A Shadow on the Door by Ed James

Author:Ed James [James, Ed]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grey Dog Books
Published: 2023-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

MARSHALL

Marshall walked back into the house, shaking himself free of a memory of that summer’s day years ago. They’d been told to play in the park beside their old house as Mum and Dad needed to have a talk.

Jen had bounded out into the sunshine and immediately immersed herself into a group of kids playing some convoluted version of tig, while Marshall found a quiet place on the grass to admire the passing clouds for an hour or so.

Quiet, until Dean McCutcheon stomped on his bollocks for no good reason, other than they were there.

His sister hauled him off and punched Dean square in the nose, bursting it and then helping her brother limp home.

Mum was already halfway through a bottle of gin and had tears streaming down her face.

Dad was gone, and he wasn’t coming back.

Jen was angry that day and had stayed angry ever since.

As for Marshall, the kick in the knackers didn’t ache as much as losing his father.

He opened the door and found them all in the living room – Grumpy, Bob Milne and Rakesh Siyal.

Mum was fussing around at the table in the corner where the Christmas tree would usually go. ‘There’s all this leftover food, Bob. And that cake! It took me ages to make the bloody thing and now it’ll just go in the bin.’

‘Relax, Janice.’ Milne cracked open the screw-top and poured whisky into four small glasses. ‘A wee dram will take the edge off.’

She looked over at him, frowning. ‘I stopped drinking.’

‘Oh.’ Milne snorted. ‘When was that?’

‘A New Year’s resolution I’ve actually stuck to. I’ve been known to make stupid decisions when I’ve had a few.’ She gave him a pointed look, then managed to carry the remains of the cake through to the kitchen all on her own. Despite her protestations, at least half of it had gone.

Marshall would take the rest of it home for his niece.

Milne nudged a glass over the table to Siyal. ‘Here you go, Shunty, that’ll put hairs on your chest.’

‘It’s not a problem I face.’ Siyal looked at the glass like it was going to bite him.

The smoky aroma filling the room suggested it might.

Milne looked up at his son. ‘Robbie… Can I tempt you?’

‘It’s Rob. And no thank you. I’m driving.’ Marshall took his old seat, the one he’d sat in every night while they watched telly way back when. He missed Kirsten sitting next to him, he missed her touch. He took out his phone and checked if she’d replied to his message – nope.

‘Are we boring you?’ Milne slurped down whisky like anyone else would drink tea.

Marshall put his mobile away and tried to ignore the burning on his cheeks. ‘Rakesh, why are you here?’

‘We’re down on business, but I guess you know that.’ Milne put his glass down and golden liquid spilled out the sides. ‘Staying in a hotel in town. Taylor’s. Nice place, but bloody Shunty’s got the suite!’

Marshall kept his gaze on Siyal. ‘That doesn’t answer my question.

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