Revenge Inc. - Pt Two

Andy Rivers

Who’s in the house?

‘I don’t care how old you are pal and I don’t care how much that rope hurts.’

He’s wriggling and whinging through his gag so I make a move like I’m ganna whack him and he flinches back but gets the message and sits still. I look down at the file in my hands and then back at him.

‘What am I ganna find in here then you sick bastard?’

He whimpers again. Knows he’s in the shit now.

Lizzie had told us the address and we’d planned our attack. It was pretty basic to be fair, I go in and nick some evidence while those two keep watch and we take it to the law. Job done.

The house was one of them anonymous ones that littered the outskirts of the estate, the neighbours were all temporary, problem families and dole drops, so no community keeping an eye out for comings and goings. Ideal for what these bastards had been up to for decades.

Also quite handy for someone like me to get in unnoticed.

I’d noticed that the doors to the attached garage weren’t level. This was probably down to unchecked subsidence which meant that the triple glazed windows in the doors weren’t as secure as they thought. So when we’d come back after dark a quick jab of the finger confirmed my theory that they would go through with a minimum of effort and that was me in.

The other two positioned themselves outside and I crept through the garage to the connecting door. I’d made a bit of noise when the window had clattered to the floor but had waited for any alarm or investigating bodies.

Nothing for five minutes.

When I tried the door it opened easily, they’d really got complacent these fuckers. Suppose that’s what happens when you’ve got protection at the top. Creeping through the downstairs I checked the living room and kitchen, it looked pretty normal to me, then I headed for the stairs.

The first room was a boxy little spare room, not much space for more than a bed, but it had something much more interesting than that in it. Just floor to ceiling shelves that all held files, big binder things and they all had years written on them. There was one titled 1984 so I went straight for that. I was just about to open it when I heard a noise from one of the other rooms and I stood stock still and slowed my breathing right down.

Listening carefully, I moved slowly to the door and looked out, there was a dull light shining under one of the doors. If there was a kid being fucking abused in here...

I slowly went back downstairs to the garage where I’d seen some rope then stopped off in the kitchen for a knife. Looking back up the stairs I took a deep breath, I’m not what society would consider a model citizen or even a half-decent one but I’m worth a thousand of those evil bastards.  Time to stand up and be counted.

***

I’d stood outside the door for a minute and listened, definitely heavy breathing I could hear. I’d considered going back down for Ray, this was more his department really, but didn’t want whichever poor kid was in there to go through a second more of this shite. Taking a step back I cast one last look up at where hopefully God was watching over me, clutched the blade tight in my hand and booted the fucking door as hard as I could.

It burst open with a proper crash and I followed it in. The room was dark but semi-lit by a big projector screen on the far wall that cast enough light for me to see there was only one other person in there. I rushed him as he tried to rise from the chair he was in but luckily I had surprise on my side and he had his pants round his ankles. I banged him a good right straight in the windpipe, a little trick my dad had taught me - if you can’t breathe you can’t fight - and then kicked his legs away before holding the knife to his face.

‘Don’t fucking move!’

He couldn’t answer as he was struggling for breath so I appraised the situation. Older bloke, easily a pensioner, probably seventies, not going to cause a problem. I dragged him up into the chair as he tried to speak but a quick slap stopped that. Then I tied him. I tied him tight and painfully. The fear in his rheumy old eyes just grew the less I spoke and I was starting to feel bad. This was probably someone’s grandad, maybe I’d overreacted. What if Lizzie had the wrong address and I’d just broken into the house and assaulted an old-timer watching a Laurel and Hardy film?

I checked he was still breathing okay and felt like the worlds worst prick when he flinched as I went near him, a tear rolling down his face. I was getting my phone out to ring Ray and Lizzie and tell them I thought we’d made a mistake when something on the screen moved in the corner of my eye. A long-forgotten memory flickered to life and I turned fully to take it in.

There, in glorious technicolour was the inside of Jimmy Mowbray’s living room, I’d never been in so you could be forgiven for asking how I knew it was his house. Well, the camera was obviously pointed from one end of the room and it took in the window at the other end that looked out onto our street. As poor Jimmy crouched naked on the rug and the back of his dad’s head bobbed about in front of the camera two shapes appeared through the window, as my dad and me wandered back down the street. My bright orange tracksuit top as visible as the sun framed by the white window frame and as Mr Mowbray hurried to close the curtains, his hard-on apparent, I glanced in. It was THAT moment, the time I remembered vividly from the other side of the glass all them years ago. As he closed the curtains then headed back to the camera I caught sight of Jimmys face one last time, the same defeated expression that had fucking haunted me for years.

I couldn’t watch what came next, I didn’t need to. Instead, I broke the old cunts nose.

Then I went and got that file again. And now here we are. 

---

Ten Days Ago

The Twat

‘Wait, I’ll give you something.’

The copper eyes the little scrote suspiciously, like he’s heard it all before. I’m just cool. Nothing to do with me really, I just know this is the prick who stabbed that Archie lad and much as I was hoping to do him in myself I’m happy to wait and see what happens.

The copper looks at me then back at the track-suited weasel.

‘I’m not joking boss; I can tell you when the next shipment’s coming and where it’ll be.’

As the area’s been flooded with low-grade smack for a while now then the copper’s going to have to take that offer upstairs even I know that, he’s only a constable that thought he was coming to take a thieving, junkie toe-rag back to the cells for a bit of a slap but the stakes just got raised out of his pay grade . The low-life’s just grinning at me though. Recognises me and thinks he’s won. Gets a bit cocky, well, even more than he already was.

‘Hey security man, you’re fuck all son. I’ve got info that makes me important. More important than a few packs of fucking cheese and a frozen chicken anyway. And deffo worth more than some divvy getting shanked...and I wasn’t even there anyway.’

He glances at the copper and then back at me. If he had any white teeth I’d be dazzled by the smile he’s beaming out now.

‘Don’t even know why you care, you’re on fucking minimum wage anyway. If I’d stabbed you up would you get sick pay? They’d probably lay you off you daft prick!’

I’m surprised a dick like him even knows about minimum wage or the unscrupulous business practices in operation these days, I’m guessing he’s never had a job to be honest.

‘Not that you’d do fuck all anyway if you’d chased me outside. Gets a bit dangerous on this estate, ‘specially for a straight peg like you. Not seen you about round here before and we don’t take kindly to new faces anyway...’ He gives me a wink and then laughs to himself, ‘...yeah mate, you’re lucky it never came down to me and you...know what I’m saying?’

Can’t believe a skinny little smack-head actually thinks he’d be able to take me on if I set about him. He must be what? Ten stone dripping wet? I’m six-foot, built like a brick shithouse and have been on the cobbles more time than he’s been on class A’s. What would he do? Try to freak me out by walking like a penguin and shouting come on? Never mind, I think he’ll work it out in a minute, in fact I think the copper already has.

‘Right then Mr...ehmm...,’ he checks out the name tag, ‘Brown. We’ll take it from here. Excellent work in apprehending this shoplifter and also recognising him from the recent assault on Archie Barrowclough. Rest assured we will investigate thoroughly.’

He’s started dragging the little runt away, thinks I’ll go mad at the prospect of him being let off for a bit of grassing. Doesn’t realise I expected it. I’d better play my part.

I look the scrote up and down and then look the copper straight in the eyes, pretending to be annoyed.

‘He’d better be dealt with properly. He knifed someone apparently and he’s stealing from here all the time.’

‘I assure you sir we will do what is best for the public in this area.’

The scrote’s grinning, making cocksucker motions with his one free hand as my boss comes into the office shouting about the cost of theft to the store and how jobs are at risk because of it. The copper’s attention is distracted as the words ‘not a victimless crime by any means’ are being thrown at him.

I move in close and the wanker flinches but I don’t touch him, just breathe into his ear nice and low so the copper doesn’t hear.

‘I’ve been a security guard for two weeks you mug, got the job ‘cos I knew you nicked from here. You’re right, I don’t live round here but I do know your boss. He knew my dad for years, could even say he’s a close family friend? I spoke to him last week and told him I’d heard you were a grass and now I’ve got proof haven’t I?’

The colour’s draining from his face as he looks down at the phone I’ve suddenly produced in my right hand with the voice recorder app showing nice and clear for him on the screen.

‘Thing is dickhead I’m nowhere near being a straight peg. What I do is get revenge for people who’ve been fucked over. Usually charge a lot of money for it but when you stabbed my mate’s mate then I thought I’d do a freebie. Doesn’t matter that their families fell out back in the day, him and Archie go way back. You might have finally stabbed someone after telling everyone for ten years you carried a knife but I’ve been slotting people since the best part of you ran down your mother’s leg son and the day you put a knife in him was the day you signed your own death warrant. Best you make a fucking good job of grassing now so they give you protection otherwise you’d better start running.’

Realisation appears to have dawned, I can see a piss stain on his tracky bottoms. Looks like a fresher one than the others.

‘Ever hear about Barry Hardwick, used to run your end of the estate back in the day? Battered Lizzie Feltham ‘cos she wouldn’t shag him? Well she was my first client, I was eighteen.’

Steal a quick look at the copper, he’s being ranted at on the other side of the room. Justifiable risk I reckon, who’d believe this little prick.

‘Went missing didn’t he. Ran away to London and that to make his fortune yeah? Did he fuck son.’

I love that look. The point where everything they’ve ever known is turned on its head and their world falls in. Fucking live for it.

‘Barry couldn’t scream when he died ‘cos the prick he tried to force into Lizzie was stuffed into his mouth. He wanted to scream though, particularly when I put the baseball bat he smashed her about with up his arse. Cheapest job I’ve ever done, her dad paid what he could but it was enough. I’m one of those people who actually enjoy their work, know what I mean?’

He doesn’t know that Barry did actually fuck off somewhere down South after he’d battered Lizzie or that I’ve never killed or seriously hurt anyone. He doesn’t even have to know this is my first ever revenge job or how much I’ve discovered I like it. All he has to know is that, eventually, bad things will happen to bad people and I think I’ve got that message across.

Jesus, he was pale to start with but now he looks like a ghost.

Good.

He soon fucking will be anyway.

---

Five Days Ago

The Board Meeting

He’s proper chuffed with the ring, can’t stop looking at it.

‘Saved me some right old financial problems there Blakey lad.’

‘You getting it back to the jewellers sharpish then Ray?’

‘Fucking right I am mate. Then me and you are going for a pint.’

Excellent. I’m feeling good about this venture of ours. We’ve squared off our own problems with no comebacks and can think about taking on some new work now.

‘Revenge Inc. Board Meeting in the Stags Head then? I’ve had a few people mention that they’ve heard we’re in the “fixing things” game now and they might be able to put something our way.’

I grin at him and get the thumbs up in return.

‘I’m nipping straight to the shop with this, I’ll be ten minutes so get the beers in partner.’

I leave his flat first and he’s off behind me. Lovely sunny afternoon it is, just right for sitting in a dinghy backstreet bar while the rest of the world toils for an honest living. Strolling down the street I become aware of a couple of things. Firstly, there’s someone behind me matching me stride for stride and secondly, and frankly more concerning again, is that Billy One-Punch is walking towards me at a rate of knots.

I’m in a dilemma. If I run that makes me guilty of whatever he thinks I’ve done and If I don’t run I’m fucked if he already thinks I’m guilty of whatever it is he thinks I’ve done. As I’m shit at fighting but excellent at running I’ve already made the decision and am half on my toes, my knees bend slightly as I prepare to launch myself in the opposite direction when there’s a voice right behind me.

‘Don’t fucking run you stupid bastard.’

It’s a woman’s voice, one I don’t recognise.

By the time I’ve processed this Billy is a step away and it’s too late, I start to hold out my hands to plead but he doesn’t give me a second glance. Just carries on striding past with a face like thunder. I can feel the shit climbing back into me arse when I remember the voice behind me and I spin round quick to be faced with someone I’ve never seen before.

‘Who are you?’

‘Heard about you and Ray.’

‘Don’t know what you mean.’

‘Heard you were going into business “fixing” things for people - yeah?’

‘Well yeah, we’re thinking about it.’

‘I also know that Ray was involved in getting that arsehole who stabbed your mate.’

‘Yeah, stroke of luck that...’

‘And that his ex-fiancé Corrine Chesterman got burgled last night, looks like that expensive ring she conned out of him was nicked as part of it...what is it you do again?’

Fucks sake. Where’s Ray when I want him.

‘Listen, what do you want?’

‘I want a chat with you both about a job I’d like doing.’

‘You’d better come with me then; we’re having a board meeting in a minute.’

‘In the Stags, you’re a top-class outfit and no mistake lads.’

I can see her point and we both chuckle. As we walk off, I feel some introductions are necessary.

‘So, going back to my first question...who are you?’

‘Me Keith, my name’s Lizzie Feltham.’

***

I’m coming back with the drinks when Ray walks in. He’s smiled at a few of the old lads playing dominoes and given Maisie and Dolly in the corner a bit of charm before he clocks us and walks over.

‘Lizzie?’

Looks like they know each other, that’s good then. Well, I think it is.

‘Hi Ray, long time no see pal.’

‘You’re looking well, still in London?’

‘Coming home mate, been gone too long.’

There’s a funny look on her face as she speaks and I don’t think it’s Ray that’s done that. I thought she fancied him at first but there’s something off-kilter about her manner. Can’t put me finger on it though.

‘When was it you left again?’

‘When I was seventeen, do you not remember you prick? You finally got up the bottle to ask me out. You wanted to take me to Tiffanys.’

‘Aye, that was it,’ he thinks for a minute, then, ’you could of just said no like, didn’t have to fuck off to London.’

And then it starts. Waterworks galore. This is why I don’t work with children, animals or fucking women. There’s no money in this she’s just looking for a place to stay so she can come back and must have heard what a soft touch old Coxy there is. My face is obviously telling Ray what I think of her but he puts his hand on my shoulder and screws up his face in a hold on kidda kind of look. Then he gently puts his other shovel mitt on Lizzie’s arm and asks softly, ‘what happened mate?’

She sniffs, wipes her eyes and takes a big swig from her vodka and tonic then looks both of us straight in the eyes.

‘Remember Jimmy Mowbray? Well, it wasn’t just him that was being abused.’

Fucking. Hell.

After he’d sorted out the twat for stabbing Archie, we’d had a drunken night on Shields Road and I’d told Ray all about Jimmy and how me dad had sorted it. Looking at him now he’s struggling to keep it down knowing that the lass he fancied was getting that treatment as well. He’s getting redder and them big hands are clenching and unclenching at a rate of knots.

‘BARRIE FUCKING HARDWICK!’

There’s heads pop up and look in our direction as he’s raising his voice, I shush him and give everyone a smile. The old couple in the corner Maisie and Dolly give me a tentative thumbs-up and I nod and give them a wink. No-one wants Ray Cox going off on one.

He’s better now but still fuming, necks half his pint in one go and just shakes his head.

‘Barrie Hardwick, I thought it was just a myth people put about ‘cos he’d disappeared but he was fucking involved wasn’t he?’

Lizzie nods slowly.

‘He was involved yeah...’

Ray cuts her off, ‘I’ll fucking kill him, I mean it, I’ll find him and fucking kill him...’

Lizzies turn to comfort him. She puts her hand on the back of his neck and smiles sadly.

‘He was involved Ray, but only the same way I was. They had us both in their clutches for a while.’

Ray’s white now and I’m thinking fast.

‘They? Not just Jimmy’s dad then Lizzie?’

‘No mate, there was a load of them. Coppers, councillors and businessmen types.’

Fucking hell. This is serious shit.

‘They told me they’d killed Barrie and I’d get the same if I said anything.’

Ray’s gone serious now. Ice-cold. Back in control.

‘We’ll be taking on your job Miss Feltham and there won’t be any fee, can you give us any names or information on any of these people?’

She’s the same. Pure fucking steel in them eyes.

‘Oh yes. I can tell you exactly who’s in charge and where you can find them.’

Ray necks the rest of his pint. Looks at me and then looks to fat Stan the barman.

‘Same again Stan, think we’re ganna be here for a while.’

To be continued…

© Andy Rivers 2024