CHAPTER PROLOGUE:
Steven Hay and John-Paul McQueen sat on the floor of the Deli in Chester. They had just concluded another fight. Again it was over Brendan Brady.
"I'm sorry...", said John-Paul to his new boyfriend of 3 weeks, "...I should know how raw it is for you, with what happened with me and Craig...I do get it, I get why you are so hung up over him...even after all these months"
Ste dried his eyes with the cuff of his hoodie, "It's not fair to you...I do now that", he sniffed.
John-Paul reached his hand out and cupped Ste's face, "he talked about you that night in Dublin"
Ste's eyes looked up and met his, "did he? What did he say?"
John-Paul shrugged, he didn't know if this was a good idea, but he wanted to get closer to Ste and this was one way to it, "just that he met somebody who loved him...and that he was happier he had ever been, but scared at the same time because he let you down"
Ste tried to process this. Last time he saw Brendan was at the hospital before he went to prison. He thought Brendan didn't know what love was. Maybe he did after all, he looked at John-Paul, "he really said that?"
"Yeah, he really LOVED YOU, you know..."
Ste couldn't meet John-Paul's gaze, he turned away and nodded, "yeah...now I know"
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Brendan came over all giddy as he climbed out of the car at the dock in Liverpool. It was icy cold, even with the jacket and scarf Gregory had given to him. He instantly clocked the 'seen better days' fishing vessel at the end of the ramp.
"This it?", he pointed.
Gregory pulled his coat tighter around him to beat of the chill of the dock, "It's the best you've got on short notice...Frank is the skipper, you've got everything now, I'm done with you...don't ever show up at my club again, Brady"
Brendan looked at him like it was a given, "I don't intend to"
Both looked up to see the figure in a dark duffle coat and fisherman's cap approach from the ramp, "is this him?", he barked in likeable Irish tones.
Brendan couldn't help himself as he looked about him and Gregory, "You talking to him or me?"
Gregory took charge and pushed Brendan forward, "You've been paid...now get him out of here before the manhunt really starts to heat up"
Frank turned to Brendan, "you best head down inside fella...it's gonna be a rough ride"
Gregory was already heading back to his car with a backward wave, "So long Brady"
INTERLUDE:
In Chester, Ste sat on the bed. He could hear John-Paul in the shower, he was trying to sing and this made Ste smile.
"Hey, don't be too long in there!", Ste called out in a super cheeky tone. He rolled over and snatched up his phone from the bedside unit. He saw the missed call and frowned, his phone had been on silent. He pressed the listen to message icon on screen, and put the phone to his ear. It was Cheryl's voice. His eyebrows knitted together as he listened.
"Ste...when you get this, give us a call back pet, have you seen the news?...it's about Brendan"
Ste realised his heart was racing in his chest. He felt uneasy. What the fuck had happened? He tripped into the lounge and was grabbing for the TV remote as he was calling back Cheryl.
The TV was on,
"Cheryl? I just got your message...what's happened to Brendan...he what!"
BACK TO BRENDAN
In the Irish sea, the small fishing boat rocked from side to side over the familiar rough seas. Frank had the wheel and turned to Brendan sitting on the bunk, the poor man looked like he was on the verge of collapse, "You okay?"
Brendan tilted his head in response and looked at him, "why do you ask?"
"You look a bit green around the gills mate, you should go and get some air or something"
Brendan peered out of the small grubby window, "It's pissing hard out there"
Frank shrugged, "You look seriously rough mate"
Brendan knew all too well, he sniffed and nodded, "Yeah...I'm not well, but it's nothing to do with the sea sickness..."
Frank could see the clammy pallor of Brendan's face, "You look like you are burning up...what's wrong with you mate?"
Brendan lifted his top to reveal the dirty bandage located over his stab wound, it was seeping something nasty.
"Sweet Jesus...that don't look too good"
"You don't say"
"It needs looking at"
"Well, when I get to Ireland I might just do that...", he said as he pulled down his top again. Frank snatched up a bottle from a side box and offered it to Brendan, "Get this down yous"
Brendan took the bottle and shrugged with approval, "Irish whiskey"
"Yip"
Brendan unscrewed the bottle and took a few deep swigs. It was hot down his throat. And then he was sick.
CHAPTER EPILOGUE:
In Chester, John-Paul came into the bedroom and leaned on the door frame with his arms folded, "You okay...you were tossing and turning all night"
Ste was in bed and stifled a yawn, "Just didn't sleep much...you know"
John-Paul nodded, watching him carefully, "I saw the news...he's all over it this morning"
Ste felt his stomach churn, "Yeah"
"If HE contacts you...you can't help him Ste...no man is worth screwing up your life up over", warned John-Paul, he turned and headed back to the kitchen, "I'm just fixing us some breakfast"
Ste shook his head and then opened the drawer next to his bed, he pulled out the box and lifted the lid to reveal a crucifix. It had been Brendan's. He stared at it and hoped that Brendan was okay, wherever he was.
