Six years ago
Si waited to drop the bombshell until the next time he saw Zig.It wasn’t the sort of thing you could put in a text, was it?Btw, ur mates a wrongun.:-).They’d arranged to go down the pub on Saturday night.Si had told Zig he wouldn’t be around to go clubbing, with Adam home, and Zig had seemed happy enough to join them in Peckham, rather than go anywhere more exciting.
Si’s stomach fizzed with nerves as he and Adam strolled down the street to the Dog and Duck.He’d have to get Zig on his own somehow, and tell him his suspicions about Trent.The first bit shouldn’t be hard, at least.Adam was a good mate about giving them couple time.
Guilt churned.Should Si have said something about it to Adam?To his dad?’Fessed up, that his were the loose lips that’d sunk all them ships?The police hadn’t come up with any leads on the theft from the site.
No.He didn’tknowanything, did he?Just had a hazy memory of running his mouth off in the pub, that was all.But Zig deserved to know about it, so he could be on his guard, in case Trent tried to drag him into anything dodgy.
They made their way into the bar and grabbed a couple of pints and a table.
It wasn’t long after that Zig came through the door, looking fucking gorgeous in his leather jacket, the red tips of his dark hair falling softly on the collar.Si’s heart jolted and then plummeted.Trent was right behind him, a smirk on his lips and his hair gelled to rigid perfection.
Si reckoned Adam would be well pissed off, but he wore an odd smile as he greeted them.“All right, Zig?Trent?What are you drinking?”
There was a flicker of some emotion Si couldn’t identify on Zig’s face—just for a moment—and then he smiled.“Nah, I’ll get ’em.Usual?”He glanced down at Adam and Si’s half-empty pint glasses.
“We’re good, ta,” Adam said curtly, his eyes still on Trent.
Trent pulled out a chair and sat down.“All right, Si?”he asked, pointedly ignoring Adam.
“Yeah, I’m good.”Si paused awkwardly.“Uh, you?”
“Peachy.”
“Been busy lately?”Adam put in.
Trent looked at him sharply.“I’m always busy.Some of us have a living to earn.”
“My dad had a break-in at the site.Maybe you heard about it?”
“No.”Trent’s tone was bland, conversational.“Lose much?”
Adam snorted.“Like you don’t know.”
The look got sharper.“Meaning?”
“I think you know what I mean.”
Si put down his pint.“Lads...”Accusing Trent directly hadn’t been part of the plan.
Trent leaned forward.“I think you’d better explain yourself, Adam Merchant.So’s I don’t get the wrong idea.Wouldn’t want that, would you?”
Si didn’t wantanyof this.“Adam, mate, you can’t—”
Adam cut him off and spat at Trent, “Funny how Dad never had any trouble untilyoushowed up on the scene.”
“Scene?What fucking scene?Not like I’m one of your dad’s bloody grunts, is it?What, am I not allowed to come out for a pint with my mate and his bloke?”He leaned back as Zig plonked a shot glass on the table in front of him.
“Got you a double, Trent.Cos I’m generous like that,” Zig said, sliding into the seat next to Si.
“Cheers.”Trent raised the glass and took a hefty swallow.“Hope you said hi to Ems for me.”
Zig grinned.“Course I—”
“We hadn’t finished talking,” Adam cut in.
Si’s heart sank.“Don’t you think—”
