“Hadn’t we?”Trent’s face hardened.“I ain’t got nothing more to say about it.”
“No?I reckon you could tell us plenty more.”
At Si’s side, Zig had stiffened.“Hey, Adam—”
It was like neither Si nor Zig was there, as Trent put his glass down.“You might want to rethink that.A bloke could get into trouble throwing around wild accusations.”
Zig laughed nervously.“Oi, nobody’s accusing nobody of nothing.”Which was rich, seeing as he hadn’t been there for most of the conversation, and Adam very definitelywasaccusing Trent of stuff, not that he actually had any evidence.So, what the hell was he hoping to achieve?Si felt sick.
Zig’s hand crept into his, and he clutched it like a lifeline.
Adam’s face had gone a harsh, blotchy red.“Are you threatening me?”
Trent sneered.“Just saying it how it is.”
Adam picked up his pint glass, paused, then slammed it back down onto the table.A small puddle of beer sloshed out.He stood.“I’m not staying here.Si, you coming?”
Zig’s grip on Si’s hand tightened.
“I...”Torn between his best mate and the bloke he loved, Si gestured helplessly.
“Fine.I’ll see you back home.”Adam turned and strode away.
“Go on, run home to daddy,” Trent shot derisively at Adam’s retreating back.“Fuck it.I’m off too.”
Zig’s hand shot out and grabbed him by the arm.“Oi.He’s Si’s mate.”
“Did I say I was going after him?Jesus.Just gonna have a word with Ems at the bar, then I’m heading up west.”
Si tried to fight down the feeling of nausea that mingled uneasily with the relief he felt on seeing Trent head to the bar and not the door.Had Zig really thought Trent might, what, go after Adam and beat him up?Si opened his mouth, but Zig beat him to it.
“What the hell was that all about?What’s Adam got against Trent?”Zig’s tone was abrupt.
Si darted a wary glance to where Trent was leaning on the bar, trying yet again to chat up Emma the barmaid, judging by the smirks he was giving her and the pissed-off looks he was getting back.“He’s got this idea Trent might have had something to do with the site thefts.”
Mismatched eyes narrowed.“Oh?Why’s he think that?”
Was that guilt?Si’s gut twisted.“I dunno.Thinks he’s dodgy.”
Zig laughed.“He’s that, all right.”
Si couldn’t tell if that was disapproval or admiration.The pain in his gut got worse.“And, well, he did get me talking about the site and that the other night.When you was off getting the drinks in.”
“He did, did he?”Zig wasn’t laughing now.
“Why do you hang around with him?”Si blurted out.“If he was my mate, I’d tell him to piss off.”
“He’s not a bloke you want to get on the wrong side of.You might wanna tell Adam that.And I’ve gotta work with him, haven’t I?”
Si frowned.“Thought you were working in that shop?”
“Yeah.I am.But sometimes I have to do stuff for my dad.And Trent works for him.So I’ve gotta keep him sweet.”He flashed a smile.
“Not too sweet, I hope,” Si muttered, the jealousy he’d tried to drown resurfacing briefly.
“Course not.”Zig slung his arm around Si’s waist.“Come on, let’s leave this shithole and I’ll keep you sweet as you want.”
As they left the pub, Si couldn’t help asking, “So what is it you and Trent do for your dad?You’ve never said.”
