Chapter 53
The rain turned heavier and Ty's gang hurried their pace. Cutting through an affluent area with old, towering buildings they had to cross a main road. Jogging to get down a side street Ty noticed a man taking photos of an old dancehall.
What particularly caught his eye was the man's wrist. The sleeve of his jacket had come down revealing a large gold watch. Ty paused and Paul stopped to see what had caught his friend's attention,
"Don't bother bro, we got enough.
Too late Ty was there. The camera was still at the man's eye when Ty drew back and punched him on his unprotected jaw. By the time he hit the floor he was unconscious. Quickly Ty stripped him of his watch before turning and running.
The gang headed down the next side road, laughing amongst themselves.
"You crazy bwoy, Paul gasped trying to catch his breath, "shit that fool didn't even know what happened, bang, that was it.
Jay joined in,
"Yeah rude boy, bet he's sat there now shaking his head wondering what the fuck went on,
Ty held his prize aloft so they could all see before slipping it on his wrist,
"Rolly.
Mags looked uneasy,
"Come on let's get out of here, you know they'll be out in force looking for us.
The rest nodded in agreement and they started off at a jog.
They were a couple of streets away from the Riverside when Tarique stopped to tie his shoelace. The others were about thirty yards ahead when a police van screeched up alongside and officers began pouring out. From everywhere cars began appearing, some marked, some unmarked. The crew automatically split, running in different directions.
Ty raced over to a fence and was over in one leap, cutting across a garden he pulled himself over onto the other side and dropped down into an alleyway. He didn't stop to think, instead running in the opposite direction to the police.
Paul didn't get anywhere, he was grabbed by an officer and whilst he fought to get away others came and helped wrestle him to the floor.
Aran and Mags shot down an alley before clambering over a wall and into a garden. Seeing a bushy area in the corner Aran pointed,
"Mags, in the bushes, they're everywhere, we'll get nicked in no time.
Mags nodded in agreement and they ducked into the thick shrubbery glad of the shelter.
Jay sprinted back the way they'd come, aware that a car was in pursuit. Cutting across the street he doubled back, buying time. He raced down an alley and just as the car stopped at the entrance he reached the end. It didn't go any further and the police were already there shining a torch in his face.
Tarique turned and walked the way they'd come, reaching the corner he ran, disappearing into the night.
Ty emerged onto the road and looked each way, it was clear. Opposite was an allotment, he knew if he cut through he'd be on the other side of the river from his destination. It would mean swimming but that didn't bother him, he'd done it before and he was soaked through already.
As he started across a police car turned the corner. Seeing him it accelerated. The next thing they were everywhere.
The allotment was big and the slippery mud made it difficult to get through. On the far side was a path that ran alongside the river, as he drew close he was dismayed to see more police already on the path. All that separated them was a wire mesh fence. Pausing momentarily the first of his pursuers was on him. It was no good struggling, he was surrounded in seconds.
