by Ben Spavins
down.
'So Marvin, how are you coping with your release?' Susan asked.
‘Well I’ve only been out a day but I’m happy to be out’ Marvin said.
‘That’s good, do you think you will be tempted to commit crime again?’ Susan asked.
Marvin sniggered, ‘I’m innocent, that heroin was planted in my car, I was a successful lawyer, why would I?’
‘I’m not here to judge, you were convicted in a court of law, I’m just here to help you back onto your feet’, Susan said, pausing for a moment. 'Have you spoken to your family since your release Marvin?'
'No, my Mum died whilst I was inside and I never knew my Father' Marvin replied.
'Any brothers or sisters?'
'I have a brother but he hated for me escaping, he'll still be there, in the same flat', Marvin said sighing, suddenly he felt very alone.
‘Ok, well try and make contact, see if he wants to see you again, time is a good healer’ Susan said, writing something in her folder.
‘So what have you done about the job front, is there anyone you know who may employ you?’ Susan asked.
‘Not really, I don't have many friends out of the legal system, most of them won’t even talk to me now, most never gave me the chance to explain how I was set up’ Marvin said.
‘Not even an old work colleague, it says in your notes you used to work at a supermarket, is there any chance you can have a word with your old boss?’
‘I could yes, I’ve not spoken to him in a while but my old boss Mannon said if I was ever struggling he’d give me a job.'
'Well there you go, give him a call, and see what happens' Susan said rising from her seat, 'listen I've got to get to my next appointment, but keep your head up and speak to your old boss at the supermarket, he might have something'.
Marvin nodded, his nerves had all but disappeared, he liked Susan, she was on the fence it seemed, permanently. He wished her goodbye and watched as she left the hostel.
...
‘Marvin, long time no see, how’s tricks?’
Marvin smiled, it’d been ten years since he’d last seen Mannon, his old boss at the Supermarket, he’d thinned a little on top and was starting to grey but looked exactly as Marvin remembered. ‘I’m OK thanks mate, you?’ Marvin asked.
‘Oh you know me, I’m always good when I see you’. Just like old times Marvin thought and let himself smile. 'What can I do for you'?
'I need a job Mannon, I'm sure you heard I went to prison for drugs, something you know I'd never touch', Marvin said.
Mannon nodded slowly, holding Marvin's gaze, ‘I know I heard, as soon as I heard it, I knew it wasn't true' Mannon paused for a moment, 'I can't give you anything well paid but I'm sure I can find you something in the stores, that OK?' Mannon asked.
'That'd be great, anything to get me started again' Marvin said, smiling.
...
After leaving Mannon, Marvin headed over to his brothers flat, on the estate Marvin had worked so hard to escape. His brother had been one of those who'd hated him for trying to better himself, he had not visited Marvin in prison, not written to him, he didn't even know Marvin was on his way, Marvin didn't know what to expect.
Marvin was smiling though, he had a job, it wasn’t a legal position and it didn’t pay well, but it was a start. For the past two years, all his focus had been on vengeance, now there was another focus, could he live after the pain and heartache? Maybe he could. He knew it had been some time since he’d last smiled and meant it. Marvin’s mind soon drifted towards Reece, if only he could find him.
Marvin reached the estate and walked down the familiar road he'd been raised on, the same corner the older kids used to charge him to walk by, the chalk on the wall, forever etched on the wall, so many times he'd scored the winner for England. He reached the stairs of the block of flats where his brother lived, the same stairs the local dealer used to sell their wares from.
He climbed the stairs, the same smell of piss and weed still lingered in the stairwell, he came out onto the 2nd floor and walked the short distance to his brother’s door, he stopped, took a deep breath and gently knocked the door. He waited for a moment before he heard movement on the other side of the door, his brother had a slight limp form an old football injury and still limped, despite the physio's best efforts, his brother hadn't done the stretches suggested, his walk was unmistakable.
'Yeah, who is it?' It was his Brothers familiar voice, still rough, Marvin smiled, he felt some comfort from hearing his voice.
'It's Marvin'. Silence. 'Can I see you?'
'You're not welcome Marvin, I heard about Denise and I'm sorry but I've nothing for you'.
'What do you mean nothing for me? I came here to see you, I don't want anything from you'.
I’m sorry Marvin, when you left the estate, you left us, you're not family anymore, you're a memory now. I hope you find Reece' his brother said. Marvin then heard the same familiar footsteps walk away from the door, like they had so many times before.
'So you know something about Reece?' The walking stopped and paused where it was.
Marvin heard a loud sigh, 'be careful Marvin, be very careful, stay safe bro, stay safe' his brother said before the familiar sound of his gait disappeared.
Marvin banged on the door, 'what do you know, where’s my son?' He shouted.
Silence. He tried again, still nothing, no sound of a gait behind the door, nothing, he banged the door one last time in frustration before heading for the stairs again, another brick wall, at least he could tell Susan he'd tried with his brother.
…
As he walked down the street towards the bus stop he saw a woman pushing a pram towards him, her face looked familiar, he slowed his walk and tried to remember where he knew her from. She looked up and recognised him, ‘Marvin, oh my god, you’re out’ the woman said cheerfully.
Marvin smiled, ‘hi, yeah I got out a few days ago’ he paused for a moment, still trying to place her face. ‘I’m sorry, I recognise you, but I can’t remember your name’.
The woman slapped his arm gently, ‘Marvin! I can’t believe you can’t remember me, I’m Shenaz, Denise’s Bessie mate, c’mon man’.
‘Ah, sorry Shenaz, it’s been a while’ Marvin said, ‘how’s life?’
‘Yeah same old, same old, finally got me self a good man, as you can see’ Shenaz said pointing to the child in the pram, ‘how about you, I’m sorry about Denise and Taya, it must’ve been tough’.
‘Yes it is, especially as no-one’s telling me a thing about Reece’.
‘Really?’ Shenaz exclaimed.
‘Nothing, you know, I’d just like to know he’s OK and who he’s with, he's my boy’.
‘Ah man, I’m sorry, no-one really knows who he is, all Denise said was that he was rich and powerful and she’s known him for some time, but she disappeared off the grid after a while, then the next we hear is she’s dead in a boating accident, her and poor little Taya, but Reece made it at least’.
‘I know, that’s all that’s keeping me going at the moment, but no-one seems to know who this mystery man is’.
Shenaz shook her head, ‘I don’t know, I wish I did, I really do, but she didn’t tell us his name’.
Marvin shook his head, ‘it’s OK, not your fault, I’ll find him somehow’.
‘There is one thing though, have you been to your old house Marvin?’ Shenaz asked.
Marvin shook his head, ‘I’ve not been by it myself but it’s not been lived in since Denise moved out, but apparently there’s plastic sheeting on the windows and those nice Roses Denise used to have are gone and it’s all overgrown. I was speaking to one of the estate kids and he says it sounds like it’s a weed factory ’ Shenaz said. Marvin's heart sank.
‘Thanks, it sounds like a start, I’ll check it out’ Marvin replied.
'There is one more thing I nearly forgot, she said he had gold teeth, which I thinks’ disgusting but like, she always liked a bad boy, you were the exception'.
'Still wasn't enough though'.
Shenaz smiled for a moment, then looked at her watch, ‘anyway, I’m really sorry, I’ve gotta run, take care of yourself Marvin, I’m sure you’ll find your way back to the top’.
‘Thanks, you take care of yourself and your little one, oh and thanks for telling me, it’s taken years to find a start so thank you'.
'Take care Marv' Shenaz said as she moved away.
Marvin watched as Shenaz walked on and eventually turned a corner, he took in a deep breath and carried on towards the bus stop, this meant war, absolute war, screw the happy life, he wanted vengeance now, he decided, the house must burn, the memories, the effort and love he put into it, it must burn.
...
Marvin arrived back at the probation hostel, the rage inside him growing, rising slowly over his house, over Reece, over everything. It’d have to wait though, he needed to scout the place out first, and see it for himself. First though, he needed a car, he missed his Mercedes but with the money he had, the car had to be as cheap as possible.
He walked up to the hostels door and buzzed the doorbell, Milo let him in and Marvin headed straight for the community computer, he still had a couple of grand left in the bank, he'd be able to find something. Otis was being released from prison and Marvin wanted to surprise him by picking him up from prison.
He quickly pulled up an auction site and started trawling through the car’s, setting a distance of five miles and a budget of £500, limiting the search somewhat. He looked through a few cars, turning his nose up at most, some without an MOT, others looking as if