G03 - Resolution Read Online Free PDF

Biro. “What’s your name?”
    “Ella McGee.”
    “Address?”
    “Fifty-four, flat 12 D, Benny Lynch Court, Gl.”
    The Gorbals had recently been renamed and rebranded for the third time in a century but the area had yet to lose its heroin-plague and slasher-gang reputation. The high flats were a reminder of a simpler time, when the area was a repository for the most difficult and troubled families in the city. Maureen had heard that the janny’s office was fitted with bulletproof glass. Ella muttered, “It’s not like ye think.”
    Maureen moved on swiftly. “And who’re ye bringing the case against?”
    Maureen waited, pen poised, but Ella didn’t answer. She looked up to find Ella with her bandaged hand raised, ready to give a slap.
    “One word to anyone,” she said, but it sounded as if she was begging.
    Maureen shrugged casually. “No odds to me,” she said, and pointed at Ella’s hand, “but raise your hand to me again and I’m off.” She went back to waiting to fill out the form and, out of the corner of her eye, saw Ella’s hand drop to her knee.
    “Okay. It’s my son, Si.” She waited for a reaction but Maureen kept a straight face.
    “Si McGee,” said Maureen. “Is that his full name?”
    “No,” said Ella.
    “Well, we should put his full name down.”
    “Simon Alan Egbert McGee.”
    “Egbert, is that a confirmation name?”
    “Aye.”
    Maureen hadn’t figured Home Gran for a Pape at all but now she looked at her and saw the heavy gold crucifix at her neck in a slightly less Versace light.
    “Egbert.” Ella smiled weakly. “Silly bugger, eh?”
    “There’s dafter names in the canon,” said Maureen, letting Ella know that she was Catholic too. Liam’s confirmation name, Mortimer, had been chosen out of a hat in collusion with four pals at school. It could have been worse: the other options were Crispin, Ado and Mary. Maureen marveled once again at the idiocy of allowing hysterical children to choose their own confirmation names. She left Egbert out of Si McGee’s name and moved on to the address box. She looked up at Ella expectantly, pointing at the page. Ella was watching her face. “Well?” said Maureen. “Where does he stay, then?”
    “Twelve Bentynck Street, Bearsden,” said Ella.
    “That’s a swanky address. Is there that much money in tapes?”
    “Naw, he’s got different businesses.” Ella pointed to the tray of tapes above her head. “There’s not a lot of money in this. He just set me up to keep me out of the way of the buses.”
    Maureen turned back to the form, pointing to the amount box. Ella was staring at her face again, trying to read something in it. She seemed determined not to look at the form. Maureen tapped the page with the pen and looked at her expectantly. Ella blinked and raised her drawn-on eyebrows.
    “How much does he owe ye?” asked Maureen finally.
    “Seven hundred pound.”
    “How come?”
    Crouched down on the crossbar, Ella looked like a withered child, hiding from angry adults. She lowered her voice. “Don’t tell?” Maureen shook her head and Ella looked at the floor, resting her chin on her knee as she drew a finger through the dust. “He hasnae been paying me,” she said softly.
    “For working here?” whispered Maureen.
    “Aye, and my cleaning I do for him in his shop.”
    “Has he got money worries?”
    “Nut. The shops are doing well. He’s not short, he just thinks there’s nothing I can do if he doesn’t pay me.” Uncomfortably, she gestured an elaborate rolling circle with her finger and stopped. “I’m getting benefit. If they knew I worked …”
    Maureen had seen tourists hounded out of the flea market for raising a camera and knew that Ella’s position was not unique. ” Ye’d hardly get a balloon and a badge for that here, would ye?” she said, wondering why Ella was confiding all of this information in her at all. They didn’t know each other. She must have had closer friends in the market.