Everything to Nothing

by Mark Henthorne

  She had meant to phone Sally and try to make up with her but she had decided that it would be better to let her calm down a little first. She would definitely speak to her tomorrow. Then there was Simon. Was he serious? Michelle thought he was or he would have tried to have sex with her surely? Worryingly enough Michelle knew that due to the way she felt right now, if he had tried anything she would have gone to bed with him without a doubt. In a way she was glad she did not as it would have spoiled a great night. He would have to wait. She was not going to be duped again like her ex-boyfriend had duped her. Only when she was certain he was serious about her would he let him into bed with her. As she continued to think she felt her eyes growing heavy and before she stood to go to bed she promised to herself that she would fix things with Sally tomorrow and call…

  She felt a vibration in her pocket as her phone started to shake. Out of politeness to her grandfather she had turned off the ring-tone but now she pulled it out of her pocket and it was a number that she did not know. It was approaching eleven o’clock on a Saturday night and she was tired. She was going to reject the call and then she thought it could be Simon so she answered the call.

  ‘Hello? Who is this please?’

  ‘Michelle? It is me, Simon. Can you hear me okay? Pretty noisy here.’

  ‘Hi, yeah, I can hear you. Are you okay?’

  ‘Yeah, I am fine. Just out in town, again.’

  He sounded bored Michelle thought. ‘Again? You are a dedicated party animal aren’t you?’

  ‘Not really. I am pretty bored to tell the truth. I was just checking to see if you are out tonight?’

  ‘No, I am not tonight. I usually spend Saturday night with my grandfather and I am tonight.’

  ‘Oh right. Sorry. I’m disturbing you. Just realized how bad what I said sounded! Only calling you because I am bored! Sorry.’

  ‘It’s okay. I didn’t notice it in that way.’

  ‘Ah, okay. Nah, I’m not phoning you because I am bored, I am phoning you because I wanted you to brighten my night again like you did last night otherwise I am off home so it looks like I am going home then because you are not here!’

  ‘Yeah, I’m not. Sorry.’

  ‘Ah, okay. No probs. What you doing Wednesday night?’

  ‘Nothing, why?’

  ‘Want to go out?’

  ‘Erm, can I let you know, erm, I mean, yes, of course. Thought I was doing something then this Wednesday but I’m not so definitely.’

  ‘Excellent! I can pick you up at eight if you want? You still live on…’ The noise suddenly grew when Simon said the name of her street so Michelle confirmed it with him and said the time was fine. ‘Right, I’m going home now. Don’t want to stay out any longer surrounded by idiots who I don’t like!’

  ‘Okay Simon, be careful. I will call you tomorrow if you want?’

  ‘Yeah, that sounds great. You take care too.’

  ‘I will’ Bye Simon.’

  ‘Bye babe.’

  Michelle placed her phone on her lap and thought happy thoughts about Simon and the upcoming date. She reminded herself that she was going to take it nice and slow but then she thought how gorgeous he is and how often in her life she is going to have the opportunity to go to bed with someone as lovely looking as him. She shook her head and tried to clear it of the thoughts racing through it and decided the only way to get rid of them was to go to bed so she stood up from the sofa and made her way up the stairs and into the bathroom.

  Quietly she had a quick wash and then made her way to her bedroom and got totally undressed noticing the dampness in her knickers. ‘Oh my god,’ she mumbled out loud, ‘I have only been talking to him and I am turned on! What am I going to be like on Wednesday then?!’

  She threw the undergarment onto the pile of clothes and opened a drawer and removed the shorts and t-shirt that she kept there. Quickly she put them on and lifted the thick blankets. She lay down on the bed and drew them over her, pulling them right up to her chin. For a few moments she fought with the feelings being emitted from the horrible thing between her legs that she hated and loved, hated because it made her feel like this when there was no-one with her to make the feelings turn into ones she loved. She tossed and turned for a while until the late hour and the previous night’s lack of sleep caught up with her and her eyes slowly closed and she drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  Chapter 19

  ‘Bye babe.’ Simon closed his phone and thought for a few moments just how foolish he had been. He said out loud to himself, ‘You are stupid! How long have you known her for?! And she was there all… the… time…!’

  He butted the flimsy cubicle wall in time with the last three words, then unlocked the door and stepped into the toilet. He felt his foot go squelch and slide along the floor until it reached the grip of the tiled floor. Looking down at the floor there was a slip mark present in a large pile of vomit and he noticed that his right shoe was covered in the sick. ‘Oh fucking marvellous!’ he shouted out loud.

  He then reached for some paper hand towels and threw them on the floor and then spent the next few minutes trying to wipe the sick off his shoe without having to touch it which proved to be quite a chore considering he was having to manoeuvre and balance himself on one foot when he was drunk.

  After much effort he managed to get the worst of it off his shoe and then he stepped back into the bar. As he walked through the doorway a young spotty kid who could not have been more than 15, and who also looked like he had already obtained ten asbos in his short life, decided that Simon’s light coloured shirt was the perfect place to pour his pint of red wine. Bouncing into Simon’s shoulder he lost control of the glass and it upended right down the front of Simon’s shirt.

  All Simon could do was stand there, absolutely gob-smacked, while the kid threw his arms around Simon and shouted down his ear. Simon could not decide what was more annoying, the loud, slurring words that were hammering into his ear drums that he could not understand, or the stench of the teenager’s body odour. He managed to prise himself out of his grasp and he pushed the chav so hard that he stumbled and staggered until his feet hit a step then he was catapulted head first straight into a bouncer’s face, bursting but not quite breaking the bouncer’s nose.

  The bouncer, whose nickname was Slasher, was, needless to say, slightly surprised. At first he was even more shocked as the young man threw his arms around him, pressed his mouth to his ear and started to rant something into his ear. This shock was short lived though, and in a truly professional and competent manner he placed his hands on the juvenile’s arms and started to squeeze his biceps. The vice like grip tightened and tightened until the bouncer felt him tense up against his body. He forced his arms apart and pushed the youth away from his body still tightening the grip on his arms. Now the whippersnapper was crying out in pain as he felt his biceps being crushed but the bouncer did not stop there.

  He forced the lad down onto his knees and then drove his knee squarely into his nose three times. The urchin’s nose broke on the second drive and was firmly crushed and splattered across his face after the third. Only when the he was happy that he had inflicted more damage to his attacker than the pubescent had inflicted on him, did he let go of his arms. The spotty lad slumped to floor writhing in agony clutching his nose and then he was clutching his genitals as Slasher drove a steel toe capped boot into his crotch. He then pressed a button on his communication device and one of his colleagues was quickly on the scene. They picked him up between them and carried him to a fire escape door.

  Slasher kicked it open and with a count of three they swung him out into an alley then he closed the door leaving the youth to his agonies. Slasher dabbed at the slight trickle of blood trickling from his nose and said to his colleague, ‘Little prick!’ His colleague nodded in agreement and then they both returned to their normal security stations.

  Simon had of course witnessed all of this and at first he felt slightly guilty then he glanced down at his ruin
ed shirt and then quickly the guilt turned to rejoicing as the young man had got his comeuppance. As Simon stood studying his shirt he made the only decision that was possible to him, he decided to go along with the idea that he had stated to Michelle and go home. Making his way past Slasher, who looked at him strangely noticing the wine covering his shirt, he found his friends and told them he was going home. They asked him to stay but of course Simon blamed his shirt for a ruined night and bid them a good night. He exited the bar and made his way down a few busy Saturday night streets towards a taxi rank. As he approached the taxi rank he saw a familiar figure swaggering towards him and he looked for an escape route knowing that if this figure saw him he would be dragged out for even longer. Too late as the figure noticed Simon and hailed him.

  ‘Simon! You slack jawed red necked bastard! You didn’t tell me you were out tonight?!’

  ‘Hey Peter. I wasn’t but then I got a call and then, well, I felt like a few.’

  ‘You still don’t know how to drink do you? Your mamma not teach you how?’

  ‘Piss off! Some idiot chucked his wine on me!’

  ‘Tosser. Want me to have him shot?’

  ‘Wouldn’t have minded you doing that, but the bouncer took care of him as only bouncer’s can!’

  ‘In a professional manner?’

  ‘Yep, you know it!’

  ‘How many bones did he break?’

  ‘Only one I think. His nose.’

  ‘Ouch! Who you been out with?’

  ‘Couple of lads from college. You don’t know them.’ Simon noticed the quick hurt look flash across his face.

  ‘No worries. Couldn’t have come out tonight anyway, not with you anyway. Got myself a date with a nubile young blonde!’

  ‘What’s his name?’

  ‘Very witty! Some chick called Sophie. Met her last night. Good shag so I thought I would come back for some more!’

  ‘Good work! Didn’t know you scored last night. Not really spoke to anyone apart from my college mates. Nice one! Is she hot?’

  ‘Well, you know, alright. Good in the sack and after a few J.D.’s and coke that is all that matters isn’t it?!’

  ‘Yeah, it is,’ Simon replied, rolling his eyes inside his mind.

  ‘Anyway, can’t keep a ride waiting for much longer. Better go!’

  ‘Okay matie. Have a top night!’

  ‘I’d wish the same to you but it looks like yours is over!’

  ‘Indeed it is! Going home now to my bed! Speak to you soon. Bye matie!’

  ‘See you!’

  Peter continued walking away from Simon and as he rounded a corner out of his view he checked that the gun was still tucked into the back of his jeans and muttered under his breath, ‘Gullible arse! Believe anything I say!’

  He carried on walking through the streets until he reached a part of the town that contained the main group of bars and clubs. Peter was greeted with a shake of the hand by the bouncer of the first bar he approached and during the hand-shake they exchanged money and drugs. He shook hands with another doorman and the same exchange took place.

  Peter spoke into the ear of the second bouncer, knowing he had a tendency to take harder drugs than the cocaine Peter had just given him, making it quite clear that at this time next week he would be able to have a fantastic deal on some quality heroin. The bouncer appreciated Peter’s reputation for already supplying a superior level of drug and his eyes lit up when he heard the offered price for a gram. The bouncer then made Peter happy when he told him that he knew other people who would be very interested in such a deal and he would put the word out for him. Peter thanked him and then strode into the bar.

  Through the crowded establishment Peter forced his way to the bar while placing the money in his extended jeans’ pocket. One of the barmen recognized him and did not ask him what beer he wanted nor did he charge him. The reasons for this occurrence happened a month or so ago.

  *

  One of the bouncers became suspicious of Peter’s actions one night. He noticed that he seemed to know near enough everyone in the bar and the near enough everyone shook hands with him in greeting. This all seemed very strange to the alert security and he was conscious that no-one could know that many people. After witnessing another group of people come over and shake his hand the bouncer decided enough was enough and dragged a surprised Peter into a back room.

  ‘He’s been acting weird. Near enough everyone has come up to him and shook hands with him.’

  ‘So what? I’m popular. Not my fault if everyone likes me!’

  ‘Popular my arse. You’re up to something. I think he’s dealing boss.’

  ‘You dealing in my bar you little scrotum?’

  Peter blinked in astonishment and the surprise could not been hidden from his voice. ‘Scrotum?! I think you need to check just who it is you’re speaking to!’

  ‘Oh yeah, and just who is it that one is speaking to?! All I can see is some little shit standing in front of me who is shitting himself. Max, take him outside and knock him down a peg or two.’

  ‘My pleasure boss.’

  ‘Wait. Before you do that, let me run two words by you and let’s see if that changes anything.’

  ‘Two words? You’re gonna have to do a lot better than two words to keep your sorry butt out of hospital tonight.’

  ‘Oh yeah. I don’t think so.’

  ‘You don’t think so? I tell you what Max, this little bastard is gonna be lucky if he keeps his concrete coated feet out of the river tonight. Go on then, enlighten me. What two words are going to keep you, alive?’

  ‘Reg and Maxwell.’

  ‘Oh bollocks.’

  ‘Shit.’

  Peter could not keep the smugness off his face.

  ‘You working for him?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘Right. Well, erm, why didn’t you say?’

  ‘Didn’t think I would have to.’

  ‘I’m still not happy with you dealing in my bar even if you have got his backing.’

  ‘Let me see if I can persuade you without needing his backing. How have your takings been in the last couple of weeks?’

  ‘Good. Very good in fact.’

  ‘Did you notice a sudden up-turn about two weeks ago?’

  ‘Yeah, I did actually.’

  ‘You scratch my, sorry our back and we’ll scratch yours.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Two weeks ago is when I started dealing here.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And what? Use your brain.’

  Peter saw anger on the manager’s face and he quickly realized he had gone too far. ‘I don’t care if you have got the backing of him! You speak to me like that again and I’ll take a chance and put a knife in your eye!’

  ‘Sorry. That was rude of me.’ Peter paused for a moment and carefully prepared his words. ‘What I mean is your takings have gone up because people who want a good, high quality drug know where I am at this time on a Saturday night: in your bar. People who would never normally come in here have started to come in to find me. You scratch our back, we’ll scratch yours.’

  ‘And you started here two weeks ago?’

  ‘Yes, a lot quieter than I was tonight. Tonight surprised me and I was just going to bail as things were getting too hot for me. Obviously they did get too hot because I got noticed by your diligent security.’

  ‘Right. Takings have gone up a lot in the last two weeks. Could be coincidence. You really work for Reg? Answer carefully because if I ever find out you are lying to me you can consider yourself drowned.’

  ‘Yes, I do work for him. You want to speak to him? Although he is in Spain now having a holiday and I really don’t think he wants to be disturbed by me.’

  ‘No, it is okay. Your word is enough. Let him work Max.’

  ‘Rightio boss.’

  ‘Before you go I want a little something as a good will gesture, something to keep me and the boys entertained after closing.’

&n
bsp; ‘What do you want?’

  ‘A nice big fat bag of charlie please.’

  ‘Consider it done.’

  Peter slid his hand down deep into his extended pockets and retrieved a bag of cocaine. He gave it to the owner of the bar who promptly opened it and started to prepare himself a line.

  ‘Take him back now. Let him deal.’

  ‘No probs boss. Follow me.’

  Peter followed the bouncer back into the bar and he placed himself in a darker corner and instantly a few people approached him. Since that time the bar was always the first place that he called upon knowing that he would make a lot of easy sales.

  *

  Peter now sipped his Budweiser on a stool at a high table having small talk with some acquaintances. Every now and then someone would approach and he would make the deal, very simply, very easily with no questions asked by anyone. When one of his customers approached him who Peter thought would be interested in a harder substance to ingest, he made it subtly clear that this substance would be available during the next weekend at a special opening offer price. Some of his regulars showed surprise and stated that they already had a supplier so he then explained that he had it on good authority that that supplier would not be around from now on and to contact him for a steady, high quality supply. Some of his irregular and new customers also showed interest in the heroin and Peter thought how easy it was going to be to make even more money and get his feet more under Reg’s table.

  After an hour or so more in this bar he felt his jeans start to get heavy on one side and light on the other so he stood from his stool and made his way to the door. Another one of the bouncers stopped him on the way out and asked for some ecstasy tablets but Peter had to explain that he was out of supply so Peter left the bar and made his way back through the streets to the outskirts of town where he had parked his car in one of Reg’s secure garages that were dotted around the town. He kept the keys on a chain around his neck, not wanting to drop them when he was rooting in his pockets for supplies or placing the money, and he unlocked and lifted up the garage door, stepped into the garage then closed the door behind him.