"Ste should have been here an hour ago, where the hell is he?" Gilly grumbled as he beavered about trying to serve a dozen people at once
"How should I know where ratboy is? I don't keep tabs on scum like that, I'm not Brady," Warren replied lazily leafing through a newspaper at a quiet end of the bar. He didn't even register that Gilly was struggling; he was far too busy basking in self glory. He certainly didn't register that it was already eight and Ste was late and absent from work for the fourth day running.
"Well don't you think you should? He's your employee," Gilly retorted appalled at Warren's can't be bothered attitude.
"You would think so, but that particular employee belongs to the half of the club which I do not own, he's Brendan's responsibility," Warren said laughing "As much as I'd love to give the kid a good kicking for not being here, I don't have the energy to go find worthless staff,"
"He's not worthless; he's the best barman we've ever had!" Cheryl exclaimed, walking in the fire escape door.
"Ha that's a bit of an overstatement isn't it? You're probably right though, this one can't even manage the bar by himself,"
Gilly opened his mouth to shout some array of insults but with a quick look from Cheryl; he concentrated on serving his customers
"Warren! Don't take out your anger about Brendan not giving you his half of the club on the staff," Cheryl said furious at Warren for his behaviour recently "Don't think I'm stupid, I know what your game is,"
Warren thought it was funny how little she knew about her brother, her saint of a brother who wouldn't do anything to harm anyone or anything. He guessed living in ignorance was better that knowing the ugly truth.
"Whatever Cheryl," He replied standing up, discarding his paper on the bar counter, he didn't care if he sounded like a stupid teen, he didn't have time for Cheryl's stupidity
"Where are you going?"
"I don't see how that is any of your business,"
"Ring Ste, I want him here!"
But Warren was already gone. He wasn't about to do what Cheryl wanted as soon as she asked but he supposed he was losing money with just one bar man so he rang Ste.
Ring ring
Warren began to lose patience, as he trudged down the fire escape.
Ring ring
And then someone picked up the phone
"You're losing me money ratboy, why the hell are you not at work?"
But the voice that answered him wasn't Ste's.
"I'm sorry Ste Hay is a bit preoccupied," The low robotic voice hit Warren with all variations of confusion
"What? Who the fuck is this?" Warren demanded
"Goodbye Mr Fox be sure to send my regards to Mr Brady,"
The line died
Warren thought good, that ratboy needed to be taught some lessons in politeness and he'd definitely receive such skills with a little captivity. He chuckled as he thought about all the fun Ste would endure and the priceless picture of the kid shitting himself all alone in the dark of some desolate building.
But as Warren walked through the skate park he spotted Amy walking briskly towards him, a slightly scared expression on her face.
"Warren!" She exclaimed with she finally caught up with him "Is Ste at work?" She asked hopefully
Warren hesitated
He looked at the worry etched on the young mother's face and thought of the two young children at home and how they'd be missing a father. Warren though of Spencer and Katie and about their up bringing. He felt a pang of an alien emotion – Compassion.
So against everything he stood for, he told Amy and that's when all hell broke loose