The Mechanic switches off the headlights. He turns off the main road –
Drives through an industrial estate.
Vince points straight ahead.
There is a fence with a gate and an old USAF sign. A red Escort parked up.
The Mechanic pulls in beside the Escort. He switches off the engine.
The Mechanic turns to Vince in the passenger seat. He says, ‘So where’s Leslie?’
‘Fuck knows,’ says Vince.
The Mechanic grabs Vince Taylor’s fat face in his right hand. He squeezes those pasty cheeks tight together. Turns him towards the backseat –
‘You know who that is?’ the Mechanic asks Vince.
Vince nods.
‘That’s the woman I love,’ the Mechanic tells him. ‘So don’t speak like that in front of her.’
Vince nods again.
The Mechanic pushes Vince’sheadback into the side-window. Lets him go.
Vince holds his face. He says, ‘I’m sorry, Dave.’
‘Right,’ the Mechanic says. ‘Then let’s go and find Leslie.’
They all get out into the dark. The cold and the rain.
‘Shall we split up?’ asks Vince.
The Mechanic switches the torch on. He shines it in Vince’s face —
Vince puts his hand up again.
‘Vince,’ the Mechanic says. ‘Splitting up is always a mistake.’
Vince shrugs and opens the gates.
They start walking towards the airstrip and an old control tower.
Vince cups his mouth in his hands. He shouts, ‘Leslie! It’s me, Vince!’
Nothing.
‘Leslie! It’s me, Vince,’ he shouts again. ‘Dave and Jen are here with me.’
‘There,’ says Jen. She points at a light flashing on and off up ahead.
They wave their torches at the signal. They walk towards it.
Leslie is standing in front of a small shed. He is shaking. He drops to his knees. Helooks up at them —
‘It was fucking Julius,’ he sobs. ‘He only went to put back them fucking knickers. I told him not to. But he thought you were going to hurt him again. Thenhe was inside and she come home. I went to help him. But—’
They stand in a semicircle. They look down on Leslie.
He looks up again —
‘He lost it.’
‘Where are they now, Leslie?’ the Mechanic asks him.
‘I don’t know. I swear. Really. I don’t. I went upstairs. I didn’t want any part of it. I went back to the car. I didn’t know what to do. Then Julius come backoutwith her. Tookher off in her car.Thatwas last I sawof him. Them.’
The Mechanic squats down next to Leslie. He takes Leslie’s face in his hands –
The Mechanic holds it up to his –
Little Leslie is crying.
The Mechanic wipes away Leslie’s tears. He looks into his eyes.
‘I swear that’s all I know,’ says Leslie.
The Mechanic lets go of Leslie’s face. He stands up.
Vince is staring at the Mechanic.
The Mechanic nods.
Vince spits into the ground.
‘What?’ says Leslie. ‘Vince? What is it?’
‘You two wait here,’ the Mechanic tells Vince and Leslie.
The Mechanic takes Jen’s hand. They walk back to the Rover.
‘Lock the doors,’ the Mechanic tells her. ‘Put the radio on.’
Jen nods. She gets in. She locks the doors. She puts the radio on. Loud.
The Mechanic goes to the back of the Rover. He opens the boot –
Takes out the spade.
*
Terry Winters walked the floors and corridors of St James’s House. His ear to the doors, he listened to the voices. The telephones ringing. The typewriters –
Terry was the boss now. The big man –
The President had left him in charge. The President was touring the coalfields. The President was making certain that the lessons had been learnt. That through solid unity and with more trade union support, pits and jobs could be saved. The Tory anti-trade union legislation resisted. That now was no longer the time to ballot. Now no longer the time when the Haves could stop the Have-nots fighting to save their homes and their communities. Their jobs and their pits –
There were standing ovations. There were songs in his name –
Autographs for the wives and kids. Big boots to fill for Terry Winters –
Terry called meetings. Asked for briefings. Terry demanded updates. Analysis.
The President would call. The President would need to know –
Not tomorrow. Today. Now.
Terry Winters sat bolt upright at his desk under the large portrait of the President. Terry waited for the phone to ring. For the President’s call –
At five o’clock, it rang.
Terry picked it up. Click-click. Terry said, ‘Chief Executive speaking.’
‘Hello, Chief Executive,’ she said. ‘Guess who?’
Terry swallowed. He said, ‘Diane?’
‘Who’s a clever boy then?’
‘How did you get this number?’
She paused. She said, ‘Well, if you’re going to be like that —’
Terry stood up behind his desk. He said into the phone, ‘No, wait.’
‘You gave it to me,’ she said. ‘Remember?’
Terry nodded. He said, ‘Of course.’
‘Guess what?’ she said. ‘I’ve got a present for the Chief Executive.’
‘For me?’
‘But you have to guess what it is,’ she giggled.
‘I —’
‘I’m looking at it right now. I’m touching it.’
‘I —’
‘I’ll give you another hint,’ she whispered. ‘It’s wet and it’s waiting for you.’
‘Where are you?’
‘Now that would be telling,’ she laughed.
‘Where?’ he screamed.
‘I’m sat at the bar of the Hallam Towers Hotel, holding your vodka and tonic.’
Terry Winters hung up. Terry dialled Theresa. Click-click. He told Theresa lies. Terry hung up again. He got his coat. He switched off the lights. Terry locked the door. He went down the corridor. He took the stairs –
Two at a time.
There was a Tweed at reception. The Tweed said, ‘In a hurry are we, Comrade?’
‘No,’ said Terry. ‘Just off to meet the wife.’
‘Now, why don’t I believe you, Comrade?’ smiled the Tweed.
‘What?’ said Terry. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Just pulling your leg, Comrade,’ laughed the Tweed. ‘Just pulling your leg.’
Terry Winters left the building. He ran up the street to the underground car park. He drove out to Hallam Towers. He sucked mints all the way there –
Two at a time.
Terry ran through the lobby into the bar.
Diane was sitting on a high stool with her legs crossed. She pushed the vodka and tonic towards him. She put her right hand on the inside of Terry’s right thigh. She said, ‘I’m afraid the ice has melted. It went all warm and wet.’