Page 10 of A Long Way Back
“Would it matter?”
“Not to me. But I’d hate for the thunderbolt heading for me to hit you too. I’d ask you to save the dog, but you can’t run so… Sure you don’t want a sausage roll?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
“I don’t think this conversation got off on the right foot. I—”
“Sorry. I have to go.” Tay had spotted a taxi pulling up right next to them and struggled to his feet. “Thanks for the coffee.”
He grabbed the door of the cab before it closed and leaned in to speak to the driver who was already shaking his head. “Sorry, mate. You need to book in advance.”
“I live just around the corner. Rimmington Road. Ten quid to take me? Please?”
“Sorry.”
Tay tightened his hold on the door. “I’m on crutches. I’ve overdone it coming this far. Please. It won’t take you…more than a c-couple of minutes.” He was slurring now.
The driver sighed. “What number?”
“Seventeen.”
“Get in, then.”
Tay had barely finished his groan of relief when the cab pulled up outside his house. He handed over the tenner and levered himself awkwardly from the vehicle. He was halfway up the steps when Lennie came up at his shoulder.
“Been out, Tay Boy?”
“To get the money.” Tay took out his wallet and Lennie lifted six twenty-pound notes from his fingers. He felt Lennie push a packet into his pocket.
“You don’t look well,” Lennie said.
“I’m not.”
“Captain Cody not doing it for you anymore? Maybe you need something stronger. Something with a bigger kick, a sweeter fall.”
Tay should have said no, instead he said, “Such as?”
“Free sample, right?” He slipped something else into Tay’s pocket.
“What is it?”
“Smack. Shoot it, smoke it, snort it. Take care of yourself. I don’t want to lose a customer.”
Lennie slapped him on the back and Tay almost face-planted into the door. He got his balance before he negotiated the last step. Once he’d unlocked the outer door, he staggered to his flat. He needed his bedroom now. There was already a glass of water next to the bed and he sat down, unwrapped the drugs and pushed four of the 60mg pills into his mouth. Then took another.
Did I lock the door?Once he’d washed the pills down, he pushed himself up and grabbed his crutches to go and check.Not locked. Fuck.Back in his bedroom, he took off his jacket. When the sample fell from his pocket, he started to cry.Not taking that. No way.Tay put it on the bedside table. When he woke, he’d throw it away. He shouldn’t have even let Lennie give it to him. He kicked off his shoes and curled up.
As he lay waiting for the codeine to take effect, his misery deepened. This wasnotthe life he’d wanted. What the fuck was he doing?
Oblivion came quickly in a flood of warmth.
Maybe this life wasn’t so bad.
Chapter Two
INK SIGHED AS HE WATCHED Sad Guy get into the cab, then looked down at Dog to see he was watching too.
“Well, I tried.” Ink sipped the black coffee. Dog looked up at him. “At least I spoke to him today and he seemed to like you. Your head on his shoe was a nice touch.”
