me tell you about yourself,” Duane began. “You have three other members of your little gang. One is the basher, the other the follower and third is the snitch. Does that just about cover it, boy?”
Andy was in over his head, but he wasn’t going to let them see that.
“You’re right about everything except the snitch.”
“Really?” said Duane calmly. “Your snitch is the one who has been trying to get you to quit your life of crime. He is also the one your basher beat until you stopped him. Need I say more?”
How in the fuck did he know all that? Andy wondered.
“Save your brain cells, boy! The same thing has happened to us all. The hardest part will be to have your basher kill him while you, your follower and one of us watches. Got it, boy?”
Andy decided he had nothing to lose; he would either be dead or not.
“Listen, pop!” he exploded. “I ain’t no boy of yours or anyone’s, got it? If you think you’re good enough to take me, then have a go.” Andy whipped his knife out from its hiding place. “Otherwise shut that fuckin’ hole in your face before it gets shut for ya!”
The three men looked at each other knowingly and then smiled.
“You have guts, I’ll give you that,” Duane commented. “What’s your name?”
“Andy. I’m the brain and my basher is Terry. The follower, as you call him, is Mick. The one you call the snitch is Joe.”
“Well, Andy, put that pig sticker away,” Duane commanded. “Do you know what you’re doing here?”
“Fucked if I know!” Andy replied with false bravado, trying to cover up his fidgeting.
“Right, Andy,” Duane continued. “First thing, no more gutter language; it’s crass and sounds cheap. We don’t use foul language, nor shall you. You’re about to enter the big league and there are rules that must be adhered to.”
Andy wondered what he had got himself into. Whatever it was, they were rich and that would suit him.
Duane looked at him coldly. “We’ve been expecting you. You aren’t the only one given information. Between us we control most of the crime in the city. Maleko is in charge of the drug squad. If you deal in drugs, quit or he will bust your arse. Drugs are out!”
“I’m wiv ya. I hate drugs,” Andy agreed.
“Andy, it’s not us you need to be afraid of, but the one who recruited you. Do you understand me?”
He thought for a moment. Slegna sent waves of foreboding towards Andy; a terrible feeling started to engulf him. It was so real that he started shaking uncontrollably, turning white. Duane didn’t say a word. He just waited until the realisation of Andy’s predicament became clear to him.
“Your grammar is atrocious, Andy. You must be properly educated. Understand that if you doublecross us, we are unforgiving.”
The morning moved on as Andy was given a complete account of their operations and how he would be trained once he had taken care of the snitch. He wasn’t looking forward to that as he couldn’t bring himself to believe Joe would rat on them.
While Andy was being indoctrinated into his new life, Joe was at the park where Laura and he had arranged to meet. It was one of the oldest natural parks on Telluric, covering an area of eight square miles. This forest is unique as it is home to the giant redwood trees. The redwoods were discovered when the area was first colonised. They were impressive back then with the average tree being three hundred feet tall; now eight hundred years later they have become the nation’s pride and joy. Botanical gardens were established around the fringes of the forest with all the amenities families would require to enjoy a blissful day’s outing.
The paths through the gardens lead to the entrance of Redwood Avenue, which meanders its way throughout the entire forest. It was the only public entrance and it was here Detective Laura sat waiting patiently for Joe to arrive. There were always people walking about so Joe figured he should be safe. He had been watching for ten minutes now. He knew she hadn’t come alone although he couldn’t see anyone else.
“I have a lad standing in the bushes watching you, Detective,” a voice rasped in Laura’s earplug.
“Acknowledged,” Laura replied quietly.
Joe started walking slowly towards the entrance of Redwood Avenue trying to look natural.
“Movement coming your way, Detective; he’s started walking. I have him in my sights. Just give me the word and he’s down.”
“When he arrives, do nothing without my say so,” Laura affirmed.
“Affirmative,” responded the voice in her ear.
Laura observed Joe walking towards her pretending to look at the flora. His body language didn’t suit the profile of a tough gang member and he looked too young to be involved in acts of brutality. As Joe walked past her she spoke.
“I promised you I would come alone and I have, so why don’t you sit and we can talk?”
Joe nearly tripped over. “How’d ya know it was me?”
“I’m a trained officer, Joe.”
“Look, like I said, I didn’t have nothin’ ta do with them ladies. I tried ta stop ’em takin’ the first one and got beat up bad, real bad, so I stayed out of it from then on. I tried ta take care of them afterwards like, but I couldn’t do nothin’ about the pain they was in. I can give ya all the jobs we done and tell ya who the stuff went ta. I can even give ya the location of all the safe houses. But I want protection.”
“Joe,” Laura said earnestly, “if I give you my word that nothing will happen to you, would you accompany me to the station so we can record everything you say for the court? I promise you won’t be charged if you turn witness for the prosecution.”
Joe was feeling conflicting emotions. He had never had time for cops after the dealings the gang’d had with them. But this dame seemed different; still he wasn’t giving anything away just yet.
“Is that the protection program I was askin’ about?”
“Yes, that’s the one,” Laura responded.
Joe always went by his gut and his gut was telling him to trust her. He didn’t know how to find out if she was lying, so he asked. “How do I know you’ll keep ya word?”
“I’m alone now, aren’t I?”
“Nar, ya got someone watchin’. I just can’t see ’em. I might sound dumb ’cause I don’t speak right, but I saw the thing in ya ear and ya’ll have a mike hidden some place.”
“You’re right, Joe; that was for my own protection. I didn’t know if you were serious or not. I meet some pretty violent people in my job. They say one thing and do another.”
“Yeah, I get it. I just want ta get out and I don’t want ta go ta jail for somethin’ I couldn’t help.” Laura thought he looked pale and tired.
