Dumfries (45 page)

  “Noo, whit kind ae answer is that, eh?” The Chief demanded ae his group dismissively.

“Look, Chief, ye might be The Chief aboot here, bit kin ye jist butt the fuck oot and leave us tae decide fur oorsels?” Wee Mick McGeachy fae Govan growled at Napoleon.

  “Fur Christ’s sake, keep yer knickers oan…Ah wis only trying tae help, so Ah wis,” The Chief replied indignantly.

  “Well don’t…”

  “Whit de ye think, Peter?” Mick Grant fae Barlanark asked.

  “Ma money is oan The Mankys, if it’s no us.  They widnae hiv come up wae the idea if they hidnae awready planned it aw oot in advance, the fly basturts.”

  “Whit aboot the Carntyne crew, seeing that there’s two ae that Garthamlock crowd in there as well?”

  “Maybe.”

  “So, if no us, it could be anywan…is that whit ye’re saying?”

  “Aye, something like that, ha, ha,” Peter chuckled, as they aw laughed, glancing across at the competition.

  “So, whit’s the obvious wan that wid come in handy, bit we don’t want tae use seeing as ye-know-who wid’ve probably thought ae that wan himsel then?”

  Silence.

  “Fuck, this is a good start, so it is.  Hugh?” Mick asked.

  “It’s goat tae be a fishing rod.  Whit dae ye think yersel?” he wondered, looking roond the group.

  “Aye,” they aw agreed, nodding.

  “Ma Money’s oan The Mankys, so it is,” JD McKinnon fae Carntyne declared, looking in the direction ae the Springburn boys.

  “How dae ye make that wan oot then?” Rab McPherson asked him, following JD’s gaze.

  “They’ve goat Silent as their secret weapon, so they hiv,” he replied wae a grin.

  “Aye, it wid take something tae prise a secret oot ae that wan, seeing as he never fucking utters a sound…oops, sorry Father…force ae habit,” JD apologised, smiling.

  “Right, whit ur they no getting fae us?  Whit’s the maist obvious wan then?”

  “Ma money’s oan a fishing rod or fishing line, so it is,” Chippy Kerr, wan ae the Garthamlock boys volunteered.

  “Aye, far too obvious.  Right, that wan’s fur the bin…agreed?” JD asked, looking at the surrounding faces.

  “Aye,” they aw murmured, nodding.

  “We could’ve aw been lying back oan oor mattresses jist noo, insteid ae hivving tae put up wae you sitting there, saying sweet fuck aw, contributing nothing as per usual,” Snappy continued, glaring across at Silent, as Fanny sat embarrassed, no sure if she should say something, as the others sat hivving a conversation, ignoring whit Fanny thought wis clearly bullying coming fae Johnston towards Smith.

  “Ah heard Drew Brewster copped seven,” Tony said.

  “And Chic McLaren goat three…bloody bang oot ae order, if ye ask me,” Snappy said, joining the conversation.

  “There disnae seem tae be any set sentence.  Wan guy gets hit wae seven while another gets three, fur the same crime.  How dae they work that wan oot?” Johnboy wondered.

  “It jist depends who ye’re up in front ae.”

  “Or, if the judge managed tae get his Nat King the night before.  See, that’s why ye goat whit ye did, Johnboy.  The auld basturt probably hidnae dipped his wick since the war,” Snappy said tae laughter, as Fanny fidgeted in her seat.  “Or, unless ye’re a stoat-the-baw, then it’s a wee slap oan the wrists and ‘Here ye go, ya sick basturt, don’t dae it again,’” Snappy continued.

  “So, whit’s happening wae Silent’s barber job then, Fanny?”  Johnboy asked, putting the spotlight oan tae her.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Johnboy, but I don’t know.  They don’t involve me in that side of the scene, I’m afraid,” Fanny replied, surprised at being asked a question.

  Fanny couldnae help observing how Silent Smith acted within the group.  She wis totally fascinated.  His situation seemed so surreal. He gied a good impression that he wis part ae the conversation, although he hidnae uttered a single word since she’d sat doon.  When wan ae The Mankys spoke, he sat and appeared tae be listening politely, bit Fanny detected subtle differences tae the others, other than the obvious.  It wis when the conversation wis picked up by or referred back tae wan ae the other YOs in the group, aw heids wid turn tae that person in anticipation ae him saying something or replying.  Fae whit Fanny could make oot, Smith only seemed tae focus oan the conversation efter the person actually spoke. None ae The Mankys seemed tae acknowledge that delay and jist carried oan as if he wis oan the same wavelength or they knew he’d eventually catch up. It wis actually quite bizarre, she thought tae hersel.  She wondered when they wur gaun tae address the task in haun.

  “Ah mean…be honest, Fanny…efter whit that dumpling did tae the heids ae The Beastie Boys, wid ye let somewan like him anywhere near that hair ae yers? Be honest noo,” Snappy asked her grinning, breaking intae her contemplation.

  “Ach, Ah don’t know aboot that, Ah think it suited them,” Johnboy said tae laughter.

  “Ah’m telling ye boys, ye’re oan the wrang track, so youse ur…that’s aw Ah’m gonnae say,” The Chief whispered conspiratorially, sitting back and winking, folding they erms ae his across his medal-ribboned chest.

  “Good,” a chorus ae voices replied.

  “Right, Bob, ye wur saying?” Wee Mick McGeachy asked.

  “Ooh, that’s a good wan,” The Tormentor exclaimed…being ignored.

  “So, we’ve agreed oan a tent then?” Paul Morrison fae the Carlton asked the others.

  “Ah’d throw in a wee saw while ye’re at it,” Brian Connell said tae nods.

  “Ooh, that’s a good wan,” The Tormentor exclaimed…again being ignored.

  “Er, should we no be discussing the tropical island, boys?” Dickheid Dick asked the Barlanark YOs.

  “Ah’m telling ye, the auld Zodiac Mk four might’ve been a tank, bit it could dae a lot ae damage tae the front double doors ae a building, so it could.”

  “Aye, bit, in ma experience, they won’t drive away efter it.  And if that big fuel tank goes up?  Well, roast chicken takes oan a new meaning.  Naw, gie me a big souped-up Mark Three rust-bucket Cortina, wae its four-speed manual transmission, any day ae the week.”

  “The Zodiacs ur aw right if ye hammer yer fit doon oan the pedal, letting oot yer clutch and haunbrake rapidly, two seconds apart in reverse.”

  “Aye, and the smoke aff ae they screaming wheels gies ye guaranteed good cover,” somewan said tae laughter. 
      

“Look, Ah know Ah shouldnae be saying this, bit think ae water and whit’s swimming aboot in it,” The Chief volunteered, winking and tapping the side ae his nose wae a nicotine-stained finger.

  “Eh?”

  “Y’know…water…the sea?  Fur Christ’s sake, boys, ye don’t want me tae hiv tae spell it oot, dae youse?” he squealed in exasperation, looking aboot tae make sure nowan fae the other groups wur lugging-in.

  “Naw, we don’t, so shut the fuck up!” Wee Mick McGeachy hissed at him fur the umpteenth time

  Fanny wanted tae look at her wristwatch, bit knew that it widnae go un-noticed.  Time wis marching oan.  Apart fae the mention ae the fishing rod at the start ae the session, the YOs in her group hid totally ignored the task in haun.  She glanced o’er her shoulder tae see whit wis happening elsewhere.  Father Leonard seemed tae be enjoying himsel.  He wis sitting oan the edge ae his chair, sandals folded o’er each ankle wae the palms ae his hauns clasped thegither across his portly stomach.  She knew she shouldn’t think it, bit he reminded her ae a happy wee gnome sitting there, withoot the garish green colours and feathered hat. The Chief’s group wis the loudest.  He looked tae be in a foul mood, sitting back, scowling and glaring at his YOs.  She turned back tae the Springburn YOs.  They wur aw cackling amongst themsels wae laughter at something Snappy Johnston hid jist said that she hidnae caught.  She wis relieved that the source ae amusement didnae seem tae be her as she wisnae getting wee guilty furtive glances fae Johnston.  She looked across at Samuel Smith.  He still hidnae said a word since she’d sat doon or since his earlier interruption, wanting tae know whit a sociopath wis.  While the other three wur cackling away, he jist sat, looking at his pals wae whit might, at a push, hiv passed as a grin, oan that face ae his.  Despite hivving gone o’er his file oan numerous occasions, she still couldnae fathom oot how he coped or survived.  Oan the surface, it seemed tae Fanny that he wis taking everything in. When any ae the Springburn boys individually spoke tae the other members as a group, she noticed that they always included Smith in the discussion, even though he never seemed tae gie any visible indication that he’d understood whit hid been said or attempted tae offer up any sort ae response.  She realised that it wis only by studying Silent Smith in a setting…a group setting…where the group wur used tae him and who he wis obviously comfortable wae…that Dr Henderson’s diagnosis ae Depersonalisation Disorder made any sense tae a lay person like her.  Although he smiled when the other boys did, she could detect through his body language and that ae his pals, a definite delayed separation fae whit wis gaun oan or whit wis being said between them.  It wis clear that the other members ae the group took Smith’s behaviour fur granted and in their stride and either deliberately ignored whit wis in front ae their eyes or jist accepted that that’s who Samuel Smith wis.  She knew that Smith and Johnboy Taylor hid lived thegither, sharing a flat fur a number ae years.  Whit did Taylor think wis gaun oan in Samuel Smith’s world, she wondered, looking across at Taylor.  Did he ever wonder or question why his pal wis different…different fae anywan he wid’ve been likely tae hiv come across when he wis oot and aboot in Glesga?  She thought she could noo understaun Gucci’s warning tae back aff fae Smith.  Looking at the sad-eyed blond youth sitting across fae her, she could well understaun Gucci’s protectiveness, particularly if Smith’s traumatic experience at the hauns ae a predatory member ae staff in a remand home, who wis supposed to be there tae protect him when he wis a child, wis true.  How he’d managed tae avoid being sectioned under The Mental Health Act, wis nothing short ae a miracle, or an injustice, Fanny thought.  She wis absolutely amazed at his ability tae survive, and be accepted, by the youths sitting in front ae her.  Surely even they could see he required help…professional help? Who wur The Mankys?

  Snappy Johnston initially came across as self-opinionated and aggressive tae everywan bit, in particular, towards any suggestions that Taylor and Gucci came up wae.  Within five minutes ae sitting doon, though, Fanny hid realised that maist ae whit he threatened wis bluff and bluster, and like Gucci and Taylor, she found it difficult no tae smile, despite the outrageous and unacceptable comments he threw aroond like confetti.  She wondered if the same bluff and bluster applied tae Gucci and Taylor?  Wur the intelligence reports and psychiatric assessments oan these YOs ever so slightly twisted due tae their reputations fur non-conformity preceding them she wondered? She found the dynamics ae the group fascinating and regretted that Patrick McCabe…the emerald ring expert…wisnae sitting amongst them.  She looked doon and smiled tae hersel as she realised that she wis twisting her great grandmother’s ring aroond her finger.  It wis abundantly clear that these boys wur very, very close.  It wis also clear that Tony Gucci wis the natural leader ae the pack.  It wisnae patently obvious…at least no tae Fanny…whit Taylor’s position within the group wis though.  The intelligence files oan The Mankys said that, back in Glesga, there wur aboot seven or eight core members ae the gang, wae aboot another couple ae dozen or so oan the fringes, attached tae individual members.  The reports described them as a gang within a gang. It seemed tae her…although she knew she could be wrang…that while Johnston hid a whining, whinging deferential respect towards Gucci, Johnboy Taylor seemed tae be the main facilitator between Silent Smith, Snappy Johnson and Tony Gucci.  Despite Tony Gucci’s cool, laid-back demeanour, Taylor came across as the maist tolerant oot ae them aw, particularly towards Samuel Smith.  It wisnae anything Taylor said, bit by observing and listening attentively, she detected a flow fae Gucci, through Taylor, tae the other boys and back again.  She again wished that Patrick McCabe hid been present.  His presence wid’ve confirmed or dashed her theory and perhaps confirmed that she wis oan the right track…or no.  Another thing that Fanny suddenly realised, sitting wae the affable Springburn YOs wis that, although she’d come across young lads who’d goat caught up in a gang fight or who’d drunkenly gone too far in a fistfight, which hid led to somewan being killed or maimed, she’d never met any murderers…cold killers…at least, none that she wis aware ae.  Their intelligence files screamed oot tae anywan wae access tae them, that this group ae teenagers hid killed, sometimes mair than wance, and hidnae been charged or convicted ae any them.  It wis extraordinary.  Other than Snappy Johnston’s extrovert behaviour, the Springburn YOs came across as being relatively normal compared tae aw the other YOs present in the room.  Whit wis crystal clear tae Fanny wis that Johnboy Taylor hid a major influence and role in the make-up ae the Springburn boys, that wis mair than jist a passive indifference tae how they conducted themsels.  She wondered whit the implications wid be fur Samuel Smith when the boys wur finally released, leaving Taylor behind tae serve oot the remainder ae his sentence.  Snappy Johnston and Tony Gucci didnae strike her as the tolerant types, despite the visible respect shown towards Smith by aw the boys.  Fanny wondered whit wid become ae him wance the umbilical cord that tied him tae Johnboy Taylor wis cut.  Wid he be able tae cope?  Wid he survive withoot Johnboy Taylor?  She looked at her watch.  Ten minutes tae go and still nae focus oan whit they wid take tae the tropical island wae them.