Perfect Intentions: Sometimes justice is above the law by Leona Turner Page B

off quickly and dressed. In his bedroom his phone started to ring, running into his room he grabbed the phone from his bed. Seeing it was Pete, he allowed himself a moment of disappointment before answering.
    "Hi, Pete, what’s up?”
    “All right, mate, you coming in to work today?”
    “Yeah, I’m on my way; tell Jon I’ll be in within the hour.”
    “You better get here quicker than that, he’s going ballistic.”
    “All right, all right, I’ll see you in a half hour.” Dean hung up his phone. Dashing down the stairs he grabbed his jacket. Charging out of the door he ran to the bus stop and managed to get there just as the bus arrived.
    Dean arrived at the garage within the thirty minutes he had promised.
    Pete wandered over to Dean when he arrived.
    “Jon still doing his nut?”
    “Nah, he’s calmed down now, had a phone call from the missus.”
    “Real or slag?”
    “Slag, of course, his real missus hasn’t so much as coaxed a smile from him in years.”
    “Are you coming out later? I’m going down the Rose and Crown later to enjoy my last hour or so of freedom before the weekend.”
    “Yeah, all right, haven’t got anything else planned.”
    “You never do these days, you’ve got to get yourself a woman, Dean, someone closer to your own age this time.”
    “Give it a rest, Pete. I’ve told you, I’m all right as I am. You fancy going and putting a few bets on Saturday?”
    “I’d love to, but Collette’s got me retiling the bathroom Saturday.”
    “What about Sunday, then?”
    “Nah, I’ve got to put the lino down, and once the bathroom’s finished I think she’s targeting the living room. At this rate I won’t have a weekend free for the next six months.”
    “One chat with you and you could put most men off women for life.”
    “It feels like I’ve got a life sentence sometimes. Bloody hell, maybe I should bump her off; at least I could get parole at some point.”
    Dean started to laugh.
    “Still, I shouldn’t moan, she’s not a bad old girl, really, and there are compensations.”
    “So I’ve heard.”
    As Dean spoke a Mini Cooper pulled into the forecourt.
    “Ok, this is mine.” Dean motioned for the driver to bring the car straight into the garage. As the driver vacated her vehicle she passed the keys to Dean and Dean explained the work should be completed within an hour.
    Dean got into the Mini, parked it over the inspection pit and started work. Fifty minutes later Dean dropped the bonnet and jumped in to take it over to the collection bay. As he parked, he noticed Pete coming toward him, coat in hand. Dean dropped the keys back in the office and the two started toward the pub.
    “I’ve only got until six. Collette’s actually cooking from scratch tonight, and God only knows I don’t want to be late for that.”
    “She’s got you well trained.”
    “So she thinks, but I’ve been out with you most nights recently. Really this is just a strategic move to ensure my clothes aren’t on fire in the front garden tomorrow. Besides, she’s quite a good little cook when she puts her mind to it.”
    As they neared the entrance to the pub, they noticed a group of lads loitering around outside. The Rose and Crown had benches outside for smokers. A couple of lads were sitting on the benches. As Pete and Dean walked past them, Dean nodded slightly in their direction. As soon as they were inside, Pete spoke up.
    “Friends of yours?”
    “Kind of, I know them from school.”
    “Well, if I were you I’d keep your distance; right little fuckers, the lot of them. Remember I told you about all the smash and grab car incidents up round mine? Well, I heard it was down to them lot.”
    “Come on, mate, you don’t know that.”
    “I’m telling you, and they deal.”
    “Deal?”
    “Yeah, coke, heroin, skunk, whatever they can lay their hands on—my sister won’t take her kids down the park anymore cause there’s always some crack addict milling about. Take it from me: stay