Family Business

My instincts tell me to run.

***

Gregor was ten when he saw a dead body for the first time.

 His mother had protested. “He’s far too young for you to take out on a job.”

 “Nonsense,” Gregor’s father had replied. “We don’t want him going soft. And Docherty thinks you coddle him too much. The best soldiers are trained young, he says.”

 And that had been that.

 Afterwards, they went to the big house. Gregor watched from the doorway as the two men shook hands and Mr Docherty slapped his father on the back. He seemed pleased.

 “Is that your lad, then? He’s grown a bit since I last set eyes on him.” Mr Docherty looked past his father at Gregor. “Well, come on, boy. Come and say hello.”

 Gregor looked at his father for approval. It came in the form of a nod. He stepped forward. It had been an unusual day and Gregor was feeling nervous and a little unsure of what might be in store.

 “Come on, I said.” Mr Docherty waved his hand at him, beckoning him forward. “Don’t take all day about it.”

 “Yes, sir.” Gregor stopped in front of him. He hoped Mr Docherty wouldn’t notice the slight tremble in his knees.

 “You helped your father out today, I hear. Well done. You’ll be working for me in no time, I’m sure.”

 The thought filled Gregor with dread. He looked at his father, who nodded again. Gregor swallowed hard, then nodded too.

 “Here’s something to be getting on with.” Mr Docherty held out a fifty-pound note.

 Gregor’s eyes widened. Fifty quid? Just for watching his dad shoot a kneeling man in the back of the head? He reached for the note. It felt real. “Thank you, Mr Docherty.” Maybe his dad had a point after all.

***

I should leave. I still can.

***

Mr Docherty gave Gregor his first proper job when he was fourteen. He was to sit in the van and watch the front of the building. That was all. Just watch. That should be easy enough. And Mr Docherty would pay him for his time and single-minded attention.

 “What do I do if I see someone?”

 “That’ll depend on who you see. If it’s your Dad and Jimmy coming out, you just make room for them and your Dad will take it from there.”

 “What if it’s someone else?”

 “Well, if it’s a woman walking her dog, you do nothing. Unless you’re wanting a dog, of course.” Mr Docherty chuckled at his little joke.

 “And what if it’s the police?”

 “Ah. That’s why we need you, Gregor. It’s the police we’re worried about because they might not like what your Dad and Jimmy have to do in that building. If you see the police, then I want you to use this mobile phone to call your Dad. The number’s in there already. You don’t even wait until he answers, mind, you just need to ring it a few times.” He handed the small and functional Nokia to Gregor. “Have you used one of these before?”

 “No, Mr Docherty.”

 “Your Dad will show you how it works. It’s not complicated. Is it all clear for you now?”

 “Yes, Mr Docherty.” Gregor’s Dad had instructed him to be suitably humble and grateful. “Thank you for the job, sir. I won’t let you down.” He hoped that would please. The prospect of some money was certainly pleasing to him.

***

The gun feels heavy in my hand. The wait seems interminable.

***

“Come on, Gregor. You can do better than that. Keep the target in your sights. Hold your aim steady. There, that’s better. And again. Watch out for that kickback. Again. Don’t shut your eyes. Steady now. Again.”

 Gregor’s arm was aching by the time he finished his sixteenth-birthday shooting lesson with his father. He knew he would get better, but it was going to take a lot more practice than that.

 The gun had been a birthday gift from Mr Docherty earlier that day. But the euphoria Gregor felt was not because of that. Fifteen-year-old Caitlin Docherty was simply the sweetest thing Gregor had ever seen and he couldn’t get her out of his mind. He had seen her peeking in through the half-open door of the living room and wandered into the hall, hoping for a better look.

 “Are you one of my Dad’s thugs, then?” she asked. But her eyes twinkled at him and the words didn’t sound so terrible, the way she said them.

 “I’m no thug.” He wanted to keep it light. “But I could be anything else you want if you ask nicely.”

 She giggled. “You’re kind of cute, actually.” She gave him a peck on the cheek, standing on the tip of her toes and holding on to his shoulder for balance. “Happy birthday, Gregor,” she whispered before turning to run lightly up the stairs. She stopped at the top and gave him a wave. “See ya.”

 Then she was gone. How did she even know his name? He stood mesmerised for a few minutes before his Dad called him to order and they left for the practice range together.

***

I shift my position slightly to let the blood flow back into my legs and check my phone. It’s Jenny’s bedtime already and I’m not there to tuck her in.

***

Mr Docherty nursed his whisky between his hands. A worried frown creased his forehead as he shook his head. “I tell you, Kenny, I don’t like it. But what else are we to do? The beating they gave Jimmy was pure provocation. We can’t ignore it. You know that.”

 “I know, Frank. I know. But I don’t like it either.” Gregor’s father looked around at the others and lowered his voice. “It’s a young crowd we’ve got here. Jimmy’s boy and mine plus those two new recruits. They’re barely trained, let alone experienced. What if this all goes south?”

 “How many are you expecting to be in the house?”

 “If O’Hare has his whole team in there with him, maybe seven or eight. Could be less if some of them are out on the town. We could wait until our own lads are back from picking up the merchandise.”

 “That’s days away. Jimmy’s my oldest friend and he’s lying in a hospital bed hooked up to a machine. I’m not waiting.”

 “OK. You’re the boss. Right, lads. Gather round while we go through the plan.” Gregor’s father stood up and motioned the group to come forward. They stood around the room, arms folded, faces serious, while he explained their tactics.

 Soon they were on their way in one of the vans. Gregor’s father rode along with the boss in his sleek, black car.

 They had only just taken up their positions, waiting for the go, when the firing started from the house. Heavy firing. Bullets flying everywhere and nowhere to hide. Gregor started shooting back. They all did. There was shouting and panic and fear.

 “Dad!” Gregor screamed when he saw him go down. “My Dad’s been hit!” He was already running, kneeling on the ground, pulling him into his arms, rocking him. “No, Dad, come on, please don’t be hurt!”

 He heard Mr Docherty shout to the others.

 “Pull back! Kenny’s down. Pull back, everyone. Let’s get him into the van. Come on, Gregor. We have to get him out of here. Boys, help me lift him. That’s it, gently does it. Here, Gregor, hold this scarf over the bleeding. Press down on the wound. Come on, let’s go. I’ll follow in the car.”

 “We have to get to the hospital,” Gregor shouted to their driver as the blood seeped through his fingers onto the floor of the van. “As fast as you can.”

 “No can do. No hospitals. It’s a gunshot wound. Mr Docherty will get the doc to his house and no questions asked.”

 “But what if we’re too late,” Gregor sobbed, “we have to save him. What about my Mum? What about me? What’ll we do?”

 “Rules are rules, Gregor. Mr Docherty will take care of everything.”

 Gregor held his mother’s hand at the funeral, and Caitlin held his.

 “Enough crying now, Gregor. Your father wouldn’t want that. Stand up straight. Be a man. Make him proud.” Mr Docherty’s tone was kinder than his words.

 As he shook the man’s hand and thanked him for the wake, Gregor wondered how things might have turned out if they hadn’t followed his rules.

***

Headlights flood the room for a split second as a car turns into the driveway. My whole body tenses. The car reverses out and drives away in the opposite direction. I exhale slowly. I’m relieved, in a way, but it only makes the wait longer.

***

“Loyalty. That’s the secret. Your father was a true friend. I trusted him with my life.”

 “He trusted you with his too, Mr Docherty.” Gregor didn’t mean it sarcastically. He couldn’t help how the words sounded. But Mr Docherty had downed a couple of drams too many and they rolled over him unheeded. 

 “Call me Frank, boy. You’re too old for that Mr Docherty stuff.” He unlocked a drawer in his desk and rummaged around in it. “I told your father I’d take care of you and so I will. Here, take this.”

 Gregor protested a little as the wad of bills was shoved into his hand. “But Mr Docherty, I mean Frank, what’s this for?”

 “It’s a pay rise. I want you to partner with Jimmy from now on. Just as your Dad did before.”

 “But this is more than I make in a year. Why so much?”

 “Come on, son. Don’t think I haven’t seen the way you look at her. And heard the way she talks about you. I’m not saying you would have been my first choice – and don’t take that the wrong way, Gregor – just that I had other hopes for her at one time. But I’m not one to stand in the path of true love.” Frank stood up, pushing his chair back roughly. “It is true love, now, isn’t it? You’re not playing hard and fast with my wee darling, are you? I wouldn’t be happy about that. Not one bit.”

 “Of course I love her,” Gregor replied indignantly. “I love Caitlin and I want to marry her. I would do anything to make her happy.”

 The wedding was celebrated in style. Mr Docherty gave them his blessing, a new car and their very own house.

***

Another car slows as it nears the house. It turns in and this time the headlights keep on coming down the drive.

***

“Don’t call my Dad just yet, Gregor. Let’s have a moment together first, just the three of us,” Caitlin said, as she gazed adoringly down at the newborn baby in her arms. “She’s so beautiful, isn’t she?” She looked up at Gregor with a tired smile.

 “You both are. You were so brave, my darling.” Gregor kissed his wife tenderly on the top of her head. He felt a glow of pride and protection. “I won’t call your Dad for a bit, then.” He squeezed onto the hospital bed beside Caitlin and wrapped both arms around his family. “I can’t believe how lucky I am.”

***

It’s now, or never. I’m not sure I can go through with it, but I can’t bear the alternative.

***

“That was my Dad on the phone, wasn’t it? Is he sending you out on a job again? Why do you have to go?”

 “You know why, Caitlin. It’s what I do. And it’s your Dad who calls the shots. What do you want me to do? Say thank you for your daughter, the house and everything but go to hell now?”

 “I didn’t mean that. But I wish there were another way.”

 “There isn’t. It’s not the kind of job I can resign from. And we can’t just up and leave. Your Dad would never allow that.”

 “I know. Jenny’s crying. I have to go to her. Be careful, won’t you?”

 The sadness in Caitlin’s eyes and voice cut through to Gregor’s core.

***

The engine cuts out, the lights too.

***

“Congratulations, my boy!” Mr Docherty thumped Gregor on the back. “Another on the way! What excellent news! Just imagine if it’s a boy this time. Someone to take over from me, when the time is right. We’ll start his training early, the way we did with you. Did you hear that, Jimmy? I’m going to be a grandfather again.” He held up his glass in a toast. “Here’s to you and Caitlin and my dynasty.” Then he knocked the whisky back in one.

***

Familiar footsteps make their way to the front door. The key turns in the lock. I know I am risking it all, even her love for me.

***

“Everything seems fine from the scan. I know the sex of the baby.” The doctor looked up questioningly. “Would you like me to tell you? It’s not an absolute certainty, of course, but I feel reasonably confident.”

 Gregor held tightly to Caitlin’s hand. They had discussed this and decided they wanted to know. He nodded. “Yes, please tell us.”

 “It’s a boy.” The doctor beamed at them. “A wee brother for your Jenny.”

 Gregor’s heart sank.

***

Anything at all, I remind myself. I am capable of doing anything for Caitlin, for our Jenny. And for our unborn son. Anything to keep him out of the family business, to escape his inevitable inheritance. No matter what the consequences.

I stand up slowly from behind the sofa and raise my arm. The gun has become so familiar from use, it is merely an extension of myself. They trained me well. My aim is steady.

“Mr Docherty.” I speak very softly in the darkened room.

“Gregor? What are you doing here?” He turns to look at me and his expression changes from pleasant surprise to fear. “Gregor! What the hell?”

“I’m sorry. It’s the only way.” I pull the trigger, watch him fall and know that we are free.