ASBO: A Novel of Extreme Terror(21)

Frankie’s attitude had been aggressive just like Andrew expected it to be. What he’d not expected was the boy’s mother to be just as confrontational as her son. In many ways, it explained a lot – almost made the monster that was Frankie understandable and, perhaps, even forgivable. It didn’t make things right, though.

Andrew decided enough was enough.

Frankie was just a teenage boy, living with his mother and dating a school girl. Andrew was willing to bet his watch that the lad was all front and little substance. He’d only had the guts to throw a punch at Andrew the previous night because of a gang backing him up. People were only afraid of Frankie because of the reputation he worked so hard to cultivate. Things would be different if people fought back instead of buying into it.

Andrew was an averaged-sized guy, healthy enough to throw a punch if he had to. If Frankie wanted to try and victimise him then he was welcome to try. Andrew knew where the lad lived now, and who his family were. They were on an equal playing field.

Andrew reached the path to his house and started up it. He could see the shape of Pen and Bex through the net curtains of the front window and smiled at the thought of seeing them. He hadn’t expected them both to be home.

Is it dinnertime time already?

Andrew checked his wristwatch and saw that it was getting on for six-o-clock. As if in affirmation of the late hour his stomach began to grumble. Food was something he hadn’t thought about all day, but perhaps his appetite returning was a good sign – a sign that things were no longer getting to him quite so much.

Andrew unlocked his front door and stepped into the porch. Then he kicked off his shoes, removed his jacket, and passed through into the hallway. Pen and Bex were on the sofa in the living room. The carpets were still a mess, but the smell was mostly gone now. They gawped at him as he entered.

“Where you been?” Pen demanded. “Have you seen what they’ve done to your car?”

Andrew set himself down in his armchair and released a long, weary sigh. “I know. I went to that lad’s home to try and put a stop to things.”

Pen’s eyes widened. “Really? What happened?”

Andrew leaned back into the chair’s cushion and shrugged his shoulders. “Not a fat-lot. The kid’s whole family is as bad as he is. Was like banging my head against a brick wall.”

“So this isn’t over, then?” Bex asked, sat beside her mother and still wearing her school blazer.

Andrew shrugged again. “I’m hoping so, honey. The little git knows I know where he lives now and that I’m not afraid to confront him. Hopefully that will be enough to make him think twice. Either way, don’t let it worry you. Things will be okay.”

Bex seemed unconvinced. “How do you know?”

“I just do, okay? I’m not going to let anything bad happen to us.”

“Okay,” said Pen. “Let’s just move on, then. We should put it all behind us.” She looked at Andrew and grinned. “I think we’re still owed an evening of fish and chips, though, so I think I’ll walk over to the shops.”

Andrew stood up from the armchair. “Don’t be silly. I’ll go.”

“You sure?”

Andrew nodded emphatically. “Yes, of course. There’s nothing to worry about. Last thing I thought you’d fancy is fish and chips, though, after last night.”

“Like I said, we should just move on. Besides, I don’t feel like cooking tonight. You sure you don’t want me to go fetch them.”

Andrew nodded. “Certain as can be.”

He left the living room and went to get his jacket from the porch. It was chillier now, with night falling, so he decided on a scarf also. Once he checked for his wallet and keys, Andrew left the porch and started down the front path.

The sight of the empty road ahead was comforting, the soft buzzing of the streetlights the only sound he could hear. Right now, the memory of being attacked by a gang of bloody-minded yobbos seemed impossible – a nightmare he had woken from long ago. Still, it would be smart to remain alert and Andrew wasn’t entirely confident as he ambled down the street. At least for now it seemed like things would be okay, that events would soon blow over.

What a day. Just when life seems to be routine and unexciting, something crazy can happen and turn everything on its head. It’s over now, though. A little grovelling at work and things will soon be back to normal.

Andrew didn’t notice the ambulance straight away. He saw the flashing lights at the edge of his vision, but was too lost in his own thoughts to recognise their immediate connotation. When he came to realise that someone was injured, Andrew hastened his steps towards the gathering crowd.