Bring it Back Home by Niall Griffiths Read Free Book Online

but in that bakery I met a feller who told me some very interesting things. Like who else was working for him. As a barman in a pub he owned, called the Queen's Head. Isn't that right, Cakes?'
    The Old Man nodded at a spot above Lewis's head and Lewis spun in his seat. There he was. Just standing there and smiling down at him. Cakes, here in the Miner's Arms. Cakes here in Wales. Cakes, the rumoured killer, just standing there in the village where Lewis was born, where he still called home. Nowhere was safe.
    The world spun around Lewis. Spun and fell apart.
    Lewis's heart fell further.
    'So we came to an arrangement,' Cakes said, perching himself on one arse cheek on the end of the table, next to Manon. 'That certain people kept shtum about my little bakery business and I, in return, kept watch over a certain barman. Made sure no harm came to him. Especially made sure that he stayed unfound by a certain shotgun-wielding feller from Wales, whose daughter had just had a miscarriage. Ring any bells? Understand what I'm saying, Lewis?'
    Lewis couldn't take his eyes off Cakes's face. His hands were shaking. His heart was in his groin. He wanted to run.
    'But why didn't you just…just…'
    My God, was that his voice? That pathetic squeak?
    'What, have them bumped off?' Cakes said, nodding his head sideways at Manon and the Old Man. 'Shut them up? Permanently, like?'
    He smiled. 'Because I liked them. I warmed to them. And besides, I knew one day they'd come in handy.'
    Cakes dug a creased and tatty envelope out of his pocket. 'Thanks for the directions,' he said, and both the Old Man and Manon nodded. Cakes balled the envelope up in his fist and tossed it at a bin in the corner. It bounced off the wall above and dropped in.
    'Bull's eye. As good a shot with a ball of paper as you are with a fucking whisky bottle, Lewis, yeah?'
    Cakes took his hat off and tilted his head so that they could all see the bump there. Like an egg, a maroon and blue egg, with yellowing around it. Black streaks of blood under the skin. Very colourful.
    ' You did that?' Manon asked Lewis, startled.
    'Oh yes, he did,' Cakes answered, replacing his baseball hat. 'He never told you about whacking me on the noggin with a whisky bottle, no? While he was stealing my money, like. Never told you about using violence, no?'
    He looked at Lewis and shook his head sadly. 'Tut tut, Lewis. A liar as well? Dear oh dear oh dear.'
    Manon and the Old Man stared at Lewis. Cakes leaned so that his face was just an inch or so from Lewis's. Lewis saw the tiny hairs up Cakes's nose, the red veins thinner than those hairs in the whites of his eyes. Smelled his breath, coffee and tobacco, bad.
    'Just give me my fucking money back, Lewis. You thieving bastard. I should really take your fucking fingers off, but just give me what's mine and we'll say no more about it. I won't hurt you. Alright?'
    Lewis couldn't speak. His heart had sunk into his crotch and he thought he might piss himself. Cakes stood upright.
    'Where's the money, Lewis? My money. Where is it?'
    'I know where it is,' Manon said. 'It's in a locker in the garage. I know where the spare keys are, too.'
    'Good girl,'said Cakes. 'Knew I could rely on you. Let's go and get it, eh?'
    Manon stood. Went around the table to stand at Cakes's side. He put his arm around her waist and she leaned her head on his shoulder and looked, without smiling, at Lewis.
    'Oh yes,' Cakes said. 'I forgot to ask. He did propose, did he? Was my hunch correct?'
    Manon nodded. 'Yesterday. He wanted us to run off together to New York.'
    Cakes laughed. 'How romantic. New York? Aw Christ. The dreams some people have!'
    He kissed Manon on the cheek. 'I've missed you,' he said.
    'And I've missed you,' she replied, still looking at Lewis, but talking to Cakes.
    'Still want to go?'
    'Where?'
    'New York. To stay in that condo on the Upper East Side I bought last year.'
    'Of course I do. There’s nothing I’d like more.'
    'Well let's go,