County Lines Rider

by Samantha Bassett

  On my one day off a week, I had started to explore London and had, finally, after many false starts, been able to navigate the buses and tubes without getting hopelessly lost. Michelle had helped me on the first few trips out as I had nervously navigated the underground and had stumbled on the escalators, much to her amusement.

  I’d never been someone for whom culture was a great part of my life, but exposure to the free museums and galleries as well as the many landmarks of the Capital had awakened an interest within me and I would spend many a happy afternoon browsing and have started to create an interest and appreciation for equestrian art. I kept this new found love pretty much to myself however as I knew the others would laugh at my ‘posh’ ways. I smiled to myself at the thought.

  “Amanda?” Anne leaned out of the office door.

  “Hello…” Amanda sat down in the cracked plastic seat which sat opposite the large office desk. Anne smiled pushing a chipped mug across the surface. “Oh, thanks!”

  “How are you doing? No, don’t look so alarmed, there’s nothing wrong.” She laughed as she watched my face drop. “I just wanted to be sure that you were happy. Please, don’t be nervous. I’ll support you and all my girls as much as I can. You’re family to me.” She paused. “It’s just it’s been a year, it seems to have gone quickly.”

  “Oh Anne, I love it here. I have to be honest, when I first arrived…” I stopped as Anne started laughing.

  “Oh, I know what you are going to say…” She snorted. “Amanda, I do know that this isn’t the finest establishment in the world, I’m not as daft as some you think I am. Don’t be shy. I try to make sure the horses and you girls come first, I know we are a sort of last resort. Some people won’t step through the gate, however I don’t need those sort of people in my life. Those that need a place to be safe always find us and are always welcome. People sort of have a knack of finding me and I am always there to support when I can.”

  “Well, thanks…” I relaxed. “It’s not too bad!”

  “Oh, you’re so polite! You live in a windowless flat under a railway arch! The food is… Well, it is supposedly edible but what do you expect if your cook also cleans the toilets.” She smiled. “I understand the girls want to have a little celebration for you, Sue called it your ‘new birthday’, so we’ll getaway for the evening and enjoy ourselves.”

  “Thank you…”

  “No, thank you… Now you have lessons to teach. There is someone for a new rider assessment and a couple of private lessons with regulars.”

  “Yes miss!” I playfully tugged my forelock and ducked as Anne threw her used teabag at me.

  ***

  Dusty and tired after spending hours standing in the stuffy indoor school I waved goodbye to the last of my riders and stepped onto the strangely silent yard. The weather had been oppressive and the horses hung their heads over stable doors lazily. I yawned, oblivious to the footsteps behind me, shrieking as pairs of hands grabbed my arms and legs, I was lifted and carried across the yard. “Aggh! What the hell!”

  “Dunk her!” Sue yelled as I was flung into the deep trough which sat beside the paddock. There was a loud splash as I sunk beneath the frigid water. I gasped struggling to my feet in the slimy water, wiping my eyes I saw the grooms surrounding me applauding.

  “Oh very good… Thank you!” I bowed. “I was rather warm… But, I have to say, I’m bloody freezing now!”

  “Oh Mandy, we can cure that for you!” Sue whistled loudly and I was grabbed again, dragged from the trough and once again lifted and carried across the yard. The penny dropped.

  “Oh no!” I stuttered. “Sue, girls… No!” I was being dragged at speed towards the sprawling muck heap. “Please… Not the muck heap…”

  “Ah…. Come on Mandy… One, two three…”

  Flying through the air, I landed in a hole dug in the steaming heap, I covered my face as pitchfork loads of manure hit me.

  Sue stood back with the other girls. There was no evidence that there was anyone on the muck heap and it crossed her mind they might have gone just a little too far when I breached the surface bedraggled and swearing. I dug her way from the pile. The collected laughter and wolf whistles were cut short as I rushed towards the others with my arms open. I grabbed Sue in a stinking bear hug.

  “Happy birthday kid! Now you bloody stink and we aren’t taking you out till you’ve had a shower!”

  I laughed, wiping my mucky hands-on Sue’s face and hair. “You too you bitch! You know what…” I released my arms and turned to the assembled staff. “I have never been made to feel so welcome anywhere!”

  “Oh, you crazy cow!” Liz giggled. “Come on, you have the first shower while there is hot water. The rest of you better run!”

  “What!” Sue cried. “Don’t leave me…”

  ***

  Scrubbed and wearing my best jeans I stepped out onto the yard. Sue was behind me moaning that she had a cold shower but was being ignored by the others who were joshing and laughing. Anne was waiting by the office wearing a short dress. There was a chorus of wolf whistles and cries of ‘she does have legs!’

  “Yes, ladies. Just because I live in breeches, it doesn’t mean that I can’t sometimes dress up.” She laughed. “Let’s go up West.”

  A night on the town usually meant a trip to the local pub, however tonight we boarded a bus and tube, finally arriving in Covent Garden at a small Italian restaurant. “I don’t think I can afford this?” I whispered.

  “Don’t you worry… This is our treat!” Liz smiled.

  As we stepped inside, the owner rushed forward and embraced Anne saying it had been ‘far too long’. We were seated on a long row of tables and wine was soon poured followed by the softest Italian bread and olives.

  Dish after dish were served and shared until, after bowlfuls of rich trifle and dark coffee we staggered out into the night air. “What’sup, babe?” Sue reached across and wiped the tears from my eyes.

  “It’s stupid…”

  “Nothing’s stupid…” She winked. “Except maybe Liz’s taste in men!”

  “Oi!”

  I giggled. “No, I’ve just never had a meal like that. I’ve never had a proper meal in a restaurant or had friends around me.”

  “Well, that’s where you’re wrong. We ain’t just your friends. We’re family!”

  A loud and drunken chorus of ‘We are family’ was sung as they approached the tube station.

  ***

  Back on Clapham High Street, Sue nodded towards a bar. “Fancy a nightcap?”

  “Not for me girls. Some of us have to be up early. Tell you what, I’ll start the morning feed, just don’t leave me to muck everything out. You enjoy your night!” Anne smiled and walked towards the bus stop.

  The interior of The Blue Moon was dark, illuminated with small pools of lights on tables. As it was a Wednesday the bar was quiet and so the bartender welcomed a group of rowdy women to make the evening go a little quicker. He was soon mixing jugs of cocktails and fending off wolf whistles and lewd comments with good nature.

  “It’s got busy out there…” Patrick looked through the one way glass into the bar, watching the women standing at the bar.

  “Good, it’s always good to at least pretend this is a going concern.” Edwin smiled. “Now, back to the business in hand.”

  ***

  “Thanks, Sue… For everything…”

  “Well, I am sure you don’t want to say thanks for burying you on the muck heap. Although it was very funny from where I was standing!”

  “Even that…” I sighed. “The camaraderie and friendship. I’ve not had much of that in my life you know.”

  “Well, we’re here for you now.”

  “And, when is your birthday?”

  “Oh… Wouldn’t you like to know!…” She laughed. “Good night Mandy…”

  6

  Meeting With a Gangster

  “Michael. How pleasant of you to join me.” The slim, dark-haired man was dragg
ed through the door of the office by two heavy-set men in leather jackets. They forced him into a chair facing the desk, he gasped struggling to escape but was forcefully held in place.

  “Edwin…” He stuttered. “Please, look I don’t know how the police knew where we were.”

  “Michael, I presume you are saying that you were not aware that, through some carelessness of yourself or your people, I lost product with a street value close to five million pounds. You are trying to explain, no doubt that the reason the property, which you personally assured me would be safe, was raided by the drugs squad completely at random and that I should not blame you for this situation.”

  “Edwin… I had nothing to do with this. You know me, we’ve worked together for years. I would never do anything to cross you.”

  “You say this Michael, however, I am in the unfortunate position that I am out of pocket to a large amount of sterling and, as much as have I trusted you in the past, it was you who let me down.”

  “Edwin… Please.”

  “Now, my friends in the constabulary tell me that someone in your organisation gave them a tip-off about my goods being stored in your location. That the raid which followed was far from being a coincidence. Whereas I’m sure that it was not you personally who did this, you have to understand I need someone to take the blame.”

  “Please… I beg you.”

  “I am a very reasonable man. You have to understand I don’t want to have to make an example of you, but if I don’t… Well, there would be consequences.” Michael screamed as he was dragged from the office.

  “Must you?”

  “Patrick, please don’t start getting sentimental here. An example has to be made; it is as bad as if he had stolen from me himself.”

  “No.” Patrick, blond-haired and muscular, dressed in a tailored dark suit snapped. “Kill the stupid fuck if you must. Just don’t do it here. The police are all over us already, we don’t need them to realise that the last place Michael was seen alive was in your own club. For God’s sake Edwin, sometimes you’re a bit naive.”

  Edwin laughed. A deep rumble which shook his stocky body, he ran his hand through his black hair and stood up facing Patrick. “You do know that, if anyone else spoke to me like you just did, they would be in the boot of the car with Michael right now.”

  “Edwin, I do realise that. As long as you realise also realise I’m the one that keeps this organisation running. Now, we have to get to the meeting we have planned in the City. I don’t want to keep our overseas guests waiting.”

  “Patrick, you are right as always.” Edwin stands up rapidly. “The car is outside?”

  “Naturally…”

  The two men walk through the darkened night club. Edwin Smith, once nothing more than a street-rat, running errands for the local drug dealers, now the lynch pin in the Capital’s drug supply chain. Naturally driven with no visible emotion, he had worked his way to the top by rapidly eliminating his competition, it was clear there were as many skeletons in his cupboard as there were bodies lost in the wilds of Epping forest. He wore a suit hand-tailored in Italian silk and although he was a large man, it was all muscle. His face and body were trim. He had piercing blue eyes which seemed to look through you. Beside him, was his trusted confidant and right-hand man Patrick Newburn, a skinny, rat-faced man whose tailored suit hung on him as if it was far too large. He had a pockmarked face, and a florid, narrow nose. He was deceptively strong and muscular with an evil temper which could flare at a moments notice.

  Stepping out onto Clapham High Street Edwin stepped off the curb towards the open door of the waiting black BMW, slipping on a pile of wet horse dung which was settling in the gutter. He swears loudly, yelling in disgust. “These are handmade Italian shoes! My suit is hand-tailored!… This is…” He gasped, before speaking unnaturally softly. “This is an outrage.”

  Edwin crossed the road, ignoring the horns and screeching of tyres as he stepped in front of cars, pacing towards the open gateway of the Clapham stables. “You!” He flung out his arm towards Anne who turned quickly towards him. “I am guessing it was one of your filthy animals who left crap outside my club. Crap, I should say which has ruined my hand-crafted shoes.”

  “Well, it wasn’t me…” She turned to ignore his ranting. Edwin yelled, grabbing her by the shoulder, spinning her around roughly.

  “I’m sorry?” Anne grabbed his hand and pulled it off her shoulder.

  “You should be!” Edwin roared.

  “No, you misunderstand, I mean, I’m sorry as in, what the fuck are you doing, you nauseating shit!” Anne growled.

  “You’re dead lady!” Edwin reached into his jacket.

  “What the hell is happening here?” I stepped in front of Anne, directly between the two of them. “No one hurts Anne…”

  Edwin laughed. “Oh… I’m sorry…” A smile breaks his face. “Look, Patrick, she has a minder. I will admit, there’s not much to you, but I admire your pluck Missy!” He pauses, taking a deep breath. “Now, I knew there were horses somewhere around here, but had never seen where they came from. I guess I had better be careful where I tread from now on…”

  “Please, just go away…” I stutter.

  “I will…” He smiled. “But only because you have asked so nicely.”

  “Right, it’s over Edwin, let’s get going we have an appointment. I am sorry for…” Patrick waves his hand. “Well, shit for this.” He ushers Edwin back to the car which drives away at speed.

  “Oh, shit Anne…” Jane rushes over. “Are you okay and you Mandy. Wow! You were some sort of…”

  ***

  “Patrick… No one likes horse crap on their shoes.” Edwin mused.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll have your shoes cleaned.”

  “No, you are missing the point. I would think that even the police would not want to get horse shit on their shiny boots.”

  “No, I am sure they don’t…” Patrick sighed, staring out the window.

  ***

  “Drink some tea…”

  “Uh…?” I was sitting in the tack room, the concerned faces of the staff around her. I sipped the warm tea. “Oh God, that’s sweet…”

  “I have to thank you… And tell you off, that was really stupid and amazingly brave.” Anne hugged Amanda warmly.

  “I don’t like bullies.”

  “I can tell.” Anne stopped. “Sorry, I’m still a bit in shock.” She gulps her own tea. “Right, I’m taking you all to the pub tonight.”

  ***

  I didn’t have to pay for a single drink with Anne and the staff fighting to make sure my glass remained full, so I staggered back to the yard supported by Sue and Jane, hiccuping gently, my eyes rolling.

  It was only the next morning when I woke, head spinning still wearing the clothes from the night before crumpled on my body that I regretted the amount I had drunk. My actions the day before had been hasty. It was true I hated bullies, it had been natural to step up to help Anne in the same way I had done for my brother over the years. I stopped, I had not spoken to Adam and had any way of knowing how to get in touch with him. I knew that he was to go to new foster parents, but had no idea where and it wasn’t as if I could just ring social services and ask, their immediate response would be to try to find me.

  I sat glumly, hoping he was well, that he had fallen on his feet. He deserved a break I hoped that he’d not been returned to care as I had been, a troublesome child, then a tearaway teen. How I would do things differently now, but it was too late.

  Standing up was a chore, my head pounded. Sipping dark black coffee which burnt my lips but was starting to ease the churning in my stomach, I just hoped I could hold down the late-night kebab I had been bought and hungrily eaten last night as I faced the filthy stables which needed to be mucked out. No rest for the wicked and no sign of the other staff, but the horses needed to be fed and I could already hear the expectant kicking from the stables beyond the door. I took a deep breath and faced the day.

&n
bsp; ***

  Patrick’s phone buzzed. “Yes, Edwin, good morning.” He listened. “Look are you still going on about that horse crap, I’ll buy you new shoes myself. No, okay. You want to speak to her. Why? Okay, I’ll wait and see. I’ll ask her nicely if she’ll join you this morning.”

  ***

  “Morning…” Sue smiled. “Oh God my head hurts, remind me not to go drinking with you again!”

  “What time do you call this?” I put my pitchfork aside. “I’ve fed and mucked out all of the horses now, there was no sign of any of you.”

  “What can I say. We appreciate your efforts.” She bowed.

  “Oh, whatever…” I paused. “Have you seen Anne by the way?”

  “Moi? I’ve been asleep, I’ve seen nobody…” She started to walk away, before turning.

  “Don’t forget to chuck back the muck heap!” The bucket of water narrowly missed her as she leapt away laughing.

  ***

  “I think we got off to a bad start yesterday.”

  “You threatened me and now you’ve dragged to your club against my will.”

  “No, this was an invitation to join me. You must have misunderstood my request.”

  “Your request was served up by two louts who dragged me from the bus stop as I stepped off the number six bus and frogmarched me into here. What the hell do you want?”