George could feel the panic rising in his chest as he watched the clock over the counter strike four. He’d sent Penny home an hour ago to be on the safe side and had been front of shop ever since, ever-dependable Ray had cleared up in the back for him.
The tinkle of the bell froze him to the floor as his head jerked back towards the door, the fear subsided as he saw it was only Mrs Marshall from the sheltered housing place along the road. She often popped in before closing to see what was left and how cheaply she could get it for the rest of her friends and their communal room.
‘What can you do for me today then George?’
Always straight to business this old stick and no messing. George thought she was great.
He was about to go through the pretence of haggling with her before letting her have the lot for cost price when the bell went again and the atmosphere in the room became thick with tension.
Mrs Marshall turned, in the way that pensioners do, and stared at the interlopers.
‘You’re a big lad aren’t you?’
The gangster just glared at her. His sidekick attempted a smile but only managed to grimace. George, worried that she’d say something that could get her hurt, quickly packaged up the remaining pastries from the display.
‘Here Mrs Marshall, we’ve had a good day today so you can have these on me.’
As he handed the confused lady the bag the second thug opened the door for her and ushered her out but she stopped outside, and knocked on the window.
‘I’ll be expecting this every day now George mind.’
The first thug looked at the second dismissively and shook his head. Turning back to George he smiled.
‘You realise those freebies will be coming out of your half of the business and not Mr McBride’s don’t you George.’
George gulped. It was need to know time and he wasn’t sure he could do this.
‘Think of your lass, wouldn’t want owt to happen to her now pal would you?’
At the thought of Penny’s distress the last time these thugs had entered their lives his resolve stiffened. The long-forgotten feeling of rage began to engulf him and all doubts about what to do just disappeared.
‘I won’t be able to enter into a partnership with your employer as I’ve recently acquired another majority shareholder and after discussions with him at a recent board meeting it was decided we won’t be needing any security consultants so there’ll be no fee to pay there either.’
Tyrone just shook his head disappointedly and motioned the second man around the counter to get George.
‘You’re a very, very silly boy Mr. Thompson. Very silly indeed.’
‘I think you should discuss it with my new partner don’t you?’
Instead of going through the door George moved past it towards the end of the counter. This left him no escape from the oncoming heavy who paused at the bakery opening and laughed.
‘New partner Tyrone, are you scared? I’m trembling me.’
As he made to grab George a shadow appeared at the opening, followed by a voice.
‘You fucking should be you fat prick.’
The bat that swung through the air and bounced off the thug’s skull knocked him clean out and left him in a bloodied heap. As George’s new partner stepped through the door his eyes were fixed on Tyrone, who went pale.
‘Billy…I didn’t know this was still yours. We thought you’d sold up years ago. Obviously this changes things…Mr McBride would have never…’
‘Still a fucking bully then Tyrone?’
‘Just doing as I was told Billy honestly…I was just…’
‘Just following orders aye? We’ve all heard that excuse before. Tell you what I did hear though, I heard you threatening Penny, the lovely lady who, along with my mates George and Ray, has helped restore our family bakery to it’s former glory.’
‘I wouldn’t Billy…it was all just part of the game…you know how it is man?’
‘Nah Tyrone I don’t. Shit like you doesn’t get to say sorry and walk away any more.’
‘This piss-poor excuse for a man threatens housewives and nice people Terry. What would you do to him down the smoke mate?’
As Tyrone hit the floor in a pool of his own blood the man named Billy simply smiled and turned to George.
‘There’ll be no comebacks from this mate, absolutely none. You just carry on as before and keep this place alive. If you get any more chancers trying their luck then put my name up as your partner George and I promise you they’ll go away.’
Then, as Ray stuck his head through the door opening Billy turned to him and laughed, ‘best thing I ever did taking you on for this place kidda,’ and patted him on the back. As the first thug started to groan he nodded to Terry, his Cockney friend, who came round the counter and began to drag the man through the back of the shop.
‘Dump him in the alley Tel and let him know exactly what’ll happen if he continues to work for McBride.’
Then moving towards the whimpering Tyrone he paused and looked back at Ray.
‘Meant to say mate, our Peter says to give your Michael his best an all.’
Then without hesitation or ceremony he dragged up the broken gangster and propelled him to the door, pushing his face right up into the other man’s.
‘Same goes for you, you windy cunt. You’re unemployed as of now. If I hear you’ve so much as answered the phone to that little Scottish prick I’ll fucking end you. And while I’m on, you’re paying for what that old lady took earlier.’
Tyrone just gasped his agreement and emptied his pockets before Billy bounced him off the doorframe and threw him into the street.
‘Now fuck off.’
Billy stood at the door, ramrod straight, and watched as Tyrone dragged himself around the corner to where both his car and ex-workmate were left in the road. He didn’t move until the man was out of sight and he heard Terry’s voice behind him.
‘He’s had the message Bill.’
‘They’re all ganna get the message Terry, every fucking one of ‘em.’
Billy looked out at the high street, he’d let things slip, let the little Scottish parasite wreak havoc on the community while his attention was elsewhere. But that was going to change.
He was fucking back.
Comments
Post a Comment