Milo’s unconscious again. Tex had propped him up against the wall so that Cookie could take advantage of Milo’s state and quickly finish off the last few stitches. Tex is staring at the ceiling looking pensive. There’s heavy rain on the roof.

“The old man’s going to kill me.” Said Tex with dread.

“But he’s only five foot four.” Said Cookie. "You’re like a giant compared to him."

“Yeah, but he’s got guns.”

Milo instantly opens his eyes wide open and takes a deep breath. ‘Wow man that’s the third time you’ve blacked out,” said Cookie.

“Got any answers yet?” Asks Tex cynically.

Cookie looks concerned. “I know I keep saying it, but the way you keep blacking out like this, you really do need to see a doctor mate.”

Milo ignores the advice. “I want to call Jet, where’s my phone?”

“Why what do you remember?” asks Tex.

“Don’t you remember,” said Cookie to Milo. 

“What?” said Milo confused.

“It’s munted.”

“What’s munted?”  

“Your phone it’s full of water or flat it won’t work. I told you that before but the kick to your head must still be making you forget stuff.” 

Milo shakes his head in frustration. “Can I use yours?”

“It’s got no reception.

“Have you got a landline?”

“Yeah but nothing’s working. Even the land-line. Everything stopped working a couple of minutes before you guys turned up. I was watching the T.V. about those robot cars that were running people down and bam, this newsreader said war between Russia and America has begun and just like that power went out. It still is.”  

Milo recalled the flash in the sky as Tex was carrying him across to Cookies. He wonders if it was an E.M.P. He worries for the safety of his family in Los Angeles and then immediately his thoughts go back to Jet and Riley.  He turns to Tex.

“I need your help.” Tex bursts out laughing. 

“You haven’t been listening to me have you.”

“Jet and Riley are being kidnapped and we have to save them or replace the twenty pounds of lost product with equal quality, to ensure their release.”

“Oh no that’s horrible,” said Cookie with genuine concern.

“Kidnapped by whom?” asks Tex looking suspicious.

“Don’t worry about that Tex, I’ve led you astray before I know and I admit it, so it’s not in your best interests right now to know all the details. I mean you can’t get in trouble doing something you don’t know about right?" Tex lunges at Milo and pins him against the wall with his right hand around his throat. Water splashes over the side of the bath.

“You’re not going to fuck with me understand. Because I’m about to snap and when I snap I’m not me any more, I’ll go into with blind rage, it’s something you’ve never ever seen before. So now you’re going to tell me the truth and don’t you dare lie because if you do, you’re pressing the start button on the machine that will tear you apart.” 

Milo at that moment felt naked in every possible sense. There was nothing else left to hide. He swallows hard before speaking. “It’s Bludgy.” Tex narrows his eyes. He stands up, by pressing all his weight down against Milo who sucks up the pain. Robotically Tex turns around like a big pressure cooker on legs, takes a step and sits back down on the seat again, staring at Milo.

“He’s the silent partner, isn’t he,” said Tex. Milo stares at the bath water.

“Yeah.”

 “How many times have I ask you, and you denied it?

“I had no choice…”

Tex interrupts with his voice starting in a deep low rumble, and progressively increasing in volume. “Over and over I asked you and you lied to me. You knew I would have had nothing to do with this whole crazy batshit fucking plan if that lunatic Bludgy even smelled what we were doing.” He looks at Milo as if his friendship was being cut out of himself right there and then with a blunt rusty knife. “You’re a real piece of work you know that. You just use people to get what you want. You couldn’t give a fuck about me or anyone else.”

“I care about Jet and Riley and so do you so please help me...” 

“What about my family? How do I know they’re not in danger?” Milo shakes his head as if Tex doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

“They’re way off the radar," said Milo, "it wouldn’t even cross Bludgy’s mind…” Tex interrupts with his voice in full boom.

“Enough with the bullshit.” Milo goes silent. Tex composes himself. “I know how unpredictable this guys is. He could kill a member of my family as a warning to you that Jet or Riley are next if you don’t do as he wants. I don’t know what he’s going to do anymore than you do to be honest, but I’m not leaving my family alone, unprotected so you can save yours, especially when this is all your fucking fault.”

Milo is still staring at the water. “We can dig it up. They’re not going to have guards protecting a plug hole all night long.  We dig it up and give it to him and then you don’t have to worry at all about the safety of your family anymore.”

“I’ve got a better idea. Cookie have you still got big dish you use for chips and dip at parties?

“Yeah why?”

“Because you’re going to drive him to Bludgy’s so that Milo can serve his head on plate.” He looks at Milo. “And in case he doesn’t kill you, don’t ever talk to me ever again, because you’re dead to me.” Tex walks out. Milo and Cookie sit silently as they listen to Tex stomping down the hall and slamming the door as he leaves.

“Well the good news is that your sutures are finished.” Said Cookie as he tries to smile.

“Thank you Cookie.”

“I’ve left some clothes there on the floor for you. They’re my brothers. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

“Thanks again Cookie.”

“RIght then, I’ll leave you to get dressed then.” Milo says nothing as Cookie leaves, closing the door behind him. Milo doesn’t move. He just stares with unfocused eyes into the water.  A single tear runs down his cheek. It wells up as a single drop and then splashes into the bath.

Next Chapter: 8