Consequences Read Free

walking towards them and signalled her to stop.
    ‘I asked her to see if she could get some hot drinks for us. I know I need one, don’t you? She’s probably coming to see what we want. Come on mate, you must be cold; you’ve got a purple glow about you. What about a sandwich . . .have you eaten today? What’s the harm in having a drink and a sandwich, eh Chubby?’ Dylan asked.
     There was no response, but Chubby appeared thoughtful. By the look of his gaunt face and the sight of his pronounced ribs he probably hadn’t eaten in days.
    ‘Well, what do you think Chubby? I’m going to have a drink, so shall I get her to get you one too?’
    ‘Okay… just a drink...but I’m staying here...don’t think I’m coming down...don’t think I won’t do it,’ he said in a calmer less convincing voice.
    ‘Coffee okay?’
    Chubby Connor rubbed a grimy hand across his brow as he looked at Dylan and nodded. ‘Three sugars.’
    Dylan sighed; he knew he’d made progress. ‘Tracy, radio up for some hot coffee as a matter of urgency… I don’t care where it’s from. Just reinforce its urgent,’ Dylan said looking over his shoulder. He was feeling the cold; there was definitely no global warming in Yorkshire.
    Tracy stared at him wide eyed and then screamed.
    Dylan turned back. ’Shit.’ he shouted, running to the railings. Chubby Connor had gone over the edge.
     

 
     
Chapter Two
     
    Bartlett’s Academy for girls was the cream of the schools in West Yorkshire, and Liz and Malcolm Reynolds were delighted when their only daughter, Gemma Louise had been accepted. Dropping her off in her new school uniform had been a proud moment and Liz brushed away a tear, wishing that Malcolm could have been there too. She’d stopped off at Tesco on her way home to obtain the supplies of champagne and strawberries for the afternoon tea party she’d organised for Sunday. Singing softly, she pushed the car door shut with her knee and juggled with a heavy box, as she walked the few yards to her front door. Fumbling with the key in the lock she could hear the telephone ringing. She wasn’t expecting a call but the persistent jingle made her instinctively rush. Precariously, she rested the corner of the box on the telephone table and snatched the phone off its cradle.
    ‘Hello?’ she said. ‘Damn. Why does that always happen?’ she cried, and quickly rang 1471. Listening to the ringing tone, she smiled at her reflection in the mirror, running her fingers through her newly highlighted hair. She bent closer to the glass to look at her whitened teeth. Wearing the mouth tray of whitening gel had been a bit of a pain but the results were...wow. She giggled, inspecting them closely. Boy was she fortunate to have kept her looks from her photographic modelling days after all she’d been through.
    ‘The caller withheld their number. Thank you for using this service.’ Liz dropped the phone in its holder. She lifted the box and placed it on the worktop in the kitchen. The telephone rang again. Stopping in her tracks, she swivelled on one foot, glancing heavenward to the chandelier and totted back in her high-heeled boots to pick up the phone.
    ‘Hello?’ she said, resting the receiver between her jaw and her fur collar as she flicked through the post.
    ‘That’s better Lizzie…you’ve gotta be quick gal…you never know when it’s going to be important,’ said a man’s mellow voice.
    ‘Who is this?’ No one called her Lizzie but Malcolm.
    The caller dismissed her question.
    ‘Gemma Lou looked very smart this morning in her smart new uniform, didn’t she? Mmm…just lovely.’
    ‘Pardon?’ she said, as her gut involuntarily clenched. A hot flush crept through her body and her hand tingled. The man’s voice was quiet, thick but crystal clear. She racked her brain to put a name to it or a place to the accent. He didn’t reply but she could hear his heavy breathing. Liz realised she was squeezing the phone tight and saw the