Free The Silver Arrow by Ian Todd

ae crime tae spend the rest ae his life wae her or hid he jist telt Senga Jackson whit she’d really wanted tae hear in the heat ae the moment, tae keep her oan board tae allow The Mankys, in the form ae Simon Epstein, precious time tae try and save her and her flatmate’s lives fae the clutches ae Glesga’s number wan bogeyman, Wan-bob Broon?
      He’d started aff the week cursing himsel fur no demanding that Senga write tae him every day, despite knowing fine well that he wis being unreasonable. The agreed priority amongst The Mankys…that Senga and her flatmate wur no tae know that their lives wur in imminent danger…hid been made efter careful deliberation.  Efter no receiving a letter by the Tuesday, he’d gone intae panic mode which hid consisted ae growling and snarling at everywan roond aboot him.  He’d woken up in a sweat through the night, convinced that she’d been snatched, strangled and her body set oan fire in some lonely shallow grave oot in the country somewhere.  He’d ended up pacing in his cell maist ae the night, like a caged animal, feeling totally helpless.  Wance he’d received her letter oan the Wednesday, he’d settled doon a wee bit, before the feelings ae helplessness hid started tae creep back.
      “Look, Johnboy, ye’ve jist goat tae accept the situation as it is.  You prowling aboot in here, like a bear wae a sore arse, isnae gonnae change anything.  Simon said he’d keep tabs oan the situation and respond if he thought there wis any likelihood ae a threat,” Tony hid reassured him.
      “Ah’ve never felt anything like this before, Tony,” he’d replied miserably.
      “Aye, Ah know, bit don’t worry…trust me…we’ll get it aw sorted oot,” Tony hid assured him.
      Johnboy smiled as he started oan another bandolier. They wur a strange bunch, The Mankys.  He supposed that included himsel.  No matter whit they did…wance decisions hid been made, especially serious wans, nowan tended tae go back and talk aboot whit the issue at haun hid been.  Before and during the decision-making…aye, bit wance a decision hid been taken, it wis done and dusted and carried oot withoot further debate.  It hid always been like that, even when they wur snappers back in the Toonheid. Maist ae the time, Tony tended tae hing back, listen tae the chatter, throw in a few wee corkers tae ramp up the discussion and then, when maist ae the arguments hid been exhausted, he’d be straight in there, dishing oot tasks, making sure everywan knew whit wis expected ae them.  
      It hidnae aw been gloom, doom and misery since Senga’s visit.  Pat hid fallen oot wae Snappy efter Tony hid informed Pat that he wisnae the only partner in Papa Fraser’s wee jewellery shoap doon in West Nile Street and everywan hid pished themsels laughing.
      “Aye, it’s worse than Ah thought.  Papa only owns aboot five percent, wae Wan-bob and Pat Molloy, The Big Man, hivving the rest,” Tony hid said, keeping his face straight.
      “Tell me ye’re hivving me oan, Tony?” poor Pat hid squealed, turning white.
      “Well, Ah’m sure Simon said eighty five…or wis it ninety five?” Tony hid mused oot loud, as everywan creased up.
      “Ur you serious?” Pat hid demanded.  “Ah swear tae God, Ah’m gonnae bloody kill that auld leather-skinned, cheating cunt, if it’s the last thing Ah dae,” Pat hid whinged.
      “Aye, well, ye better talk tae the other senior partner first, Pat.  Ye know whit that Wan-bob’s like if ye upset him,” Snappy hid chipped in, stirring it.
      That hid been two days earlier.  Johnboy and Tony hid bet a week’s worth ae puddings oan who’d speak first.
      Oan the Monday night at rec, Johnboy hid filled Tony, Pat, Silent and Snappy in wae mair detail oan whit hid been said and agreed between him and Senga during the visit, including the bit aboot her finishing wae her current boyfriend, Dr Gory, and agreeing tae re-establish their