AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He hands my phone back to me. “Okay. Cool.”
“The thing is—”
“I’m not calling you dad,” he cuts in, and I try to hide my smile. “Cos that would be weird. And I don’t want to see you kissing and stuff. Don’t gross me out.” I nod. “But it’s cool if you’re moving in too. I think you make Mum happy.”
“I try.”
“Don’t make her sad. Ever.”
I nod again. “Understood.”
He stands. “I’ll send you some pictures of the computer set-up.” And then he wanders off.
My shoulders relax and I release a long breath. “What’s up with you?” asks Mav, joining me. “You look relieved.”
“I was dreading having that chat with Ollie, yet he handled it really well.”
“About the house?” he asks.
“I thought he’d hate the idea.”
“He’s a good kid. He also gave me a long list of names Dougie Harrison associates with, none of which are of any concern to us. Not one big name in there. He lets the young kids on the estate run his packages to dealers. He’s a small-time idiot thinking he’s going places.”
I check my watch. “Well, I can promise you it’s not going to last. I’ll bet money Rosey is already on her way over there to settle a score.”
Mav groans. “I thought we were gonna watch and wait?”
“Try telling her that. You know she doesn’t listen to anyone. But she’s got this, and she needs to settle things her way.”
ROSEY
I pull up my hood and take a seat on the brick wall opposite the block of flats Mum lives in. The usual kids are racing around on bikes, and I wonder how many of them are carrying drugs for that prick. My mobile rings, and I get it out my pocket and smile when I see Albert’s name. “We’ve been apart for half an hour, what could you possibly need?” I ask when I answer.
“Just to hear your voice. You all good?”
“Yep, just chilling,” I lie.
He laughs. “Rosey, let’s not start our journey together on lies. Just don’t get yourself arrested. I love you.”
I smile wider. “I love you too.” I disconnect and stare up at the door to my mum’s place. A kid is just leaving, and I keep my eyes fixed on him until he’s back on ground level. I make my way over, placing my hand on his handlebars just as he’s about to get on his bike. “Give it to me,” I say, and he frowns.
“Aren’t you Ollie’s mum?”
“Give me the package.”
He glances around for backup, but it’s getting dark and this isn’t the sort of place where people wander around. “I can’t, I’ll get hurt if I do.”
“By the time I’m done, there will be nobody left to hurt you, so hand it over.” He groans, pulling out a neatly taped package. “Now, go home and look after your mum instead of being part of this bullshit.”
“I need the money,” he snaps.
I hand him one of Mav’s business cards. “You wanna earn, do it honestly. This guy can help. Just tell him Rosey sent you.”
I let him go and head around the back of the flats where a lot of homeless people hang out. There are some bin fires going, but I settle away from them all and pull out everything I need. I spend the next twenty minutes heating up the heroin and sucking it into syringes. When I’m done, I take the rest of the package and throw it in a nearby fire bin, smiling as it goes up in flames.
I take the concrete steps two at a time until I’m outside Mum’s flat. Inhaling deeply, I release it slowly and move my head from side to side before shaking my shoulders to relax myself. I push the door and walk inside, then I gently push the kitchen door open. It’s in darkness, so I move to the bedroom where Dougie is sleeping butt naked with his arms above his head, perfectly in position. I grin.
Gently, I put a pull tie around each wrist, then connect the two with another tie. He doesn’t even stir, so I continue on to the living room, where Mum is staring blankly at the television. She catches my movement and turns to face me, looking surprised. “Rosey.”
