To Kill a Grey Man by D C Stansfield Read Free Book Online Page A

we are three hundred miles apart I
suggest you get a move on.”   With that,
the phone clicked off.

 
    John dropped the phone.   “Bring
round the Bentley.   We are going to
London.”

 
    Chapter 8
    The Boy

 
    Jonathan had come home from university for the summer.   A tall, good looking boy dressed in jeans and
an AC/DC T-shirt.   The only thing out of
place was a red scar on his cheek where a few months ago a bullet from his father’s
gun had creased it on its way to killing a bad guy.

 
    He walked into the 1930’s detached house in the heart of London’s suburbia
and embraced his dad.   Collins watched
his son bring in his bags and made two cups of tea which they drank in the kitchen.

 
    To Jonathan the house seemed sad without his mum and his dad
appeared a little older and more distant.   They talked about university for a while then
Collins asked Jonathan what his plans were.
    “Well, I want to earn a little money and have a quiet summer before
going back for my final year.   Can I
still work at the shop?”
    “Sure.   But I have taken on a
manager who is doing a great job and you would need to work for her.   Is that okay?”
    “No problem,” said Jonathan, happy to just be in the old place.

 
    The next morning Collins drove Jonathan to the shop and introduced
him to Olivia.   “This is my son.   He will be working for you a couple of days a
week.   He was bought up here so you to
should get along great.”   He smiled at
both of them and left them to it.

 
    Jonathan looked at the young girl sitting behind the till where his
mother had sat for so many years.   It was
a strange feeling to see her there.   To
her left was a little boy playing at the bottom of the stairs just in front of
the safety gate.
    “This is little Ben,” she said.   “And Baby Tom is upstairs in the cot asleep.”
    Jonathan smiled at Ben who ignored him, as toddlers do, and continued
to play with his Lego.

 
    Jonathan turned back to Olivia.   In her way he could see she was pretty, not beautiful but nice looking.   Slim with long hair pushed back into a pony
tail he gave her one of his best winning smiles.   It irritated the life out of her.   She stared right through him.   All she saw was a good looking, privileged
college boy who had been spoon fed all his life and who thought the world was
his oyster.   She decided that she hated
him on sight.

 
    At that moment the bread van pulled up outside and the driver came
in for instructions.   Jonathan reached
for his delivery sheet and pulled a pen from his pocket.
    “What are you doing?” hissed Olivia.
    “Signing for the bread,” Jonathan replied.
    “Well, you don’t sign for anything here.   Right?” said Olivia.   “I am the manager, not you and it is my
responsibility to account for everything that comes in or goes out of this shop!”
    “Okay, okay,” said Jonathan and handed her the slip of paper.   “What do you want me to do?”
    “First, find a broom and sweep the shop.   Then get a bin bag and pick up all the
rubbish blowing around the front of the shop.   Then get a bucket and a shammy leather and wash the windows.   After that you can report back to me.   Is that okay with you, college boy?”

 
    Jonathan stood for a second as his temper flared.   “This is what she wants,” he thought to
himself.   “A big row, then she can
complain to dad and I am out of her hair.”   So instead he smiled. “So what,” he thought to
himself.   “This is only pin money.   If she wants her empire let her have it.”

 
    Then much to her chagrin he turned, picked up the broom and quietly
began to sweep up.

 
    At 10.00 am Jonathan asked Eli if he wanted a cup of tea and started
up the stairs.   Olivia flew off her stall.   “Where do you think you are going?” she
shouted.
    “Up to make some tea,” said Jonathan.   “Do you want some?”
    “Look,” she said slowly.   “Upstairs
is my home.   It