The Burnley Boys

by Drew Black

  "Hello Jack, long time no see."

  The voice was the same though, he'd always liked that voice, it had a comforting ring to it. "Hello Jane."

  "Come on in." she said giving him a warm smile that said everything's okay.

  He followed Jane into the lounge, still feeling a bit shell-shocked. He could've done without this reunion, he thought with a tinge of bitterness, but deep down a part of him was excited to see her, and he hated that part of himself.

  "Howdy pardner," Tom said slapping Jack on the back, "you still a bit saddle sore?"

  "I feel a lot better today thanks, you?"

  "Slept like a log. One hell of a course wasn't it?"

  "You can say that again." Jack agreed, preoccupied with other things. What the hell was she doing back anyway? He hadn't wanted to ever set eyes on her again. He'd loved her, and she'd left him in the lurch, oh, he really didn't need this shit.

  "One hell of a course, wasn’t it?”

  Jack smiled at Tom's corny humour. "Hi Helen." he said sitting down on the sofa being mindful to keep a good distance from Jane.

  "Ay-ah Jack. How are you doing?” Helen said acutely aware of how her brother must be feeling seeing Jane again after all this time. Her heart went out to him because she knew how much he'd once cared for this girl who was presently sat, as large as life, on her sofa.

  "I hear your doing well Jack, Tom tells me that your running John Jessop's estate virtually single-handedly."

  Jack turned to face Jane; "Yeah, I'm doing okay thanks."

  Jane's smile faltered a little.

  "How are you anyway?"

  "Yeah, I'm fine thanks for asking, but I've really started to miss home this last year or so." She paused and was about to continue when Jack pre-empted her, "Well, I'm glad you’re okay, and your looking well."

  "Thanks, so are you." she said smiling, this time more cautiously.

  "It's really great to see you Jane, but if you don't mind Tom and I have got business to discuss. You ready Tom?" Jack said getting to his feet.

  Tom got up and followed Jack, but stopped to kiss his sister, who in turn embraced him.

  Helen felt a surge of jealousy before reminding herself that it was only his sister. Nevertheless, who did she think she was just waltzing back here after all this time. Where was she when Tom was ill and needed her? Down living it up in fuckin' London, that's where.

  Outside Jack felt a bit low, the good feelings he'd felt earlier in the day had vanished only to be replaced by sullen resentment.

  "You okay buddy?" Tom asked clamping a large hand on Jack's shoulder. Jasper padded along at their side; tongue hung out panting contentedly.

  "Yeah, I'm fine, I suppose I was just shocked to see her that's all."

  "You were shocked to see her. Imagine how I felt, not seeing her, well not remembering seeing her anyway, for over six years." Tom enthused. "Don't you think she looks great. I honestly don't know how I've managed without her."

  "Probably our Helen has had something to do with that, you ungrateful shit!"

  "Hey, for Christ's sake, where did that come from?" Tom said sounding hurt.

  "It came from in here." Jack said prodding at his chest with his finger. "Helen loves you, and she never went swanning off to London when you needed her."

  Tom just stood there, mouth agape, rooted to the spot. Jasper sat at his side observing the scene above him.

  "And, I'll tell you another thing." Jack continued his finger less than an inch from Tom's nose. "if you ever hurt her, friend or no friend, I'll cut your fuckin' head off."

  Tom shook his head.

  Jack lowered his hand but not his gaze.

  "Jack this is Tom you're talking to here." Tom said placing both his hands on his friend's shoulders.

  Jack shrugged him off.

  "I'd never dream of hurting you or Helen, you know that."

  "You might have your long-lost sister back in town, but just stop for one moment and consider Helen's feelings. I'm just glad you've said what you've just said to me and not her, that's all."

  "You know I didn't mean it like that. I love Helen and I always will, but Jane's my sister and I'm glad that she's back home where she belongs. Surely, you can't begrudge me that?"

  "I've said all I'm going to say on the matter, and that's the end of it. Anyway, we've got other things to discuss."

  "Jeez, I wish I'd never opened my mouth" Tom said retrieving Jasper's lead.

  They continued to walk in silence.

  Tom felt a spot of rain on his cheek. "What do you think about Jessop wanting to turn the estate into a control centre?"

  Jack shrugged his shoulders.

  "I think he's taking one hell of a risk, don't you?"

  "If you want my opinion, I think he's past caring. Look at it from his perspective. His wife, who apparently, he worshipped, died in childbirth. Then Sam, who meant everything to him, gets killed. What's the one thing he's got left?"

  "He's got you."

  Jack stopped suddenly; "I didn't mean me Tom, what made you say that, I meant the syndicate. Listen Tom, I belong to no-one. Do you understand, no-one?”

  "Hey buddy chill out will you, what the hell's got into you today? All I meant was that Jessop thinks a lot of you, that's all."

  Jack sighed; "I'm sorry, I do feel a bit strung out, maybe it's the aftereffects of the course."

  "Yeah, well done with that, by the way."

  "What do you mean?"

  "You were unbelievable. The shit you took from that sergeant. Someone, probably that fucker Hunter, had obviously told him to single you out"

  Jack looked at Tom questioningly.

  "He was trying his utmost to break you, but you didn't give in. I'm proud of you Jack, I really mean that."

  Jack paused to consider what Tom had just said. Finally, he said; "Thanks Tom, thanks a lot."

  Tom clapped Jack on the shoulder; "Listen, I'm heading back, it's starting to rain, and I don't fancy getting drenched, are you coming?"

  "No thanks, I'm halfway home now, I'll catch you in the week."

  "Okay buddy. Listen, do me a favour, will you? Don't be too harsh on Jane. I know it upset you when she went to London, it upset us all. But she's a good person, and I'm prepared to accept that she must've had her reasons, besides which, life's too short to hold grudges."

  Jack said nothing.

  Tom laughed; "Anyway, I'm sure you still fancy her."

  Jack shook his head.

  "Go awwwwn, admit it! Not just a teensy bit?"

  "Well maybe part of me still does, but you tell her that and your dead, I mean it Tom."

  "Okay, I won't tell her, but what I want to know is, which part of you still fancies her? Tom asked goosing Jack's balls.

  "Asshole!" Jack said brushing Tom's hand away.

  Tom yanked on Jasper's lead, "I'll see you in the week." he said and set off for home.

  5

  Jack found Gerald Emerson to be an enthralling character. He had to admit when he first discovered that Emerson was going to be his mentor, he'd been a bit disappointed. Emerson had struck him as being a bit of a loner, a bit creepy even. He was a funny looking chap with slicked back hair which looked like it had been coated in boot polish. He also wore horn-rimmed glasses with jam-jar bottom lenses. Now Jack could empathise with anyone who had to wear glasses but come on those specs were unreal. He also had the annoying habit of continuously pushing them back up the bridge of his nose with his middle finger. However, much to Jack's surprise, the guy turned out to be fascinating. Also, he had a very dry sense of humour which Jack found hilarious.

  "What did you think of your fist meeting with The Boys then?" Emerson asked Jack relaxing back in one of Jessop's conservatory chairs.

  "If I'm honest, I found it a bit overwhelming, sitting up there in front of all those men." Over the course of the two weeks that Jack had spent with Emerson he had grown to trust him. He was unsure of whether he was being naive or not, but that was how he felt. Furt
hermore, he hoped that Emerson reciprocated his trust.

  "I know it's easy for me to say, but you will get used to it. I remember the first time I had to speak in public. I felt as though I was going to feint."

  Jack smiled. He knew just what Emerson meant.

  "And I made a right hash of it, but at the end of the day Jack, nobody cares. In life, actions speak far louder than words, and besides you did okay."

  Jack looked at Emerson.

  "Honestly Jack, and others thought so too. Like I say, you will get used to it. You never know, you might even start to enjoy it."

  "I'll have to take your word about that Gerald, but I just got the feeling that most of them were thinking, what the hell is that stupid kid doing sat up there?"

  "Maybe a lot of them were thinking something along those lines, but it's up to you Jack, to show them why you're sat up there, and believe you me Jack the moment you start putting more money in their pockets, any prejudices they may've held against you because of your age will disappear in a flash." Emerson pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose, but Jack didn't notice it. "But that's the trouble Gerald, what happens if I start putting less money in their pockets instead?"

  "Then they'll shoot you!"

  Jack looked up startled.

  "Relax, I'm only kidding. Trust me, you are going to be a success in the job. Lately, if I'm being honest, I haven't been putting half as much time into the job as I used to. That's strictly between you and me of course."

  Jack nodded his agreement.

  "That's the main reason I've decided to retire, I just can't do the job justice anymore. The whole thing has grown so much since we first started out, and in truth we should've made these changes years ago."

  "Then why didn't you then?"

  "Well, if you want my opinion, and I must stress, it is just my opinion; John's been holding on for you, and Tom, but especially you, you're the son he never had Jack. You wouldn't believe how highly he thinks of you."

  Oh yes, I would, Jack thought, but that's what worried him. "What if I let him down? Don't get me wrong, both Tom and I are totally committed to the syndicate, but what if we balls it up?"

  "Well," Emerson said leaning forward. "Firstly, I don't think either of you will balls it up, but you've got to understand the concept of success Jack."

  "And what's that?"

  "In order to succeed in anything, it's necessary to first believe that you are capable of doing so. The rest is relatively straight forward. I'm not suggesting that hard work won't be involved because it undoubtedly will be, but the man who believes he can do something usually ends up doing it. It's all up here." Emerson concluded tapping the side of his head and sitting back in his chair with a smile.

  Jack looked questioningly at him.

  "You don't believe me, do you?"

  No, I wouldn't say that, but surely it can't be that easy because if it was everyone would be rich."

  "Well, firstly I wasn't talking about becoming rich I was talking about becoming successful, although, granted, the two usually go hand in hand, but yes, it is that simple. Life is simple Jack it's only politicians and bureaucrats who choose to complicate it. Let me ask you a question."

  "Fire away."

  "What's the best Christmas present, post Father Christmas, that you've ever received?"

  "That's easy, a scooter."

  "Okay, how many times did you ask your mum and dad for one, I presume it was them who bought it for you?"

  Jack nodded, "Loads, I mithered them to death, particularly my mum. Thinking about it now I suppose I was pretty selfish because they didn't have much money back then."

  Emerson waved his hand dismissively; "Okay, number one, it was the best present you ever received?"

  "Definitely,"

  "Number two; your parents weren't rolling in money."

  Jack nodded.

  "What do you think would've happened if you'd asked for that scooter once, then never mentioned it again?

  "Dunno, I probably would've gotten something else."

  "Exactly!" Emerson exclaimed, "You probably would've gotten something else. Probably something that you didn't really want."

  Jack nodded; "Yes, I understand what you are saying, but what has it got do with becoming a success?"

  Emerson smiled; "Why did you keep on mithering them about it?"

  "Because I knew that if I kept on long enough, they'd give in in the end."

  "That's my whole point about success Jack, you believed you'd get that scooter, and voila, you did. I'll tell you something else about that scooter, shall I? Although it may've been a hardship for your mum and dad to afford it, the amount of pleasure they would've derived from giving you the present you really wanted would've made the price seem like peanuts in comparison. So, no matter how successful you become Jack Davies, you must always remember that success itself is a gift bestowed upon you from the people who support you, and without them you are nothing."

  Emerson excused himself and left the conservatory.

  Jack reflected on his words and wished he could be so self-assured and grounded.

  Emerson returned and lay a number of books on the coffee table before them. He took one and handed it to Jack; 'Financial Theory Made Simple' by J.G. Bent. "Now I know you've been running the estate's accounts for a number of years Jack, and undoubtedly, you've got a good grasp of the basics of general finance, but that book is the most important one I've ever read."

  Jack immediately began to handle it with more care, it was as if Emerson's recommendation of it had somehow increased its value tenfold.

  "I first read it many years ago, when I was not much older than you are now, and I still refer to it to this day, but I've decided that I want you to have it."

  Jack immediately handed the book back, "I can't accept it, not when you value it so much."

  "Jack, the reason I'm giving it to you, is that I know you'll make good use of it. I've achieved most of what I set out to achieve in life, and there's no doubt about it that that book has helped me achieve it. Now it's time it had a new owner, and I want that new owner to be you."

  "Thanks Gerald, thanks very much."

  Gerald just nodded; "We must get through the contribution scheme today otherwise we're going to fall behind, and that won't please John one little bit, so let's crack on."

  "Okay Gerald, but before we do, what was the second point you were going to make about us not letting John down?"

  Emerson looked at Jack blankly.

  "You said, firstly, I don't think you will make a balls of it, but you never said what the second thing was."

  "Sorry Jack, you're absolutely right, the other thing I was going to say to you was; if and I do mean if things don't work out, Jessop, John would blame himself far more for making the wrong choice in the first place than he would you for failing in the role. He's very fair like that, the buck always stops with him. That's the way he plays the game, and if you ever feel like everything's getting on top of you Jack remember, it is all just a game.

  Some fuckin' game Jack thought.

  6

  Quilter lay back on his bed, took one last drag of his cigarette, and stubbed it out in the ashtray. He belched loudly. Neville Hunter's words were still fresh in his mind, he'd always been aware of the fact that Hunter and Jessop didn't always see eye to eye, but he hadn't realised until the last few weeks just how much Hunter actually despised the boss. Quilter pondered this concept for a long time until the daylight faded right down. He reluctantly got up and turned on a light. He blinked at its brightness and blurred images momentarily danced on his retinas. He went over and looked out the window briefly before closing the curtains. He went to turn the TV on and then decided against it, instead he lay back down on his bed.

  Hunter had scoffed at the idea of him being put in charge of intelligence. Not that he didn't want him on the board, far from it, well that's what he'd said, anyway. 'Let's face it Dave,' he'd said, 'putting one of the syndicate's bet
ter-known faces in charge of covert operations, please, come on even Jessop's not that stupid. No Dave, he's sticking you out on a limb. He may as well have given the job to Shards, Chief of fuckin' Police for Christ's sake.'

  Maybe Hunter was right, maybe he was just trying to turn him against Jessop, but at the end of the day Quilter didn't give a fuck one way or the other. He was on the board now and that's all that mattered. Even if it killed him, ('and that's what he wants Dave.' he could hear Hunter scoff.’) he was going to make a success of this job. "I'm much too sharp for that Neville, you see that's the one thing you and Jessop haven't realised about me yet. Let's just hope for your sakes, you don't live to regret it."

  7

  Jack collected the keys to his first house less than a month after buying his first car, a second-hand Vauxhall Viva, it was hardly rock star transportation, but hey, it was a start.

  As he tried the key in the front door, he felt certain for one reason or another that it wasn't going to work, but his apprehension was unfounded, and the key turned in the lock smoothly enabling him to open the door. The door to his property. As he entered it, he felt an immense sense of pride. He’d arrived, he thought, taking a fresh look around the place. The house was a three-bed semi, situated about halfway between the estate and Tom and Helen's. He turned on the gas fire, wow instant heat at the flick of a switch, how cool.

  8

  Over the course of the next few weeks Jack with the help of his friends, family, and the workmen from the estate, got the place licked into shape.

  9

  Usually on Saturday nights Jack would venture down the pub, but since he'd got his own place he'd hardly bothered, and this Saturday evening was no different. He poured himself a beer, switched on the TV and made himself comfortable. He was just settling down when a knock came to the door. "Fuckin' hell, who’s this?" he said getting up from the sofa. He put his beer on the fireplace, being mindful to use a coaster, and then went to answer the door. It was Jane.