The police officer sat across from me, and I already knew it was bad news. “We’re going to have to drop the case,” he said. “There’s no evidence from the pregnancy. The CPS will decide there’s not enough to charge.
”
I couldn’t believe it. “You’ve got to be joking. Everyone knows what she did. The world is covered in CCTV, and you’re telling me you found nothing?
”
He just shook his head. I felt like I was losing my mind. Later, I met with Carl, the guy I’d hired to help. He was nervous, pacing.
“I need to talk to you about the plan,” he said. “After I do it, I’m going away for a bit until Theo’s banged up. I’ll give you my bank details now. You pay me, and I can be long gone when it all kicks off.
”
“You want the money first? ” I asked, suspicious. “No, not first. I told you I’ll do it now.
But maybe half? ”
“Why would you even ask that? You’re obviously going to do a runner. ”
“Hey, I want to see him go down just as much as you.
Debbie went to prison because of him. ”
“You don’t care about that. You only care about the money. ”
“Look, I’m only asking because I’m desperate.
And you’re only doing this because you’re desperate for the money. Let’s not pretend. ”
I sighed. “All right.
How are you going to do it? Are you going to hurt him? ”
“No, I don’t do that sort of thing. He’s already on a court order to stay away from Todd.
Police are watching him, and we know he’s got a short fuse. I’m going to wind him up, push the right buttons. He blows a gasket, lamps me, and then he goes down. ”
“That’s your plan?
”
“It’ll work. ”
Just then, Theo walked into the pub. He spotted Carl and grinned. “Hi, Gazza.
You old mucker. They let you out, then? ”
“Yeah, looks like it, lad. But you’re not allowed on the street anymore, though.
Did you hear about Sarah? Walking about in my van, police don’t take too kindly to that, do they? ”
“Think Todd would ever forgive her? ”
“I think he already has.
She’s taken him away for a couple of days, cuz that’s what mates do. Think you’ll ever have that? Someone that looks out for you? ”
Theo’s face hardened.
“You don’t know anything about me, and I really don’t care. Now, you jog on, yeah? You’re done round here. ”
“I didn’t say I’m sorry,” Carl said, but Theo was already walking away.
I watched them, my heart pounding. This was supposed to be the moment, but Carl hadn’t done anything yet. Later, I was at the pub with my auntie, trying to sort out the wedding. She was on the phone, and I was asking about exclusive use of the hotel.
“Callie, you can’t expect exclusive use of the entire hotel,” she said. “I know, I’m just checking. How much would it be extra? ”
“Loads.
Like loads, loads. ”
“What about auntie’s mate’s rates? ”
“I’ve got no power to give you auntie’s mate’s rates. Maybe if Debbie was your auntie, maybe then.
”
I sighed. “Okay. ”
Then I saw Theo come in again. He was trying to order a pint, but the barmaid refused.
“We ain’t serving you,” she said. “Why not? ”
“You talked to my staff like that, you’re barred. B-A-R-E-D, barred.
”
“You missed an R,” Theo said, smirking. “Did I? ”
“Yeah. I’m a B-A-R-E-D, am I?
From the grottiest pub in all of Manchester. Oh, whatever will I do? ”
“You’ll leave and you won’t come back. You’re barred, with two Rs.
”
“Yes, boss. ”
But he didn’t leave. He stood there, glaring at me. “You’re pathetic, Theo.
No one wants you here. Just do one and don’t come back. ”
“It’s not stopping you hanging around, now, is it, cocker? ” he said, his voice low.
“You scum. ”
“You’re boring. ”
I tried to walk away, but he blocked me. “Wait, wait, wait.
Look, if you hadn’t noticed, I was trying to leave. ”
“You know what really gets me about you? ” he said. “Oh, I can’t wait to hear it.
Do your worst, hit me, do whatever you want to do. ”
“What is this? You trying to curry favor by picking a fight with the one person who’s less popular out here than you are? ”
“No.
What is it? Do you fancy me? Is that what this is? You coming on to me?
Cuz you did have that thing with James, didn’t you? Are you a man on the rebound? ”
“Believe me, mate, you’re not my type. Don’t really go for blokes who are into beating up their partners.
No offense. ”
“Wait, is that kink shaming? I mean, I know that’s got to bother you. Still a real number on yourself.
Not your fault you’re not quite right in the head, is it? ”
“I’m not going to tell you again,” I said, my fists clenching. “Yeah. Get out of my way.
”
“Oh, what? Theo, come on, mate, what are you going to do? I know I’m a little bit bigger than Chopper, don’t let that put you off. Have a swing, lad, go on.
”
“Is that what this is, Carl? Did the tots send you? Try to start a fight in public to make his case look better? ”
“You’re deranged, mate.
”
“Wow, that is it. That’s what it is. That was your plan. ”
“Oh, calm down, mate.
Listen. You think I’d do you the favor of doing it in broad daylight? ”
“Theo. Nah, mate.
Nah. I’ll come for you when it’s dark. You might not even see me coming. And when I hit you, I’ll make it count.
And you won’t get up again. ”
“Say that again. Dare you. ”
Suddenly, I saw Carl holding his phone up, recording.
“What’s this? What you doing? ” I said. “Oh.
Are you recording me, are you, Carl? You’re not very good at this, are you? ”
He grabbed the phone and smashed it on the ground. “Now you’re paying for that.
I want you to tell me the truth. Did Todd put you up to this? ”
“Yeah, that’s right. You got me.
Me and him and James were all in this secret gay brotherhood plotting to take you down. But for now, James, you’ve messed with the wrong man. ”
“Did you hear that, officer? ” I shouted to a passing policeman.
“He just threatened me. Surely that breaks his protection order, right? ”
“Well, it’s not against you, though, is it, you pillock? ” the officer said.
“Well, it doesn’t look good, does it? You hanging around here, Todd’s work. ”
“Oh, officer, I was just passing by and I was trying to help Carl here when he dropped his phone. ”
“No, he nicked it and then broke it.
”
“No, I didn’t. He’s been at me all day. You can ask Gary, you can ask that lot in the pub. I was just coming out to collect this from me, and then I’m going to get on me way.
”
“All right, well, that sounds a plan, so go on then, hop it. ”
“Sound. ”
I watched him walk away, fuming. “You’re not reporting him for that?
When’s he getting banged up? ”
“In all honesty, no, probably not. ”
“Then no. ”
The officer gave me a warning.
“A word of advice, Carl. Whatever you’re doing, stop it. This ain’t going to help Todd. ”
I knew he was right, but I couldn’t let it go.
Later, I was at home, packing. My phone rang. It was my auntie, going on about the wedding. “We’re going to just snap her fingers and take about like that.
Well, that’s how it works. Anyway, this is always just as long as it took her to get back on her feet. ”
“Yeah, I know, but you—”
“Oh, come on, Betsy. All right, it is what it is.
”
I heard my gran in the background. “Call her, darling. Take a breath. She’s going to be here in 2 seconds.
”
“Yeah, exactly. So unless you want to do it in front of her, it might be a good time to say goodbye. ”
“You okay? ” I asked.
“Yeah. It’s a disgrace, an absolute disgrace. ”
“Yes, Ma, but harping on about it is—”
“Oh, harping on, that’s what I’m doing, is it? Do you hear that, Eva?
Apparently, I’m harping on. Well, I’ll take your word for it. ”
I sighed. “Should we be creating a list of people that we’re barring?
Cuz I know in some places they have pictures of the dodgy folk, don’t they? But you didn’t stay long enough for me to take a selfie. ”
“Have you barred? ” I asked.
“Uh, do you not think this is a decision that should be made between both owners? ”
“There you go. All right. Fair enough.
Yeah. Your gran there. ”
“Right, I’ll start to make a list and get the old laminator out. ”
“Spelt well.
”
“No, I still at school. ”
I was talking to my mate about the case. “He thinks we should give up,” I said. “Come on, I didn’t say that.
It’s obvious the police can’t do anything, can they? ”
“So what, we just let her get away with it? ”
“No. Look, do you think I like this?
Not being able to stop her doing it again, or Will realizing in 20 years that his dad wasn’t able to help him? This is not about winning or getting away with it. It’s about letting Will move on, now. ”
“Nope.
Do you not like that at all. ”
“My sentiment exactly. ”
“Can I get in on that, too? I’m going to miss her sweet little face.
”
“We all are. Hey, it’s like Sheila says, so until we’re all in her life now, though, so that’s good. And if she’s ever not feeling up to it, we’ll be the first to know. ”
“I bet she’s very grateful to you both.
She’s definitely going to want you to visit. ”
“Yeah. I am all right, honestly. Honestly, it’s just you know, Connie’s the one that’s important, and it’s right that she’s back with her gran, isn’t it?
”
“You’re still allowed to miss her, though. ”
“Yes, I know. Of course we are. ”
I had no food, so I nipped to the shop.
As I was leaving, I saw Theo again. He was at the bar, asking for a water. “Well, can I have a water, son? ”
“To be fair, you know that you’ve already had quite a few.
”
“Ah, don’t be like that, come on. I’m just looking out for you, you know that. ”
“Well, I get that, but you need to get that there’s nothing for you to worry about. You do realize it’s literally impossible for me to do that, and you’ll stop worrying about you.
”
“I’m just so bored of all of it. ”
“So am I. Which is why I’m willing to move on. We all are.
”
“I’m not. ”
“Leave it out, Ma. You’re the one who said we all are. ”
“Sounds like a plan.
”
I got a call from my auntie. “Sorry it’s short notice. Ah, they took her. They didn’t take her.
She just went home, okay? Your grandma’s better. ”
“All right. Well, might have been nice to say goodbye.
”
“Yeah, it was all a bit last minute, so. ”
“Oh, guess that’s me out of a job then. ”
“I’m sorry. But you know, Betsy needs looking after.
Mind you, she might be a bit old for a nanny. ”
“Just ignore she’s in a bit of a funny mood. ”
“Um, this is a bit of severance pay. And thanks again for helping out.
”
“All right. Nice one. Good night. ”
“Good night.
Cheers. ”
“I’m not in a mood. ”
“No, of course you’re not. Listen, I was thinking about asking Sheila if she wanted to bring Connie to the wedding.
”
“Oh, yeah, great idea because weddings and babies go really well together, don’t they? ”
“Hey. You’ll always be her auntie, you know. And whether you like it or not, you we are part of Connie’s future now.
”
“Okay, yeah. Thank you, Dr. Swan. Now, if you’d like to go to work and leave me to finish this because I haven’t had the house to myself for a very long time.
”
“No, definitely not in a mood. ”
“Just—I love you. ”
“Love you. ”
Later, Carl came to see me.
“Have you been? ” I asked. “Yeah, sorry. It’s a no-go.
”
“No-go? What do you mean no-go? ”
“I mean it didn’t work. So, unless you want me to actually batter it out of him, which to be clear, I wouldn’t do even if you wanted to.
”
“You mean you’re scared of him. ”
“Yeah, a little bit. The guy’s a murderer, remember? ”
“What do you think I’m going to forget that?
”
“No, of course not. But maybe you should. Why don’t you take that money and just go and enjoy your life somewhere? Cuz that guy’s dangerous and in a bad place right now.
It’s only one way that ends. People getting hurt. ”
“It’s hard to keep him away, can’t you? ”
“Ah, it’s not supposed to be you.
”
“What’s that supposed to mean? ”
“Never mind. ”
“You feel better now? ”
“Not yet.
Maybe now. “
