Hater

of the way. I do the same.

    'Wonder what's happened,' Liz mumbles as we bump up onto the grass verge.

    'Don't know,' I answer. There's a noise from the back seat and I look around to see Ed and Ellis fighting with each other across Josh who's trapped in his baby seat. 'Cut it out,' I snap angrily. They stop when I tell them but I know they'll start again the second I look away.

    The emergency vehicles rumble past us and I crane my neck to watch where they go. They take a left- hand turn a couple of hundred yards ahead. In the semi-darkness I can see the blinking blue lights through the gaps between buildings and the branches of trees. They've stopped not far from here.

    'Looks serious, doesn't it?' Lizzie says, keeping her voice quiet so the children don't hear.

    The traffic is at a complete standstill now and it looks like people have turned off their engines. Some are starting to get out of their cars. I can't stand sitting behind the wheel if I'm not going anywhere. I decide to go and have a look too. I'll try and see how long we're likely to be stuck here.

    'Back in a second,' I say as I switch off the engine and undo my seatbelt.

    'What are you doing?'

    'Just going to see what's happening,' I answer quickly.

    'Can I come?' Ed asks. I turn to face him as I climb out of the car.

    'No, you wait here. I'll only be a minute.'

    He slouches back in his seat and scowls.

    Lizzie's not happy being left with the kids but I go anyway. I follow a group of three people from the car in front of us around the corner. There's a large crowd gathering in the next street. As I get closer I can see that a dark blue estate car has lost control and mounted the pavement. It's hit a street lamp which has fallen onto the front drive of a house and destroyed a caravan which was parked there. The police are trying to cordon off the scene. They're pushing people back but I manage to keep moving forward until I'm right at the front of the crowd. The car's a total write-off. Its bonnet is smashed and crumpled and the driver is slumped against the steering wheel. He's not moving. The fire brigade are setting up their cutting equipment to get him out but no-one's rushing. Looks like they're already too late.

    There are two paramedics and a police officer crouching down at the front of the car. Has someone else been injured too? One of the green-suited medical officers gets up to fetch something. Bloody hell, there's a body under the car. I can't see much, just a twisted, broken leg sticking out from under what's left of the bonnet at an awkward angle. Poor sod. Whoever it was they didn't stand a chance.

    I stand and stare at the crash scene until the police decide to widen their cordon again and I'm pushed further back. I realise I've left Lizzie on her own for too long and I quickly turn and start to walk back towards the car. I stumble into a man walking his dog when he stops suddenly as the dog veers off to the left towards the hedge.

    'Sorry, mate,' I mumble quickly.

    'You're all right,' he replies as he tries to yank the dog back out of my way. The dog isn't responding. 'Come on, boy,' he snaps.

    'Nasty accident, that,' I say.

    He shakes his head.

    'That wasn't an accident.'

    'What?'

    He looks into my face and shakes his head again.

    'I saw the whole thing happen,' he tells me. 'Bloody idiot.'

    'Who?'

    'The bloke driving the car. Absolute bloody idiot.'

    'Why?'

    'First thing I know is when some lad runs past me,' he explains. 'Came out of nowhere, he did, nearly knocked me flying. Then the car comes past and drives onto the pavement just up from where I'm walking. The lad's running as fast as he can but there's nothing he can do. The driver puts his foot down and just accelerates and runs him over and drives straight into the wall. Stupid bastard. Looks like he's killed himself too.'

    The man finally moves his dog out of the way and I start to walk forward again, trying to make sense of what I've just heard. This weekend has been full of bizarre and horrific events. First the concert, then the attack in the pub yesterday and now this. And there was the man in the street on Thursday morning too. I think back to the news report we were watching at Harry's house. What the hell is going on?

MONDAY

v

    Ten times the trouble wouldn't have kept some drinkers away. The club was emptier than usual but these were the hardened few - the regular drinkers and clubbers who wouldn't miss a night out no matter what they'd seen on the news or read in the papers. For these people the rest of the week revolved around nights like this. Getting pissed, getting stoned and getting laid was all that mattered.

    'She's fucking gorgeous, mate,' Shane White yelled into Newbury's ear. 'She keeps looking at you. Get in there, son!'

    Newbury turned to White and grinned.

    'Reckon I'm in with a chance then?'

    'No fucking problem. She's yours mate, no question.'

    'Serious?'

    'Serious.'

    'Right then. Watch this.'

    Newbury pushed himself away from the bar, knocked back the last of his drink and stood and watched her. He didn't even know her name. He'd seen her here a few times before but she'd always been surrounded by blokes and her friends and he'd never had the nerve to try anything with her. It felt different tonight. He felt confident and alive. Maybe he felt less intimidated because there were fewer people around? Maybe it was just because he was already half-drunk. Whatever the reason it didn't matter. Fucking hell, he thought as he watched her dance, Shane's right, she's fucking gorgeous. He slowly walked towards her and she began to dance towards him.

    'You all right?' he shouted, fighting to make himself heard over the thumping music which filled the half- empty club. It seemed louder than ever in here tonight with fewer people around. She didn't answer. Instead she just beckoned him closer, wrapped her arms around him and shoved her tongue down his throat.

    'You're bloody beautiful, you are,' Newbury babbled breathlessly as they left the club and walked together towards an alley opposite the town hall. 'Absolutely bloody beautiful.'

    'Are you going to spend all night talking or what?' she asked as she led him into the shadows. He couldn't answer. 'I could have stayed at home if I wanted to talk. All I need from you is a good, hard fuck.'

    Newbury struggled to believe what he was hearing. He'd never had this happen before. He'd fantasised about it enough times and he'd heard about it happening to other people, but it had never actually happened to him. And he'd never dreamt it might happen with a girl like this…

    She stopped walking and turned towards him, pushing her body against his. She ripped open his shirt.

    'Here?' he asked. 'You dirty bitch…!'

    'This is how I like it,' she hissed in his ear. He could smell the booze on her breath. Somehow that made it more sordid and more exciting.

    Newbury was in danger of becoming too fired-up and turned on to perform. Staying in control was getting more difficult every time she touched him or kissed him or… she pushed him back hard against the wall and kissed him again, chewing on his lips and forcing her tongue deep into his mouth. He shoved his hand down the back of her skirt and pulled her even closer. In response she undid his trouser zip, slid her hand inside and slipped her fingers around his drunken erection. She held it firmly but gently and teased it out of his trousers and towards her.

    'Get your knickers off,' he gasped in a momentary pause between frantic bites and kisses.