ASBO: A Novel of Extreme Terror(29)

“My family,” said Andrew behind him.

The women looked up and both seemed to receive a fright at Davie’s presence. Both of them stood up quickly.

Andrew stepped through into the centre of the living room and stood in front of the women. “This is just one of the things Frankie has done to us for no reason, Davie. My wife and daughter have been scrubbing at these carpets all day and the smell still hasn’t gone completely. You know all about the damage to my car as well.”

Davie shook his head and wondered what to say. What words would make this situation end?

The older woman’s eyes had gone wide and she looked at him, bewildered. “You know Frankie?”

Davie said nothing. He didn’t want to admit to anything that could get him hurt.

“This is Frankie’s brother,” said Andrew, “and he’s a good lad.”

Davie raised an eyebrow at him. “What?”

Andrew shrugged. “Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think you enjoy hurting people like your brother does.”

Davie still chose to say nothing. His thoughts were a muddle, perhaps from the concussion – perhaps not.

“Sit down,” said the woman. “I’ll get us all some tea.”

Davie hesitated. He still wanted out of there, but somehow felt his uneasiness going away at the thought of staying. A cup of tea could be exactly what he needed.

The younger girl stepped towards Davie and held out a hand. She was about his age and beautiful – like a younger version of her mother but with a lightness to her features that made her seem angelic. Davie could tell just by looking at her that she was a kind person. She continued to offer out her hand and Davie finally took it, albeit reluctantly.

“There you go. My name’s Rebecca,” she said, leading him towards the sofa. “Take a seat and we’ll talk things through. You look like you’ve been in the wars.”

Davie sat down and nodded. “I got run over.”

Rebecca sat beside him and looked shocked. “No way!”

“Yes,” said Andrew, seating himself on a nearby armchair. “It was me that hit him.”

The girl now seemed even more shocked.

“Was an accident, Bex,” Andrew added. “Davie’s going to be just fine, though, so don’t worry.”

“Thank god. This week’s been horrible enough without anything else happening.”

“I’m sorry,” said Davie without realising the word had even escaped his lips.

“It’s okay,” Rebecca told him. “We just want your brother to leave us alone.”

“Yes,” said Andrew. “It all needs to stop, right now. We’re innocent people.”

The older woman re-entered the room with a tray full of steaming mugs. The one she handed to Davie had a Bart Simpson design. “I added sugar. Is that okay?”

Davie nodded and thanked her, but then said, “I need to go home.”

“Okay,” Andrew nodded. “Just drink your tea and we’ll get going. I just wanted you to meet my girls first.”

“Why?”

“So that you can tell your brother that we’re real people he’s hurting.”

“He knows that.”

“Does he? Because maybe things don’t seem as real if you don’t know the person you’re having ‘fun’ with.”

Davie shrugged. “I know what you’re doing, but I don’t think it will work. I’m sorry.”

“Can you not do anything at all, Davie?” asked the older woman.

Davie shook his head. “Frankie doesn’t listen to anyone, least of all me. I think…I think he enjoys hurting people.”

Andrew nodded. “Like Charlie?”

Davie looked down at the brown liquid in his mug and watched it steam. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just want to go home. If you take me know, I won’t tell Frankie about what happened.”

Andrew raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you threatening me?”

Davie shrugged. “Guess I am. Frankie has got it in for you. If he hears that you ran me over, I don’t know what he’d do.”

“So why would you want to tell him if it will cause more trouble?”

Davie stood up, shocked at his own impulses, and flung his mug of tea aside, adding to the stains on the carpet. “Because you won’t let me the-f*ck go! I’ve asked you nicely. Now let me f*cking leave, right now, you get me?” Davie felt woozy, but continued anyway. “I’ll walk home from here and not say a thing, but if you keep me here any longer than you’ll pay.”