David waited in the kitchen for Harley to come home. Harley was supposed to be home by now and there was no sign of him. David was getting worried, Sonia had taken Carol out and David was left alone. He was worried about Carol and how badly she had been affected by Jims passing. David knew that Harley had also been affected because he had never had the chance to have a proper relationship with him while he was alive. Finally the front door opened and Harley came in stinking of booze and fags.
"Oh my God Harley. What have you been doing to yourself?!"David shouted, the smell was making him feel sick, Harley shrugged and sat at the table.
"Max is trying to get me in trouble with the law isn't he? He's my uncle and he's trying to ruin my life." Heat mumbled as he took of his hoodie. David stared at the handsome face of his son and his heart broke for him. Max was so dead now for doing to his sons state of mind.
"I'm going to go into town. I won't be long." David grabbed his coat and left the house. Harley put his head in his hands and wept believing all this was his fault.
Max walked along the park towards the car lot and for a moment he actually could have sworn that the swings began swinging by themselves and he stopped for a bit. He was a certain he saw Lucy for a split second but maybe it was all in his head? Ever since Ben's murder his mind had gone paranoid. He carried on walking and opened the car lot door.
"I'm here Harley. What do you want to see me about?" He called out.
Then the light switch was flicked on and turning around on his seat was David sporting a devilish smirk.
"What you doing here?! Get out!" Max yelled and David could see that he was trembling. He got up and grabbed Max by the scruff of the neck pushing him onto a chair nearby.
"You devious old rat! I know your games Max and now your trying to land my son in it! The police questioned him today and you were spotting speaking to them this morning!" David spat, Max took several deep breaths.
"I don't know what your talking about! I haven't done anything!" Max yelled back trying to get up but David pushed him back down.
"Don't you bloody lie to me because I swear I'll rip you to pieces! You have tried to land my son into trouble and he hasn't done a thing. Yeah he may have hit Ben but he didn't deliver the killer blow! You did!"
David paced the car lot up and down the anger overcoming him like a raging volcano about to rupture.
"So what we're you thinking when you split open Ben's skull ? Did you think oh no I've killed somebody or did you think Bingo! Now I will split up my sister's family up for good and I can get on with my life?! David snarled as he walked around Max. Max avoided looking at him,"I never meant..."
"Never meant to what?! You never meant to land my son in it?! You took my boy and you twisted him round your little finger!" Max didn't say anything and put his head in his hands.
"Do you realise what you've done to us? You've broken Carols heart, you broken my boys spirit and now your trying to make out your a victim in all this! Well your not! Your a selfish arrogant tosser who doesn't think about anyones feelings but your own! " David shouted shoving Max onto the floor by the throat.
"And let me tell you something, you'll pay for all you've done! May be not now but you will do!
He put Max onto his feet and pointed a finger into his chest,
"Now what's going to happen now is I'm going to see my family and try and repair some of the damage. As for you if you ever pull a stunt like that again and I swear on my mum and dads grave one of us will go down. You if I tell the police what you have done or me for murder but either way you stay the hell away from us!" David shouted. Max nodded, tears running down his face.
"I won't say nothing I promise." He managed to say massaging his throat. David scowled at him and walked out of the car lot, happy that Max wouldn't say anything now.
On the day of Ben's funeral Harley comforted Abi who had been seeing him at the time of his death despite the fact that Ben was gay a fact that Harley knew personally. Jay watched as they both got in the car together feeling slightly jealous then he too followed in the same car as Phil and Sharon. Harley kept quiet throughout the journey guilt overcoming him.
He sat on the front row in between Abi and Jay watching a grief stricken Phil deliver the eulogy then everyone went to the gravesite . Guilt welled up inside Harley as he watched instead he was prepared Ben being lowered into the ground . Knowing who had killed him was the hardest realization of all His own uncle was a killer and yet he wasn't taking responsibility for his actions instead he was prepared to let Harley rot in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Harley suddenly ran off and grew up on a nearby car park, it was all becoming to much for him. He couldn't think anymore. The guilt was eating him away inside and he couldn't control it no matter how hard he tried.
"Are you ok?" Abi asked as he staggered back to the car, he nodded smiling weakly and looking white as a sheet, he followed abi back to the car. Harley sat in total silence not knowing what to do. He couldn't live with the guilt anymore. He made a decision.
After that night, David was waiting for him as was Carol. Harley took a deep breath and went into the kitchen shutting the door behind him. Carol looked really worried as did David as Harley looked pale and withdrawn. He looked like a lost little boy. He sat at the table and Carol did him a cup of tea.
"Mum dad, I've been thinking a lot recently." Had ok mumbled as he sipped the tea. Carol sat in front of him,
"What about?" She asked taking his hands into hers.
"Everything. Max, Cindy, Ben's murder, knowing I'm your son. It's all getting to much. I can't handle it anymore. I've made a decision."
David sat down next to him.
"What's that then?" He asked already dreading the answer.
"I've decided to leave Walford. Me and Jay are going to Ibiza. We're going next week."
David and Carol looked at Harley in shock and disbelief, their hearts breaking. They were going to lose their boy.
Max was going to pay.