The Circle Now Is Made (King's Way Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

local situation and, more particularly, if and where Hud and Ten fitted in.
    “Rum couple, the car dealer and his mate.” Greg deliberately chose an indirect approach, having gauged that Eddy would button up if he sensed interrogation.
    “You can say that again.” Eddy grinned as he put the last of the newly washed glasses away and took out his tobacco tin. “Beats me why they teamed up together. Not a lot in common,”
    “Except they’re both rogues,” said Greg. “They've not always been friends then?”
    “Only over the last month or two; since Ten was made redundant following Penmaric’s death. He's earned a reputation as a fair weather friend over the years I’m afraid, though how he hopes to benefit from Hud – other than the odd pint perhaps – is a mystery to me."
    “Mmm... Take your point.” Greg looked thoughtful as he finished his beer. “Well… I’ll be off - that dog of mine will be plaiting his legs, else. See you then, Eddy.”
    He zipped up his casual jacket, fast becoming a personal uniform, and lumbered back to the caravan to sleep away the grey afternoon.
     
    ***
    "So Tammy, have you heard from your boyfriend since we last met?" asked Goldie as he placed two lattes on the table. "Any ideas where he is?"
    "You're too nosy for your own good," responded Tammy briskly, though not without humour. "What if I have?"
    "I'm just interested. Makes no difference to me in my situation, but it seems a shame for such a lovely chick to be letting her life slip away – especially at your age."
    "I know what you're saying." Tammy considered the situation carefully before making further comment. This was only her second private meeting with Goldie, but she'd taken to him. Openly camp, yet despite his flamboyance a good listener, he came across as sincere and compassionate. The pair sat in silence as, deep in thought, Tammy sipped her latte. She knew from what he'd told her that Goldie was no angel. That he'd committed far worse offences than her boyfriend in order to support his habit, and that even if he wanted to, he'd be in no situation to capitalise on the limited information she longed to share. "If I tell you something, can you guarantee it will go no further?"
    "Look, if you're in doubt, leave it until you're ready, or share it with a female friend."
    "None of my friends outside the group are druggies," she said. "So they'd hardly be able to understand, let alone sympathise…"
    "We're not here for sympathy Tammy; I've learnt that already. Someone explained to me, very crudely I'm afraid, that I'd find sympathy in the dictionary between shit and syphilis, and about as much use as either. Empathy is all we need."
    "You put it so beautifully - but you're right." She paused again and decided to grasp the nettle. "The bottom line is, although I miss my boyfriend, I'm more concerned about his situation. What he did was wrong, but I'm sure he's not a lost cause – certainly not beyond redemption."
    "He's in jail?"
    "No, sometimes I wish he was, for everyone's sake." Tammy paused again, obviously still having second thoughts about opening up. "He's an addict like us, and had been selling drugs for a long time…purely to support his own habit."
    "Doesn't make it any better, but loads of us have done it, Tammy. I know I did."
    "I'm sure, but the point is he was caught and charged. The big problem is, although it was a forgone conclusion he'd receive a custodial sentence, he got unconditional bail…" She paused again.
    "Go on."
    "We'd booked a coach holiday in Malgrat in Spain, and we went between the preliminary trial and the full hearing…"
    "And he jumped bail?"
    "Yes, we’d had a fantastic holiday, and I never dreamed he'd do a runner, but when I woke up on the last morning he’d gone. I was gutted – especially as we’d discussed getting cleaned up after his sentence and all."
    "So now he's missing in Spain? Do you have contact with him?"
    "No. He bought an unregistered mobile over there, though