24

24. A novel by Martin McGregor

First published in the UK in 2018, by Marlebond Publishing Ltd.

Smashwords Edition Copyright © Martin McGregor 2018.

The right of Martin McGregor to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claim damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a purely fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to any actual events, is purely coincidental.

Original cover design by: Martin McGregor.

This book is sold subject to the conditions that it shall not, by way of trade or other means, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

While Marlebond Publishing Ltd, make every effort to see that no inaccurate or misleading data, opinion or statement appears in this book or any other affiliated publications. Marlebond Publishing wishes to state that the data in this book and any other affiliated publications are the responsibility of the author concerned. Marlebond Publishing and their officers and agents accept no liability whatsoever for the consequences of any such misleading data, opinion, or statement.

Also by the author:

Ellie Caitlin: The complete collection

Keep Away from the Windows

Keep Away from the Windows: The Dark Ones

Keep Away from the Windows: The World in my Eyes

Damaged Goods

Introduction

The premise for this book literally came out of nowhere. I wanted to continue writing short stories, but I wanted to do something a little different. I abandoned a long term novel and then suddenly developed a random idea that so many others have successfully accomplished before. I wanted the stories to interlink with each other. This is the first time that my creative mind has ever allowed this to happen.

The first story of the book is probably one of the most random things that I have ever written. It even left me questioning myself as to where I was going. Once it was complete though, the second part just followed on naturally, and the syncing part came all too easily. The premise was simple enough, twenty four hours of complete madness, sadness and badness in this town that I call my home.

By the end of the book, there came a long familiar yearning to escape. There was a feeling of wanting a new beginning, of needing to start all over again. To walk away from everything I know. To leave the past where it belongs. I am sure that all of us have felt like this at some point in our lives. The overwhelming urge that makes you want to run away, and to just leave everything behind.

So primarily, this book is about change but it’s also about finding renewal. It’s about learning how to move on. I have tried to add all of the familiar elements of my dark humour, whilst maintaining a social conscience coupled with twisted unexpected endings. All that remains is for me to now let you discover the stories for yourselves.

I hope that you enjoy this book, please keep in touch, and let me know. Your feedback is continually inspiring and inspirational. I have the utmost respect and admiration for you all. ‘It’s our year. It always was.’

Have a great 2018

A very big thank you to my mother Brenda, my sons, Nick Chris, Jordan and Owen, To April M, Paige, April and Freddie. I would also like to thank my fellow associates who are too many to mention, and to all of you who follow me on social media, and my fans. You all inspire me endlessly to keep on writing, and for that I am grateful. I would also like to say a huge thank you also to Jo Renfrey, for proof reading this book for me, and lastly to Jennifer W for your constant words of encouragement. I hope this is the real breakthrough!

This book is dedicated to the memory of

Craig Reid

You were always a gentleman.

Sleep well my friend.

6 A.M. Daybreak.

The birds had begun their obligatory dawn chorus to signal the arrival of morning. He failed to notice their song. The sweat was pouring heavily from his brow. He wiped it away with his shirt sleeve, which was now soaked through with sweat. It was a futile gesture. The beads of salty tears began to form again almost immediately. Then he felt a hard boot strike squarely in the centre of the top of his spine.

Dig! The instruction was clear. He had to keep going. He once again drove the shovel down into the earth beneath him again.

The man was standing behind him and pointing a gun at his head. There was little point in arguing with him. The hole that he was stood in was approximately three feet deep, and the further down that he dug, the deeper down he lowered himself into what increasingly felt like what would be his own grave. The ground was becoming harder and harder as he dug down, and as he shovelled more dirt over the edge of the hole, he now noticed traces of chalk and clay in the mixture.

He had thought about shouting for help, but it would have been a futile gesture. The field was out in the middle of nowhere. At this ungodly hour, there was no one even stirring out here. He had been marched for what felt like miles before they had arrived at this spot. The shovel was already stood upright in the ground as they had approached. It looked aged. It was like it belonged in another era completely.

This was all pre planned he was sure of it, but why him? The man had said very few words at all. He was a lousy conversationalist. He uttered just single words, instructing him exactly what he needed to do. There was no further communication. It fell on deaf ears whenever he had tried. He thought back to when he had first encountered the man, back during the early hours of the morning.

He was driving a brand new two litre injection. It was his dream car. It was both luxurious and powerful. It was less than six weeks old. Since the moment he had first turned the key that ignited the engine, it had been his pride and joy.

From the moment that he had driven it from the forecourt, it had felt as if he was the envy of every man who looked at it. He kept it meticulously clean, and he was very particular about who got to ride along in the car with him. Now he wondered if he would ever get to drive it again. He now wished that he hadn't stopped.

At two in the morning, you don't expect to see any man stood in the middle of the road wearing a dark suit and sunglasses, but that was exactly what he had encountered. He hadn't seen him until the last minute, but he had just about applied the brakes in time for him to stop. God help him if he dented his car! The idiot was now grinning from ear to ear. Christian was going to teach him a lesson in road sense that he wouldn't forget in a hurry.

Christian stopped the car engine and removed the keys. He then undid his seatbelt, opened the driver’s door and the stepped out from the car. He used the remote to lock the doors and then started to walk round to the front of the car.

What the fuck do you think you are playing at mate? Christian asked. I could have easily knocked you down. Are you drunk or drugged up or something? He asked. The man continued to grin at him inanely.

He wasn't sure if it was the lack of response, the stupidly wide grin, or possibly the insane adornment of sunglasses at this early hour of the morning. Whatever it was, Christian was not in the mood for messing about. The guy was pushing all of the wrong buttons at once, and Christian did not suffer fools gladly. He clenched his fists as he moved forward to the front of the car. The guy was small, this wouldn't take much. Fuck it. He thought, there was no one else around. Just a few slaps would soon sort this idiot out, and then he could be on his way.

As he took a step toward the front of the car, he felt his right shoulder jolted backwards painfully. The man had pulled a gun out from inside of his jacket, and without hesitation, he had shot Chris through the shoulder. Chris fell backwards to the ground and the man walked calmly forward, all the while he continued pointing the gun at Chris's head.