing and messing about. It had been so good, even Maggie and Eliza had made themselves scarce.
After the Dragon had closed, he’d dragged her by her hand up the High Street and pushed her into a shop doorway where he’d frantically pulled her skirt up and taken her there and then. It had been good. Real good.
They’d then gone home and had the best conversation in ages, as well as a night of mind-blowing sex. They’d made the decision to move out of town to start afresh - away from the people, the shit and the bad stuff. Unfortunately by the morning they’d both forgotten their promises and lurched back onto the roundabout of self-destruction.
Jane smiled sadly. It was impossible to pretend their lives were alright for more than a few hours and both of them knew it.
“Are you going to finish that or what?”
The gruff voice snapped Jane out of her thoughts and she looked up to find one of the managers cutting her death stares. How long she’d been sitting staring aimlessly at the sheet of paper she wasn’t sure, but judging by the man’s face it must have been a while.
Begrudgingly she walked over to the pile of boxes and tried to work out which ones needed to go for despatch.
MAGGIE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE at Eliza’s. Her family always wanted to chat. This in principal sounded good, but she struggled being in the same room with herself, let alone with a host of over-friendly people she didn’t really know. She just wanted to hide and work out what the hell she was going to do, but she couldn’t handle being on her own either.
Maggie sighed. Slitting her wrist and nearly bleeding to death hadn’t been the most intelligent thing she’d thought of, but it had been the only option that night at the caravan that could get her a ticket out of there.
She’d counted on Ian having to let her go to hospital, but once she’d sliced the bread knife across her wrist, she’d begun to wonder.
As the blood poured out, Ian had paced up and down for what seemed like hours and the thought had seeped into Maggie’s mind that her plan might not work after all. At the end of the day, she’d stood to win either way. If Ian hadn’t let her go to the hospital, then she’d have died, but as long as she’d got away from him she hadn’t cared.
Finally, he’d left her propped up against the side of a telephone box on the main road where a stranger had called an ambulance.
She hadn’t breathed a word about Ian at the hospital, or what he’d done. She’d just acted suicidal - which hadn’t been difficult.
After a week of convincing the hospital’s shrink she didn’t know what had come over her, she’d been released.
Once arriving at Jane’s, Maggie had quickly realised she wasn’t going to be able to stay there and had eventually accepted Eliza’s offer of getting the fuck out of there.
They’d left Seth and Jane to it, but with each hour that passed, she’d got more and more edgy over what she was going to do if Ian found her.
Correction. When he found her.
DIGGER COULD NOT BELIEVE his eyes. He appeared to be in some shit-hole flat with a bloke wearing a dress who was chanting weird stuff. Had he gone mad and ended up in the local loony bin?
Glancing at something that looked like a huge sack of spuds covered in green velvet, he’d have laughed if he hadn’t been so fucking angry. It had only got more depressing when he realised he was handcuffed and spread-eagled on filthy carpet.
For fuck’s sake. His life was weird at the best of times, but this really took the biscuit.
Struggling to take any of it seriously, Digger decided to pretend for the time being until he’d planned his next move. When he’d worked out who these fuckers were, the shit was going to hit the fan.
JANE NEATLY SCR
APED together a line of coke on the top of the warehouse’s toilet cistern and effortlessly hoovered it up with the help of a rolled up fiver. Taking a deep sniff, she closed her eyes and felt relief as the drug entered her bloodstream.
Despite her general lethargy and everything else that had been going on, she was in the mood to have a decent burn out at Tony’s party. Perhaps it would fire both her and Seth out of this fucked up mood they’d both been in and give them a decent break from their feelings. If nothing else, at least they’d get off their tits in different surroundings before having another row.
It didn’t take long to finish off the quart bottle of vodka she’d fished from her bag. Flushing the chain, Jane grabbed her bag from the hook on the toilet door and walked across the car park, relieved to get out of the dump for the day.
EVERYONE STOOD AROUND the wall-mounted board during the last meeting of the shift and stared at the various pieces of coloured paper stuck to it signifying positions.
“There hasn’t been any unusual movement today,” DI Charles said in a gruff voice as he pinned yet another piece of paper up. “I’m pretty confident Wright and Ellerton will be caught off guard when we roll up at 5 in the morning.”
A rare smile broke out across the Inspector’s tired face. He couldn’t wait to pull these two in and finally detain them. “Make sure you all know your required positions for the off.”
Several officers edged nearer to the board. They all knew this garbage was a mere formality and when it all kicked off everyone would just randomly go for it. As long as they got a result, what the fuck did it matter where anyone stood to start with?
“Right. Get yourselves home for a bit of shut eye before tomorrow. I want you all back here by 3am on the dot!” DI Charles narrowed his eyes. “No one to be late! We’ll have one last briefing at 4 before we move for the off at 5.”
Glancing around the sea of faces he looked for signs of confusion or lack of attention, but found to his satisfaction that everyone seemed to be alert. “Are there any questions?”
