Page 27 of From Scotland with Love

“We wait” Callum sighed.

The pair moved around, changing position often, from the step at the back door, to the van, until they found a comfortable patch of green grass up the lane towards the maze. They had propped themselves under the oak trees and waited there in the gentle dappled sunlight for some time before Lori dared ask the question.

“You really think Alan will come? Surely Hector’s long gone by now.”

“Maybe, but Alan will definitely come. If he didn’t turn up yesterday when he found out the news, then he’ll be here today – I know him well enough to be sure of that. Alan takes his time, but he can make a rash decision as well as the next lad.”

Lori watched the magpies dart back and forth above, hoping for the best possible outcome for everyone. The sound of an engine in the distance interrupted her daydream, and both friends exchanged a look then quickly made their way back to see who was arriving. A BMW Convertible skidded to a stop at the edge of the car park, and Hector got out. His face was flushed as he made his way to the back door with keys out, shouting over his shoulder.

“Can you please leave, this is private property!”

“I’d say you’ll want us to be here when Alan arrives, Hector!” Callum called over, Lori at his side.

Hector stopped and turned around “Well well, Callum. I’ve been seeing you a lot recently. Though I thought you wanted to keep a good distance nowadays. Was that not the agreement?” Hector began to smirk slightly, but his expression changed as a vehicle came up the driveway. It was Alan, red-faced and eyes bright with fury. He leaped out of his small car, slammed the door behind him and walked straight up to Hector. Callum and Lori rushed over.

“Get off my land!” Hector yelled, turning back to the door. Still rattling with the keys, he dropped them on the ground as Alan closed the gap at an alarming pace, but Callum jumped forward and grabbed his friend firmly at the shoulder with both hands.

“How dare you,” Alan said quietly to Hector. Hector ignored him, picking up the keys once again. Alan grabbed them from his hand in an instant and threw them away into the grass. Hector pushed past him.

“I’m not telling you again, I’ll call the police!” Hector bellowed.

“You think you can control us? You think you have any power here? Like you had power over Tammy?”

Hector laughed harshly. “I didn’t have power over Tam, she all but came looking for it. I can’t help it if she wasn’t happy at home!”

“You leech, you dirty pathetic -!” Alan tried to shake himself free and take after the retreating Hector, but Callum quickly pulled him back.

“Alan, come on man! He’s not worth it!” He urged his friend.

Hector retrieved his keys and went to his car, abandoning any further attempt to enter his house. “Listen to your friend Alan Mackenzie - if you come near me, I’ll press charges!”

Alan’s face was crimson, ready to attack. “I don’t give a damn what you’ll do, Grant! You’re not even sorry, are you?”

Callum pulled his friend back. He was smaller in size compared to Alan, but as he pulled his friend away Lori could see his strength was immense.

Hector opened the car door. “Callum, take your friend away. There’s no need for violence here, there’s a good lad. It’s not my fault you both can’t keep your women.”

“What did you say?” Alan screamed.

Hector started the engine, appearing more confident now he was back in his vehicle. “As I say, I can’t help it. Your women just needed something that you could never give them. They’re all the same in the end - I wouldn’t get so het up about it, boys.”

With that comment, Hector lost his one-time ally. Callum released Alan, spun his head round and walked up to the convertible, opening the door in a flash and pulling Hector out. “I can’t believe you would gloat about what happened all those years ago!”

Hector pushed him off “You still think about her, Callum? About her with me? We had some crazy times in this house, even at your own place too! Hector laughed and Callum glared at him for a second, then swiftly and sharply punched him on the nose, without hesitation. Lori heard a disgusting dull snap, and ran over, finally finding her voice.

“That’s enough!” she screamed, pulling Callum away, which he let her do with ease. Lori led him away to the van. “Come on Alan, we need to leave now!” she shouted.

Hector lay against his car door, cupping his bleeding face and crying out: “You broke my bloody nose!”

Alan walked past him seeing the blood staining his crisp white shirt, and kicked a handful of gravel over the older man’s expensive boots. “You’re pathetic.” He walked to his car without giving him another glance, and took off quickly down the drive.

That afternoon Lori let herself and Callum into his small flat. He had been pretty quiet in the van, and Lori didn’t know what to say, so she merely let the silence surround them, without acknowledging the temptation for small talk. She rummaged around in his box freezer and found a bag of frozen peas. She guided him to the worn leather sofa and placed the cold bag on top of his red right hand. He sighed, lying back.

“Nice place you have...?” Lori couldn’t stay silent anymore.

“Thanks.... Can... can you get me a whisky?” He said gesturing to the cabinet next to the television. Lori got straight to work, and pulled out a bottle of malt and two glasses. She poured a large dram for them both and sat down beside him, sinking down onto the cool fabric.

“Well, that was quite a day,” Lori offered through gritted teeth.