Part 12
Danny climbed the stairs and ran out onto the roof. He made for the small hut that was on the roof. When he and Louie had lived here an old man in the apartment opposite them had kept pigeons here. Danny threw his back pack into the corner and sat down. He couldn't believe how much everything had changed. Why did Louie always have to spoil everything for him. It had always been like this, Danny would have friends and then Louie would come along and persuade them to join the gang and then they would change. It was not safe to say no to Louie and especially not to Sonny. Danny knew of people who had disappeared because they had done something to upset Sonny.
He heard footsteps outside and got up to have a look. It was just Louie," You there, Danny? he shouted.
"Where else would I be, got nowhere else I can go."
"Just shut up, you're lucky I got you out of there. Why could you not just tell Sonny what he wants to know?" Louie said angrily.
"You knew I was lying?" Danny asked.
"Course I knew, luckily Sonny doesn't. You are such a fool," he smacked Danny round the ear. "We could have made quite a bit of money out of that school."
"I couldn't do it, Louie. I know you don't understand but they were good to me."
"It's a damn school Danny. If they'd found out what you had been they wouldn't want to know you either. You know that. Did you tell them about the Tanglewood Boys? Did you tell them where your parents lived? Bet you didn't because you know they don't care about the likes of us. We are just scum."
"That's not true," Danny said.
"Grow up, Danny."
"What can I do now?" Danny asked.
"Papa doesn't want you at home. Said you've not to come round. Brought enough trouble to our family." Louie looked at Danny, he could see the kid was near to tears.
"Best you could do is help us get into that school and get on Sonny's good side."
"He has one? Why could you just not leave me alone?"
"Why should you get an easy life?" Louie answered angrily. "You get to live in a fancy apartment, get a cell phone, new clothes. And why? Because Mama couldn't keep her dr....." Danny punched him then.
"You little ba*****," Louie shouted. He punched him to the ground and then kicked him hard. "You know that man that's your father. Know the first thing he did? He called the cops. They've been looking everywhere for you. Attempted murder. They're gonna lock you up for a long time. Serves you right."
"No, he wouldn't," Danny protested in a small voice.
"You stay away from me and mu Papa and Mama cause if I see you near them or the apartment you're a dead man, understand?"
Danny nodded. Louie threw some money at him. "Here, your share of what we stole. Only thing your father's gonna give you."
Danny crawled into the corner and started to cry.
Louie headed for his home but stopped when he saw Mac getting out of his car in front of it. He hid in the alley to the side and made his way up the fire escape. He crawled over to the window to listen in.
He saw his mother answer the door. He managed to push the window open slightly so he could hear better. "Mac, come in."
"Is your husband here?" he asked.
"No. He left earlier, he'll not be back for hours. What's wrong?"
"Danny's run away."
"What? Where to?"
"I have no idea, I thought you might be able to help me. Or perhaps Louie would know."
"Even if he did Louie wouldn't help. He's never liked Danny. But he hasn't come here. What happened?"
"I have no idea. Danny was a bit quiet before he left for school. Then I got a phone call from the security man in the building saying Danny had returned with a bunch of boys claiming they were school friends. He didn't believe him so he phoned me at work. Then when I walked in they were trashing the apartment. I saw Danny and the next thing I knew someone had hit me over the head."
"I'm sorry Mac," she said sitting down. "This could be my fault. I told Michael that you were Danny's father."
"You what?"
"He knew something was wrong after your visit. Then he started hitting on me. I didn't mean to tell him. I just said I was glad Danny wasn't his because he wouldn't turn out like him or Louie. Then he went mad, he was kicking me and I couldn't take any more. When he demanded to know who his father was I told him."
"Does Danny know?"
"Didn't you tell him?"
"I was going to once he was settled."
"Louie," she said. "I bet he told him. He's a spiteful little s***. May God forgive me for calling my own son that but he is."
"Do you have any idea where he might go? Friends he might stay with?"
"The only place he felt safe was in an old hut that was on the top of the building we used to live in. Said it was his den, like in the books he read."
Louie was off the fire escape as fast as he could. He headed for the building. He had to move Danny on.
Danny was woken by a hand shoving his shoulder. "Leave lone," he said.
"Get up, the police are coming for you, they know about this place." Danny didn't think twice. He grabbed his bag and ran. He couldn't understand why Louie was helping him but he was glad he had come back. They ran down the alley and headed for the river. Louie looked back one time to see a car draw up in front of the building. "Right, you're clear. Now get going."
Danny kept running.
TBC
