Free California by Ray Banks Page A

a ride, you get a new motor out of your insurance. You’ve got comp, haven’t you? That’s how it works, doesn’t it? Can’t say I ever had insurance, myself.”
    Charlie worked his mouth. He looked at the dashboard.
    “Hey,” said Shug. “Don’t worry about it. Everything’ll be fine, I told you. Relax.”
    Shug pressed a button on the radio. Nothing. He turned one of the dials, pressed a few more buttons. Still nothing. He slapped it with the heel of his hand. “Fuck’s sake.”
    “It doesn’t work,” said Charlie.
    Shug smiled. “There y’are, radio doesn’t work. Better off without her. Listen, now you’re talking, where d’you want dropped off?”
    Charlie blinked.
    “I’m serious. Where were you off to before I ruined your day?”
    “Home.”
    “And where’s that?”
    “No.”
    “No?”
    “You’re not taking me home.”
    “What’s the matter?”
    “No.”
    “I’ll drop you off right at your door, Charlie –“
    “You’re not coming to my home.” Charlie shook his head, looked scared.
    “Okay,” said Shug. “Then wherever you want to be dropped off, I’ll drop you off.”
    “Here.”
    “I’m not dropping you here.”
    “You said wherever.”
    “We’re on a fucking motorway.”
    “You said –“
    “You’ll get yourself killed. I’m not having that on my conscience.” Shug breathed out, felt the irritation rumble away. “Listen, I know you’re scared and everything, but you don’t have to be daft about it. I’ll drop you off somewhere safe, alright?” He held up one hand before Charlie had a chance to answer. “You don’t want me to take you home, that’s fine. How about the town centre? You can get the bus from there, can’t you?”
    Charlie moved his shoulders. Let out a shaky breath.
    Shug glanced at him. “I’m trying to do the right thing here.”
    “Then get out of my car.”
    “Charlie –“
    Charlie’s voice jumped up in volume: “Get out of my car and leave me alone .”
    Silence between them. The thrum of the car on the road.
    Shug said quietly, “You know I can’t do that. And do yourself a favour, Charlie - don’t make the wrong thing look easy by giving us lip. I’m trying to be fair with you. You piss us off, I can’t guarantee anything. I mean, I’ve been working on it, but it’s a long road, know what I mean?”
    He breathed out, shook his head. Wet his lips and realised he’d been accelerating all this time. He slowed the car, looked in the rear view. No police.
    “So. Where do you want dropped?” he said.
    Charlie thought about it for a long time.
    Then he said, “Linlithgow.”
    “Linlithgow. Okay. Anywhere in particular?”
    “No.”
    “Middle of town do you?”
    Charlie nodded.
    “Good. That didn’t hurt now, did it?”
    The look on the old man’s face said otherwise. Charlie kept quiet the rest of the journey. Shug didn’t try to talk to him again, knew he was a lost cause. Didn’t matter what Shug did, how he tried to make it easier on him, all the old bastard saw was a youngster jacking his Micra.
    That was fine. It was all his Granda would’ve seen, too. Only difference was, if it’d been his Granda who’d been jacked, Shug wouldn’t have been driving very long. Granda would’ve fought tooth and nail until one of them was unconscious or dead, because Granda didn’t suffer anyone gladly, especially people trying to take what was his.
    There was a ticking sound somewhere deep in the engine by the time they got to the town centre. Shug pulled the Micra up in front of The Cross, which was about as central as you could get. He looked out the window, saw people on the Saturday shop, kids and parents, a small gang of young lads on bikes up the way there. He was out in the open, and it was stupid to stay much longer. He looked across at Charlie. The old man didn’t move.
    “Listen,” he said, “they didn’t give us much, but you’re welcome to it.” Shug pulled thirty quid’s worth of fivers out of his