Read Online To Fight For by Phillip Hunter - Free Book Online

it. I saw the blackjacks they held, the Taser. I said, ‘Fuck, not again.’

NINE
    They hauled me up into a sitting position, one on each arm. I couldn’t see them and I tried to throw them off, but my arms were tight behind my back. I could feel the plastic ties binding my wrists together, cutting into my flesh. I pulled at them anyway, knowing it wouldn’t do any good.
    Then a man came before me. I looked up and cursed.
    He was in his fifties, dressed in a badly fitting suit and white shirt. There was a tie around his neck, but it was pulled down so far it didn’t serve any function. He wiped a hand over his grey moustache. His name was Compton and he was the fucking law.
    â€˜Hello, Joe,’ Compton said. ‘We must stop meeting like this.’
    I told him to fuck off. He laughed.
    The other two moved over to stand either side of their boss. I knew them too. Bradley was tall, white and slim with thinning hair and puffy eyes. Hayward was the youngest. He was black, too good-looking for this life. If he’d taken the time to study the other two, he would’ve seen the haggard look he was bound for.
    â€˜You’re getting sloppy, Joe,’ Compton said.
    Bradley laughed at that for some reason.
    â€˜Yeah,’ I said.
    â€˜You’re lucky.’
    I didn’t feel lucky.
    â€˜Very,’ Hayward said.
    â€˜Am I?’
    â€˜We coulda been anyone,’ Bradley said. ‘We coulda been part of Glazer’s crew, or Dunham’s. What do you think would’ve happened to you if that’d been the case?’
    I knew the answer to that.
    â€˜They’d work you over, Joe. They’d make you hurt.’
    They were law, this lot, but they weren’t dangerous – annoying, yes, but not dangerous. They had a habit of turning up when I didn’t have any means of escape.
    They were investigating corruption in the force, and had been given the job of targeting vice corruption, especially Glazer. That put us on the same side – for the time being. Well, sort of. Of course, that didn’t mean I trusted them. They were still fucking law.
    Bradley pulled a pack of smokes from his jacket pocket and lit one. Hayward glanced at him and moved away. One thing was for damned sure; they were in control here, far too casual.
    I shook my head, trying to get it clear.
    â€˜Punchy,’ Bradley said.
    Hayward laughed at that. They were having fun.
    â€˜Do you lot do everything together?’ I said.
    â€˜Only where you’re concerned, Joe,’ Compton said. ‘Well, you and Glazer.’
    â€˜You were watching the block,’ I said.
    â€˜Not exactly. We have friends in the local nick. Someone saw you enter the building. They called it in, and the locals called me.’
    I tried to stand again, made it up to a crouching position before Bradley put the boot in. I went sprawling backwards. I would’ve ripped his head off if I could’ve. Instead, I cursed myself.
    I pushed myself back into a sitting position then managed to put one foot down, the other leg bent so that it looked like I was being knighted. That wasn’t what I had in mind, though, and they knew it. They stepped back enough that if I’d tried to charge them they would’ve been able to move aside.
    â€˜What’re you doing here, Joe?’ Compton said.
    I looked up at him.
    â€˜I was just passing,’ I said. ‘I heard a cry for help so I came in.’
    Compton smiled.
    â€˜There’s a bloke downstairs. We found him tied up and unconscious.’
    â€˜Yeah?’
    He sighed and shook his head.
    â€˜We know you want Glazer. That’s why you came here, isn’t it? Anyway, we know everything. A word from us and you’ll do thirty years. You know who we are, Joe. You know we’ve got clout.’
    â€˜I’m guilty till proved guilty,’ I said. ‘Is that it?’
    â€˜That’s it in a nutshell, mate,’ Bradley