Ahead of his Time by Adrian Cousins (children's books read aloud .txt) 📕

to the ceiling and then leaned down to grab the magazine to get a closer look at Cassy. He turned the magazine to study the centrefold who, with her long blonde hair, reminded him of Patrick’s bird. His outstretched arms caused a long blob of ash to drop to his chest, which Paul rubbed into the white cotton, resulting in a long black streak staining the top of his vest. He chuckled to himself; perhaps a trip up to see how that bitch was today. Now Patrick was doing time, and even though she’d told him to piss off in court on Monday, it was the brotherly thing to do.

~

Jess opened her eyes as the daylight eased its way into the room through the yellowed-smoke-stained net curtains. Now shivering, although she was unsure if that was because of the cold or the horrific event last night – perhaps both. With so little sleep and fighting the feeling of exhaustion that tried to pin her to the sofa, she struggled up and lit the gas fire.

There was no way she could report what happened. The police would never believe her, and anyway, they would take the attitude that she was a slag from the estate and probably deserved it. So, what was the point? She didn’t know who’d attacked her, so reporting some big geezer wearing a balaclava with breath that stank of stale cigarettes, wouldn’t be taken seriously. Anyway, that description could describe half the blokes living on the Broxworth Estate. No, she’d have to put it behind her and tell no one. Why had she gone through the alley at night? She knew two women were raped last year, so she berated herself for not being more careful.

~

After enjoying a few moments with the picture of Cassy, Paul threw on his clothes that were liberally scattered across the bedroom floor. He planned to attend to business first, a meet with Cal Gower to hand over a package, then some pleasure. Paul hated playing second-fiddle to the Gowers, but that was the order of things. He knew to maintain his position and keep the Colney business thriving, bending to Cal Gower was a necessary evil. No one worried Paul, apart from Cal and his family. He knew his place and the unthinkable consequences of trying to upset the order.

He closed the flat door behind him but stood still as he scanned the view down in the square below. The Filth were everywhere, uniform and plain-clothes crisscrossing the square near the community centre. He spotted numerous police vehicles, Pandas and at least one Jam Butty. This wasn’t good – this meant heavy shit was going down – he knew he’d have to act fast.

Glancing across to the flats of Shannon House, Paul could see Cal staring at him. He held the stare as Cal shook his head and drew his finger across his throat. Paul had been in the drug distribution scene long enough to know his place, and the contents of his jacket pocket was enough to give him a stretch longer than Patrick was going to get. Cal’s actions were clear – if he fucked up now, he was a dead man.

“Fuck.” Was this a raid?

Stepping back into the flat, he needed a moment to think. Ma had gone to the shops; pity he needed her help now. The Old-Bill would love nothing better than to get him holding this lot. Paul held the brick-shaped package in his hand as his mind whirred around, weighing up his options. Patrick’s bitch – that was it – if he could get across to Belfast House, he could stash it in her flat. If this was a raid, they couldn’t pin it on him, and that silly bitch would go down. However, if they found the package, Cal would kill him. With no other choices in front of him and the need to act fast, Paul left the flat again. All he needed was a few minutes without being seen, and he would be in her flat.

Paul scooted around to the back of the flats, keeping close to the tree line and out of view. He stopped for a moment at the rear of Belfast House, looking at the very spot where his brother, David, had fallen to his death. It had destroyed Ma as David was her favourite of the four boys. For the last few months, he and Patrick had tried to find out what happened that day in September. No way David had just fallen off the roof, and they knew there was way more to it than what that pompous stuck-up coroner had said.

Refocusing, he moved on to head up to Jess’s flat. So far, he’d encountered no one, and The Filth, fortunately, seemed to be focused on Shannon House. Perhaps finally, they had the balls to deal with the Gowers, which would be a result, and he could then climb up the food chain with them removed. Paul Colney, head of the firm in Fairfield – he liked the sound of that.

~

Jess's heart leapt as her front door took a fist hammering. She peered around the kitchen door and stared at the obscured glass – the thumping continued.

“Open the fucking door, you bitch, or I’ll kick it in.”

Paul Colney, why was he at the door? She didn’t want that evil bastard in her flat, especially today, but she knew he’d persist. She gingerly moved down the hall, still hugging her coat tightly around herself. “Piss off, Paul. Just piss off,” she shouted through the door. Her voice was shaky and high pitched, as her usual confidence had been left in that alley last night.

“Open this fucking door, bitch. I will, I’ll kick it in,” he repeated.

Knowing he would, Jess stepped forward and turned the Yale lock. The door flung open, causing the handle to bounce into the wall and nestle into the wall’s pre-formed dent before Paul grabbed the frame and slammed it shut.

“What d’you want? I