Free The Silver Arrow by Ian Todd Page B

something deep inside ae him telt him that that widnae be such a good idea…at least no at this stage.  Senga Jackson and her flatmate’s lives took priority o’er everything noo and Johnboy wis gonnae dae everything in his power tae ensure she survived…even if it meant stringing alang Jesus F Christ himsel.  He looked aboot the sewing machine workshoap and wondered if he’d ever manage tae get oot ae Dumfries YOI alive.
      “Snappy, ya wee ugly arse-bandit, ye.  Ah’m sorry aboot noising everywan up.  Ye wur right, we’re aw in this thegither and it’s only by working thegither that we’ll be able tae keep oan tap ae the Senga situation,” he’d jist come oot wae, as Tony appeared through the door wae The Tormentor in tow.
      “Aye, well, don’t ye worry aboot a thing, Johnboy.  Nowan will lay their hauns oan her noo…certainly no efter ye’ve gone and made the poor basturt dump that auld doctor boyfriend ae hers, ya selfish prick, ye. Aw Wan-bob’s bears will be too busy feeling sorry fur her,” Snappy said subtly, focusing oan sewing up his MOD bandolier, as Johnboy smiled. 
     
     

 
      “ Good evening.  My name is John Turney and these are the news headlines in Scotland tonight.
      At least four people are believed killed and more than 60 injured after two bombs went off in The Horse and Groom and The Seven Stars pubs in Guilford, Surrey. All pubs and cinemas in the town have been closed, fearing further explosions. Surrey Ambulance Services are said to be stretched as…
      A policeman has been suspended after a man was found hanged in a cell in Possilpark Police Station this morning.  Despite strenuous efforts to revive the unnamed prisoner, he was found to be dead on arrival at Stobhill General Hospital.  A report has been sent to the procurator fiscal…
      The Light of Morocco Restaurant in Woodside Road was closed down today and the proprietors arrested after fifteen customers turned up throughout the night at various hospitals across the city, complaining of cramps and suffering from acute diarrhoea.  Sanitation Officers, led by Elvis Presley, the recently promoted Senior Sanitation Officer for the North of the city, were seen to be bagging and taking away the contents of the restaurants fridges and freezers…
      Police are clamping down on the city’s prostitutes in and around Blythswood Square and Anderston after complaints from female hotel staff working in the area of being accosted by male drivers looking for sex…
      Fire engines were in full readiness this afternoon at Glasgow Airport after a Spanish-run passenger plane made an emergency landing when the pilot smelled burning in the cockpit.  All passenger and crews landed safely…
      And still at Glasgow Airport, two stray dogs that wandered onto the runway this morning were shot after dog inspectors failed to capture them.  All passenger flights were delayed by two hours…”

 
    Chapter Eight
      “Ah still think ye should let me dae the talking,” Ben McCalumn murmured, peering through the steamed-up windscreen ae the freshly stolen, wan point six, green Ford Capri Mark Two, towards The Kind Man pub oan Pollokshaws Road as the passenger plapped that arse ae his doon oan tae the passenger seat.
      “We cannae sit here.  Heid roond tae Alison Street and see if ye kin park up wan ae the side streets there,” Jake McAlpine instructed, deliberately ignoring the whinge, as he wound doon the windae at his side ae the car a few inches.
      “Ah take it he’s there then?”
      “He’s in the lounge, sitting oan his lonesome like some sad spare prick.”
      “There’s a surprise.”
      “Noo remember, Ben, Ah’m the wan that’ll be daeing aw the talking.  Aw you hiv tae dae is sit there looking dark and mean, saying sweet F.A.  We don’t want tae cause a commotion.”
      “So, ye’re saying Ah’d fuck it up…is that it?”
      “Naw, Ah’m the man that Simon delegated tae be in charge.