He's After Me

Chapter THIRTY-NINE



‘Bastards!’

My head snaps up as the door bangs open and automatically I close the program. My fingers are trembling.

It’s Rat-face, I register with relief. But then, as he slams the door behind him angrily, I jump up, terrified he’s seen what I’m up to.

‘I’m sorry …’

‘Bloody thieves!’

‘What?’

‘They took my sodding watch!’

It’s not me he’s angry with. ‘Who did?’

‘The pigs, who d’you think?’

‘The police?’

He swears again and calls them by a worse name.

‘Down there in the manager’s office. Said they wanted me to help them with their inquiries. Nothing to do with me, they said. Then they took my sodding watch!’

He carries on effing and blinding about his watch, his mean little eyes sparking with rage.

‘Look,’ I say, grabbing my bag. ‘I’d better go.’

‘Cost me twenty quid, that did!’ he yells at me, as if it’s all my fault.

‘Tell Jem I couldn’t wait, yeah?’ I say, edging my way towards the door.

A torrent of abuse ensues, mainly concerning what he intends to do to Jem when he gets his hands on him. I stop, my hand on the doorknob.

‘Where is he?’

‘They’ve taken him to the police station.’

‘What for?’ I ask, but I already know the answer.

He shakes his head. ‘Dunno. Breaking and entering? Burglary? Something or other. Hope they throw the bloody book at him. Bastard!’

Five minutes earlier I would’ve been down there defending him. Now, a folder of pictures later, I’m older and wiser. But still, I have one more question for Rat-face.

‘Why did they take your watch?’

He eyes me pityingly, like I’ve got a screw loose or something.

Maybe I have.

‘Jem sold it to me. Stolen property, innit?’

I nod. That’s all I needed to know.





‘No way! No way, man!’

He knew the game was up as soon as he walked into the office and saw the two coppers there waiting for him.