The Note Book (Part 4)

Robert Malcolm Smith always called in at the Bridge Tavern for a quick one on his way home from work and today the quick one was waiting for him at his usual table,
accompanied by a big grin on the face of his mate Peter Brendon Docherty.

'I thought you were lying low for a few days,' said Smithy with a look of surprise, 'wasn't the caravan good enough?'

'The caravan was fine mate, but I soon got stir crazy and Meg rang to say the cops had found the van. I think they must have fallen for the stolen routine, so I've been over there to collect it this afternoon.'

'Bloody hell Pete, did they fall for the keys left in it story as well?'

'Must have done mate; they just told Meg where it was with no questions asked and said we were OK to collect it whenever.'

'You jammy bastard, you've got away with it. It must have been your lucky day.'

'Only because of your help mate. I'd have been buggered if you hadn't come over and got me away from there. Drink up and I'll get you another one.'

'Just one and then I've got to be on my way Pete. Jenny rang me at work; asked me to pick up our Kev from his mate's house. She's made us a big steak and kidney pudding for tea and there's no way I'm missing that.'

While Docherty was at the bar, Smithy rang his son's mobile to tell him he'd be round in twenty minutes. Kev was out and about in a mate's car and they were thirty miles away. He told his dad he could have his share and clicked off.

'Here you go mate, a pint of Tetley's finest.'

'The little sod's at it again. Bloody miles away in some mate's car. Jenny will not be pleased.'

'Well you know what we were like when we were sixteen mate. Would you have been home for tea when you were called?'

Smithy smiled and sipped his pint, point taken.

Docherty took out the blue note book from his trouser pocket and placed it on the table. He looked at Smithy and returned the smile.

'What's that, your last will and testament?

'It's what I found in a bloody big safe last night. Completely empty it was, apart from this notebook. I had a look through it this afternoon, but it's full of gobbledygook.
It's just rows of dates and numbers and letters so I thought I'd ask you what you thought it was.'

Smithy picked up the book, flicked through it slowly and then placed it back on the table. 'No idea Peter. Like you say it's all nonsense unless you know what its all
about. Who's safe was it?'

'Jed Makepiece's.'

Smithy looked at Docherty in total disbelief and plonked his glass down on the table. 'Jesus Peter, don't you ever learn? You've already had a smack from his boys over
the nightclub job, are you trying to get yourself killed?

'They didn't know it was me that broke in, they said I was getting a kicking just in case.'

'You've got to get this revenge thing out of your system Peter, it'll get you killed. You know how dangerous Makepiece is and if you really piss him off you'll end up in the Calder in bin liners.'

'That bastard sacked me from my security job at the mill just for helping myself to a few bits and pieces and then brought in the cops. After everything I'd done for
him; breaking into competitors' offices for confidential information so he could put the poor buggers out of business.'

'I never understood why you didn't shop him Peter. Surely you could have got him sent down?'

'Two good reasons mate. I would never grass on anybody, even Makepiece and secondly,he told me that if I ever opened my mouth Meg would spend the rest of her life on crutches.'

'You never told me that before.'

'I know I didn't, but I didn't want you telling Jenny and then her telling Meg. She's never ever to hear about it Smithy, never.

The two men sipped their beer in silence for some time, as friends can, and then resumed their conversation.

'The cops haven't been pestering you recently mate have they? Enquired Docherty as innocently as he could manage.

'Why should they be pestering me; I've kept my nose clean for the last twelve months?'

'Well, it's just that they were hanging about in our street this morning and stopped Meg on her way to the shops. They asked if I was in.'

Smithy stopped mid gulp and stared at Docherty.

'You pillock, why the hell would they be looking for you if it weren't connected to last night?'

'It could be anything mate. You know what they're like; once we're known to them they'll try us for size for everything they can't solve.'

'Look Peter, I don't like the smell of this. We'd better rehearse our stories just in case it is about last night.'

Over the third and fourth pints the two men agreed convincing recollections of their day's fishing at Eccup Reservoir. The fifth and sixth were just for added consolation.

* * *

Kevin Smith was behind the wheel of a powerful Audi RS3 when the wailing siren and blue flashing lights appeared in his rear window. It was 10.31pm and PC Derek Watson had been driving towards them on the Valley Road when his ANPR system had
flagged up the plate as stolen and he had U-turned in pursuit. This was the same car and probably the same occupants that had made a fool of him the previous night and he was determined that tonight's outcome would be different. Kevin Smith and his two hapless pals accelerated at maximum velocity, whooping with delight. Game on.

Within seconds, Watson realised that he was struggling to keep pace with the powerful Audi. Both vehicles were now travelling in excess of seventy miles per hour in a built up area; Watson radioing frantically for backup and the three musketeers
high on pure adrenalin. The nearest assistance was miles away and PC Watson put his foot to the floor as the pursuit intensified, determined to stay in sight of the panic stricken madness taking place in front of him. The Audi swung wildly off the Valley Road and up into the lofty heights of Heaton on the hillside above the town.
Numerous near misses and unbelievably reckless overtaking brought the Audi and its pursuer back down the hill side along Hanging Lane towards the traffic lights at the junction with the Valley Road.

Dave Newton had just dropped off his passengers at Broomfield College and was driving contentedly along the Valley Road towards his depot. He'd heard the wailing police siren as he passed through his green light onto the junction, but was
totally unaware of the fleeing two tonne missile as it hurtled towards him from just behind his right side peripheral vision. It shot straight through its red light and smashed into the Tiger Tours coach with such velocity that the coach was deflected diagonally across the junction, through the railings protecting the footpath and
through the small memorial garden that stood at these crossroads. The Volvo only came to rest after it mounted the wall at the rear of the garden and lay facing upwards towards the night sky supported by tons of Yorkshire stone and the crushed remains of the stolen projectile and its three teenage occupants. Dave Newton, trapped awkwardly between his seat and his dislocated steering column, was unable to move, but could still hear his revving engine driving the rear wheels ever deeper into the soft ground beneath. His onboard telephone began to ring as he gently slipped into unconsciousness. Beneath him, inside the crushed coffin, the faint ring of Kevin Smith's mobile also went unanswered.

Jennifer Smith was now getting quite concerned as she dropped her mobile once again onto the sofa.

'There's still no answer Robert, and it's gone midnight. Where the hell has he got to this time?'

'I've no idea love, but he'll get a real bollocking when he does get back. He's got school tomorrow and exams looming.'

'You're nearly as bad. I told you I was doing your favourite Steak and Kidney tonight and what did you do? You got half pissed with Pete Docherty and came home at half past eight. Why the hell I bother I don't know.'

'I said I was sorry when I came in Jenny. Pete's been my mate since we were kids and he needed my help. I couldn't just walk away and ignore him.'

'That man's trouble Robert, always has been and always will be. I've asked you before to stay away from him, but you never listen to me.'

'Look love, it's getting late, you get off to bed and I'll try Kev again; see if I can find out where the hell he is. You're up at six for work.'

'We've both got work in the morning, just give it one more try and then come up yourself. We're not putting up with this behaviour any more Robert, that boy is grounded for the rest of the week and this time you'll back me up. He won't be
going anywhere for a long time.'

Smithy was snoring for Yorkshire and Jenny was sleeping fitfully when they were woken by a loud banging on the front door. It was a quarter past two and Jenny knew
instinctively that something was wrong as she shook the snorer to his senses. Robert Smith in dressing gown and bare feet stumbled down stairs with his mind racing and his heart beating loudly. He knew that knock of old and could visualise exactly what would be at the other side of the door when he opened it. He was right.