‘Nice of you to wait until they’d cleared off,’ she said. What a bloody hero he was.
‘Don’t get involved,’ said Alex, turning his nose up at Kevin. She had to admit, he did reek, but that was no excuse.
‘They attacked my friend – that makes me involved,’ said Regan. ‘Call an ambulance, will you?’ She hated not having a mobile phone. The rice trick hadn’t seemed to work so she was still without one.
‘Your friend?’ asked Alex, distaste written all over his face. ‘Come away, Regan. You can’t do any more. Look, I’ll get you a coffee. I was heading that way – I have to buy my own since you left.’ He gave her a cheery grin.
She shook her head and stood up. ‘You’re unbelievable.’ This was a side of him she’d not seen in the office. It made her wonder how well she’d actually known him.
Kevin shuffled himself upright whilst clutching his side. ‘I don’t think I need an ambulance,’ he said, but his contorted face said otherwise.
‘Maybe not, buthewill in a minute,’ said Regan, stabbing a finger in Alex’s chest. Alex stepped back in alarm. Regan was quite proud of the impact she had on him.
Regan could see Elvis approaching Alex from behind and she waited. ‘Argh!’ he squealed as Elvis took him by surprise, inspecting his nether regions. Alex stumbled out of the way.
‘Bye, Alex! Thanks for your help,’ called Regan.
Kevin started to laugh. ‘Ow, that hurts.’
‘And that’s why we’re getting you checked out. Come on, I think there’s a first aider on the market.’ She knew there was, because it was in all the blurb she’d read about the stalls. Regan put an arm around his waist and helped him to stand.
Nearing the market place a trader saw them coming and came over to help. ‘You need a hand?’ he asked.
‘Please.’ She was grateful when he took Kevin’s weight and steered him to the back of his bread van.
‘Here, sit on the edge there.’
‘Some kids attacked him. I was after the first aider,’ said Regan.
‘You’ve found him. I’m Malcolm,’ he said. ‘Let’s take a look at you, buddy.’ He helped lift up Kevin’s top and she saw him baulk at the taut red scars of long healed wounds on Kevin’s torso. They matched his hands. ‘Where’s it hurt?’ he asked. He ran his hands over Kevin’s ribs, making him flinch.
‘Right there,’ replied Kevin.
‘Sorry, mate. I’m going to call an ambulance to be on the safe side.’
‘Thanks,’ said Regan. She wasn’t just thanking him for making the call, but for the kindness and respect he’d shown Kevin. Thankfully not everyone was like Alex.
Regan had to get to work and was grateful to Malcolm for offering to stay with Kevin until the ambulance arrived. She took Elvis with her, although she had no idea what she was going to do with him once she got there.
Penny was putting the sign out. ‘I thought you’d quitalready,’ she said, with a light smile. She spotted Elvis. ‘What’s up?’
‘Kevin’s been hurt. Some kids roughed him up.’
‘Little sods.’
‘They pissed on him too.’ Somehow it seemed almost worse than the kicking: that they thought it was acceptable, that Kevin was so far down the food chain that he didn’t matter.
‘Bastards,’ said Penny. ‘Sorry, the werewolf can’t come inside.’
‘I know,’ said Regan, ruffling Elvis’s head. She felt sorry for him having to witness his owner getting attacked.
‘There’s a bike stand out the back by the bins. You could tie him up there?’
Regan nodded. With their heads low, she and Elvis plodded round to the back of the café.
It was a quiet morning, so Penny let Regan take a break. She took Elvis with her to see if there was any sign of the ambulance. Malcolm greeted her warmly. ‘Hello again,’ he said. ‘He’s going to be okay. Paramedics checked him out. Suspected broken rib.’
‘Did they take him to hospital?’
