Free Trauma by Ken McClure Page B

and said, 'You’re looking worried Jean.'
    'I'm thinking about Joe and what he'll do when he finds out she's been out with the bikers again.'
    'He's not usually a violent man is he?' asked Lafferty.
    Jean's face softened. She said, 'Far from it but that young madam can push him to the limit. She did that they other night there.'
    'I saw the mark,' said Lafferty.
    Jean was embarrassed. 'She deserved it. After what she said to him - called him a drunken sot to his face.'
    Lafferty stayed silent, making Jean feel obliged to continue.
    'Joe has never had the best of luck. He's been unemployed for longer than I care to remember and maybe he does enjoy a drink or two but basically he's a good man.'
    'Do you think I should have a word with him?' asked Lafferty.
    Jean considered for a moment then said, 'No, I don't think so. But I'll tell him you called and spoke to Mary.' Her eye caught Lafferty's and they both understood. Lafferty said a short prayer and then got up to go.
    'Thank you for coming.'
    'See you Sunday.'
    Lafferty walked back along the walkway and paused at the same spot as before to watch the lights of the traffic on the bypass. 'Oh shit,' he murmured under his breath.
     
    * * * * *
     
    McKirrop swung his arms across his chest as he paced up and down on the towpath on a repetitive ten metre patrol. Ostensibly he was keeping warm - he kept remarking to Bella how cold it was - but nerves were playing a large part in his discomfort, not to mention the fact that they were both dying for a drink.
    'For God's sake, stand still!' snapped Bella.
    McKirrop swung his arms all the harder and complained, 'Where the hell is he?'
    'We've only been here five minutes!' retorted Bella.
    'Seems like bloody hours.'
    Bella watched the pacing figure in the gloom and began to grow suspicious. 'Why are you so edgy?' she demanded. 'What are you really up to?'
    'I told you,' replied McKirrop. 'The bugger owes me money. Fifty quid.'
    'So why are you shitting your pants?'
    'I'm just cold damn it! Now give it a rest will you.'
    'Twenty quid for me, right?'
    'Twenty, right. We agreed all that,' snapped McKirrop. 'What are you going on about? We're a team aren't we?'
    'That's right, John boy,' said Bella quietly. 'But if you're holding out on me . . .'
    'Nobody's holding out on you for Christ's sake! Fuck! Where the hell is he?' McKirrop started pacing again but turned smartly when a voice from up on the bridge said, 'McKirrop?'
    McKirrop looked up and saw the dark silhouette above the parapet. His throat tightened. 'Have you got my money?' he croaked.
    'All in good time. Did you bring the card?'
    'In my pocket.'
    'Bring it up.'
    'You come down.'
    'What's all this about a card?' demanded Bella from the shadow of the wall beneath the parapet.
    'He just dropped his library card that's all,' said McKirrop dismissively, annoyed that Bella had opted for a speaking role.
    'Who's down there with you McKirrop?' asked the voice from above.
    'My friend Bella; come to see fair play,' replied McKirrop. 'She's here to see that you give me my money.'
    'I'm a witness,' crowed Bella. 'Give him the money you owe him.' McKirrop wished that Bella would just keep her mouth shut but had to concede that that was not Bella's style. The leopard wasn't going to change its spots.
    'I'm coming down,' said Sotillo's voice.
    McKirrop could feel his heart thumping in his chest. He was a few seconds away from getting his hands on five thousand pounds. Five thousand pounds! He could hear the scrabble of Sotillo's feet on the steep earth path that led down to the towpath. The sound of a man bringing him freedom. Come on Down! McKirrop desperately wanted to urinate. He pressed his hands into his crotch from inside the pockets of his great-coat and shrugged his shoulders up round his ears. He took a step backwards to allow Sotillo to descend the last few metres in a sideways crab-like run forced on him by the steepness of the path.
    'Where's the card?' asked Sotillo, straightening