Free Fireproof by Gerard Brennan Page B

big gloves."
    She snorted and then lit a cigarette. She offered one to Mike who waved it away.
    "I'm trying to quit myself," she said. "It's not easy."
    "I'm sure it's not. What would you like to do?"
    "I'd love to get a pizza and a bottle of vodka and head back to your place."
    "That sounds okay to me. Get your coat."
    They drained their glasses and left the bar. There was a pizza place just across the street. On the way, three youths in baseball caps said hello to Mike. After they got their pizza, they walked up the road to an off licence that Mike hadn't pretended to rob, to buy a bottle of vodka. Two more groups of hoods acknowledged Mike on the way.
    "You're popular," Kylie said.
    "I do a lot of youth work."
    "My last boyfriend did a lot of youth work too. Every time there was a riot, he made sure all the kids had enough stones to throw at the cops."
    Mike thought about Paul Murphy. Stones weren't the only things he'd supplied kids with. He'd also sold Ecstasy to twelve-year-olds when he was strapped for cash. The square-headed hypocrite used to kneecap hoods for selling drugs on his street. The wanker.
    "Sounds like a real saint," Mike said.
    "No, a complete prick. I was afraid to leave him. He ran his last ex out of the city."
    "So how'd you get away from him?"
    "Some guy killed him a few weeks ago."
    "And you were devastated?"
    "Well, I was a wee bit shocked. I saw it happen and there was a lot of blood. But if I ever met that handsome fucker who did him in, I'd kiss the face off him."
    "Guess I'll have to do for now then."
    "I think you'll do just fine, Mike."
    Back at Mike's apartment they tucked into the bottle of vodka and wolfed down the pizza. Mike lifted the empty pizza box and put it next to the kitchen sink. When he turned back to the dining table Kylie was sitting on it in her unmatched bra and thong. She lifted the vodka bottle and poured it over her chest.
    "Fancy another drink, big lad?"
    Mike didn't need to be asked twice.
    ***
    Mike woke up the next morning with his head thumping and Kylie drooling on his chest. He didn't mind. They had enjoyed each other with drunken, lustful intensity into the wee, small hours. And he was happy to learn his actions in The Beehive hadn't traumatised her. Turned out to have been the opposite effect. She'd been liberated by the big fucker's untimely demise.
    He slid out of the bed, careful not to wake her, and went to the kitchen. As he waited for the kettle to boil, he went over the notes he had written in the pub the day before. It had come together quite well. After he had finished scripting the black mass he had written a short set of instructions for new devotees. He would give the handwritten text to Tony who would get it typed and bound as his first task as high priest. Tony could keep the handwritten text as a souvenir. If this whole thing took off, it might be worth a bit of cash in a few years.
    He thought about working on some new recruits, to get them in on time for the mass, but decided that he had a big enough night ahead of him without adding more work to the agenda. He made two cups of tea instead and went back into the bedroom to wake Kylie up. He'd let her have a cup of tea and ask her what she wanted for breakfast. After she was fed and showered, he'd get her dirty all over again. It'd be a nice way to say good bye.

Chapter 6
     

    "Jim McCracken is waiting for you in the meeting room, Cathy."
    Margaret squinted at Cathy as she walked through the door, sharpening her thin face to an axe head. She'd forgotten her glasses again. Cathy smiled at her, not sure if Margaret could even make out her face with her unaided short-sightedness.
    "Oh, did he ask for me?" Cathy asked.
    "Yes. You seem to have made quite an impression on him." Margaret's statement sounded more like an accusation than praise. Cathy preferred Mary's easy going attitude to Margaret's more conservative outlook.
    "Well, I better go see what's bothering him."
    Cathy threw her coat over the