In the East End

She stepped off the train, the noise and bustle around her just loud enough to keep, her mind busy, she made her way out of the station, pulling her cigarettes out of her bag, her knuckles brushing against the smooth surface of the gun, her breath hitched as if she had suddenly remembered why she had travelled in to the city centre, she kept her wits about her, keeping her head down but remaining on high alert, consistent footsteps behind her roused her suspicions, she turned casually as if she where crossing the road, snatching a glance at a larger man who had been a few paces behind her, he stopped, looking out in to the traffic, she crossed quickly, cutting up an alley way, the noise of the city faded behind as she moved quickly, she was suddenly jerked backwards, the nape of her neck aching with the force of her hair being pulled, she scowled at the mystery assailant, staring him in the eyes, her heart pounding with fear,

“What the fuck do you want?”

She spat as her back met with the cold concrete wall,

“Where’s gates?”

The man grunted,

“Who?”

He slapped her face with a sharp sting,

“You know who! Where is he?”

“You’ve got the wrong person you mug! I haven’t got a fucking clue who you’re talking about”

“Don’t fuck me about girl! I’m warning you!”

“And I’m fucking telling you you’ve got the wrong PERSON!”

She punctuated the end of her sentence with a quick headbutt, he stumbled back giving her a few precious seconds to take legs and get away, she shuffled backwards quickly making her break, the alleyways winding on, before she could react, she had her face against the wall, her arm held tightly up her back,

“Now I know you know him!”

She felt him riffle through her handbag, pinned to the wall by her throat, a sudden cold sensation danced on her temple, she took a deep breath allowing adrenaline to take over, she jerked quickly breaking he grasp, using both hands she made a grab for the gun, they wrestled for a moment she became increasingly aware of the fact she had a loaded gun pointing at her, she grunted sweat beading on her forehead, she twisted the gun, loosening the mans hands, quicker than she could think, a dull bang rang through the air, a warm splatter to the face made her twitch then all at once silence, she scrambled to her feet trying to make sense of the scene in front of her, crumpled at her feet a man lay dead, a bloody wound in the side of his neck, his eyes glazed he stared at her, she took a deep breath, taking his beanie hat from his head she wrapped the gun up, stowing it away in her hand bag she ran.

She stood in the toilets at the train station, her chest tight from chain smoking and hands still trembling, she had blotted the blood away, taking multiple deep breaths she listened as the announcers voice boomed over the station symbolising the arrival of her train, she rushed towards the platform, jumping on she hid herself in the corner, her eyes scanning the carriage, fear gripping her insides.

She sat confused, keeping an eye on every passenger who boarded, she knew what an undercover policeman looked like so she knew who to avoid eye contact with, a sudden voice startled her,

“Tea or coffee my love?”

She sighed, almost happy to see a friendly face as the buffet trolley was pulled next to her,

“I’d love a coffee”

She smiled handing over a few coins, she took a long swig from the polystyrene cup, feeling it warm her, her nerves settled slightly.

The train soon pulled in to her station, as she climbed the platform stairs she made a split second decision, go back her mums and risk the police turning up to arrest her, although it had happened before it was never a charge as heavy as murder, or, she could go straight to Ross there was no better alibi than another copper, he probably knew how to deal with this better than her mum, she came to the doors of the station and took a left.

“John! Fucking deal with him!”

Ross shouted as he walked away shaking his hand, his knuckles throbbing from throwing punches,

“You’re a fucking coward Gates! Getting a little lady to do your dirty work!”

Within seconds, Ross snatched the weapon from John, he slammed the metal bar across the mans head several times, rendering him unconscious, his temper suddenly spiking at the mere mention of his little lady! He walked away face contorted in to a hideous anger, out of breath, he threw the bar to the ground,

“John, now fucking deal with him!”

He stormed back up the cellar stairs, pulling his sleeves back down and securing his cufflinks, he closed the door, jumping as Ava came in to view at the end of the hallway, as soon as she lay eyes on him she broke in to a run, collapsing in to his chest she heaved a sob,

“I’ve fucked up!”

He wrapped an arm around her leading her in to the office, he sat with her watching, holding her hand until she was able to speak, her body shook with anxiety,

“Ava, what’s happened?” he turned her face towards his, noting the faint bruising across her jaw and collarbones, “Who hurt you?”

“I don’t know it doesn’t matter!”

“Of course, it matters who fucking hurt you Ava?”

“I don’t fucking know! But it doesn’t fucking matter any more will you listen to me!”

“You’re not making any sense princess tell me what’s going on! Where’s the cash?”

“I didn’t get it!”

“So he took the gun and ran!”

“No I didn’t even get to fucking see him Ross, I can’t go home!”

“Ava!” he shouted starting to get frustrated “You need to tell me and tell me now”

She sniffled, he gave her the few seconds to pull herself together, she stood walking over to his desk, she pulled her handbag from her shoulder, emptying its contents on to the desk, he walked over putting a hand on the small of her back he examined what was in front of him, picking up the hat, he looked inside,

“I shot him” She whispered, “He grabbed me, he slapped me I headbutted him and ran he caught up and I shot him”

He smiled to himself,

“Let me make some phone calls, sit down, you want a gin?”

She nodded as he shouted through for a double with mixer to be brought in, she watched him make his phone calls, almost mesmerised by the way he handled things, he didn’t swear or shout but he always got his own way, he was calm and polite working his way through business man after business man,

“You’re safe Ava” he sat next to her on the small sofa, pulling her in to him “But that’s only for now, but you were right, you can’t go home”

“What about my mum?”

“She can’t know, if it comes out where you are we’ll both be prime targets”

“Fuck sake, Ross arrest them, get them sent down!”

Panic had started to set in, she regretted every decision she had made that lead her to this point,

“There’s only so much I can do with out incriminating myself Ava, who’s gonna look after you if I’m banged up eh?” she nodded curling in to him, “Now I believe I owe you some money, fifteen hundred okay?”

Her eyes widened at him,

“I just killed a man Ross!”

“Fine, Two grand?”