“Milo wake up,” said Cookie.  “Milo, Milo wake up.” Cookie reaches back from the driver’s seat and shakes Milo out of his dream.

“Where are we?”

“You blacked out a minute ago in the back of my car. We’re parked outside the house you told me to drive to. It’s Gazza Brown’s, the cops house right?”

“Do you see any cars out front or up the drive,” said Milo who’s still under the covers. 

“Just one red Corolla.”

“Okay you stay here while I go in real quick and see if Jet and Riley are inside.” 

“Nah man I can’t do this. If I get in trouble with the cops the Mrs. will leave me. I want to help you and all but…

“I’m going to be real quick.”

“No Milo the risk is too great. If I keep helping you I know I’ll get caught, maybe sent to jail or shot, for something that you did without even offering to include me.”

“But I knew you wouldn’t want to join us, that’s why I never told you. I never wanted to risk you getting in trouble.”

“Then get out now let me go.”

Milo pulls off the blanket, sits up and looks around. “Thanks for the help Cookie.” He pats him on the shoulder. “You’re a great mate.”

“I hope you find them safe and soon man, I really do.”

Milo exits the car and enters the property as Cookie drives off. The house is modern and well maintained. The wind buffers him as he runs up the drive. He knocks on the door really hard. Alison opens the door wearing her office clothes of a short skirt, business suit and high heels. She looks at Milo’s injury with disdain.

“Which was it, an angry boyfriend or husband?”

“Are Jet and Riley here?”

“No, and If you don’t leave immediately, I’ll call Gazza to come and take you away so go.”

“I know the phones aren’t working Alison.” She tries to slam the door but Milo keeps it ajar with his foot. “Their lives are in serious danger Alison I have to talk to you.” She stops pushing and opens the door enough to peer around the edge.

“Why are they in danger?” 

Milo nervously looks down the street. “Do you think I can come inside? Alison herself looks anxious. She makes a decision and walks away from the door. Milo shuts the door on the way through to the living room. She stands there waiting. “Well?”

“I’m on the run from the police. They raided my business for growing cannabis.”

“So you visit us? Do you want Gazza to lose his job or something are you fucking nuts? 

“I need to find them to make them safe. I had no choice, and if anyone knows where they are, well I thought it be you.”

“If they’re in danger from the most, so why the hell would I tell you anything anyway?” 

“Bludgy was my silent partner. He’s told me that if I can’t repay his debt by sunrise then Jet and Riley are his property to do with as he pleases.”

“You bastard.” she looks visibly shocked. You horrible disgusting piece of shit. I fucking hate you right now like you have no idea. To think that you had put them in this position is disgusting. And with Bludgy of all people.” Her eyes moisten up. “I’ve heard stories about Bludgy recently that made me sick to my stomach.” She’s slowly shaking her head. “This is too much of a coincidence.”

“What is?”

“You have to find Bludgy fast as you can and sort out a deal, but if he really does have them and won’t give them up, then you have to do whatever it takes to get them out safe before sunrise, even if you have to kill Bludgy and his freakish minions to do it, do you understand me?” Out of the corner of her eye something moves catching Alison’s attention. It was her husband Gary, A.K.A Gazza, dressed in police uniform raising his pistol at Milo.

“Oh don’t mind me, it sounds like an interesting conversation you were both having,” said Gazza with a steely gaze at Milo. And what’s the backstory? I mean how long have you two been fucking each other?”

“Oh god Gaz don’t be so stupid,” she said dismissively. “Shithead here is probably having an affair but it’s definitely not with me so put that bloody gun away before you start putting holes through the walls.” Gaz twitches as he almost instinctively does as he’s told.

“Easy there cowboy,” said Milo.

“Don’t patronize me Milo.”

“Gazzer, at what point did you stumble into this conversation?” Asked Alison. “Because fuck face here had arrived like only a minute before I saw you standing there.”  

“Well that would be when you said to him, do whatever it takes to get them out before sunrise. even if you have to kill Bludgy and his freakish minions to do it. Which is premeditation to murder and you want to get something back so my guess is its either money or a consignment of drugs.”

“For Christ’s sakes Gazza,” she s now’s not the time to be dense as a fucking rock…” 

 He interrupts her, shouting with a growing rage. “I said don’t patronize me.” She rolls her eyes.  

“Okay so here’s the rundown,” she says like a parent to child.” “He knocks on the door, and tells me his business was raided and Bludgy was taking Jet and Riley as some sort of sick reimbursement for some lost capital in the business.” She glares at Milo, then looks back at Gazzer. “And that’s when you walked in.”

“You know I always knew you were having an affair with someone, but my last guess would have been Milo.”

"Oh God give me strength. There is no affair,” said Alison sounding exasperated.

 You were my best mate.

“Really?” Said Milo sounding surprised. “You don’t have closer relationships with your other friends like your cop mates?”  Alison gives Milo an incredulous look for making things worse.

Gazzer tightens his grip on the pistol. “And you just screwed me over like I wasn’t even a second thought. Hell it wouldn’t surprise me if the whole three of you had some sort of three way going on.”

“Oh my god Gaz don’t be a dick. You know she’s like a sister to me...” 

“Fuck you Ali you fucking whore.”

“There will come a time Gary,” said Alison, “when you will have to take that back, and you will grovel before me.”

“Hey,” interjects Milo. “This is getting off track. We must find Jet and Riley.” 

“Oh we’ll find her her alright. As soon as I’ve taken you in Jet goes straight to the top of Ozil’s most wanted list.”

“But she hasn’t done anything wrong,” said Alison.

“It’s nothing to do with me. Ozil called her a drug convicted co-conspirator and made her arrest a high priority. If you’ve got a problem with that, then let’s go down to the station right now, and you can both sort it out with the Sergeant.” 

“It’s not going to happen,” said Milo.

“And what about Bludgy?” Asked Alison.

What about him?

“Will you find him and look for Jet and Riley?” 

“No.”

“After what you told me last week…”

Gazza interrupts firmly. “The stories were hairsay.”

“What stories?” Asks Milo.

Alison doesn’t hesitate in sharing, to Gazza’s annoyance. “Bludgy’s gang of freaks have planned a human sacrifice,” said Alison.

“Oh my god,” said Milo.

“It didn’t stack up,” said Gazza.

“I want to be sick,” continued Milo.

“Simply bullshit claims from a lunatic barfly barred by Bludgy. It means nothing.”

“I can’t believe how insensitive you’re being. .,” said Alison.

“I’m the insensitive one?” laughs Gazza cynically.

“This is about Jet and Riley.” Said Alison. “It’s like you’ve forgotten who they are...”

“Okay enough.” Shouts Gazza interrupting. “Both of you are lying out your ass’s because Jet doesn’t want to be found. I know this because he fucked a random skank last night from Bludgy’s Bar and Jet is very very angry.” 

“It’s not true. I was working all night trimming the first crop.”

“You know, everyone in the station kept the raid secret from me right up until it started. A few guys won’t even talk to me now. It’s like you were framing me without even trying and now all this. You’re obviously both fucking in bed and in business and yet you’re still you try to convince old dimwitted Gaz to run off chasing the Bludgeons with absolutly zero evidence on anything, and after I witnessed you telling him to to make a hit on Bludgy and his friends to get your gear back. Do you really think Alison, that I am that fucking dumb?”

“I don’t think you’re dumb at all.”

“Whatever. Both of you on the floor with your hands behind your backs”. 

“The hell I will,” said Milo.

“You’re going to arrest me like some common criminal,” said Alison with astonishment. Gazza takes his radio mouthpiece. 

“Comms this is Wesport five seven.” 

Milo turns to Alison. “Stand in front of me.”

“What, why?”

“Comms this is Wesport five seven.”

“Because I don’t think he’ll shoot you.”  Again she looks astonished.

“Both of you shut up. Comms this is Westport five seven.”

 No one’s going to save her, it has to be me,” said Milo to Alison.

“What’s going on?” Said Gazzer “I said on the floor now with your hands behind your backs.”

“Stand in front of me.”

“Alison stay where you are.”

“For Jet and Riley.” said Millo.

“Stay.” Shouts Gazza.

 “Or they might be gone forever Alison, for the sake of walking a few steps.”

“Do not fucking move, stay exactly there and get onto the floor.”

“Then shoot me,” she said, “because that’s nothing compared to what Jet and Riley are going to get if I don’t. She walks directly in front of Milo who puts one arm around her chest and pulls her into him.

“No”, shouts Gaz. His pistol is pointed at the middle of Milo’s forehead. Mere millimeters above Alison’s head.

“Okay so now, I’ve got a little surprise,” said Milo, “because I’ve got Ozil’s pistol down the back of my pants.”

“Oh no.” Said Alison.

So if you want to pull the trigger and kill us both, then do it now  because I’m slowly lowering my hand to get the gun, to make a stalemate.” Milo does as he said. He slowly pulls the pistol from from the back of his belt, then puts the muzzle against Alison’s head.

“I despise you Milo,” she said.

“So Gary, be honest, would you really care if I pulled the trigger? Do you still love her?” 

Alison starts to cry. “Gary? Do you?” He doesn’t reply.  Milo slowly moves the pistol to point at Gazza’s feet. 

“We’re going to start shuffling back to the door now, and if you start moving towards us, I’m going to start shooting directly in front of your feet.” They start shuffling back.

Gazzer’s teasing the trigger. “Those marks on her back from last week. It was you wasn’t it.”

“No mate.”

“Tell the truth. What does it matter now?” Gazzer was increasingly putting pressure on the trigger. He didn’t know how far he had pulled the trigger already. It could fire at any moment he didn’t know. He could let it all the way out to be sure, but no. He thought right then that this pressure had been earned. It was his right to ride this razor blade edge. The separation of life and death.

“Look Gaz I’m sorry about everything.” Said Milo,

“It’s Gary. My name is Gary. Its not Gaz or Gazza. You will not call me that ever again.” More pressure on the trigger.

“Sure thing Gaz.” Milo feels the breeze from a bullet as Gazzer shoots a warning shot over his head.

“Okay okay, it’s Gary. 

“Oh not in the house,” said Jet disappointed.

“The house is the least of your worries at the moment Ali,” said Gazzer.

“Well as I was saying, sorry about everything Gary. I didn’t mean to hurt you or arrive and cause this mess.”

“You’ve got no idea what this is like,” said Gazzer sounding distraught.

“No I think I do. That’s why I had no choice but to do what I did and now look at my life and how the fuck do you think I feel?”

“But you did it to yourself this is all your own fault, it’s not my fault. You made me feel this way, I didn’t do it to myself.”

“Maybe but most of what’s going on is in your head bud. It’s your own imagination. I never touched her.”

Milo and Alison have made it close to the doorway that leads to the back yard. Milo puts Ozil’s gun into Alison’s hands and whispers into her ear. “Hold him off for half a minute.”

Gazza lowers his gun sights down to the top of Alison’s forehead. He adds pressure to the trigger. “Romeo and Juliet. Two birds with one stone.” Milo’s about to run. Gazza puts the muzzle of his pistol into his mouth. 

Milo and Alison both shout “No.” Gazza pulls the trigger. The mechanism jambs. Alison is crying, shaking her head in disbelief.

“I’m sorry,” said Milo who then runs off. Gazza drops his pistol. Alison’s hands are shaking Ozil’s  gun, that’s still pointed at Gazza’s feet. The man feels undead, floating inside fleeting purgatory for failed suicides where life and death cancel each other out. He crosses the room to Alison. She lowers the pistol to her side. She thought his face looked a way she had never seen before, or understood. He puts his right hand around her throat, pushes her against the wall, then lifts her up until her shoes no longer touch the floor. She’s choking.

“If you make me feel this way ever again,” he said dispassionately, “I will end you.” With his left hand he takes the gun she’s holding then he releases her throat. She drops her to the floor in a pool of sobbing gasps. He picks up his own pistol and walks to the front door.

“Gary,” she calls out to him. He stops at the door. Staring at it. “Please find them.” He shows no recognition of hearing her voice. He simply opens the door and leaves.  

Next Chapter: 12