Serious People by James A. Shea Page A

grin.
    “I think you have been through a lot from a young age and these things affect people. I don’t think prison is the right place for you Billy,” the fag continued.
    “Well I’m all fucking ears,” Billy replied. “Now I thought you were going ask me for a blow job, you gay cunt. But if you think me being ill or something can get me out, then yes mate. I’m fucking ill as shit.”
    “I think, there are times you don’t feel completely in control of your thoughts. Violent urges will suddenly enter you mind from no where…”
    Billy zoned out after this. There was only so much shit he could take in. But, fair play to the queer, Billy was out in a matter of months. With a bottle of pills to take and regular meetings with his counsellor to attend.
    But Billy was too smart for that quack. He only went to one of those stupid counselling sessions; he mugged that doctor right off. And as for those pills, fuck that. Now Uncle Roy, on the other hand, had seemed to bloody love them. Had them in his Weetabix almost every day; course he didn’t know nothing about it mind.
    Stupid old cunt, Billy laughed.
    “You alright?” John asked.
    He looked concerned and Billy liked that. Fair play, son, you’ve got a good heart, Billy thought to himself.
    Billy was ready. Despite what he’d said to John this visit wasn’t going to end well for Robert Payne. If they managed to get something out of him about the Mexicans, then that would be a bonus. But this was an opportunity that Billy couldn’t miss. Best way of becoming a name, is by killing a name. Billy put his hand on the door handle and took a deep breath. This was a momentous occasion for Billy Blake, and he was ready. He was fucking well ready.
    Before Billy could release the door a white Range Rover pulled up and all he could hear was loud dance music.
    The brothers didn’t speak. All of them were transfixed on the Range Rover and the person who would come out of it.
    It was John who broke the silence. “So who’s the Elvis impersonator?”
    Mickey the Bag stepped out the car, carrying his infamous sports bag, shortly followed by the giant of man who had been driving. They said a few words to each other then walked towards the gates to Payne’s house.
    “Brother, if he heard you taking the piss he’d fucking kill you,” Billy snapped.
    “Easy Billy, no need to get so agro,” his older brother replied.
    “It’s Mickey the Bag, you twat!” Billy said.
    “That’s Mickey the Bag! I’ve heard of him so many times but this first time I’ve actually seen him.”
    Yeah that’s ’cause you’re barely ever with us you wanker, Billy thought, as he watched Mickey and the giant walk through the gates.
    “Do you think he just carries that bag around with him. Just to give himself some kind of rep?” John asked, looking at the man with bag with contempt. “You know play up to the name and all.”
    “Are you a complete fucking twat?” Billy said, shaking his head. “Have you never heard the story of Mickey the Bag?” Billy said, sounding surprised.
    “Well, of course, I know he takes that bag around with him everywhere he goes, and he’s got a real hard man reputation,” John replied, sparking a mocking laugh from Nick.
    John stared back at Nick, who gave him a look that clearly stopped John thinking of saying anything back to his brother. Nick was the youngest brother, but he’d had John in his back pocket all his adult life.
    “This is a good thing,” Billy said, looking at his brother. “We get to see if Payne is in or not. If these guys go in… then when they’re gone, we’ll make our entrance.”
    “So what’s the story?” John asked Billy, who stared blankly back at him obviously forgetting his brothers question. “What’s Mickey the Bag’s story?”
     
    Billy sat back in his seat. “Ah right yeah, I might as well give you some kind of education, while we wait. I heard it a few years back, in Wandsworth. It goes back years ago though,