Bonded by Blood by Bernard O'Mahoney

and Nathan’s car. He got all shirty at first, so I told him to calm down and listen. I pointed out to him that I knew where he lived and he didn’t even know my name. I was coming to Bath to recover the car whatever. I had no particular loyalty to Steve and Nathan and therefore we could come to an agreement. ‘Falling out over a BMW is hardly worth it,’ I said.
    Billy agreed. I told him for recovering the car I was going to be paid £1,000. If he would meet me at Bath railway station and give me the car, I would give him half the money. He would have to tell his friends that we had chased him, assaulted him and taken the car back. We’d both be £500 better off and everyone would be happy.
    I rang Steve and Nathan and told them there were ten of us going down to Bath in two cars. They had to ensure that they stayed out of the way until I called them. I drove to Bath on my own and met Billy as arranged. I reminded him of the plot and said that I would meet him there again in an hour’s time, but first he would have to give me the car. He agreed.
    I phoned Steve and Nathan and drove to meet them. I said there had been a bit of trouble with Billy and so the other people with me had driven out of Bath because they feared the police may be looking for them. I added that I still had to meet them later as they wanted paying. I gave Steve and Nathan their car and they gave me the £3,000.
    Thomkins, who had arrived with them, was going mad. He said another man, named Steve Woods, had burgled his house and stolen quite a lot of electrical equipment – televisions, videos, etc. – and covered his children’s bedroom floor and walls with excrement. He was under the impression that we were to sort out Steve Woods as well for this money. He claimed that Woods and Gillings were in on it together: Gillings had the car; Woods, he alleged, had done the burglary and given the goods to Gillings to fence.
    I told Thomkins it was the first I had heard of it, but if he wanted us to, we would resolve that matter for him. But it wouldn’t get done today. Thomkins was adamant he wanted it sorted that night. ‘Suit yourself,’ I said. I shook hands with Steve and Nathan, jumped into a cab and went to meet Billy. I gave Billy his £500 and kept the £2,500 for myself.
    Later that night, I got a call from Thomkins. He told me he couldn’t stand the thought of knowing Steve Woods had robbed his house and covered his children’s bedroom in excrement and got away with it. I said that Woods hadn’t got away with it.
    ‘Too right he hasn’t,’ he said, ‘I’ve just fucking shot him.’ He explained what he had done. After leaving me, he was in a rage. He had gone home and picked up a shotgun. He had gone to Woods’s house and put on a balaclava before knocking on the door. Woods’s girlfriend answered the door. Thomkins pushed her aside. Woods was in the hallway. It must have been a terrifying sight for him to see a man in a balaclava with a shotgun. Thomkins fired and hit Woods in the upper thigh. He then ran over to Woods, who had collapsed on the floor, put the gun to his head and shouted, ‘I want my fucking television back.’ Woods’s girlfriend was screaming. Thomkins levelled the gun at her head and told her to shut up. Then he made his escape.
    I remarked to Thomkins that that kind of behaviour was a bit over the top for the sake of a 14-inch Nicam television. He obviously did not think so. This was becoming the norm for more and more people in these firms. It was all about having front. Thomkins wanted people to know you couldn’t take liberties with him.
    Now Thomkins had calmed down, he didn’t have a clue as to what he was going to do. It wasn’t really my problem, but he was associated with us and you have to help your own. I suggested he conceal the weapon, jump in a car and meet me in Basildon as soon as possible. I didn’t know if Woods still had Thomkins’s television or not. Either way, it didn’t really