Chapter24
Billy groaned with pleasure as he sat and put his feet up on the comfortable new sofa that he and Kara had just had delivered to their Ferry View apartment that weekend. ‘God, this is so lovely compared to that old saggy two-seater you had in here.’
‘Isn’t it. I just want to doze off every time I get on it. Drink?’
‘A beer, please. What’s for dinner?’
‘I can’t be bothered to cook so as it’s nearly the weekend, either we run out for fish and chips or we have pizza again.’
‘Pizza is perfect.’
‘I’m such a bad girlfriend.’
Billy tutted. ‘We are a partnership.’
‘I asked Star why we never see her out and about with Conor,’ Kara called through from the kitchen.
‘Oh yeah, what did she say?’
‘That they are always getting takeaways too.’ She walked through with Billy’s beer. ‘What doyouthink of Conor?’
‘I think he’s great. He’s a hard worker, totally honest with me. Very funny. I like him.’
‘Oh. OK.’ Then Kara began to blurt out, ‘I was just worried that he’s using Star and also he bloody owes me for some flowers, and I know he’s been skint but that doesn’t sit right with me, especially as you are his boss now.’
‘Oops! That’s my fault.’ Billy reached into his jeans pocket. ‘Here, he gave me a tenner and I forgot to give it to you.’
‘Shit, Billy.’ Kara was stricken. ‘Bloody hell, poor Star, I was such a bitch to her earlier.’
‘Sorry, sweet cheeks, I’ve had a lot on my mind. It was so cold and windy out there today and Daz didn’t show again so I had to do the tug all day. Poor Conor was freezing his bollocks off out the front; at least it’s a little warmer behind the wheel.’
‘You said Darren didn’t show? Hmm.’
‘What does hmm mean?’ Billy took a slug of his beer.
‘Your mum said that he wasn’t on the stall today as he was helping you.’
The wind, now whistling across the estuary at a rate of knots, was causing torrents of rain to sporadically rattle against the balcony doors. A huge flash of sheet lightning suddenly lit up their compact living area.
Kara flinched. ‘Here comes the storm. Is James Bond in, do you know?’
Without acknowledging her, Billy jumped up as if the lightning had struck him. A look of panic was on his face.
‘Did Daz really say that?’ he demanded. Kara nodded. ‘Where’s my phone?’ He fumbled for it in his jacket pocket and dialled his twin’s mobile. He couldn’t get through. ‘I’ve got to go to him. Kar?’
‘What’s the matter?’
‘I can feel it, something’s wrong. Fuck! It’s Daz, I just know it.’
‘Do you want me to come with you?’
‘No, no, I’ll call you. Keep your phone handy. Order the food.’ He kissed her on the forehead, snatched up his keys, slung on his work coat and boots and headed down thestairs. As he ran to his van, a massive gust of wind coming right off the sea knocked him sideways. The slashing rain stung his face.
Billy abandoned the van in the market, then two by two he shot up the metal stairs to his old flat above the family’s fruit and vegetable shop. The last time he had had an intuitive feeling of dread like this was when they were teenagers and Darren had fallen off his pushbike cycling back from the pub and had smashed his face up. He knocked loudly and rang the bell. ‘Daz! Daz, bro! Are you there?’ The crash of a dustbin being blown over and sent down the hill shocked him, as much as the next crack of lightning and resounding clap of thunder did. If the belief that God was moving His furniture was true, he certainly had brought in a big bloody wardrobe tonight.
Billy rummaged in his pocket for his keys, his cold wet fingers hampering his desire to get the door open and see if his precious brother was all right. Once inside, he slammed the door to against the wind and raced into the lounge.
Darren Dillon was lying face down on the floor with his mobile to the side of his face. He was breathing. A voice on the end was speaking slowly and calmly. ‘I’m still here. Take your time. You’re through to the Samaritans. Has something happened that has made you want to call us today?’
