‘Oh, didn’t I tell you my dad was a mechanic? I used to help him out a lot. Cars are my first love; pubs are Maggie’s, and she doesn’t really need me here.’ Alex saw Mark spying him closely between gulps. He could see Mark’s brain drunkenly forming an idea that would suit them both.
‘How come you’re not working love? I thought all agencies wanted extra staff at this time of year.’ Barrow undid his tie, casting it aside. It had been a hell of a day at the prison. It always was this time of year. The inmates tried making the best of Christmas, but it hit home more than usual just how much they missed their families.
‘No, nothing for tonight. I had my fingers crossed that pub I worked at on Christmas Day might need someone.’
‘Yes, I remember you saying. Maybe you didn’t make a good impression,’ he joked while kicking his shoes off.
‘Well, I liked the landlady, she was nice, but her foreign husband Mr Silva didn’t take too kindly to me.’
Although tired, the name struck a chord in his brain. He had heard that name before. ‘Foreign husband? From where?’ he asked, trying not to cause suspicion.
‘Well, I thought he was Spanish, and I asked him, but he ignored me. A bit shirty if you ask me, too big for his boots in my opinion. How he got a nice caring wife like that is beyond me.’
‘The same could be said about you Julia. Unusual name though, Silva…’ Walking into the bathroom to have a shower, he pondered on what she had said, and knew it was of some importance.
In bed later that night, Barrow suddenly remembered where he had heard the name before. Paul Pereira had said it many times. This was apparently the man who had put him behind bars. The very man Pereira was trying to find. Barrow felt as though he couldn’t breathe. He had found the very man that Paul was prepared to pay millions in bounty for. This was his lottery ticket out of work. No more walking landings and sorting arguments between inmates. The money he could get for this information was unbelievable. There was a bounty on this Silva bloke’s head, and he would claim it. Paul would be more than grateful and eager to pay, and more than that he would be forever in debt to him for saving his neck. Mentally, he was already spending the money and picturing himself on some yacht in the middle of the Mediterranean with some young woman.
The money he had already had out of Paul he had put into a separate account his wife knew nothing about. He wasn’t prepared to share it with her and her greedy family who were always borrowing money. A wry grin crossed his face when he thought about his good fortune. This was definitely a new year and a fresh start. At last there was something to look forward to in life. He couldn’t wait to get back to work and spill the beans. That Silva bloke, whoever he was, was his ticket to freedom.
After a couple of days, Mark approached Alex.
‘Alex mate, I’ve had an idea I want to put to you, if you have a minute.’
Instantly, Alex’s ears pricked up and he strolled over, his hands buried deep in his pockets. This could be what he was waiting for.
‘What’s up Mark?’
Mark looked at him. ‘Well, I’ve got a proposition for you. That job you did the other night; the woman you helped called and said you were brilliant and she’s going to recommend us to their friends. Do you fancy doing a few more jobs for me? I can’t be arsed sometimes.’
Alex beamed; this was just what he was hoping for. ‘Oh, Mark mate, that would be great. To be able to get from under the wife’s feet once in a while would feel like an escape. Sure, call on me whenever you don’t feel like doing a job.’
‘You haven’t asked how much yet Alex, and I don’t intend paying all that tax and insurance stuff. It’s zero hours and cash in hand.’
‘I don’t need to know Mark. We’re mates, aren’t we? I’d prefer evening work though; that way Maggie is firmly busy behind the bar and can’t moan if I’m not around.’
‘Even better, because I like a drink in the evening, and I hate these dark nights. I can’t be bothered to go out in the evenings any more.’
‘That’s a done deal then.’ Alex and Mark shook hands on their new partnership. For Alex, it was a dream come true. Disguised as Mark, he could now travel anywhere he liked!
Stubbing out his cigarette, Mark looked up and saw Percy hanging around and hovering as usual. ‘I see old Percy’s moved back into his place properly. I bet he misses that bed and breakfast though.’
Alex turned his head and saw Percy walking towards them. ‘Yeah, well, I suppose it was company for him as well.’ Alex had been wondering how to instigate a meeting with Percy, and this was the perfect opportunity.
‘Shit! I’m off. I can’t be doing with any more trawler stories or how he survived a bomb blast. Stupid old bastard probably left the gas on. See ya, Alex.’ With the wink of an eye, Mark had gone in and shut the door firmly behind him. Smiling to himself, Alex knew he would have done the very same thing, except he had an ulterior motive for wanting to speak to Percy. Taking out his packet of cigarettes, he lit one, knowing full well that Percy would do his usual scrounging act when he saw them.
‘Hi Alex.’ Percy’s eyes went straight to the cigarette packet he was holding. ‘Don’t suppose you have a spare one of those, do you?’
‘Of course, Percy, help yourself. How are you anyway?’
‘I’m okay. My house still needs sorting out though. Got furniture and stuff but it needs decorating inside. I’ve got to wait for the plaster to dry properly first before the council can paint it. I’m still in shock; all my personal possessions over the years, just gone up in a puff of smoke. The fire brigade says the gas pipe was faulty and leaking.’
Alex frowned, showing fake concern. ‘Well, don’t the council or that housing association that own your house do regular inspections of appliances?’ Alex was interested to know exactly what the outcome was and if the investigations were firmly over.
‘No, they just check the heating and a gas fire if you have one. The cooker is my responsibility.’ Mournfully, Percy looked down at the ground aimlessly. ‘Mind you, I had had that cooker for ten years and I got it second hand when I came out.’
‘What were you inside for Percy? If you don’t mind me asking…’
‘I got twenty years for murder; well, it was reduced to manslaughter. I suppose everyone knows, it was in all the papers.’ Percy shrugged and took a drag of his cigarette. Alex’s mind swam, and he swallowed hard. Percy seemed so nonchalant about it. Mentally, Alex now understood how he had become an informer for the police. It was part of the deal to freedom.
‘So,’ Alex joked, ‘who did you murder then? Or are you having me on and this is all part of a New Year joke?’
Wide eyed, Percy shook his head. ‘It’s not a joke, Alex. I killed my wife.’
Seeing Percy had nearly finished his cigarette, Alex handed him another one. Quickly, Percy took it and put it behind his ear while finishing the one he had. ‘Go on, you were saying Percy mate?’
‘Oh yes, my wife. Well, I was on the trawlers, gone for six weeks at a time we were.’ His slow monotone voice started to annoy Alex, especially as he felt another fisherman story coming. ‘The trawler office used to give your wife half your wages each week while you were away, to make sure the rent is paid and there’s food in the cupboards, you know what I mean.’ Percy reached up for the cigarette behind his ear and held his hand out for Alex’s lighter. Intrigued, Alex handed it over. He felt there was a lot more to come.
‘Well, when I came home from sea, I went to our house and discovered my wife had moved. I didn’t know anything about it; there had been no message left for me at the office. Anyway, a neighbour saw me and told me where she had moved to. They were good friends and kept in touch. When I got to the new address, I tried the door, and it was open so I walked in. I could hear a noise coming from upstairs and so I shouted and walked upstairs. She was having sex with a bloke in our bed! I froze in the doorway, and they were just as shocked to see me. Apparently, she had moved in with this bloke and he was shouting at me to get out. I was blazing angry, I don’t mind telling you,’ he spat out, as though remembering that day vividly in his mind. ‘When I walked back down the stairs, I saw a cricket bat behind the door. She always had something behind the door in case of intruders, you see,’ Percy explained, while delaying the punch line. Alex felt he knew what was coming and he had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He stood in silence, listening to Percy’s confession.
‘I didn’t mean to hurt her but I was so angry, I saw red. I hit her with it while she was still naked on the bed, time and time again. I couldn’t help myself,’ he stressed. ‘I didn’t know what I was doing, and then her bloke tried grabbing me from behind. I was a lot younger and a lot stronger in those days and I had muscles,’ Percy said while flexing his arm in the air for Alex to see.
‘The bed sheet was red. My God when I think back it makes me shudder. Anyway, her new bloke tried grabbing me and pulling my hair from behind. The window was half open. It was one of those sash windows and with all of the strength I had in me, I turned and grabbed him, pushing him out of the window.’ Percy looked down at the pavement, as though disgusted with himself.
Alex’s jaw was on the floor as he looked at good old friendly Percy. The neighbourhood’s friend! He was rooted to the spot as Percy carried on with his story.
