Part 29 (2/2)

'Bleddy tired,' called back Mickey. 'Good fis.h.i.+n' but no sleep.'

'Hi, Mickey.' Grant had wandered over and said sarcastically, 'My hero.'

Mickey jumped onto the quay. ''Twasn't me 'oo saved you.' Mickey thought that if he'd found Grant he would probably have left him to drown. Definitely would if there was a next time. ''Twas Hal.'

'Hal?' asked Grant innocently. 'Who's Hal?'

'You know my boy.'

'Your boy? I hear him and Fred are like brothers?'

Mickey smiled fondly. 'Aye. They're like Jesse and I was growing up. 'Tis lovely to see.'

'Like brothers?' Grant feigned amazement. 'Isn't that sweet? Course, I wouldn't know what having a brother to play with was like. Jesse was so much younger and always ran off with you.'

Mickey was remembering how much he disliked Grant. 'What you doin' here?'

'Learning the business, boy. Learning the business.'

A tall and skinny boy came out of the s.h.i.+p's hold. 'Dad, you ready to unload?'

'Hal, this is Freddie's Uncle Grant.' Mickey nodded towards Grant. 'He'm got something to say to you.'

Grant took his cue and smiled at the boy warmly. 'So you're Hal? I got to thank you for saving my life. You're like a superhero to me.'

Hal blushed. ''Twas nothin'.'

'That's not what I heard. You kept me from going under, didn't you?'

'Yeah.'

'That must have been frightening. Did you think I was dead?'

The memory flashed through Hal's mind and brought the horror back to him. 'Sort of.'

'Takes more'n a dip in the sea to kill off your uncle Grant.' Grant laughed unpleasantly, then said, 'Oh, no, I'm not your uncle, am I? I get mixed up.' He put his hand up to his now bandage-free head. 'I had quite a bang on the old noggin'.'

'Yeah,' said Hal uncertainly, and he turned to Mickey. 'Anyway, Dad. All the boxes are ready ...'

Just as the last boxes were coming off Mickey's boat, Grant heard a familiar female voice call, 'Hiya, Mick. Good trip?' It was Loveday. She was just as s.e.xy as Grant remembered her.

'Well, well, if ain't luscious Loveday Carter,' said Grant, sidling up to her.

She looked at him, recognition dawning. She was shocked at how different he looked. His once muscular frame was now skin and bone. He had never been her cup of tea in the looks department, but he'd always been able to pick up girls. Now his features were gaunt and sallow and he looked ancient. He could only be early forties, by Loveday's calculations.

'Grant. I 'eard you were back.'

Mickey came to join them. 'She's Loveday Chandler now. My missus.' Mickey put his arm protectively around Loveday and squeezed her.

'Oh, yeah,' said Grant, nodding slowly. 'You were up the duff, weren't you?'

Loveday was annoyed. 'Trust you to remember that. Yeah, I was. I was expecting Hal.'

'Oh, that's right.' Grant's voice held a hint of malevolence. 'Trouble with me is, I remember some funny things. I remember the night before Jesse got married. Do you?'

Loveday nervously put a hand to her hair, brus.h.i.+ng away an invisible strand. 'Not really.'

'Course you do.' He insisted. 'It was snowing.'

Johnny shouted over to Mickey. 'Mick, come in the office and sign this paperwork, would 'e?'

'Back in a minute, darlin',' said Mick, leaving Grant and Loveday by themselves.

Grant watched Mickey till he was safely out of earshot, then he said slowly and with no small pleasure. 'You went up to the sheds. Why you were there I couldn't say. Maybe you were cold and needed warming up by something ... or someone?'

Loveday looked at Grant with fear. 'I don't know what you're talking about.'

'I think you do. You see, I was ...' He stopped and quickly changed the subject as he saw Mickey and Hal coming towards them. 'I was wondering what you do for Jesse now.'

'What?' she said, feeling panicked.

'I was just saying to your missus, Mickey,' Grant raised his voice as Mickey and Hal approached, 'what's she doing here for Jesse?'

Mickey smiled proudly. 'She'm in accounts. Always good with her 'ead.'

Grant suppressed a sn.i.g.g.e.r. 'I'm sure that's true.'

Loveday was desperate to get away from this loathsome man. 'You'm ready to go home, boys?' she asked her son and husband.

'Aye,' they said in unison.

'Then I'll get my things. Hang on a minute.'

As Loveday scurried off, Jesse appeared. 'Had a good day, Grant?'

'Smas.h.i.+ng,' said Grant. 'Just catching up with old friends, ain't we, Mickey?'

Loveday came back holding a handbag and a cardigan.

'We're off home now, Jesse,' she said. 'See you tomorrow.'

As the family walked away, Grant couldn't resist sprinkling a little agitant in their brains. 'Cheerio! And thanks again, Hal, for saving my life. Your dad must be so proud of you? Eh, Jesse?'

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