quickly. The blond man had turned away. The hand remained. She pushed her hand down upon it and it moved quickly away as the people started bustling for position. The blond man followed his guide dog away, and Emma felt sick and squeezed into a seat which had been left by a passenger who had reached his stop.
Her heart beat quicker. What the hell was going on in the world? She had been attacked. Yet she did nothing. She was so disillusioned by Tom she almost wanted to be taken away. This wasn’t the way though. The job would be the way out.
The College corridors gleamed behind Spiv. A job well done. The 50 metres or so which faced him were like the Wall of China awaiting a coat of paint. The students cared not for his job. Many students treated him like shit, lower than a piece of shit even. One spat at his feet. His reaction was sudden. He had been provoked. That’s all that saved him from the sack. If he lost this job he wouldn’t get another – it would be the start of the rocky road to ruin. He was quite capable of doing that even with a job. He drank far too much, smoked like a chimney, and drugs were a recreation he partook of too often. Being around students made it too easy to be presented with opportunities.
He dipped the mop into the bucket - the cleaner’s duty. He was the janitor, but what with cut backs the Facilities manager gave him the ultimatum. Do it or leave. No option really.
Still, the hours suited and it was only a couple of hours until he would enjoy a few pints in the Union bar, before heading up the town to spend his earnings in the pub again – reliving past footballing glories with Kelty Hearts and the time he was given trials with Dunfermline. Too old now to dream about it. Injury put paid to it, but realistically it would never have happened. He didn’t have the head or heart for it. Too intent on self destruction on and off the pitch, too many brushes with the wrong side of the law and a marked man in the toun. Happy to stay below the parapet, but he still got his thrills when he could. A sly snog and fondle with a fresher for a few years - until he met Pam. Even then it didn’t stop him being entirely faithful. But it was as close as dammit for Spiv.
Spiv had secrets. He was friends with all the guys, including Dev. In fact he was probably closer to Dev at the end than anyone. But then again that wasn’t a surprise.
About 18 months before Simon Deuchar’s dad had told him a secret. He had told him that Dev Coulding was his brother. Simon didn’t know what to do about this. In fact it seemed pointless doing anything, but it was becoming more and more difficult when he was out – because every time Dev was there he felt it would come out. But why shouldn’t it?
Pointless now. Simon's dad died a couple of months after Dev of lung cancer. A slow lingering death, ending abruptly one night when Spiv found him choked on blood pouring out of his mouth. Horrific find and another reason why Spiv kept drinking and smoking. To forget about it all. Now he was alone in the world...
Except for Pam. Sweet little Pamela who had come onto the scene 2 years ago and been actively involved ever since. Times with her were the only special times and she even adjusted just to make sure he was OK. She was innocent. She was good. She was his judgment and his life. She had helped him out so much during the time his dad was really ill and, obviously, when Dev had been killed.
The mop sploshed along the wall. Pools of dirty water falling and then soaking up again. It looked cleaner, but was it? Who cared? The good thoughts turned away again, and Spiv looked across at 2 student girls in their hockey uniforms coming closer.
‘Mind yer feet ladies’.
They smiled at him. He was handsome after all and could be a gent.
One of the girls slipped slightly. Spiv held her arm to prevent a fall.
‘I did warn you’.
‘My hero’, the giggling girl laughed, before walking on.
‘Maybe you can repay me later’, Spiv called on.
The girl disappeared from view before a muted shout of ‘Maybe’ came through.
Still got it!
The lecture hall was half empty. Those that remained were wrapped up warm. These halls were murder in the winter months. So scarves and gloves were like personal protection. The subject was commercial law. The literature was dry. The questions would be fairly simple to gain a good score for, and it would certainly help her as she progressed into business. She didn’t see herself becoming a court lawyer. Perhaps commercial or contracts manager for a big firm, with a good salary and big benefits and less stress and no need to work the longest of hours.
The lecture would be followed by a trip to the library to follow up with the correct notes and to ensure that she had the head start on the rest of the class. Perfection was not easy, but she had lived up to this all her life and was not going to stop now.
When Dev was killed she had blipped. It was her first blip and it really hurt. She dropped to a B grade for the semester and didn’t know what was happening as her focus diminished and her thoughts and principles changed in importance. It was a huge blow losing Dev. He had been fairly supportive of her, although he had tried it on with her originally. However she had turned to him for help when she found herself pregnant not 3 months after getting together with Simon. Simon still didn’t know about the abortion. With Dev gone he never would.
She could not believe the stories that came out about Dev after his death. Pam had been working with the Ingram's P/T, living in the Crook Inn to pay the rent, and it was working out well. After young Ollie disappeared she helped a little more than usual, to the point that her grades suffered. The police really attacked her when the bodies were found. She had a direct link to both victims. But there was never any motive with either. Still she hid the truth about Dev though, to protect herself and to make sure she didn’t lose Simon. She was only 17 then, still a girl herself, but so much in love.
The night of the treasure hunt she had been with Simon, but left early to go back for her shift. When she had got to the Crook Inn the place was in uproar. Ian Ingram had shot off looking for some bloke who he thought had Ollie. Everyone was agitated and trying to work it out. Pam took over at the bar. Next thing the police were there, and Pam had to tell Simon of the news. By this time he was back at the bar with Bob and Marie and the others. No Dev, but Simon just said that Dev was always last. Bob and Marie had sent him up to Kinross Market with his clue. So why he ever came into the Crook, or ended up with Ollie….
The Crook closed for a few weeks and with all the questioning Pam couldn’t stay. Initially they all supported her, and then they attacked her too. When it was discovered that she had a direct link to Dev – who it appeared had killed Ollie, the shock set in, and it was all a blur. But it was the right decision for her to get out, and a place in the halls of residence at Halbeath was granted by the College. It was all huge news. Children just don’t get kidnapped and murdered around here. People don’t get bludgeoned to death because of it. Not in these parts. Not here.
The lecture notes that the students were all waiting for were finally distributed. The time lost to the lecture may be minimal but the time it gives you to go over things in your head can be priceless. Or costly. Depending on how you look at it.
Pam leaned on her elbow looking down at the lecture hall. She would think again about her Simon. Her love. Positive mental attitude takes her and Simon away to sunnier climes, holding hands, bathing in the sea, a marriage maybe….
3
The murder mystery would take more organising than they thought, but Bob had worked out that the money saved by drinking the booze his friends would bring might offset the food costs - certainly if his contact came through with the cheap meat cuts he had offered – and that’s why Bobs nose was pressed to the front window now. Wednesday morning. He had left before Marie so not to have to tell her about his job loss…. Hoping that a news article on industry
