Side Orders - A Joe Geraghty Story (3/3) By Nick Quantrill

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3).

I leaned forward. A figure had emerged from the shadows. We weren't far away and could see the knife. I was straight out of the car, running towards them. If I'd thought about what I was doing, I would have stayed in the car. 'Alright, Darren?' I asked, standing between them. The guy holding the knife turned to me. 'I suggest you fuck off, mate.' 'Can't do that' I said, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt. He was a teenager, not much more than a kid. He was scared but he didn't want me to see the fear I knew he was feeling.

'The police are coming' said Ahmet, eventually catching up. His breathing was heavy and laboured. He wasn't in shape for running. 'I have called them.' 'Put the knife down' I said to the teenager. I made sure there was plenty of distance between us. 'Just calm down.' 'Fuck's sake.' The kid's hand was unsteady, the situation spiralling out of his control. 'This was supposed to be easy.' 'It still can be' I said. 'Just walk away.' 'Can't.'

'Course you can. The police aren't going to be here for a while yet.' 'No.' 'Be on your way, son.' We all turned towards the newcomer to the scene. The man was even bigger than Ahmet, but definitely family. Ahmet shook his head. 'Gus?' 'Good evening, gents.' I turned to Ahmet, looking for an explanation.

'This is my brother' he said, looking away from me. I didn't like what I was hearing. 'Ahmet is my brother' Gus said, holding his hand out to me, 'and my business rival.' 'I swear to you, Joe, I didn't know about this' Ahmet said to me. 'I wouldn't have asked Don to send you if I had known the truth.' I turned to Gus. 'The robberies were your idea?' 'I'm not proud of it' he said 'but yes, I had to send Ahmet a message. I cannot tolerate his behaviour in stealing my staff.'

I shook my head and turned to Darren, understanding the set-up. 'You were in on it, weren't you?' Darren put the pizzas down. 'I needed the money, man.' 'For your bigger plans?' He said nothing. 'It's not Darren's fault' said Gus. He turned to his brother and pointed. 'If he could have just left my staff alone, none of this would have needed to happen.'

It started to make sense. 'Darren's sister would ring you, wouldn't she' I said 'tell you where to send your man with the knife? Make it look like a robbery?' Gus nodded. 'Yes. She is loyal to me. She only left because Darren had his head turned by my brother. She wishes to return to my employment. As does Darren, really.'

Easy pickings, I thought. No wonder Darren was so relaxed about the situation. He was never in any danger. I wondered how many times he thought he'd be able to turn the trick before calling it a day. He probably thought he was bullet proof but your luck has to turn eventually. I heard police sirens in the distance. Turning to Ahmet, I told him there was no need for me to be here. He could sort out Darren's side orders business if he wanted to. I wasn't interested. The night was cold and I was tired. I'd tell Don to raise an invoice tomorrow. I put my hands in my pockets and headed back to the car. www.myspace.com/hullcrimefiction

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