Chapter 19

Scenes of the battle were all over the news. The back-up team was sent out when the news editor received a weak and garbled call from the second cameraman that they were incapacitated. To avoid any possibility of losing another news crew the new team was sent by helicopter to the scene. Because of police investigations the helicopter landed on the road where it all happened. After medics confirmed that all in the car were dead, he handed the new arrivals a small square piece of plastic. “We found you r cameraman holding this.”
“Thank god there was no fire or we wouldhave lost it.” The medic thought he heard. Used to the cynicism of the media, the medic carried on and walked back to the ambulance thereby avoiding a request for an interview. The medic reflecting on how fortunate the people in the house had been that there was no explosion on impact with the estate.

Dev’s tape was soon being played all over the Union, examined in frame by frame detail. A fitting tribute to a man who made his living filming the misery of others.
Jess and Clive arrived at Andrew’s house just as the first pictures of the chase and ensuing carnage appeared on the vid screen. Andrew, an avid news junkie, was practically pulled away from the screen by his wife. “Go get the door. It could only be one of your friends coming over this late!”
“Yes dear.” He walked the one floor down to the front door of the large house. Peering at the security camera screen set up a safe distance from the door, he gasped with amazement. “Bloody hell, it’s Clive and some bint. I hope he doesn’t think he is going to shag here in my spare bedroom!” Andrew said this knowing full well that this was not his friends style at all. He was relieved when he realised that his wife was not within earshot for Clive was one of Andrew’s few friends she held in high regard.
Andrew took a deep breath and opened the door, “Clive, how good to see you!”
“Andrew, I am really sorry to bother you at this ungodly hour, no doubt dragging you out of bed with your lovely wife, but I am in need of a little help.”
“Clive, of course, anything. Please come in and I’ll call TM, and get her to put the kettle on.” As Clive and Jess entered, Andrew went over to a small intercom and spoke into it. “TM please tell the vid to put the kettle on and we’re going to have two guests staying for the night.”
“Two?” came the startled response.
“Clive and friend are in need of a place to stay.”
“Oh.”
Jess stood beside Clive and said nothing, rather embarrassed by the whole scene and feeling the slightest bit guilty for running away from Jervis.
“Andrew, I have been so rude. This is Jess. She is the young lady who saved my life tonight.”
By this time, Jess was visibly turning red from embarrassment.
“Saved your life, what exactly have you been up to of late?”
“I’d rather tell you over a swift brandy, if I may. It is rather complicated and you might not approve.”
TM came down the stairs to greet Clive, but stopped short on the last step as she quickly took in the young age of his companion.
Clive not a dumb man, knew exactly what was going and went up the stairs to greet his friend. “How lovely to see you TM, I am sorry to bother you this late at night.”
Still startled by the age of the young girl at the bottom of the stairs she replied, “I never knew you had a daughter!”
“Oh, she is not my daughter…” Clive saw TM rolling her eyes in a rather disapproving sort of way. “This young girl got me out of a rather tight and deadly spot tonight.”
TM looked down to see her husband frowning at her. “Leave your coats and come up to the kitchen for a cup of tea.” The pair did as they were told, Clive was in for a surprise for out of Jess’ coat fell the machine pistol she used to fell her pursuers earlier in the evening. Clive saw the flash as the hall light reflected of the barrel of the gun.
“Oh my God!”
“Clive, I don’t think TM will be too happy when she sees this!”
“Jess how could you!”
“Well, since we have been chased by gun totting thugs recently I thought I might need a bit of protection.”
“What!” exclaimed a voice up the stairs.
To Clive’s horror, Jess explained herself with no prompting.” Yea, me and Clive here just escaped from Jervis’ hangout. Some of his boys chased us and I blew them away!”
“Jess! This is neither the time nor the place to be telling out hosts about that! How could you be dumb enough to bring a gun into my friend’s house! We’ll be very lucky if TM does not throw us out on our ear!”
“Fuck off, Clive. Give me a break. I just saved your arse twice in the last few hours. Stop treating me like a child!”
Clive, panicking, “Look TM I’m sorry. She’s a kid who’s had a tough life. If I’d known…”
There was no need TM was down the stairs in flash and in Jess’ face. “Listen young lady, I will not have you talking like that in this house.” Jess was defiant until she saw that TM was kneeling in front of her. Jess was in no doubt what she was doing. Jess was suddenly very scared.
“You think that this makes you tough, do you!” TM held the gun in her hand by the stock, her finger within a few inches of the trigger.
Jess was now white with fear, her eyes were on the barrel of the gun and rapidly getting wider. Jess began to sob, “I am sorry, I really am…I will go now.”
TM, her point was well and truly made, lowered the gun and put her arm around Jess to guide her up the stairs to the flat. As she reached the kitchen, TM turned back to the two men, as if as an afterthought. “Clive, get this damn thing out of my sight!”
Both Clive and Andrew tried to catch the gun that TM threw towards them. Neither of them succeeded. It landed butt first on the carpet below.
“Andrew I am sorry…”
“Clive, don’t …I think the worst is over. Come on, let’s get that tea I promised.”
Clive buried the gun in his coat and the two men trotted up the stairs to the kitchen.
“Clive I have a feeling you have a lot of explaining to do…TM is going to want some answers!”
“Look Andrew, I know. I have a lot to tell.”
When Clive and Andrew reached the kitchen, they saw the woman who just threatened a little girl with an SMG serving biscuits to her with a smile. The smile disappeared when the two men appeared.
“Clive, sit down and have a cup of tea. Jess tells me you have a tale to tell.”
“I am afraid I do.”
Andrew and Clive sat down at the two remaining places in front of freshly filled cups of tea. TM sat down as well, glaring at Clive. Clive recognized the invitation to talk as the order it was.
The hot tea burned his throat forcing him to swallow hard. H e was about to begin, when TM interrupted his search for the first words. “Jess has told me all about the awful situation she was in. She can’t explain where you came in…”
“Ah, yes…”Clive told his hosts pretty generally what he had been doing for the five years or so since they last met. His delivery was matter of fact and as unemotional as possible, that was until he told of that day’s massacre in the BASH headquarters building. The reaction of TM and Andrew to his tale was better than he thought it might be and they did let him and his companion to stay the night.
TM was the first to excuse herself for bed. Indeed, she looked tired and upset. “Goodnight all of you, I must go to bed. Andrew give Jess the spare bedroom and Clive the loft. You’ll need to find sheets for Clive.” She turned to Jess. “I ‘ll leave some clothes in your room for you. I think some or my son’s old clothes might just fit you.”
“Thank you.” Was all Jess said before TM disappeared to bed.
“Clive, you have really dropped me in it this time!”
“I know, Andrew, I know. Do you think TM will ever forgive me?”
“Sure, sometime next century”
“Look if you don’t mind I would like to go to bed. I am really tired.”
Both Andrew and Clive stood up to see their young charge off to bed. “Goodnight and sleep well. I will see you in the morning.” said Andrew. Clive seconded the notion, “Goodnight Jess.”
In Slough, there sat an extremely annoyed man. He and the Enforcers only discovered the loss of his two guests after the the second van careened into the darkness. Jervis’ was not able to administer capital punishment for this, as the men primarily responsible had the good fortune to be in the van that blew up. Once again, the vid had delivered news of his little band’s inadequacies to Jervis. His consolation being t that his men managed, even in their incompetence, to take out an entire car full of “Union Propagandists.” When he saw the bodies of the reporter, driver and cameraman, Jervis did crack a smile. He was alone in the headquarters control room with the vid. Not one of his followers dared go anywhere near him for fear of provoking a renewed spasm of rage from their leader. Jervis was a tempted to break into the supply of cheap and cheerful cider normally reserved for his men.
After a few hours of watching the chaos on the vid he went to his room and planned “their” next move. “Providing I still have anyone left that is…” he said to himself as he walked to his room.
On the table next to his bed was a map of an airport. On this map were drawn several red marks, that looked like some sort of vehicle or other. Beside it sat several books on the airports serving the Great London Area. One such was left open to page detailing the passenger throughput, main destinations, and arrivals. Red lines covered the page, with figures scrawled alongside them. Beside the map was a notepad filled with copious notes, with headings like “security” and “access.” A clipboard pad listed names and vehicles. Two of these had just been obliterated with a red inked scratching out. Several of the names were crossed out as well.
“Bugger me, I need some more men. I wonder if Dirk is as good a recruiter as Edgar was? Where I am I going to find an idiot willing to blow himself up for the cause. I seem to have a choice between the disloyal and competent, and the loyal and thick. I suppose we could train one of the dumber neanderthals to do this job. Send an Enforcer with him ‘till just before the target. Get the Enforcer out with a remote. Tell the dolt where to park and run like hell. Dirk would be perfect but I can’t risk losing him. I have the lorry, and the guy to fix it up. I just need the driver.” His drink rested on a calendar where one date was circled, exactly seven days hence.
“So much to do, so little time,” Jervis said to himself out loud. “With the other BASH out of the way I will be claim real responsibility for this one. The LPR will finally arrive.”
His thoughts were disturbed by a knock on the door. “What!”
“Vicar, you asked to see me.” In stepped Dirk.
“Oh, yes, sit down. I need you to do a few things for me.”
“Yes. Vicar.”
“First, things first. Do you know where I can find a few young girls of easy virtue?”
“Of What?”
“Young girls who put out.”
“Oh, yea. I know that there is a bar in the middle of Slough that lets really young girls in on a Saturday night. The bouncer seems to prefer ‘em real young. They come there from miles around to get free drinks and shit. Why?”
“Well, I thought that if we had a few girls in the group, it might make it easier to get blokes. Convince them, they might get off with one of them. Children of God used to call them, “Comfort Angels or something like that.”
“You want me to start pimping for you?”
“No. No, nothing like that. I just want you and one of the other Enforcers to go next Saturday and see if you can get some of them to come along. I am getting sick of you lot, we need some girls.”
“Yes, Vicar. What was the other thing?”
“Oh, yes I almost forgot, is there any of them out there that seems to have a lot of friends. We need some more men, fast.”
“No problem, Vicar. I got just the guy for it. He is bringing a few over tomorrow night. Says they want some action. Vicar, what are we going to do about getting around? We lost both the vans.”
“Got any ideas?”
“Well, I say we go steal a couple. My old man has got a whole bunch of car painting stuff, I go nick it, grab a few vans and we’re back in business.”
“Bloody hell, you’re good! Got anyone that would be a good driver that is not an Enforcer or dead?”
“Yea, there’s a bloke just joined us, got quite a reputation in his younger years for nicking cars. Some said he got his kicks getting the pols to crash their patrol cars. Only problem is that I don’t trust him much. Probably do a runner as soon as he gets restless. The guy’s been in about five gangs since he was a lad. Every time he gets bored he moves on, a real trill junkie. Likes telling people he’s got five gangs after him, a bit to keen to brag if you ask me.”
As Dirk was telling this a light went on in Jervis’ head, “Sounds perfect.”
“Is this guy fairly bright?”
“He’s got a lot of nouse but not that much common sense. He’d do anything for a dare or a thrill. I am going to have an Enforcer on his arse all the bloody time. I half a mind to tell him to piss off when he come tomorrow.”
“No, no don’t do that! He’s perfect!”
“What?”
“I have a job for him to do. If he gets us a couple of vans tell him that I personally have something for him. Tell him it’s real dangerous, a real suicide mission.”
“Fucking hell, he’ll go for that, no worries.”
“The only bad news is that you are going to have to baby sit him most of the way, make sure he gets to where he is suppose to…” Jervis saw Dirk look a bit disappointed by the news.
“Anything you say Vicar.”
“Don’t worry. When it all goes down, you’ll be far enough away.”
“How far?”
“Oh, about two miles,” Jervis when he said this. Dirk caught on in a few seconds and nodded yes.
“Dirk, I’ll see you tomorrow, we’ll talk later about Saturday.” Dirk taking his cue, left the room and went off downstairs.
“This one is going to work a charm.”
Several miles away, two men were covered with grease working on the rear-end of large flat bed truck. The bed had been removed, one holds a large piece of metal while the other welds it into a place.
“Just three more of these to go!”
“Yea, Jervis’ll kill us if we’re not finished with this on time. Have you got Mel coming into to tweak the engine and install the extra electrics Jervis’ wanted.”
“Wonder what the hell he wants all this shit for anyway?”
“I don’t care and I won’t ask.”
“Yea, I know, I know.”
I think this may be for some smuggling, those huge oil tanks on either side of the cab could take this thing from here to China and back, no refuelling.”
“Yea and Jervis wants us to put in four more, back here one we’re done with this!...So we better stop yapping and start working.”
“Bollocks, I’m going home at midnight ,one way or the other.”
“Like fuck you are!”
“You’re not going to stop me!”
“Oh, shut up and let’s get this done, I am sick of this shit, anyway.”
The phone rang, “Bugger.”
The taller of the two men picked it up. “Yea.”
“This is Jervis, how is it coming along?”
“Uh, fine ‘till you bloody called and stopped me working!”
“Will it be ready in time?”
“Yea, Mel’ll be coming in two days time to start on the electrics you asked for. Why is that bastard being so bloody secretive anyway? Says we can’t watch him or be here or nothing.”
“Mel is a good man, but a bit paranoid.” Jervis was glad Mel was doing as he was told, the fewer people who knew about the truck the better.
“I’ll say, if you ask me he is as mad as a bloody march hare! Seems to like you though.”
“Mel and I go way back. Look , I’d better let you get back to work.”
“I send a man round a week Friday, better be ready or he will not be a happy man. I’ll wire you the money once he is on his way back here.”
“I thought we agreed, cash on delivery!”
“Calm down, will you. I don’t want him carrying all that money in a suitcase in the shit neighbourhood you’re in.”
The mechanic reluctantly agreed. “You double-cross me, I’ll send my brother and his mates after you. And it won’t matter if you’re a Vicar or a bloody Saint!”
Jervis hung up, unwilling to respond. “Yea, he and whose bloody army!” Jervis mused to himself. With that, he went to bed, alone.

Chapter 20

Jess was the first awake, unable to sleep in the morning in such posh house. She was half-tempted to swipe a few things that were temptingly here and there. “I ‘d better not or that woman’ll kill me. Uh, and she has the gun to hand as well.” She sat in the kitchen sipping a coffee served up by the automatic maker.
“Ah, you’re up!” TM said as she saw Jess sitting in the kitchen sipping her coffee. TM was lucky that she was not now wearing the contents of the cup, as she thoroughly startled the young girl.
“Uh. Oh ,sorry, I couldn’t sleep…I helped myself to coffee…er I’m sorry.”
“No, no that’s perfectly alright. I’m not one to deny anyone her morning coffee. I’m useless without it.”
Jess was surprised by TM’s change of mood. When TM went to bed the previous night, Jess still felt her suspicion.
“You were warm enough last night? I forgot whether or not I put extra blankets out for you. This place can be a bit draughty at times.”
“No, I was fine. The bed was almost too soft after what I’m used to sleeping on.”
“Oh, I never thought of that, I could have put you on the camp bed.” TM spoke quickly trying to make a bit of a joke and trying to dissipate her own embarrassment in recalling Jess’ circumstances of only a day before.
“It took me a few minutes to get used to, but I was so knackered last night, a bed of nails would’ve been fine.
“I’m sorry that I was so hard on you last night. I’m afraid I’ve an awful affliction when it comes to guns. You see, my father was shot and mortally injured by terrorists, several years ago. Gunned down like a rabid dog in front of my eyes.”
Jess thinking of Edgar’s murder winced, “It must have be awful.”
“Before the Union, my father was Under-secretary for Northern Ireland. We were told it would be safe to go there, but it was not. My father was very fond of the place despite having been shot at and bombed twice in his tenure. He wanted to see the area again before he died, to visit old friends, to see the sights. He believed the Union… that the troubles were over. We went with no protection, no armoured car, and only a bodyguard/driver.”
“Why was he killed then if it was all over.”
“The IRA, it seems, are like an elephant. They never forget. Years ago, my father helped to direct a major crackdown on terrorists in the province. Many IRA members were killed and injured. Someone found out about our trip and that was that. I even saw the man who killed him, looked him straight in the eyes as he pointed his gun at me. I swear I could see the bullet in the barrel. Since then, I have loathed guns of any kind.”
Jess blurted it out, unconsciously, “I know what you mean, I saw a man shot, it was awful.” Jess could not hold back the tears anymore, she put her head down on the table and began to weep.
TM leapt from her seat to comfort the young girl. Putting her hand on the girl’s head and patting. “There, there is alright. You’re away from all that now. Did you know the person who was killed?”
“No, not really. He’s just someone I saw a lot. I can’t get the look on his face out of my head. It’s awful.”
It took Jess and by then TM, too almost an hour to recover. Jess managed to stop crying by telling TM about Jervis and her time with him. It made her feel better but almost made TM ill.
Finally, Clive and Andrew managed to get down to breakfast, unaware of the drama that was unfolding in the kitchen.
“Good morning everyone. I hope you slept well,” said Andrew before kissing his wife. “What’s for breakfast? I bet Clive and the young lady are starving.” Andrew finally caught a glimpse of his wife’s full face and realised immediately that she had been crying.
TM , to explain if obliquely her teary condition said,”Jess has been telling me about her ordeal. It is really awful. She’s very lucky to out of there and in one piece. That Jervis character sounds like a monster. I hope that pols get him…and quickly.”
Andrew was just starting to get an idea of what his wife might be talking about, “Now come on ,TM, lets have breakfast in peace, there is plenty of time for that later. We need to figure out what we can do to help Jess…”
“You’re right Andrew, we’ll save that for till after breakfast, we all need a full stomach to think on,” TM looked at Andrew making sure he got the point.
Clive, Andrew and Jess all volunteered to help with breakfast. They were all, politely, refused. For the first time in an age, TM made a full English breakfast, complete with illegal black pudding. There was nothing left by the end.
Before any debate could begin Andrew and Clive, leapt up to wash the dishes leaving TM and Jess to finish their coffee.
“Andrew, don’t we know someone in Surrey that runs a school for girls?”
“Yes, TM, but that school is tens of thousands a year, Jess can’t afford that!”
“Andrew, schools like hers, have bursaries for disadvantaged girls like Jess. I know Deliath Throlsup can find room for this poor unfortunate girl.”
“Wait, wait a minute, you are not seriously suggesting I am going to go to some posh school in Surrey.” Jess was starting to panic at this show of well meaning solicitude for her long term well being. “I have survived this long on my own. I don’t want any handouts.”
“Don’t be like that, they are only trying to help!” Clive embarrassed once again by his young companion.
Andrew spoke up in defence of Jess, just in time. “Look, everyone calm down. We do not even know whether there is a place for her to go to with MS Throlsup.”
Jess realising that she was endanger of causing another row said, “Look, I know you’re only trying to help and all that…but I’ll be fine. I’ve been too much of a pain already. I’ll go change into my old things and get out of your way.”
“Nonsense! You may stay here as long as you like. You can keep those clothes you have on. My son outgrew them a long time ago. I am going to see if there is anything else you can use in my son’s closet. He has an old sport bag you can use to carry your things in.”
“Thank you Mrs…TM, I really must be going, I don’t want to cause you any more trouble…” As if to make her case even more clear. “Jervis and his thugs may come after me and there is no need for you to get involved as well.”
“Oh, bugger, she is has a point. Oh, God, I hope no one knows where we are…that lot is pretty brutal… I am really sorry, I didn’t think.”
“Clive, relax, if they knew you were here they would have come for you by now. I, we, knew what we were doing last night. It was patently obvious from the condition you were in last night that you were in deep trouble. We’ll be alright, we have some tough friends as well.” Andrew immediately thought of Michaela. Another thought occurred to him soon thereafter, “bugger I have no way of getting in touch with her. I wonder if David still goes to the Red Dragon?”
“I hope you’re right I would hate for either of you to get hurt, because of my actions. I should be leaving as well I suppose.”
TM interjected her voice booming with sheer force, “I’ll have none of that, from either of you. I accepted both of you in my house last night. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like, and you needn’t worry. We can arm ourselves if we have to!”
Jess and then Andrew looked shocked at TM’s outburst.
“After all, we have at least one gun already.” Now looking directly at Andrew, “and I willing to bet that we have a least one more somewhere in the loft in Andrew’s old things.”
“I think I kept that shotgun of mine, although I have no idea where I hid it.”
“Aha! I knew you would not get rid of your entire collection of hunting guns, when I told you to. You’re nicked, sunshine.”
“Uh, TM, dear, it was my favourite, the Asprey over and under is priceless and the Union were giving nothing remotely near its value in trade-in.”
“Andrew, every one of your guns was worth more than twice the pathetic trade-in compensation.”
“Twice, that gun us worth ten times, the trade-in value. That gun is worth more than my first three cars…put together!”
TM noticed the worried look on Jess’ face and decided to try to lighten the mood. “Maybe we should explain to Jess what we are arguing about. I think she is probably too young to remember. Andrew instead of digging yourself a deep hole, explain it to her.”
“But TM…”
“Andrew I know we agreed you would turn them all in, but for once I am glad your can be so stubborn. Now,while I go to the loo, tell Jess about the gun recall.”
“Yes, dear.”
Andrew poured them all some more coffee and nicked the last piece of bread, that lay forgotten in the toaster.
“Jess, basically what TM and I were talking about was a gun amnesty about ten years ago. Someone in the Union decided that there were too many shotguns and rifles in circulation. They thought it was a good idea to take the guns away from less we hurt ourselves or go nuts and kill others. The fact that even after the UK’s ban on automatic weapons and handguns, Yardies were mowing each other down left and right did not seem to bother them. The Minister of Health at that time, was a great socialist and hated the idea of the middle and upper classes going out hunting poor defenceless wild boar and deer with guns. He was the same type that managed to get fox hunting banned in the 90’s.
The Union offered everyone turning in a gun, the equivalent of 1000. Considering a good hand-made hunting gun cost a minimum of 5000, it was hardly fair. The plan was not a success.
All the gun-makers went underground and continued. The price just shot up.”
By the time TM returned to the kitchen, Andrew had finished his quick explanation. “Andrew, why don’t you go dig that gun out so we have it at hand. I’m sure Clive would like to see it. If I remember correctly, it was a truly beautiful gun. I knew you’d never have the heart to sell it.”
Andrew left the table and headed to the top of the house, before departing he uttered a clich, “I may be some time.”
TM turned to Clive, and spoke calmly, ” so Clive, how long will you be staying? You’re welcome to stay as long as you like, as is Jess.”
Jess was not very pleased with what she about to say but knew it had to be done. “Look, you have been very nice to me and all that but I think it is time I got going.” She now began to lie, something that for once in her life, made her very uncomfortable. “I have some relatives in Newquay, I think I will head there.”
“Jess, are you sure. You can call them from here first.”
“No, no, I am sure there will be no problem, my…aunt told me that I could come whenever I liked. It will be fine.”
“Do you have enough money for the train?”
“Uh, no I was planning to hitchhike down there. There are always surfers heading down, I’ll I have to do is go hang around one of the surf shops in London and I will get a ride.”
“Nonsense. Look how much is a ticket, we buy you one.”
“I uh…have no idea. I was thinking of going back to the shelter to collect some things first, probably go in a few days.”
“Oh, I suppose you probably should, they are probably worried about you.”
“Hah, fact fucking chance of that, there all probably happy to get rid of me!” Jess said to herself. “You don’t really have to give me any money, you have done enough already.”
“I tell you what I will do, I have a Eurodex card, somewhere around, I will put some money on that and you can use that. I won’t tell you how much I put on it. It’ll be a surprise.”
“Eurodex?”
“Oh, sorry. Eurodex is a plastic card which you store money sort of the opposite of a credit card. You can use it all over.”
“What if I need a little cash for something?”
“Oh, it works in every hole-in-the-wall bank machine. We’ll have to change the password to something you will remember, still that will be no problem.” To herself,” Now where did I put that little thingy to put money on it?”
“Won’t you need it?”
“No, I don’t use it much anymore, Andrew and I don’t need much cash anymore and when we do we just get it out of a hole-in-the-wall with our credit cards. I don’t use cash. Anyway, everyone from the local Paky to green grocer allow accounts these days, just settle up at the end of the month. Finally paper-free commerce, after 40 years of hearing about it!”...”Ah, here it is, now where do I plug it in?”
Andrew rounded the corner with a large black box. “TM, I found it!, and someone has been polishing it, the thing looks as if it were new.”
“Andrew, never mind about that for the moment please. Tell me how to hook this silly little device up to the vid so I can download some money for Jess, here.”
“There is a little socket on the bottom left side of the screen casing. I think that one works via infra-red doesn’t it?”
“That would explain why I can’t find the cord for it.”
Andrew and TM went off to the lounge and the main screen to download the money. TM popped her head around the kitchen door again. “Jess, what password do you want?”
“Uh, I dunno…”
“It has to be something you won’t forget. It you try too many times without the right password the machine swallows the card.”
Jess in desperation blurted out her first idea. “Jervis!”
“Are you sure?” TM looked at Jess in amazement.
“Well, there is no way I going to forget him, is there?”
“I suppose not, but surely…”
“TM I have got the thing hooked up, what password do you want?” Andrew shouted down the stairs.
“Coming dear!”
Clive and Jess sat facing each other in complete silence. Clive desperately wanted to look at the gun, but thought it best to wait for Andrew.
TM rushed into the lounge as the vid asked for a new password the second time.
“TM what is it going to be?”
“Jervis.”
“Jervis? Isn’t that the name of the pig she just ran way from?”
“Yes. It surprised me as well. She then made the point that it is a name she would be not soon forgetting.”
“Please enter new password…”
TM turned to the screen. “Jervis!”
“Please repeat the password for verification.”
“Jervis.”
“Your password is “Jervis” spelled J.E.R.V.I.S. Is this correct?”
“Yes.”
“Transaction finished thank you for using Eurodex.”
“Andrew we haven’t put any money on it.”
“Yes we have, I already did it while I was waiting for you.”
“How much did you give her?”
“That’s between me and the vid.”
TM smiled and kissed her husband. “Oh, alright. I would probably have taken an hour to figure out what I wanted to give her. You weren’t too stingy were you?”
“Moi, stingy. You would approve.”
Downstairs,Clive broke the ice. “Jess, I meant to thank you last night for getting me out of there.”
“No problem. I needed out anyway. You just happened to come along for the ride.”
“And what a ride!”
“Yea. Look I am going up to my room to pack up my things and see what TM has given me.”
“Yes, of course. You know, you really do not have to go so soon.”
“Yea, I know. It’s better this way, for all of us.”
She got up to walk out of the room as was stopped short at Clive’s question.
“You are not going back to Jervis are you?”
“What the hell are talking about?”
“Sorry. I just wondered. You said you actually liked him at the beginning. I thought…well…maybe…you thought you were teaching him a lesson or something…”
“Don’t be so fucking stupid! Of course, I’m not that dumb. He would kill me for leaving him.”
“You are not going to Newquay, either, are you?”
“Maybe, maybe not…Why the sodding fifthth degree anyway, you aren’t my father and I am not one of your followers? Leave me alone.”
“Sorry. I just am worried for your safety.”
“Look, old man. I have survived this long, I don’t need your help. Aren’t you the guy whose whole lot just got killed in a surprise attack. Clive, you’re fucking bad news. You should get the hell out of here as well and let these nice people get back to their real lives.”
Jess’ words tore into Clive like the bullets that cut down his men. He winced in pain. So taken aback, he could not respond. “Bitch! There was no need for that!”
Jess walked up the stairs to her room, not realising till she looked at the clothes lying on the bed next to a relatively new kit bag what she had said.
Clive sat downstairs with his head on his arms, reliving the past 36 hours of his life. Scenes of the van chase, were abruptly halted by TM’s warm hand.
“Clive, are you alright? Is something wrong?”
“No…I was just thinking about all that’s happened.”
“Clive, here have some more coffee.”
“No, no she’s right, I’m bad news. I must leave before I cause you any more trouble than I already have…”
“Clive! We have been through this once before, do not hurry away on our account. You have been through so tough times lately. Rest a bit, let things calm down. It’s not as if the pols were after you. They have no idea what you look like.”
“It is not the pols I am worried about!”
“Clive, if Jervis were going to come after you, he would have done it by now. Where did you ditch the van anyway?”
“Ealing Broadway.”
“You’re in Fulham now, not even close.”
“Don’t worry, Andrew has an idea for you anyway.”
Andrew reappeared andd seeing his old gun box, he carefully picked it up to examine it. He opened the box and picked up the gun with a velvet cloth stored into the top of the box. Andrew gently placed the gun on the table in front of Clive. “Isn’t it a work of art?”
“Andrew, enough about your gun. There’s time for that later. Tell Clive about your idea for getting him set up.”
“Oh, yea, sorry. Do you remember the Red Dragon in Kennington?”
“Yea, we used to go there all the time. What happened to it?”
“Well, it’s still there, going strong, even managed to stay pretty much intact during the riot there a week or so ago.”
“Yea, I saw that on the vid. A pretty nasty, one. The inept pols even managed to shoot some little girl.”
“Rumour has it that was started when the pols were chasing some thugs who blew up a Union warehouse full of tech. I thought BASH got the blame for it.”
“Hell no. We hadnothing to do with it.”
“I keep forgetting, you are BASH.”
“Were, we ceased to exist after that nutter Jervis’ hits us hard, killed the best people, I had. I don’t even know the casualty count.”
TM interrupted her husband, “Ah, Andrew tell him your idea…Please”
Clive remembered Andrew always did have a way of wandering from the message, being interested in so many thing. Andrew picked up, “Oh yes…Well anyway the Red Dragon is still going and still run by Gwyn and Joe. I know for a fact the specialise in helping to sort regulars lives out when they hit on hard times or are in trouble. There are enough ex-military types there to ensure no one will dare touch you.”
“Clive they have a couple of room upstairs, reserved for “guests.””
“Yea, why don’t you give them a call. If they say they’ll take you, I’ll drive you down tomorrow. Save you taking public transport and getting spotted.”
“You sure? I mean, Jervis’ could be just biding his time and regrouping. They could hit you at any moment.”
“Look, Clive we’ll take that chance.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ll have a word with Joe and get someone to come keep an eye on the place, tonight. Insurance, if you like.”
“Sounds like a good idea to me. I’ll be out of your hair. It’ll be good to see Gwyn and Joe anyway, been a long time.”
“Um, excuse me, I’ll be going now. I have a few things to sort out first before I go to Devon.” Jess stood in the doorway, kit bag over her shoulder and her hair tied straight back pulled through the back of a baseball cap.
“You sure you don’t want to stay one more night?”
“No, no I need to move on. Thanks for everything. You’ve really been kind. The world needs more people like you.”
“Look, if I can’t make you stay at least I can give you this.” TM handed a piece of paper to Jess. Inside it was the Eurodex card.
“Thanks for the card.” Lying again, but partly just polite, “I hope you didn’t give me too much.”
“If you get into trouble of any kind give us a call on the number on the paper. We have friends who can help you out of any jam.”
“Thank you.” Jess headed down the stairs, TM quickly followed her, before they both stopped at the closed door.
“Jess.”
“Yes.” Jess turned towardTM, a hint of a tear in one eye.
“Take care.” TM hugged the young girl.
Jess turned and opened the door, without responding. She stepped out and down the path closing the little suburban iron gate behind her very softly.
TM closed the door behind Jess and walked slowly up the stairs to her waiting husband and friend who werre still examining the old gun before them.
“Clive, what a waste of a young life.”
Clive looked at his host who was now as misty eyed as her departed guest. Andrew jumped up from his seat to comfort his wife.
“It’s not all wasted yet. We’ve done what we can. Now, we must let her find her own way.”
“I know, I know.”
It was several long hours before they would hear from Jess again. She was not far away. Jess found herself walking into a coffee-house on the Fulham Road filled with young adults sipping their coffee and chatting away. Jess was especially surprised to be referred to as “madam” by the waiter.
Jess was shown to a small table in the back near a pay phone. For some reason she did not know she took the seat facing the phone before being asked her order and whether or not she wanted a paper or magazine.
“A coffee, black and Danish.”
“Yes of course madam. What kind of coffee would you like? Colombian, Honduran, Greek, Kenyan, or Blue Mountain. Would you like espresso, cappuccino, latte, or cafe au lait.”
“Just a simple black coffee.”
“Have an espresso then.”
“Yes, alright.”
“Long or short?”
“What?”
Pierre, in turn, with his fingers shows two sizes, one slightly larger than the other.
“The second one.”
“For Danish we have apple, pecan, chocolate, pear, strawberry, apple & strawberry, apple & pear…”
Jess by this point was getting annoyed and decided to pass on the paper. “Apple.”
“Thank you madam,” said the prissy Pierre as he shook his head as he headed for the counter.
Relieved to have finished this embarrassing encounter with the waiter, Jess sat waiting for her coffee and staring at the phone. After a few minutes of concentration to transport herself back to previous days, she began to recall snatches of events she felt she needed to review. Edgar’s death, replayed itself several times. She also recalled the last time she talked to Jervis’ after sex. There was something she wanted to remember but could remember what…Jess replayed the scene over and over in her head. She could smell his sweat, his greasy hair, the cheap cologne he wore but not what he said. Every feeling was there, even the pleasant ones but nothing of what he told her.
The waiter brought her the coffee and Danish, rousing her from her memory search. Impossible to know how long he had taken about it.
“Will madam be settling the bill now or keeping it open?”
“Open, thank you.”
“Very well,” Pierre sighed at the thought of this “peasant” spending any more than the necessary time in his cafe. As she was relatively well dressed and not a nuisance, he could hardly make her leave, and she was a paying customer, as he sought to remind himself.
Jess meanwhile returned to her thoughts, even more convinced than before that she must remember something importnat that Jervis had told her.