The Front

by Mandasue Heller

  Stevo fidgeted nervously as Mal took his time thinking it over. Glancing nervously at the clock, he saw it was nearly time. He had to get Mal out – quick.

  ‘Look, ye can have these for nothing if y’ leave the money!’ He thrust the four bags at Mal. ‘But y’ gonna have to go. Take it or leave it. What d’y’ say?’

  Mal snatched the bags with a grin. ‘All right, you’re on. But I want a good half. None of your bicarb specials, know what I mean? I want the real deal, man, or I won’t be pleased.’

  ‘Y’ve got it,’ Stevo agreed with relief. ‘Only top notch for ye, mate. Just the matter of the upfront, like . . .?’

  Mal counted off a grand and handed it across reluctantly. ‘I’m telling you, Stevo,’ he warned. ‘Any funny shit and I’ll have your balls!’

  ‘Aye, nay worries,’ Stevo said. And, grabbing the money before Mal could change his mind, he hustled him out the door.

  Mal shook his head as the door slammed to behind him. What an arsehole. Still, he had four nice little bags for nothing. He couldn’t complain. That’d do till Stevo brought the rest round.

  A grand’s worth of pure! He could cut it to fuck and triple the buying price easy!

  Turning from the door he almost ran headlong into a tall black guy.

  ‘Sorry, mate,’ he muttered, sidestepping to let him pass.

  The man sucked his teeth, glaring down on Mal as he shouldered past. Mal didn’t retaliate – the guy was way too big. Instead, he walked on, looking back with a sneer before turning the corner. Who did he think he was in his long leather coat? Shaft?

  Humming happily, Ged’s daughter ran up to her bedroom to get dressed. She’d been feeling quite low before her father had phoned but she’d cheered up immediately when he’d said he had something for her. She hoped it was money. It had better be money. There was a lovely little dress she had her eye on in town. A silver strapless, clingy number. Great for going out in – really sexy and sophisticated. Alison would be dead jealous.

  Oh, what a nice daddy. And such a pushover.

  No, daddy, I’m not in school today. It’s teacher-training day. I can meet you any time. An hour? That’d be great!

  Taking a rarely worn polo-neck jumper from her drawer, she pulled it on – wincing as she struggled to get it over her tender breasts. When it was on, she turned to look in the mirror, and was pleased by what she saw. They were getting big, and they were lovely and firm. No wonder her mum was always telling her to cover them up, she thought, smiling slyly. Jealous old bat! Just because her body had turned to lard.

  Throwing her waist-length hair back, she secured it with a couple of sparkly clips – the girlie effect, to please Daddy. And the same with her make-up – just a hint of pink gloss on her lips and a fresh swipe of mascara on her lashes. It wouldn’t do to upset him with her usual full-on look. He might just change his mind about the present, and that would be a total pisser!

  Finished at last, she wriggled into her Levis and posed for the mirror. Pouting her lips, she looked up through spider-leg lashes. Gorgeous! Blowing herself a Monroe kiss, she dragged herself away from her reflection and checked the time.

  Seven forty-five. Good. She had just enough time for a spliff before setting off.

  9

  Suzie saw the army of vehicles blocking the road as soon as she rounded the bend. Even from this distance, some two hundred yards away, the noise was deafening. She’d expected the police, but the TV crew took her completely by surprise. They were milling about like ants, shifting tall lights into different positions, putting up screens on stands to deflect the glare, and swinging fluffy microphones in great arcs above the crowd.

  There was so much activity, she had to force herself to keep going. It would be stupid to run. Anyway, under normal circumstances, she’d be one of the first to gawp at something like this. As it was, there was a fair-sized crowd already gathered on the pavement, and more spilling over onto the road – local people, craning their necks to see beyond the line of police guarding the strips of blue-and-white tape separating them from the crime scene. There was a buzz in the air – everyone thrilled that yet another awful thing had happened, but disappointed not to have witnessed it.

  Suzie casually made her way into the crowd, sure she’d be able to pick up what was happening by hanging back and asking a few discreet questions.

  ‘Suzie?’ A hand grabbed at her sleeve. ‘Jeezus! Long time no see!’

  Suzie looked around in surprise and saw that it was Elaine Dixon, a girl she hadn’t seen since leaving school the previous year – and didn’t particularly want to now. But once Elaine latched onto you, there was no getting away.

  ‘What about this, then?’ Elaine twittered. ‘Eh, I’m bloody glad I ran out of cigs and had to come to the shops. I would have missed all the fun otherwise!’

  ‘What’s going on?’ Suzie asked, trying not to look too guilty. ‘Has one of the shops been done over?’

  ‘Haven’t you heard?’ Elaine’s eyes were wide with excitement. Suzie shook her head. ‘That Pasha got done in last night,’ Elaine told her gleefully. ‘He’s still in there, but you can’t see him ’cos they’ve got this big tent thing round him.’

  ‘That copper,’ she went on, pointing out PC Dalton who was valiantly holding back an army of tattooed local women, ‘told Val Medlock – remember her? – that Pasha got battered to fuck! So bad they couldn’t even make out who it was at first. God . . .’ she sighed. ‘I wish I’d seen it!’

  Suzie shook her head, folding her arms tightly around herself. ‘Who did it then?’

  ‘Dunno,’ Elaine shrugged. ‘Probably to do with drugs, though,’ she said, pursing her mouth and raising a knowing eyebrow.

  ‘Mmmm,’ Suzie murmured. ‘Probably.’

  ‘Oh, bound to be,’ Elaine asserted, getting into her stride. ‘They wouldn’t have the telly down if it wasn’t a biggie. Have you seen who it is, by the way? Only Liz Jardine!’ she went on with a grin. ‘That blonde piece from the six o’clock news. I hope she asks me what I think, ’cos I’ll tell her a thing or two!’

  ‘Like what?’ Suzie asked.

  ‘Like that shop’s just a front!’ said Elaine knowingly. ‘I know for a fact they’re selling more than just beans!’

  ‘What you talking about?’ Suzie asked, genuinely puzzled.

  ‘Oh, come on,’ Elaine huffed incredulously. ‘Everyone knows that! Where’ve you been, girl? He was making a packet! More junkies go in that shop than proper customers, and they never come out with shopping.’

  ‘I didn’t know,’ muttered Suzie, frowning as a glimmer of realization began to creep in. It was all starting to make sense now. The amount of money they’d got. How they’d thought it was too much for a shop.

  ‘Is the newsagent’s open?’ Suzie asked, eager to get away from Elaine. ‘I’ve got a few things to get, and I’m in a real hurry.’

  ‘Yeah, it’s open,’ Elaine said. ‘Tell you what, I’ll come with you. We can’t see nothing anyhow.’ Linking her arm through Suzie’s, she pulled her away from the crowd. ‘So what you been up to? I’ve not seen you for ages. Heard you got off with some old bloke. Is that right, then, or what?’

  Suzie felt a little swell of pride at this. ‘Yeah, Mal,’ she said. ‘But he’s not exactly old. He’s only thirty-two.’

  Elaine grinned. ‘Well, I never! He got a bit of dosh, then, eh? Sugar Daddy, is he?’

  ‘No, it’s not like that,’ Suzie said. ‘He’s not like an older older man. He’s more like my age. We get on really well . . . like friends, you know?’

  As they rounded the corner they nearly bumped into a PC guarding the still-shuttered front of the supermarket.

  Oblivious to his presence, Elaine nudged Suzie in the ribs, asking in a loud whisper, ‘So what’s he like at you-know-what? Is it true what they say?’

  Suzie blushed, sure the copper had heard. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  ‘Come off it!’ Elaine persisted. ‘They reckon older bl
okes know more about it, you know – how to get you going and that?’

  Suzie began to feel decidedly uncomfortable. Mal would go berserk if he thought she was discussing their sex life. Apart from which, she didn’t feel right about it herself. She hadn’t seen Elaine for ages, and they hadn’t exactly been best mates even then. Elaine had been – and it was obvious she hadn’t changed – the biggest gossip in school, always spreading rumours and stirring things up.

  She was trying to think of a way to change the subject when Elaine did it for her. Pointing at Suzie’s bruised face, she said, ‘So, did he do that to you, then?’

  When Suzie sighed, Elaine’s eyes lit up. ‘I knew it!’ she yelped, sounding too gleeful by far. ‘You lucky bitch! God! I wish my fella cared enough to lay a good one on me! Come to think of it,’ she snorted. ‘I wish he was capable!’

  Suzie was puzzled by Elaine’s reaction. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Well, it proves he really loves you, don’t it?’ Elaine said. ‘If he didn’t, he wouldn’t bother doing that. My bloke – oh, hang on, you know him. Tommy? Tommy Randall? Used to be in our English class? Anyhow, him. I’ve been with him for ages, and he’s dead soft. I thought he was well hard when we was at school, and I suppose he was, with other lads, like, but not with me!’ She grinned. ‘I can wrap him round me little finger – only I don’t feel like it most of the time ’cos he bores the tits off me!’

  She stopped to light a cigarette, offering one to Suzie.

  ‘Thanks,’ Suzie took it and bent down for a light. ‘Why don’t you just finish with him, then?’

  ‘I probably will,’ Elaine said. ‘When I find a bloke like yours. Someone with balls! He got any mates, your fella?’

  ‘Yeah, loads.’ A vision of Lee floated into Suzie’s head. Lee would love Elaine.

  ‘You’re dead lucky,’ Elaine went on enviously. ‘I mean, look at you!’

  ‘What?’ Suzie looked down at herself. She was mortified to see she’d forgotten to put her tights on – hairy legs on full display.

  Elaine didn’t seem to have noticed. ‘You look dead grown up,’ she was saying. ‘Older, like. Don’t you feel good? I would.’ She looked down at herself with disgust. ‘Better than looking bleedin’ seventeen, innit?’

  Suzie was shocked. Elaine looked how she should look. Young and carefree – not old and knackered, like Suzie felt most of the time. Yet here was Elaine envying her. Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all, this maturity lark. Elaine certainly seemed impressed, and what she’d said about Mal made sense. He must love her.

  Going into the crowded newsagent’s, they had to push their way through to the fridge. All around them, women were gossiping about the incident, and as they waited to get to the counter to pay, Suzie strained to pick up whatever information she could.

  ‘. . . said it was his nephews what done it.’

  ‘. . . making snuff movies in the back of the shop!’

  ‘. . . seen him passing a wrap to that wotsisface the other day.’

  ‘. . . cut his heart out an’ stuffed it in his belly!’

  ‘He-llo-o! Anyone in there?’ Elaine waved a hand in front of Suzie’s face.

  ‘Oh, sorry,’ Suzie said. ‘I was miles away.’

  ‘No kidding!’ Elaine laughed. ‘I was saying, that woman back there reckons she saw a load of guys in there with baseball bats last night. She was walking past when they come piling out, and when she looked through the door, Pasha was on the floor, covered in blood!’

  ‘You reckon?’

  ‘Yeah! She saw the whole thing.’

  ‘What?’ Suzie pulled a disbelieving face. ‘She just stood there watching and they didn’t do anything to her? They would have caved her head in!’

  Elaine shrugged. ‘I’m only telling you what she said.’

  Suzie paid for her things and they pushed their way out of the shop.

  ‘So, when can I come?’ Elaine asked when they were outside.

  ‘Eh?’

  ‘To your place. Can I come now?’

  ‘No!’ Suzie shook her head quickly. ‘Honest – I’d have to sort it with Mal first. Look, I’ve got to go. Call round in a couple of days, all right?’

  ‘Give us the address, then.’

  After reluctantly telling Elaine her address, Suzie ran home. She dreaded Mal’s reaction when she told him Elaine would be calling round. But at least he’d be happy when she told him what people were saying about Pasha.

  Mal was laughing when Suzie let herself into the flat, and she was relieved, having expected him to be in a mood about how long she’d been out. Hanging her coat in the hall, she wondered how to broach the subject of Elaine coming round. He was likely to get really pissed off about that.

  Mal glanced up when she walked into the living room, an ecstatic gleam in his eye. His mirror was on the coffee table with a sizeable mound of coke in the middle.

  ‘What did you get, doll?’ he asked. ‘Hope you got something for breakfast, I’m starving!’

  ‘We’ve got some bacon in the fridge,’ she said, heading into the kitchen. ‘I’ll make butties.’

  Lee sat up at the mention of food. ‘Great!’ he said. ‘And a gallon of tea while you’re at it. I’m dry as a desert shithouse!’

  ‘All right,’ she smiled. ‘I’ll put the kettle on. Do you still need those aspirins?’

  ‘Probably not,’ he said, ‘but I’ll have ’em anyway. It’s all drugs, innit?’

  ‘You don’t know what drugs is till you see what I’ve got lined up for later, mate.’ Mal looked up, grinning, from his chopping. ‘It’s party time at Mal’s mansion tonight!’

  ‘Yeah?’ Lee asked, catching the bottle of aspirins as Suzie threw them. ‘How’s that, then?’

  ‘Wait and see!’ Mal tapped his nose smugly. ‘Bit of patience, eh?’

  ‘Where’s Ged?’ Suzie asked, taking the cigarettes out of the bag.

  ‘Gone to see his daughter,’ Sam told her. ‘He’ll be back later.’

  ‘Oh, right. I’ll put these in the drawer for him, then.’

  ‘Sack that,’ Mal said. ‘Giz ’em here. He’ll get more while he’s out.’

  Suzie asked Sam if he’d spoken to Wendy yet, as she handed the cigarettes to Mal.

  ‘Not to Wendy,’ Sam said. ‘But I spoke to the ward sister, and they’re both doing fine.’

  ‘Which is more than can be said for his babysitter,’ Lee laughed. ‘His little ’uns are running rings round the poor cow! I said I’d go and give her a hand, but Sam’s not having any of it, are you, mate?’

  Sam rolled his eyes. ‘Too right I’m not! Look what happened last time I let one of my mates loose on my babysitter.’ He nodded towards Suzie, saying to Mal: ‘Robbed us of a great sitter, you did. Best we ever had.’

  Mal snorted. ‘You must have been desperate! She certainly ain’t the best I’ve ever had!’

  ‘Mal!’ squawked Suzie.

  ‘Only joking, doll,’ he laughed. ‘You’re one of the best little shaggers in Hulme, you are. Now, where’s me bacon butties?’

  ‘Subject of babysitters, I’d best be making a move,’ Sam said, getting up and pulling his jacket on. ‘I can’t leave Louise with my two all day.’

  ‘Behave yourself!’ Mal said. ‘You’ve not even had a line yet. ’Ere, cop this.’ He threw the tube to Sam. ‘Get some of that down your neck!’

  Sam hesitated for a second, then dropped his jacket and kneeled beside the table. ‘Oh, all right then. But just one, then I’m out of here.’

  ‘Eh! Save some for me, you greedy cunts!’ Lee squawked, struggling to get off the couch as he watched the line disappear up Sam’s nose.

  ‘Plenty more where this came from,’ Mal assured him. ‘Anyhow, get your dosh out, you two. I’ve just paid through the nose for this little lot!’

  ‘That a pun?’ Sam’s grin was creeping up to his hairline. ‘You can be a right funny bastard sometimes!’ He laughed, slapping Mal’s shoulder.

  ‘Yeah, but you ma
ke the best spliffs!’ said Mal.

  ‘Not as good as your Manchester landmarks!’ Sam countered. ‘I’ve heard people as far away as London talking about yours!’

  ‘His what?’ Lee sniggered. ‘His big fat juicy cones – or his big fat dick?’

  ‘Not as big as yours, though, eh? Lee?’ Sam laughed, nudging Mal.

  ‘Piss off!’ Mal snorted. ‘Mine’s bigger than his any day!’

  ‘But not as big as Sam’s legendary donkey dick, eh? Eh?’ Lee leered. ‘Famous in fucking America, that!’

  ‘Well! If I do say so myself,’ Sam chortled, ‘it is a bit of a monster!’

  ‘Lying bastard!’ Mal threw a mock punch at him.

  ‘Straight up!’ Sam laughed, ducking quickly. ‘Ask Wendy!’

  ‘Oh, don’t mention her,’ Lee groaned. ‘I’m getting a hard-on!’

  In the kitchen, Suzie laughed at their efforts to out-compliment each other. She’d never seen them on such a buzz. She only hoped it would last.

  When she brought in the plate of fragrant bacon butties, they’d finished their lines of coke and had pushed the mirror over to the side to give them more room to play with their money. Remembering the lesson of the previous day, she waited until Mal cleared a space before putting the plate down. They immediately pounced on it, taking huge continuous bites out of the butties. She shook her head in amazement. They couldn’t even be tasting it, they were eating so fast.

  Taking a cigarette from the open pack on the table, she went over to the couch for a lie-down. Turning the bloodied cushion over, she put her head down and sighed happily. The vibes in the flat were good this morning.

  Then she remembered her news and pushed herself up onto her elbow to tell them. ‘Oh, by the way, guess what I heard when I was down the shops?’

  ‘What’s that, doll?’ Mal asked, tomato ketchup leaking down his chin.

  ‘Oh, it’s good, Mal,’ she smiled. ‘The police were there, loads of them. And guess what? The telly people were there, too!’