too busy sitting on their arses watching Jeremy Kyle while waiting for their dole checks to clear. ”
He thought of his missus , who always kept their home lovely and clean. She would be there now, in bed. He couldn’t wait to be under the warm duvet and feel her snuggled up next to him, but he ha d to finish the job first. He looked over to Tommy next to him, who was tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.
“Where the fuck is he?” Carl asked .
Tommy sighed ; he was also fed up of waiting around. Just like his mate he wanted to get home to his bed. It had been a long day and he wanted a bit of shut eye .
“Fuck knows, mate. He may not even go straight home ; you know what h e’ s like . ”
He looked over to the house that they were watching ; it was the only one that looked half - decent. It was still rundown, and the garden was full of crap, but it had a big solid door on the front, not a typical white council one like the rest of them, and thick windows , which judging by the gleam had only recently been fitted . T he driveway was empty and all the lights were off, just the flicker of an alarm system flashing intermittently . It stood out because of the alarm system, made you wonder what would need prot ecting in a shithole like this. He obviously had someth ing of some value, Tommy thought. R ound here people had no call for security alarms; most would sooner put their last fiver on a few bottles of cheap cider rather than in their gas meters, let alone install an expensive alarm system.
Suddenly , they saw the bright headlights of a car coming towards them ; finally, it was him. They watched as the beamer drove right past them and turned slowly onto the driveway. Taking their chance the two men quickly grabbed their bats and made the ir way over to the car, quietly, undetected like the true pros that they were.
As the man got out of the car they saw the shock on his face at the sight in front of him, shock mixed with genuine fear. Who wouldn’t be scared? They were both over six feet tall, and armed with baseball bats. The worse thing was he knew them, and knew what they were both capable of.
Before he could even take in the scene before him, the man found himself lying on the floor, the bats raining blows down on him , over and over again. He didn’t beg or plead, he knew he deserved this, this was his lesson, he was well aware that it would come to this. Feeling blood pour down his face, and the sound of a bone crack above his stomach, he felt an almighty pain wash over him before he passed out.
A light came on in an upstairs window above them, the two men decided to make a fast exit. Jumping into their van they sped off, just in time to avoid the plump lady opening the front door and screaming hysterically at the site of her son ’ s broken blood - soaked body lying in a heap on the cold floor. People peered out of windows, having a good look, taking it all in so that they could have their own piece of gossip for the morning.
Tommy put his foot down ; the police would be called , and they needed to get themselves and the van out of sight. Carl made himself useful, picked up his mobile and tapp ing in a number .
“It’s done , ” he told his boss . “ T he smarmy little fucker has just considered himself told . ”
“ G ood , ” said Paul . “I’ll see that you both have a little extra in your wages . ”
Paul put down the phone. He had left it a few days after he had been told of Jay ’ s little side-line, and tonight it had been put to bed. It seemed Carl and Tommy had done well. From what he had just been told , Jay wouldn’t be working anywhere, anytime soon. He ’d got what he was owed , as far as Paul
Malorie Verdant
Gary Paulsen
Jonathan Maas
Missy Tippens, Jean C. Gordon, Patricia Johns
Heather Stone
Elizabeth J. Hauser
Holly Hart
T. L. Schaefer
Brad Whittington
Jennifer Armintrout