Spectre by Stephen Laws

Author:Stephen Laws
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Telos Publishing Ltd

Josh stood nervously in the car park of the Plough pub directly opposite the Imperial. At closing time, he had walked round the block, still clutching Richard’s note in his hand. Fortunately, he had been able to avoid Paul, whose surly mood seemed to have reached new heights tonight. From the darkness of the car park, he had watched as a taxi ferried the pig away.

Was it all just a cruel hoax? Were Richard and Angie in bed, even now, laughing at the thought of him standing there in the cold? Why the hell was he hanging around here, anyway? He had been through this sort of treatment before and he had been hurt many times before. Why was he setting himself up again? Because, he knew, he was searching for something. Searching for a way to be happy; searching for something he thought that David and he might have been able to achieve, but which he now knew was not possible. That was why he didn’t just make his way to the taxi office on Shields Road and drive away. Figuratively, there had been many car parks, many promises, many chances. They had all come to nothing, but Josh would never let the pain of failure keep him from trying again, over and over, however hopelessly.

He looked at his watch. It was 2.25 am. Knowing his luck, Paul might suddenly lurch round the corner, fists bunched, piggy eyes glaring. Five minutes and no more. He would be strong. If it was a joke, he could take it. He would never let on that he had kept the appointment. If Angie mentioned anything, he would tell her that he had seen right through their little plan. He would tell her that he’d thought they were friends, that she should be ashamed …

‘Hello, Josh.’

Josh jumped. As if from nowhere, Richard had suddenly materialised beside him. Tall, dark, shadowed; the street lamp on the other side of the road silhouetting him in a yellow aura. The only light appeared to come from his eyes: small sparks of blue light.

‘Hi,’ said Josh, composure regained.

‘Sorry to keep you waiting. I had business.’

‘Yes, I know. I work with her.’

Richard laughed, a harsh, humourless sound. Josh noticed curiously that although he could see his own breath in the crisp, early morning air and the faint glow of the street lamp, he could not see Richard’s.

‘It’s not like that, Josh,’ said Richard at last. ‘Angie’s had a hard time, what with the kid and all. I’m a friend of the Imperial management. And I know about everyone who works there. Angie was depressed tonight. Upset.’

‘I never noticed.’

‘Believe me, she was. I took her home.’

‘And came back?’

‘Yes, I came back. I want to be your friend.’

‘I stopped passing notes when I was at school.’

‘I see. You’d rather Paul saw me talking to you.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry. You know what he’s like, then? About people like …. well, I mean … I hadn’t realised …’

‘I’ve been watching you all night, Josh.

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