Read Online The Crooked Beat by Nick Quantrill - Free Book Online

my car. Connor had a coffee ready for me by the time I arrived. We went through to the kitchen.
    ‘I’ve had a chat with your dad,’ I told him. He wasn’t getting off that easily. I said nothing, hoping Connor found the silence uncomfortable. A twinge of guilt hit me, but the time for being Uncle Joe had passed. This was man-to-man. Connor walked over to the patio doors. He was obviously struggling with whatever he had to say. I sipped my drink.
    He spoke first. ‘I had a word with Milo earlier.’
    ‘Good.’ I put the drink down and gave him my full attention.
    ‘I told him how badly things had turned out.’
    ‘What did he say?’
    Connor shrugged. ‘You know what he’s like.’
    I did. ‘He’s a dickhead.’
    ‘Dad doesn’t like him.’
    ‘You can’t really blame him for that.’
    ‘I’m going to prove him wrong, though. We’re going to get our club night off the ground. We’re not messing about. We’ve got it all planned out. The theme’s sorted and we know where we want to hold it. And if we can do that, we can go out around the country with it. The world, really. That’s the brilliant thing with club nights. With the Internet you can reach out.’
    I listened as Connor laid out his master plan to me. It was detailed and sounded convincing. I understood his passion and certainty. I was certain I’d play for Rovers and my country when I was his age. I’d win every honour there was to win and then I’d coach the club to even more success. You don’t think about failing when you’re young. I knew I had felt indestructible. It’s only later you realise how fallible you are. Real life hadn’t touched Connor yet. He didn’t know illness, disappointment or loss. Bad things had threatened to make themselves known, but I could play my part in holding them at bay. And I would.
    Connor spoke. ‘I told Milo I had to know who he sold the cigarettes to.’
    I was pleased he was making an effort. I listened as Connor told me the name of some brothers in Goole. The name meant nothing to me, but I would find out. They had a shop selling second hand furniture. It was worth a shot. They wouldn’t be difficult to find. ‘How much did you sell the cigarettes for?’ I asked him.
    He turned away from the patio doors. ‘A thousand pounds.’
    I asked him to repeat that. I couldn’t believe it, even if it didn’t really matter. ‘What’s happened to the money?’
    ‘Milo’s spent it on some promo stuff we needed doing.’
    I shook my head. I hoped it was worth it.
    ‘How’s Dad doing?’ he asked me.
    ‘He’ll be pleased when all this is over.’
    ‘Can you sort it out?’
    I drained my coffee and told him that was my plan. There was nothing more to be done today. I was heading home.
     

Hull, May 1980
     
    Holborn shook his head and pulled out into the traffic. ‘Can you believe some sad cunts went to watch City yesterday?’
    Ridley wound down the car window and threw his cigarette butt out. ‘Takes all sorts, I suppose.’
    ‘It’s a filthy fucking habit.’
    ‘The smoking or the football?’
    Holborn laughed and overtook a slow moving car. There was little traffic on the road. It was the day after the Challenge Cup Final. Hull KR v Hull FC at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 spectators. It was the biggest day in the rugby league calendar and Hull had been on show to the country. Hull KR in red and white at one end of the stadium, Hull FC in black and white at the other. Split down the middle, just like in the city.
    ‘One of the lads at the station told me that someone left a banner on the side of the Humber Bridge. Last one to leave the city should turn the lights out. Can you believe that?’ Holborn laughed. ‘Cheeky cunts. Tell you something, though. Yesterday was the best day to get some fanny in this town. The field was clear.’
    They continued past the city centre and headed east in the direction of Holderness Road.
    ‘Where are we going?’ Ridley asked.
    ‘Just a couple of