McDonald was wearing a black leather jacket and jeans, felt he smelt of cop.
A punter said, ‘Wanna drink, John?’
And offered a flask.
‘Sure.’ Best to blend. He took a swig and near choked, felt molten lava run down his throat, burning all in its path. He gasped, asked, ‘What … was … that?’
‘Surg and chicken soup.’ Surg as in surgical spirits. The infamous White Lady of south-east London drinking schools. He could only hope to fuck that the guy was kidding.
When Roberts returned, he collided with a young guy. There was a moment it hung there, then Roberts said, ‘Excuse me.’ And Collie nodded.
The fighters emerged to a mix of cheers, catcalls, whistles. Roberts said, ‘The big guy, he’s from Liverpool and evens favourite. The other is a London boy.’
Both men were bare-chested, wearing only shorts and trainers. No frills. The London boy was runtish but he had a wiry look. In contrast, the Liverpudlian was a brick shit-house. His muscles had muscle and he exuded confidence.
Roberts said, ‘Best get yer wager on.’
‘What?’
‘Don’t tell me you’re not going to have a go.’
‘Oh … right … ahm.’
‘See the guy in the black suit? He’s the bookie.’
‘OK … how much … I mean … would five be enough?’
Roberts scoffed, ‘Don’t be so Scottish … have a decent go. I’ve already dun Liverpool, so you take “the boy”.’
‘But he’s the underdog.’
‘All the better. Hurry up, now.’
A bell sounded and the bout began. Each round was approximately five minutes but it wasn’t rigid — the third round lasted ten.
McDonald had grown up in Glasgow and as a copper he was accustomed to violence. But this spectacle sickened him. It was the crunch of bare knuckles on bone. Real and stereophonic. He asked, ‘What are the rules?’
‘There aren’t … sometimes biting isn’t allowed.’
‘Sometimes?’
‘Shut up and watch … I think your boy’s in trouble.’
He was.
Bleeding from his eye and mouth, he looked for escape. None available.
Then all of a sudden he seemed to be electric, and headbutted Lou, who staggered back. Like a terrier, the boy went after him, and with three blows to the head, Lou was down.
The boy walked round him then kicked him in the back of the head.
All she wrote.
McDonald said, ‘I won!’
Roberts said, ‘We won.’
‘I thought you backed the favourite?’
‘Yeah … for us. Like you did … for us. Hurry up before yer bookie legs it.’
When McDonald collected his winnings he half considered legging it himself. Reluctantly, he handed a wedge to Roberts who said, ‘Lucky I made you get a bet on eh?’
‘Yeah … lucky.’
In the pub, Roberts said, ‘Get ’em in, lad, nobody likes a tight-fisted winner. I’ll have a brandy.’
When McDonald had followed the Morse series on TV, he’d felt it was unreal. Now he was reconsidering. Roberts took his drink and asked, ‘What’s that you’re drinking?’
‘Snakebite.’
‘Eh?’
‘It’s lager and white cider.’
Time to grow up son … get us a couple of scotches, eh?’
I had a dream (ABBA)
When Falls was discharged from hospital, it was AHA — not the Scandinavian pop group, but Against Hospital Advice. Like she could care.
The doctor said, ‘Would you consider counselling?’
‘Which would do what for me exactly?’
‘Ahm … help you get over your … trauma.’
‘I lost my baby, it’s not a trauma … and no, I don’t want to “get over” that. And I don’t expect to.’
The doctor, flustered, said, ‘I’ve taken the liberty of prescribing some medication … I …
‘No thanks.’
‘Might I suggest you reconsider?’
‘No.’
Falls took a cab home. The driver droned on about a range of topics. She neither heard nor answered him as they drove along Balham High Road. She said, ‘Here … drop me here.’
The driver saw the off licence and thought Uh-oh, said: ‘Mother’s little helper, eh?’
The words lashed her but she managed to keep control and asked, ‘How much?’ She fumbled a rush of coins and pushed them at him.
Like his brethren, he wasn’t to be hurried. ‘You’ve given me too much, darlin’.’
‘Alas, the same can’t be said for you.’
But he’d triggered something and she bought a bottle of gin. The sales assistant asked, ‘A mixer?’
‘No thanks.’
She thought gin ’n’ pain would mix enough. Her father hadn’t drank gin. He drank everything else, including water from the toilet bowl, but alcoholically maintained: ‘Gin makes me ill’.
He drank for no reason.
She had a reason.
Perhaps she’d uncovered a dual motive.
Entering her home was nigh unbearable. In her wardrobe were the baby things. She got a cup from the kitchen, sat, uncapped the bottle and poured. Said: ‘Here’s to Po,’ and drank.
Two hours later she put the baby stuff in the garbage.
The following morning she was as sick as a dog, but she dragged herself to the shower and readied her energies, knowing she was going to need them.
Arriving at the station, the desk sergeant exclaimed, ‘Good God!’ Then tried for composure. What was he to offer — sympathy, encouragement … what? He did the procedural thing — he passed the buck. ‘I’ll let the Super know you’re here … ahm … take a seat.’
Like Joe Public.
Various colleagues passed and seemed embarrassed. No one knew how to respond.
The Sergeant said, ‘The Super will see you now.’ He gave a dog smile as if he’d done a good turn. She felt her stomach somersault.
She wasn’t invited to sit by the Super. He asked, ‘How are you doing?’
‘Not too bad, sir, fit for duty.’
He frowned, looked down at his hands, then, ‘Perhaps it would be best if you took some time … the criminals will still be here, eh?’
He gave a police manual laugh. This has absolutely no relation to humour. Rather, it’s the signal for shafting. Falls waited and eventually he said, ‘Take a month, eh? Catch up on the ironing.’
Even he realised this was hardly PC, but she answered, ‘Thank you, sir, but I’d like to get back.’
Now he cleared his throat. ‘I’m afraid that won’t be possible … there may be an enquiry.’
Falls was astonished. ‘Why?’
‘There’s a question of … recklessness … Going after a villain alone … the powers that be … (here he paused to let her know: hey, this is not my idea), ‘frown on … mavericks.’
She was going to argue but knew it was useless.
He said, ‘You’re suspended on half-pay pending an enquiry.’
She considered for only a moment, then said, ‘I don’t think so.’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘I resign.’
‘I don’t think …
She got out her warrant card, laid it on the desk and turned to go.
He blustered, ‘I’m not quite through WPC.’
And she gave a tiny smile. ‘But I am … all through.’
Twenty minutes later she was home with a fresh bottle of gin.
No mixer.
Taming the Alien
Fenton could hear Celine Dion with ‘You Are The Reason’ and wasn’t sure was it real or a memory.
He stared intently at the almost empty tequila bottle. No worm at the bottom.
The Alien had followed Stella into the poor part of town. At least he thought it was her. He’d yet to catch up on her, see her full face. She was always an elusive ten yards away. Gradually, he’d been lured into the shanty area. All the evidence of dire poverty escaped him. Spotting the sign ‘CANTINA’, he’d stumbled into a shack. Now he shouted to the bartender, ‘Where’s my worm?’
‘Que?’