Page 33 of Lessons in Life

‘They’d be after me.’

‘Who?’

‘I’m not telling you that. Look, miss, there’s nowt you can do. You saw what they did to Joel Sinclair.’

‘Oh, Blane, you’ve not got yourself mixed up with that lot?’

‘I’m working for them,’ he said proudly. ‘I’m a Sitter now, but soon I’ll be a Top Boy, ordering the little kids around.’

‘But the other day in school, I got the impression you were frightened, Blane.’

‘Me? Frightened? Nah, not me, miss.’

‘So where were you last night?’ When Blane said nothing, I probed further but speaking gently. ‘You didn’t come home. Your mum was worried…’

‘Only because she might not get her stuff. Only reasonshewas worried.’

‘I don’t think that’s true, Blane. Mr Donoghue was worried.Iwas worried.’

‘Well, don’t be. It’s all under control.’

‘Had you kept some of the drug money? Is that why they were after you?’

Blane’s eyes narrowed. ‘Who’s been talking?’

‘Just a guess, Blane.’

‘Yeah, well, all sorted now. I’d bought myself a scooter off another kid with the money.’ Blane pointed towards the electric scooter that had pride of place against the closed curtains. ‘But they said it’s all right. I’d been using me inish… me inishi…’

‘Your initiative?’ I finished.

‘Summat like that. I can do me work that bit faster now I’ve got me own set of wheels…’

‘And the money?’

‘Said I can add it to me debt bondage.’

‘Yourdebt bondage?’ I stared. ‘What the hell’s that?’

‘Oy, don’t swear in my bedroom, miss.’ Blane actually grinned at me. ‘You know, they give you a load of dosh up front and then you pay it off every time you do a job. They let me off the scooter money because I’d used my inishi… that word you just said.’

‘And you told the police all this when they came looking for you?’

‘No, course not. I’m not a grass and they ’aven’t got nowt on me. I told ’em nothing: “No comment”.’

‘So, are you coming into school tomorrow? You’ve got to go to school, Blane.’

‘Yeah, suppose. Get off to your Big Mac now, miss.’

Realising there was little more I could report back to Mason in the morning, I said, ‘Look, Blane, I’m here if you need to talk.’

‘Nah, I’m good. ’S all good.’

* * *

‘Come on, let’s get out of here. I wouldn’t be surprised if the wheels have gone off the car. Or the car itself gone.’ Fabian almost ran out of the door of the tower block.

‘Well, if you will drive such a posh motor.Actually, Fabian, thank you.’ I reached for his arm, pulling it round my waist, loving the warmth and sense of security it offered. ‘I’m glad you were there with me. Iwasnervous, to be honest. Kept expecting one of these gang members to pop up. Four wheels all intact? Tyres still inflated? Green Dragon, is it?’

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