Free Falling by Gordon Brown Page B

the roof?’ ‘I’m not sure they did throw him off, after all wasn’t
one trying to save him’ ‘Explain?’ I explain about Leonard. ‘Who is
Leonard?’   I tell him.
    The
questioning runs on and I stop it to ask if Charlie is ok and the policeman
asks the paramedic. The paramedic says he’ll live. It’s all the answer I get
before the three policemen get together for a chat.
    I
wander over to Charlie. He is in some state. His face is bruised and his nose
is at right angles to where it should be. His left ear is caked in blood. His
right eye is closed but his left eye is open and active. He spots me and he
tries to say something. The paramedic tells him to lie quiet but he curls the
right finger of his right hand in a beckoning motion and I close in. The
paramedic is loading up a syringe. No doubt something to send Charlie to
dreamland for a bit.
    Charlie
reaches up and grabs the paramedic’s hand to stop him and beckons me again. I
look at him and then I look at the paramedic and the paramedic leans back to
let me talk to Charlie.
    Charlie
whispers. So low I struggle to hear him and low enough that no-one else can
eavesdrop.
    ‘Leonard.
The gorillas said I was Leonard.’
    I nod.
No understanding but I nod.
    ‘Not me
that was the thievin’ prick. Leonard.’
    I am
clueless.
    ‘Behind
my filing cabinet. Take the parcel and hide it.’
    I am
about to ask what is going on but then Charlie moans big time and the paramedic
pushes me aside and unloads the syringe into Charlie’s arm and he is gone.
    I’m
confused.
    The
first policeman approaches me again and tells me that I need to come down to
the station. I ask if that is really necessary but it is clear it is. We head
for the exit just as two more paramedics appear with a stretcher. Right behind
them is Tina. She looks in a state of total bewilderment. She rushes to me and
wraps herself around me like a long lost brother. She babbles about the man
getting thrown off the roof and me being pushed. A bad push. Tina can do
shorthand of the mouth like no-one I know.
    The
policeman cottons onto to what she is trying to say and gently pulls her away
and starts to question her about the incident. I hear her side of the story and
I’m still not sure if Charlie jumped or was thrown.
    I have
time to think about what Charlie has just said to me. It makes no sense but
then again the whole shooting match makes no sense. One thing does make sense
is that the two men in suits clearly thought Charlie was Leonard.
    ‘Not
me that was the thievin’ prick. Leonard.’
    That’s
what Charlie had said and it sounded like Leonard Thwaite had stolen something.
Maybe the gorillas were here to repay Leonard’s thievery. Maybe they thought
Charlie had something to do with it.
    To say
I’m confused isn’t even half the story.
    ‘Behind
my filing cabinet. Take the parcel and hide it.’
    Could
this be what Leonard stole? Maybe? Then why would Charlie have it? I’m still
confused.com. Whatever the story the parcel must be important. Charlie was
clearly in pain but he blank refused the jab until he passed on the
information. The policeman is finished with Tina and I ask him if I can have
two minutes with my girlfriend. He agrees and I reassure her that I am ok. I
then tell her what has happened and what Charlie said.
    ‘Do me
a favour,’ I say. ‘Go down to Cheedle, Baker and Nudge. Charlie works there.
Susie will be on reception. Tell her George sent you to pick something up for
Charlie Wiggs. Me and her are good so she’ll let you in his office. See if
there is a parcel behind Charlie’s filing cabinet. If there is can you grab it
and hang on to it. Can you do that as soon as possible?’
    She’s not keen. Not keen at all.
I don’t blame her. Tina’s not stupid. She tells me to forget it and tells me to
say to the police about the parcel. But Charlie is one of the good guys in
life. One of the guys that didn’t take the piss out of my cupboard
indiscretion. Good guys are