GUILT TRIPPER by Geoff Small Read Free Book Online

intended to torture him. “Can you believe it?” he’d said, “cheeky
wee bastard’s got the audacity to travel home from a private school – on a
council bus!”
     With a tattooed hand
round Bob’s throat, Crazy had been about to slash his cheek with a metal comb,
when Danny ran down the aisle and leapt on his back, pulling him to the floor. The
price of this heroism was paid several weeks later, though, when Crazy and his
older brother, Buddy, had jumped him from behind outside the fish and chip
shop, knocking him unconscious with a whisky bottle. At the time, Danny’s
mother said it had served him right for defending “the enemy” against his own.
     “What’s that got to
do with the real world, here and now?” A nerve had obviously been struck, as
Bob’s voice was quavering.
     “Is that the real
world which saw you speeding round the streets on your own in the brand new car
your parents bought, while I was out and about in the city centre making
acquaintances from the four corners of the Clyde, not least among them being a
certain Mr. Alexander Addison and Billy McLean, who went on to form The Squeaky
Kirk. I suppose you’ve forgotten me coming round and coaxing you out of your
reclusive existence to meet them, because they needed a lyricist and I thought
it might be an outlet for your writing…Jesus it was hard work getting past your
‘mammy’ at the front door! Nobody was good enough for her little angel were
they? Do you remember how intimidated you used to be down town, outside the
protection of your car? Is that the real world you mean Bobby? Eh? A world in
which you could only communicate through songs; jealous of other people’s
ability to interact. And it’s the same even now. There isn’t really anybody
beneath those ridiculous clothes you’re wearing is there? Take away the
designer suits, the sports car and a record deal — which allows you to be heard
by thousands without ever having to interact with anybody — and what’s left? An
anonymous, social inadequate, that’s what.”
     “I haven’t got time
for – your – bitter – abuse.”
     Bob was almost
crying.
     Judith saw the
bedroom door handle move and stepped back into the dark bathroom behind her. Before
Bob could get out, though, Danny lit the blue touch paper.
     “Not all the
witnesses to what you did are clinically mad you know.”
     “What?” Bob bit.
     Judith heard the
door being pushed to again and resumed her eavesdropping position at the
threshold of the bathroom, where it met the bedroom door on a right angle.
     “Do you know what
the greatest part of driving a cab was for me? I was able to observe you and
Ingrid without being spotted. Sad, I know, but such is the nature of obsession.
I could park opposite the pub, or pass you half a dozen times in the street and
you’d never suspect, because I was just another taxi. But I had a special
incentive to follow your Audi TT around town.”
     “That being?”
     “Catching you out of
course. That way I could disenchant Ingrid and win her back.”
     “You bitter…bitter
freak.”
     “It was devastating
when Herman turned up at your little Govan lair with Carina. I was petrified
she’d give you something that could be passed on to Ingrid…so much that I
actually ran up the stairs and banged on your door. But, what with the noise
you were making arguing, you obviously never heard me. When Herman carried her
out of there I was sat in the darkness, behind the banister on the stair above,
watching everything.”
     “So why didn’t you
tell Ingrid?” Bob snapped.
     “Informing her you
were a prostitute beater was no good. She’d hate me more than you, for trying
to capitalise on a tragedy. So I kept quiet and waited, hoping the police would
eventually do the job for me and, thanks to the arrival of Judith, they did.”
     “Oh. Her.”
     “That was a little maneuver
of mine I’m not too proud of, but as I say, obsession does these