Breakers

by Doug Johnstone

  Eventually Tyler spoke, his voice flat. ‘So did you get anywhere with the St Margaret’s Road thing?’

  Pearce changed up a gear and looked at him. ‘CCTV and forensics, you mean?’

  Tyler shrugged.

  Pearce indicated left, heading back into the neighbourhood. ‘We’re getting there.’

  Which meant they weren’t getting anywhere. If they had something, he, Barry and Kelly would be at Craigmillar Station right now asking for a solicitor.

  They were back where they started. The crowds of kids had dispersed, just a few stragglers outside the gates, two boys joke fighting, some girls pretending not to watch them.

  Pearce pulled the car into the kerb and killed the engine. Tyler went to get out but she put a hand on his arm. She nodded at his face, and it was only then that he remembered his bruised eye. His hand went to it.

  ‘What happened to you?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘A Barry-shaped nothing?’

  Tyler stared at her and removed her hand from his arm. ‘You don’t know anything.’

  ‘I know a lot more than you give me credit for.’

  ‘That wouldn’t be hard.’

  Pearce sighed. ‘You’re fucked, you know that? We’re going to get Barry and Kelly for this. If you don’t give them to us, tell us what happened, then we’ll fuck you too.’

  Tyler sat in silence.

  Pearce shook her head. ‘Your sister will go into care without you. Is that what you want?’

  Tyler had the car door open. ‘You’ve already said this. Save it. I have to get Bean, she’ll be wondering where I am.’

  He was out the car now, his hand on the door, about to close it.

  Pearce leaned over to see him better.

  ‘You know what you need to do to protect her.’

  ‘See you,’ Tyler said, and closed the door.

  He turned towards Craigmillar Primary and didn’t look back. Eventually he heard the engine start up and the car pull away, leaving just silence.

  21

  The place was really starting to smell of shit and piss. Bean didn’t seem to notice as she scurried over and gave Snook a hug. The dog fussed over her, tail flapping, snout nuzzling her neck, her tongue licking at Bean’s face and making her giggle. Two of the puppies were watching their mum and nosing around the girl, mimicking her interest. The third just lay on the mattress next to a smear of her own poo. There were two male puppies and one female, so Bean had named them Mario, Luigi and Peach. It was Peach who didn’t get up, just lifted her head and angled it to see where her mum was.

  Bean noticed. ‘What’s wrong with Peach?’

  Tyler knelt down and stroked her. Her brothers snuffled over, sniffing at his hand as it ran through her fur. He placed the palm of his hand against her chest, felt a racing heartbeat. He did the same to Mario to compare, but it felt the same. Peach’s eyes were milky, like she couldn’t focus. Tyler knew nothing about raising dogs, house-training, any of it. Snook ambled over and nudged Peach, licking her face, and the puppy responded with a faint flick of the tail and a high-pitched keen.

  ‘Tyler?’

  There was worry in Bean’s voice.

  ‘Maybe she’s just tired,’ he said.

  But it was obviously more than that.

  ‘Should we take her home, feed her up?’

  Tyler shook his head as he stroked the pup. ‘The best place for her is with her mum.’

  Bean made a show of covering Snook’s ears as if the dog could understand them. ‘Mums are not always the best at looking after their children.’

  Tyler gave Snook a stroke of her muzzle and moved Bean’s hands away.

  ‘Peach can’t eat anything we give her,’ he said. ‘Puppies only drink their mother’s milk until they’re stronger.’

  Bean stared at Peach, who had put her head back down on the mattress. Luigi stumbled and fell on top of her, and Tyler lifted him off.

  ‘But what if she doesn’t get stronger?’ Bean said.

  Tyler took a deep breath. ‘Let’s just wait and see, OK?’

  Bean frowned, knew she was being fobbed off.

  She fussed over Snook and the puppies as Tyler got up and looked around. He picked up an old magazine and ripped out a few pages, used them to scoop up as much of the puppies’ shit as he could, all the stuff that was on the mattress or nearby. The shit was runny and left dark stains behind as he piled up shitty magazine pages in the old fireplace full of masonry rubble and dust.

  Bean’s comment about mums not looking after their kids was obviously about Angela, but he pictured Monica in that hospital bed, Ryan holding her hand.

  The puppies had gone quiet. Tyler saw that they were all feeding, Peach less enthusiastic than her brothers, Snook’s teat occasionally falling from her mouth, making her search about, groggy and unfocused. Bean had her bottom lip sticking out as she gently stroked Peach, nudging her back towards Snook’s teat.

  He wondered how much Bean remembered. For a little while after she was born, Angela seemed to get her shit together. She stayed off the hard drugs and restricted herself to functional heavy drinking, enough to be able to keep a baby clean and fed, just about. Maybe it was having to focus on Bean that gave her the idea that life was worth sticking at.

  But gradually she began slipping back into old habits. Barry and Kelly were teenagers by then and concentrated their growing anger on belittling their mum, with a lot of success, driving her back to smack and leaving Tyler to pick up looking after Bean. Angela became so incapable and incoherent that she was sometimes a danger to Bean. Ovens left on, cigarette scorch marks on the carpet, which could easily have become infernos. Once she forgot Bean in her buggy completely, leaving her in the car park outside the tower block. Tyler heard his sister’s screams as he walked home from school, God knows how long she’d been there, her nose and fingers freezing in the winter weather, her bum red with nappy rash once Tyler got her upstairs and changed. Angela was asleep on the floor in Tyler’s room, and he was unable to wake her. Next day he couldn’t get any sense out of her, she claimed to have no memory of it. He suspected she’d gone out to score and in the adrenaline rush and alcohol haze she’d simply forgotten she had a baby to look after.

  He should’ve reported it. Maybe Bean would’ve been better off in a foster home or with adopted parents. But he knew he wouldn’t get to go with her, they’d be separated, and he couldn’t stand that. Besides, he was doing a decent job of looking after her, cleaning up around Mum and making sure he and Bean got washed and fed every now and then. And the truth was, Angela would die without them. She might die anyway, of course, but it would happen quicker if there wasn’t that tiny spark keeping her going, somewhere buried deep down, the idea that she was supposed to be a parent, supposed to look after these kids, even if the reality was the opposite.

  And as time went on, Tyler was less likely to report Angela’s failures to social services because it would be even more likely that he and Bean would be split up. He learned to cope with Angela’s erratic behaviour, learned to watch out for his sister and make sure he had all eventualities covered. And Angela retreated, sensing his growing confidence and competence. She slumped further into self-pity and smack, the spiral of those two things. Tyler wondered if he’d made a mistake, maybe covering for his mum and looking out for Bean made Angela abandon her responsibilities, because she knew Tyler would pick up the slack. But what the fuck was the alternative – endanger Bean? He wasn’t willing to do that, not back then and not now.

  He sighed.

  ‘Come on,’ he said to Bean, still stroking Peach. He made a mental note to look into why puppies might get sick. ‘Time to go home.’

  22

  He spotted Flick’s car as they came round the bend. It was impossible to miss, a brand-new, bright-red, soft-top Beetle parked outside Greendykes House. It was like a beacon of affluence shining in the gloom. The sight of the car made him feel excited and sick at the same time. As they came closer h
e saw it was empty and he gazed up at the top floor of the tower block, wondering.

  He led Bean through the ground-floor lobby, praying Flick was there. No sign. They got in the lift and Bean pressed the button, then they went up with a judder and scrape. At the top he went to the flat, opened the door, prepared himself. Bean went straight to the living room and he followed, no one around. She switched on the TV, a thing on CBBC called Marrying Mum and Dad where kids got to take over their parents’ weddings. More happy families.

  Where was Flick? And Angela?

  ‘Hello?’ Tyler said.

  No answer, just hyperactive television presenters burbling on screen.

  He went from room to room. No sign of anyone, the flat was empty. Then his stomach dropped. He went out of the flat and over to Barry and Kelly’s place, leaned his ear against their door. Conversation, laughter. No, no, no.

  He tried the door and to his surprise it opened. He heard the voices more clearly, recognised them both. He could hear the dogs snuffling around in Barry’s bedroom, locked away, but the voices were coming from the living room. He went in and there was Flick sitting next to Barry on the sofa. She was in her uniform, that red blazer, Jesus, like a distress flare. Barry passed a half-empty bottle of vodka to her and she took a swig.

  Barry had his arm along the back of the sofa, was sitting close to her, smiling. Something in his face changed when he realised Tyler was in the doorway. He didn’t look round at first, just raised his eyebrows. Eventually he turned.

  ‘Hello, little brother,’ he said softly. ‘Look who I bumped into.’

  Flick turned, shuddering as the vodka went down. ‘Hey, there.’

  She sniffed, and Tyler spotted coke leftovers on the low table in front of the pair of them.

  Barry smiled as he followed Tyler’s gaze. ‘Just having a wee party, aren’t we, Flick?’

  The way he said her name, he was letting Tyler know that he knew it. Tyler had made something else up, what was it? Fiona. This was bad, this was all bad.

  Flick waved the vodka bottle at Tyler. ‘Want some?’

  Tyler shook his head.

  ‘He doesn’t drink,’ Barry said. ‘Bit of a goody two-shoes.’

  Tyler thought he might be sick. Barry was doing all this for his benefit.

  Barry took the bottle from Flick. ‘He doesn’t know how to have a good time, not like us, Flick.’

  Her name again. Fuck. Tyler tried to gauge Flick. He’d told her Barry was a prick, but she didn’t realise he was dangerous. Nothing good could come of this, for any of them.

  Flick’s eyes were saucers because of the coke, her cheeks flushed from the vodka. He had to get her out of here.

  ‘Flick’s been telling me all about Inveresk,’ Barry said. ‘Sounds like quite a place.’

  The sight of her in that uniform in this shithole was like seeing a unicorn that’d wandered into a swamp.

  ‘I was wondering how you two lovebirds met?’ Barry said.

  Tyler stared at Flick, who showed something for the first time, a look that said she needed help.

  ‘Online,’ Tyler said. ‘I told you.’

  Flick nodded too much. ‘That’s right.’

  She wasn’t a good liar.

  Barry passed her the vodka and she held it, didn’t drink. He put his hand on her knee, just lightly. ‘It’s obvious what he sees in you.’ He looked up at Tyler. ‘But what the hell do you see in him, Flick?’

  Tyler saw her swallow, a nervous movement. ‘He’s kind.’

  ‘Is he?’ Barry smiled. ‘That’s nice. He’s a bit rough around the edges though, compared to Inveresk boys, eh?’

  ‘I suppose.’

  ‘You suppose.’

  Barry looked at the bottle in Flick’s hands.

  ‘Have a drink,’ he said.

  Flick put the bottle to her lips, took a sip.

  ‘Come on,’ Barry said. ‘A proper drink.’

  Flick took another slug. Barry’s hand was still on her knee.

  ‘Maybe that’s the appeal,’ Barry said. ‘That Tyler isn’t like the other boys you know. A bit of rough, eh? You like that?’

  He squeezed her knee and took the bottle from her.

  Tyler took a step forward and spoke to Flick. ‘We need to go.’

  She shared a look with him, then glanced at Barry’s hand on her knee.

  Barry shook his head. ‘You can’t leave already, we’re only just getting to know each other.’

  ‘I do have to get back to school,’ Flick said, beginning to ease herself off the sofa.

  Barry tightened his grip on her knee so that she froze.

  ‘I don’t believe you,’ he said.

  ‘What?’

  He held Flick’s gaze for a long time then eventually broke into a smile. ‘I think you guys want to have a quick shag, right?’

  ‘Barry,’ Tyler said.

  ‘What?’ He put on an innocent face.

  ‘Come on,’ Tyler said.

  Flick looked from one to the other, sniffed and swallowed.

  Barry stared at Tyler for a long time, still holding Flick’s leg. Then he loosened his grip and sat back. ‘Never let it be said that I stand in the way of true love.’

  He laughed to himself and took a big hit of vodka.

  ‘Now go and fuck each other’s brains out.’

  Flick got up and took Tyler’s hand and they left the flat and stood in the corridor.

  ‘What the fuck were you thinking?’ Tyler said.

  ‘What?’

  He kept his voice to a whisper. ‘He’s dangerous.’

  ‘I didn’t have any choice,’ Flick said.

  Her voice was louder and Tyler put out his hands to quieten her.

  ‘Right, he forced you to drink his vodka and snort his coke?’

  Her eyes widened. ‘Pretty much.’

  ‘Fuck off.’

  She straightened up. ‘I came here to thank you about Will, I wasn’t expecting you to jump down my throat.’

  Tyler shook his head. ‘You have no idea what you’re dealing with here. Barry is crazy.’

  ‘I told you I didn’t have a choice. He came out when he heard me at your door. Invited me in, said you’d be home soon. I tried to say no but he insisted.’

  ‘Try harder next time.’

  ‘Why are you being like this?’ Flick said.

  ‘Because.’ He didn’t know how to explain. ‘You don’t get it. This isn’t a fucking game. This is not some poverty safari for you to tour around, in your uniform and expensive car. This is real life. This is my fucking life.’

  Flick stared at him. ‘Is that what you think I’m doing?’

  ‘Isn’t it?’

  She shook her head. ‘Fuck you, Tyler.’

  She turned and pressed the button for the lift, stepped in and the doors closed.

  Tyler watched the floor counter above the doors then heard the brake mechanism kick in as she reached the ground floor.

  Barry’s door opened and he came out. Tyler froze.

  ‘Oh dear,’ he said, close to Tyler’s face. ‘Sounded like a bit of a lovers’ tiff.’

  Tyler just stood there. Barry grabbed his arm, meaty fingers wrapped around the bicep as he squeezed. He leaned in and whispered in Tyler’s ear.

  ‘Fiona, aye?’

  Tyler swallowed.

  ‘You’ve been lying to me from the fucking start,’ Barry said. ‘I can’t trust you.’

  Tyler felt the spit from the words on his ear.

  Barry nodded towards the lift. ‘And I sure as fuck can’t trust her. Have you told her anything?’

  Tyler frowned. ‘Of course not.’

  Barry punched Tyler’s stomach, doubling him over. He kept hold of the arm, hauled him back up again.

  ‘You’d better fucking not have.’ He straightened, stuck his chin out. ‘I don’t want you ever seeing that bitch again, do you understand me?’

  Tyler thought about Flick already driving back to the safety of Inveresk.

>   ‘Do you?’ Barry said, squeezing his arm till it burned.

  ‘I understand,’ Tyler said.

  23

  They drove past Blackford Pond then turned up the hill past the allotments to Hermitage Drive. There was no end to the big expensive houses in this city. Tyler couldn’t believe they were out on the prowl again, it was madness only two nights after what happened with the Holts. But Barry and Kelly seemed oblivious. When Tyler had protested back at the flat, Barry gave him the stare, and they were in the car heading out of Niddrie five minutes later. Bean was asleep at least, that was something. Angela crashed out, as usual.

  Rain smeared the car window which had fogged up inside from Tyler’s breath. He wiped at it with his sleeve and peered out. They turned at Braid Hills then across the main road to Greenbank, more modest places but still worth tapping if the chance came up. He had an idea and pulled Monica’s phone from his pocket, switched it on. Waited for it to boot up then went into texts again. A message from Deke:

  I will torture and kill you.

  Tyler switched it off and looked out of the window. They were out at the Napier Uni campus now. He counted up, that was five different locations for the phone, if anyone was following it, spread over miles of south Edinburgh, none of them Niddrie.

  They drove along Colinton into Morningside, round the back of the psychiatric hospital. This was unfocused, they were going too fast to properly scope the houses, and the rain didn’t help. Barry was obviously rattled by this Holt thing but couldn’t say anything.

  The radio was punting the new Taylor Swift song at them, Kelly and Barry laughing and drinking beer in the front. Drinking in the car now? Christ. They were asking to get pulled over. Tyler pulled the snapshot of him and Bean out of his pocket, the one she took with the stolen camera. She was smiling widely, eyebrows raised in delight. Tyler had a furrowed brow. The graininess of the picture made it seem like it was taken years ago. He rubbed his thumb across Bean’s face, then put it away.

  Kelly turned to the back. ‘I heard you had a run-in at school today.’

  Tyler swallowed. ‘What?’