Page 121 of Child's Play

Penn stole a glance at his brother who was trying his hardest to stand still, but his muscles were fidgeting of their own accord.

‘Actually I can, Doug. You made absolutely sure that I’d find the tee shirt. You sent me out there. Again, no line back to you. Except that’s the mistake that will convict you.’

Penn saw indecision pass over his face trying to work out where he’d gone wrong.

‘If you’d gone and searched the shed for the tee shirt you’d have covered your own tracks. But now you’re gonna have absolutely no excuse for the fingerprints that will be found on the dozen or so items you had to move to get to the back of the shed.’

Doug started to clap. ‘Bloody hell, mate, you always were too clever for your own good but this time it’s not going to work. No one’s gonna know how clever you are cos they’ll be too busy mourning the tragic accident that happened here today.’

‘Doug, what the?…’

‘This isn’t what you think, buddy. I’ve not brought Jasper here to bargain with you. There’s no point anyway. You’d never go for it. Nope, sorry mate but this is the endgame.’

Penn could barely believe this was his old friend speaking.

‘When did you turn from being a bent copper to a kidnapper and a killer, Doug?’

‘I ain’t going down, Penn. Not for you. Not for anyone. Twenty fucking years I’ve given to the force and it’s given me nothing back except an ulcer and two failed marriages. Yeah, I could have kept watching folks around me go for promotion and earn bigger bucks, leaving me behind, but that’s just a piss-take too far. I wanted a few more quid in my pocket.’

‘This is about money, you bastard?’ Penn said.

‘Yep, mate, it really is that simple. When the Reed boys offered me an opportunity to earn a few hundred extra a month for passing on information, I couldn’t see the harm in it and I still can’t, so things will just carry on as they were before once you’re out of the picture.’

‘A man lost his life, Doug. That mean nothing to you?’

He shrugged and finally Penn saw the coldness behind the mask.

‘He was nothing to me. Didn’t know the guy, so I won’t miss him.’

A deathly chill passed through Penn’s body as he realised that this man he’d known for years really was capable of hurting both him and Jasper without a second thought.

‘If I let you live, I lose everything, buddy. My job, my house, my pension and the nice little earner I’ve got going with the Reed boys, but I’ll do you one favour,’ he said, glancing at Jasper. ‘For him I’ll make it quick.’

‘You hurt one hair on his head and I swear to God I’ll fucking—’

‘Hey, Jasper, I was only kidding about hurting you. The game’s over now, so walk towards me and I’ll—’

‘Jasper, no,’ Penn screamed. If he took two steps towards Doug’s voice he would walk straight into the fall away that separated them. ‘Buddy, don’t listen to him. Only listen to me. Just hear my voice.’

‘It’s okay, buddy,’ Doug said. ‘The game’s over. Your brother didn’t find it funny, so we’re gonna stop now.’

‘Jasper, don’t move,’ Penn screamed but he could see his brother’s feet move as he stepped from one foot to the other.

‘Ozzy,’ he called out as a dark stain began to colour the crotch of his trousers. ‘Ozzy, I don’t know what?…’

‘Don’t move, bud. I promise it’ll be okay, just stay still and listen to only me.’

‘Oh, for fuck’s sake,’ Doug said, striding across the cut and landing a foot away from Jasper.

Penn knew there was no way he could reach him in time.

Doug grabbed Jasper and turned him around, to face him, sideways on to Penn.

‘I swear to God if you want something doing…’

‘Ozzy… Ozzy… what?…’

‘Jasper… what would Billy do?’ Penn shouted at the top of his lungs.