This is the fifteenth part of a fiction serial, in 777 words. It may contain some swear-words.
Alan gets tough with Frankie.
Taking a glass from inside the sideboard, Alan poured himself some of his own Scotch, and sat down. “I heard Patsy was in a home. Went to see Lugs for old time’s sake, and offered to bung him a wedge to get her some proper care. We had a drink, and walked round the block chatting ’cause it was so noisy in the pub with al the telly screens blaring. That’s the long and the short of it, Frankie”. Toland was sipping his drink, and he suddenly leaned forward.
“So if I take old Lugs down to my lock-up and start slicing off one of his Dumbo ears, do you reckon he will tell me the same story?” Alan shrugged. “Start slicing his ear, and he will tell you any story you want to hear, Frankie. You know that”. In the old days, Frankie had been known to favour using a cut-throat razor on people. But he was old now, so would probably get one of his goons to do the job. He leaned back again, relaxing against the headrest.
“Little birds, Alan. Little birds tell me things. Things like you have been spending a lot of time with Old Reg. Things like you have been to visit Teddy Henderson. I have a lot of little birds helping me, Alan”. Putting his glass down on the coffee table, Alan set his jaw.
Some rules from back in the day never left him. Don’t back down. Never show weakness. Never change your story. Front it up.
“Why shouldn’t I go and see Teddy? He was one of the best back then, and he did his time solid. No squawking. I owe him. So I dropped him a few quid. And Old Reg has been a family friend all my life, he was good to my mum. He will be pushing up daises before too long, so of course I will spend time with him before I go back to Spain”. This time, it was him leaning forward, and he lowered his voice to sound more menacing.
“You don’t come here and frighten my sister, Frankie. That’s fucking well out of order, and you know that. Got something you want to say to me, then get a message to me and I wil come and see you. And as for those little birds, fuck them. And while I’m at it, fuck you, and the horse you rode in on”.
Toland was trying to smile, but Alan’s aggression had unnerved him. It was well known that he had shot Larry The Limp stone cold, and without any solid proof that the Irishman had even grassed him. Even in his fifties, Alan Gill wasn’t a man to be messed with when he had no bodyguards around. Gill could be a hard man, and fearless.
“Calm down, Alan. I was just asking a fair question. You’re back on my manor, putting yourself about like you own the place, and you have hardly been to see me or talked to me. It’s a question of respect, you know that, and don’t need me to tell you”. Alan was still fronting up, no way was he going to calm down.
“If you want respect, you don’t come to my sister’s place and threaten Lugs. You talk to me man to man, ask your questions without threats, and you might get the answers you want. But they will already be the same as the answers I have given you. I’m out the game, Frankie. I have a life in Spain, and a good business. I should be entitled to visit my sister and ask her to come and live there with me, and to catch up with any old friends while I’m here. I don’t want trouble with you, but I’ll be fucked if I will lie down and roll over because you’ve got some arseholes following me around”.
The tension in the room was overwhelming. Alan kept direct eye contact with Frankie as the older man seemed to be thinking of something clever to say. When he couldn’t think of anything, he stood up, extending a hand. “We know each other too well to fall out, Alan. You know I had to ask. Thanks for the drink, I will be in touch”. After the brief handshake, he left the flat, nodding to Gloria who was standing in the hallway like a frightened rabbit.
When enough time had passed that he would be back at his car, Alan turned to his sister.
“Glor, as soon as your passport arrives, you’re off to Spain. No arguments”.
The tension increases. Why is he sending Gloria to Spain? It seems he wants to flee there too. Great episode, Pete! Thank you! xx Michael
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He doesn’t want her to be in danger in London.
Thanks for the reblog, Michael.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I always thought that it was better to hide in London? 😉 xx
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Unless they know where you live, and they do know where Gloria lives. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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I had to pause chewing the food in my mouth as I read this 🙂
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Good to hear that mate. 🙂
Cheers, Pete.
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Bravo Pete…a terrific chapter…I am seeing the late great Bob Hoskins in the role of Alan…and Frankie could have been the late great Albert Finney or Alan Bates!
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In my mind, Alan is like Vincent Regan. https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/362399101235355548/
Frankie is based on a real London criminal, Freddy Foreman. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/03/kray-twins-fred-foreman-east-end-gangster
Glad you enjoyed the chapter.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Such a great episode Pete, I could feel the tension hump off the page! Your writing is extraordinary! C
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Thanks for those kind words, Cheryl. I am happy that you felt the tension. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Alan handled that well, Pete but sounds like Frankie could be a problem just as well he is sending Gloria off for a holiday in the sun x
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Alan knows never to back down, Carol. Just like in the old days.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Yes, can’t show fear or weakness x
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I love that he held his own. Great dialogue between them in this segment.
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Thanks, Elizabeth. I have actually been in a pub and overheard two ‘hard men’ having a very similar conversation. It was a ‘who blinks first’ situation, in every way imaginable.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Good memory for that kind of thug exchange.
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Frankie’s a nasty piece of work but I wouldn’t mess with Alan! I loved the F you and the horse you rode in on!😁
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A common expression of my youth, Kim. 🙂 Alan has recovered his mojo!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well, it had to happen
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He had to have a showdown with Frankie eventually.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Somehow I don’t think thats the end of it between those two…..
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I’m sure you’re correct in that assumption, Sue.
Best wishes, Pete.
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😕
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Great episode Pete, things are hotting up etween Frankie and Alan, my money’s on Al!
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Get down to Ladbrokes! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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🤣🤣
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(1) I once watched Tony Blair on a blaring telly.
(2) Overheard:
Frankie: “So if I take old Lugs down to my lock-up and start slicing off one of his Dumbo ears, do you reckon he will tell me the same story?”
Alan: “No. He’ll say, ‘Lend me your ear!’ and begin telling circus stories.”
(3) Frankie once hired a young lady named Beulah Goon, who lived abroad. When her ship sank during the trip to England, she ended up surviving, along with her cousin, on Cutthroat Island, where they did a lot of skinny dipping.
(4) Bad citation: “Little birds, Alan. Little birds tell me things. Things like tweet-tweet and chirp-chirp and twip-twipper-twipeee.”
(5) Overheard:
Alan: “Why shouldn’t I go and see Teddy? That’s like asking Christopher Robin to stay away from Winnie the Pooh!”
Frankie: “Hey, I could use another little bird. Where can I find this Christopher Robin?”
(6) Wait till Frankie leaves Gloria’s place and finds out that a horse thief has stolen his ride.
(7) Let’s be frank about this. It wasn’t Toomey who grassed Toland. The facts:
Grassed: Frank Toland
Grasser: Frank Sheeran (the Irishman)
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6) You got the horse in! I’m so pleased you went for that. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Just enough “disruption” to thicken the plot. Warmest regards, Theo
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Enough to make Alan come to another decision, Theo.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I can ee several possibilities. It should get more interesting. Warmest regards, Theo
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I think Gloria’s bag is already packed!
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She will need no more persuading, Yeti. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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whoaa what a heated talk between those two
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Unfortunately, the language has to be realistic for the story to be authentic.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks for the warning, but they’re hardly going to say ‘drat’ and ‘darn’, are they (lol)?
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I am trying to keep the swearing to a minimum, but it has to include some to be even remotely authentic. (As you know) 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Of course. We have to keep it real.
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