Read Online The Front by Mandasue Heller - Free Book Online Page A

it,’ Mal said, proud that at least he’d got that right.
            ‘Where?’
            ‘In the bushes, at the . . . shops . . .’ His voice trailed off as the implication hit him.
            ‘Oh, Mal! You didn’t!’ Suzie groaned. Even she knew that was stupid.
            Ignoring her, Mal turned to Ged. ‘What if they find it? What’ll happen?’
            Ged felt the heavy burden of responsibility passing onto his head. Sighing, he rubbed a weary hand across his eyes before answering. ‘They’ll send it to forensics, and with your record they’ll trace it straight back to you. Shit, man!’ he hissed in exasperation. ‘What did you leave it there for?’
            ‘I don’t know,’ Mal moaned, slapping his forehead. ‘All I could think was not to get caught with it on me. What am I gonna do?’
            ‘Someone will have to go back for it,’ suggested Sam. ‘We can’t afford to just leave it there. They’re bound to find it.’
            Ged sat back and folded his arms. ‘Well, you can count me out.’
            ‘Thanks for nothing!’ said Mal, his face falling even further. ‘At least if you got pulled with it there wouldn’t be any of your hair or nothing on it. You could easy say you’d just picked it up. But me? I’d be fucked, wouldn’t I? Well, thanks, mate!’
            ‘You shouldn’t have been so bloody careless!’ Ged retorted angrily. ‘Why the hell should I put my neck on the line for you?’
            ‘I’d do it for you!’
            ‘Yeah, right!’
            ‘Do you want me to go?’ Suzie offered, her voice little more than a whisper.
            Mal’s eyes sparked with sudden hope. ‘Yeah, doll! Yeah! You go. It’s in the bushes near the road, you’ll find it dead easy!’ Raising himself onto his knees, he gave her a tender look. ‘God, you’re a knockout. What would I do without you?’
            Suzie smiled faintly. Standing up, she reached for a cigarette with shaking hands.
            ‘You’re not seriously going to let her go, are you?’ demanded Ged. ‘The place is probably crawling with filth by now.’
            Mal waved a dismissive hand. ‘It’ll be cool, man. I chucked it close to the road. They’ll be in the yard if they are there. They wouldn’t even see her going past the front way.’
            Ged shook his head in disbelief. ‘You selfish bastard! They’ll be watching everything – the road, the shops, the flats. They’d see her and you know it. But you don’t give a damn, do you? As long as you’re all right.’
            ‘Don’t give me that shit,’ Mal scowled. ‘You just want me to go and get myself busted, don’t you?’
            Sensing a fight brewing and knowing she’d somehow get the blame, Suzie said, ‘It’s all right, I’ll go. I don’t mind. I’ll just walk past and see what’s going on, and if it’s all clear, I’ll go and find the mask. Just give me a minute to get dressed.’
            Mal caught her hand as she passed, squeezing it tightly. ‘You’ll be fine, doll.’
            ‘Yeah.’ With another faint smile, she walked towards the door. Then, remembering Wendy’s call, she turned to Sam. ‘Oh, by the way, Sam. Wendy rang just before you got back and said to tell you to go straight home.’
            Sam’s face fell. ‘Shit! I can’t go home while all this is going on.’ He turned to Ged and Mal helplessly. ‘What should I do?’
            ‘Better ring her.’ Mal gestured to the phone with a wave, then turned his attention back to the money. Now he was in the clear he could afford to luxuriate in the moment. Picking up a thick bundle he sniffed it, closing his eyes in ecstasy.
            Sam stared blankly at the floor. He didn’t want to talk to Wendy. They’d only argue and he didn’t think he could cope with any more aggro. But it’d be worse if he didn’t call her. Reluctantly, he