Savage Night by Allan Guthrie Read Free Book Online Page A

where McCracken is."
    Fifteen seconds later: "You run this craphole," Park said to McCracken, barging into his office. More of a broom cupboard than an office. Just enough space for a desk, a pint-sized filing cabinet and a visitor's chair.
    Park didn't sit down.
    McCracken leaned back, locking his fingers behind his head to show Park his beefy arms. He didn't lean back very far before his head touched the wall.
    Park had seen muscles before. Lot of muscles in jail. Muscles didn't mean shit. Park said, "My wife's not an animal."
    "Who's your wife?"
    He knew who Park was. They'd spoken before. He was deliberately being an arse. "Liz," Park said. "Elizabeth Park."
    "Oh," McCracken said, unlocking his fingers, levelling his chair. "I remember you." He leaned forward, steepled his index fingers under his chin. "You're the jailbird."
    Jailbird? Jail-fucking-bird? "I've done my time, you poncey twat. Fuck off."
    "No need for that kind of language, Mr Park."
    "Don't change the subject. Liz needs looking after."
    "I'm aware of what Mrs Park needs."
    "So do something. Get your staff to take her to the toilet."
    "We don't always have the time or the staff."
    "Make the time. Hire more staff."
    "It would be better for everybody if we could catheterise her."
    "It isn't better for Liz. It's been tried before. She doesn't like it. She pulls it out."
    "And yet I'm told she doesn't move of her own volition."
    "That's how much she doesn't like it. You're not sticking one of those up her again. That's final."
    "Fine. So what do you suggest?" McCracken smiled, showing his teeth. Perfectly straight and white, the kind of teeth you wanted to splinter with a hammer.
    "I don't run this place. You do. Why should I be suggesting anything? Do your job."
    "I'm sorry," McCracken said. "These things happen."
    "Not to my wife, they don't. And while I'm at it, she used to be a big lass. Can't weigh more than six stone now. Her face looks like a skull."
    "You're not happy with the care she's being given, why don't you look after her yourself?"
    Park couldn't believe the fucker had said that. "If I could, I'd take her out of here right now."
    "Be my guest. I can always use a spare bed."
    Course, there wasn't any room for Liz at Effie and Martin's. As it was, Park was sleeping on the settee. And Liz had to be clothed, fed, bathed, taken to the bathroom, and God alone knew what else.
    Park didn't think he'd be much of a nurse. Effie had the part-time hairdressing job, which meant she wasn't around all the time. And Martin wasn't flesh and blood, so they couldn't expect him to help out.
    They stared at each other, Park and McCracken.
    "You're a disgrace," Park said. "You're supposed to be looking after her. You're going to start doing that."
    McCracken picked at his teeth with his thumbnail.
    It was as if the guy wanted a kicking. Park asked, "You know why I was in prison?"
    McCracken shook his head. "Let me guess." He pretended to think. "Paedophilia?"
    Patience. "Fireraising," Park said. "I like burning things. Buildings mainly. Wouldn't mind if there was a person got stuck in one of them, though. You do night shifts?"
    McCracken ran his tongue over his teeth. "You threatening me?"
    "Better believe it."
    "I don't scare easily."
    "How about your family? You got a wife? Kids? Mother? I can find out. Maybe they scare easily. I'll roast the fuckers if I have to. Every single one of them. You want to play with me? I like games, Mr McCracken. And I'm very fucking good at them."
    McCracken looked at his fingernails. Cleared his throat. "You're unbalanced."
    "Too right, I am."
    "I don't respond to threats." He held up his hand to stop Park interrupting. "But I do believe in doing my job. I'll make sure your wife's well cared for."
    Park waited.
    "What?" McCracken said.
    "I want to see you do it."
    "Now?"
    "Now."
    McCracken sighed, picked up the phone. He spoke to someone, told them to look in on Mrs Park, make sure her incontinence pad was changed, see if she was