The Son-In-Law Read Online Free PDF Page B

January,’ I said. ‘And I hope they teach him some manners.’
    She took my plate. ‘Nice, though, your grandparents taking you kids out for dinner. Giving Mum and Dad a night off, are they?’
    ‘Mm,’ I said.
    ‘Yeah,’ agreed Theo, nodding furiously. ‘Night off.’
    ‘We don’t have a mum,’ declared Ben. ‘She’s in heaven. And my dad’s a very, very bad man. He’s been locked up for years and years because he killeded her.’
    Theo and I were cringing. We never, ever tell the truth about our parents. People don’t want to know. They can’t handle it. Ben will learn that.
    Sure enough, the waitress looked as though she wished the earth would swallow her up. ‘Oh dear,’ she gabbled. ‘That’s a shame isn’t it? Um. Well, lovely. Any desserts?’
    That night, Theo wet his bed. He’d started doing it after Mum died, but it hadn’t happened for over a year. We truly thought he had grown out of it. Well, obviously not.

Five
    Joseph
    ‘Mate, I told you it was a really dumb idea.’ Akash slapped a packet of cornflakes in front of his guest. ‘That’s the last time I lend you my wheels. You’ve only been out three days and it’s fuckin’ lucky you’ve not been locked up again already.’
    ‘Sorry,’ muttered Joseph, pouring himself a mug of black coffee. It was Monday morning. He felt ropey and dishevelled. Akash and he had shared a few pints last night, after his vigil in Faith Lane. Even a drunken haze hadn’t given him peace, though. He didn’t deserve peace. Zoe haunted him, dying again and again, her eyes like green fire in a drawn face.
    ‘I’ve found you a car,’ said Akash, changing the subject.
    ‘Fiesta, a million miles on the clock. They want five hundred for it.’
    ‘Is it legal?’
    ‘Is it legal?’ Akash radiated injured dignity. ‘I’m wounded, mate. Wounded! ’
    ‘With your track record it’s probably ten different cars all welded together, given new plates and a beautiful paint job.’
    ‘No, it really is legit actually.’ Akash looked vaguely surprised at himself. ‘They’ve got all the documents. One of my cleaning girls says her sister’s selling it because she’s having twins and they need something bigger. We can go and have a look tonight, if you’re interested.’
    ‘I’m keen,’ said Joseph. ‘Thanks.’
    Akash began to eat cereal with one hand while opening his post with the other. Joseph had heard him leaping blithely out of bed and heading off to work at three that morning, and gathered he’d had spent the next six hours directing an army of employees while wielding a vacuum cleaner himself. Every movement was effective; his clothes were ironed, black hair immaculate. He was on the short side—five foot six, he’d once told Joseph—but indefatigable.
    ‘Daylight robbery,’ he complained. ‘Look at this—electricity companies take the piss, don’t they? Best thing about being inside is never having to open a bill. So what did your probation fella say on the phone?’
    Joseph shrugged. ‘Warned me to stay away from their house. Wants me to go through the proper channels when it comes to seeing the children. I told him I am going through the proper channels, painfully bloody slow channels, but I had to check they’re okay in the meantime.’
    ‘Which involved hanging around a kids’ playground like a nonce.’
    ‘I wanted to catch a glimpse, that’s all. Just a glimpse.’ Joseph shook his head. ‘I’ve waited so long, and it was like a miracle. Theo I’d know anywhere, with his hair sticking straight up like he’s had a fright. Genius with a football. Well, I taught him to kick a ball before he could walk. He had a little guy with him, a little blondie, had to be Ben. My boys, Akash. My boys !’
    ‘Your in-laws will be bricking it. They probably think you’re planning to abduct the kids.’
    Which might be true, thought Joseph as he scanned the jobs column in a newspaper. Young Akash had a knack for getting straight to