It was An Accident: Volume 2 (Nicky Burkett) - Softcover

Cameron, Jeremy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 190844634X ISBN 13: 9781908446343

Publisher: HopeRoad, 2015

Synopsis

Nicky Burkett has done his time for manslaughter and you'd think they'd leave him alone. All he wants is a quiet pint, a pattie on the market and a quick one on the settee. But trouble follows him around. He is attacked. His mates are attacked. He runs to off Jamaica and is attacked again. Then the fight back begins. But trouble follows him around. He is beaten up for no reason that he knows of. So are his mates. All the aggravation in Walthamstow seems to land on his doorstep. He flees to Jamaica but trouble comes there too. It's not all bad though. Beautiful Noreen makes her moves. Nicky's mates come together: black, white and Asian, they defend the honour of Walthamstow. They make plans for a showdown. The dog stadium has never seen anything like it. Nicky Burkett lives a life of his own, funny, violent, loyal and unconquerable. But Noreen wants him to change and he wants her to think he has. He even takes a test for her...IT WAS AN ACCIDENT is the second in the five book Nicky Burkett series, set in Walthamstow, North East London. Like its predecessor, Vinnie Got Blown Away, it is consistently funny, nasty and authentic about crime on the streets of Walthamstow.I T WAS AN ACCIDENT was filmed by Pathe, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Max Beesley and James Bolam.

About this title

About the Author

Jeremy Cameron spent several years working in hostels for the homeless and twenty years living and working in Walthamstow. During this period he wrote five novels set in Walthamstow and featuring Nicky Burkett.Other books by Jeremy: Never Again: A Walk from Hook of Holland to Istanbul, How to be President - of Norfolk Lawn Tennis Association, Wider than Walthamstow, Hell on Hoe Street, Brown Bread in Wengen, Vinnie Got Blown Away.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

It Was An Accident ...

By Jeremy Cameron

HopeRoad Publishing

Copyright © 1996 Jeremy Cameron
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-908446-34-3

CHAPTER 1

Time used to be you got out of nick eight o'clock went round the corner got a bit of breakfast.

These days more likely you got out half past nine fifty miles out of town some gaff up Sheppey middle of winter. Some bird picked you up you got lucky.

Me I got out Wandsworth middle of the morning not a café in sight. Cross the street wait half an hour on a bus up Tooting. Strange no Roller sitting there no TV camera not even the Walthamstow Guardian.

Down Tooting they never even sold the Guardian. Got a Mirror. I already passed my gear out on visits only got a bag. Jacket went out of style three years ago, haircut was Vidal Convict. Looked a right tosser me, reckoned everyone on the fucking tube clocked me.

Got the tube out of Tooting Bec up Euston. Got lost there, geezers giving it shove everywhere. You shoved a geezer in nick meant plenty agg, you got one over the bonce in the recess. Round Euston though it seemed you took no notice.

I got the Victoria up the front. Twenty minutes later Walthamstow Central.

I went up the stairs, escalator still not working. No ticket collector, one bleeding time I got a ticket I never needed it. Out in the rain. Went 'All right' to Terri worked the flowers. Clocked around the skyline, never recognised half of it. Buildings gone, buildings come. Boozer was still there over the road though so reckoned to get a fucking pint of lager.

Jesus they doubled the damage.

Got the pint anyway, went and sat down the corner for a think. It was eleven o'clock. Reckoned I got to go up Mum's, get round Kelly's see Danny the kid, maybe put it up Kelly celebrate getting out, see a few mates. Make myself busy. Felt like it get round Grosvenor Park Rd and sign on, give them the green form and order some dosh. Took about a year so start right off.

I sipped the lager and beadied round the punters. Never knew no geezer. They still clocked me funny. Never fancied that boozer anyway except Friday nights it was always good for a rucking.

Then would you believe it a heavy mitt came down my shoulder. Jesus I near as hit the ceiling and shit myself the same time. Nicked already and I only came out two hours!

'Morning Nicky.'

'Fuckin' Nora what'd I do?'

'Nothing Nicky you ain't done nothing. Just a chat. Buy you a half?'

'Ain't that just typical you fucking geezers George? Been away four fucking years and you buy me a half!'

'Glass is almost full Nicky.'

'Won't be I empty it.'

'All right I'll buy you a pint when you empty it. Mind if I sit down?' He sat down. First person let on to me after doing my time had to be George my warrant officer. Fucking couldn't owe any fines yet surely.

'How you feeling Nicky?'

'Fucking great. Get out done my bird, come out the Central don't recognise nowhere don't know no-one, go down the boozer quiet pint of lager first geezer clocks on to me got to be a fucking pig. Fucking great.'

'Don't be like that Nicky.'

'Knew the time I got here or what George?'

'Got a fair idea. Rang the nick this morning. They told me you got a travel warrant up Walthamstow. Then they told me the time you got out.'

'Ain't you got no villains to feel George, no-one not paid their parking fines you got to beat up in the cells? Didn't you ought to be throwing them in the wagon up court this time of day?' George always hit you on the warrants first off like seven in the morning. Reckoned he always came that time knew he got a cup of tea. Sometimes stayed on a bit of breakfast. One time he paid one of my fines on the hush, knew I was a kid got no dosh, felt sorry for me.

'On holiday a couple of days Nicky.'

'Funny fucking holidays spend it hanging round Walthamstow Central. They closed down Tenerife?'

'Wanted to see you Nicky. You got a moment?'

'Fuck all else.'

'Wanted to get a chat with you Nicky. They reckoned I was the best person to approach you like.'

'I got it. I owes you 50p still outstanding my last fine.'

'Nothing like that Nicky. All your fines got cleared up years ago son. We lodged them like when you went away. No I've got a sort of a proposal for you Nicky.'

'Bit of business? Piece of work? Want me retail the gear they got up Chingford nick? Bit of blow, few electricals? Leave it out George I mean do me a favour.'

'Nothing like that Nicky. You know I'm only a warrant anyway. And I'll thank you not to talk about my Chingford colleagues like that.'

Nearly made me throw up my lager.

'Nicky there's some people in the force who reckoned you might be able to help them with a proposal.'

'Fucking roll on George I reckon I might be brassick only I ain't a fucking grass yet. Anyway I thought they done away with the Regionals and their big dosh years past?'

'Nicky you got to understand. I'm just here to help out like an intermediary. You know me I never get involved in all that stuff. Matter of fact,' he stared in his beer, 'I never even wanted to get involved this far. You and me we go way back, eh Nicky? You were always straight with me, I was straight with you.'

'True enough George.' Arrested me fifteen times still expected his cup of tea. When our Sharon got her kid and no dosh there was George brought a pram round reckoned his family never wanted it any more.

'Only I said I'd talk to you, make the introductions if you wanted.'

'Sort of a fence like. This don't hardly seem to get no better George.'

He cleared his throat just going to think up his affidavit and that. Only then there was a major interruption. Just the most beautiful bit of tit in Walthamstow was all, walked in the door like it was the palace.

'Fucking Noreen!' I went.

'Hello Nicky, all right?' she went.

'Fucking roll on Noreen what you doing here?'

'That's not a very nice reception now Nicky is it?' Only she was cackling. Only fucking Noreen Hurlock, Ricky Hurlock's big sister worked up British Airways, smartest bit of tart you ever clocked. Bleeding beautiful. Then she probably got a geezer and eight kids since I went away. Funny I never asked about her on visits. Never wanted to hear I reckon.

'You got a geezer and eight kids since I went away Noreen or you still available?'

She cackled again. 'Don't change do you Nicky? I've been sent here like a messenger, find you and take you somewhere.'

'Jesus there's two messengers now. Meet George my warrant.'

'Hello Mr Marshall all right?' she went. Never got him professional George she was straight as a ruler that Noreen and all her family, probably knew him up the badminton club or some shit.

'Hello Noreen luv all right?'

'I got to take you somewhere. There's people waiting to show you something Nicky.'

'Jesus I reckoned they all forgot me now I got out. Have to get round Mum's Noreen say all right.'

'Then there's your Danny with Kelly.'

'You got to remind me.' Whenever I tried to get on the subject of Noreen and me like having a bit, then she always had to mention the case of me being a daddy. Seemed to reckon there was a connection. She looked a bit older now Noreen only fuck me still got the same shape, not sagging anywhere.

'You sure you ain't got no kiddies while I been away Noreen? Ain't you working today you got the elbow?'

She cackled. 'Matter of fact I got promoted Nicky only I took a day off today see you get out.'

'Jesus you never gave me half a piece of boiled yam before Noreen. You ain't got prison fever I suppose?' Birds all over London went leery over cons, fuck knows why, lasted about as long as a quick handjob and the first giro.

'Scuse me,' went George. 'Scuse me you two lovebirds. Just before you go off together over the marshes, d'you reckon you could give us two minutes, Noreen, me and Nicky here? Two minutes is all?'

'Course Mr Marshall no problem.' She went out the road followed by half the customers all wanted to buy her a rum and coke.

Only now I was pissed. Pint and a half lager I was anybody's, had to make do with blow all the time in the nick. Touch that hooch in there and you're gone, send you blind and talk like a Geordie.

'Now then Nicky,' goes George.

'Now then George.'

'Lads got a proposition to put to you.'

'Want to make me chief inspector? Give me the story on them drugs keep disappearing out of property or my watch went missing up Chingford? Have a whip round so I don't need no loan off the Social?'

'Last one's a bit close Nicky.'

'Eh?'

'Like I'm only a messenger you know.'

'Fucking wind it up George I'm getting GBH of the earhole here.'

'Well like the lads reckon you might be in a position to help them Nicky.'

'Help fucking Old Bill? Help them over a cliff.'

'Now then Nicky I'm Old Bill too you know.'

'Yeah only you ain't Chingford CID. Fucking DS Grant eh, them's geezers always want an assist only they generally got a boot under your hooter when they want it.'

'Funny you should mention DS Grant Nicky. You not heard?'

'Heard what?'

'News must be slow these days. DS Grant got murdered last Saturday night.'

'Jesus.'

'Got shot. Up by the forest.'

'Maybe they reckoned he was a deer. Weren't leaping over no fences at the time?'

'He was investigating.'

'Investigating some backhander I reckon. Jesus, DS Grant got plugged. Calls for a celebration George want another?'

'Nicky you know DS Grant was my colleague.'

'Kiss my arse George you love him like I love him.'

'Yes but you can't have people going round shooting police officers Nicky you know that, ain't right.'

'Beats mugging old ladies.'

'So the lads knew you were coming out, knew DS Grant put you the way of sorting your last little matter. Knew you handled it. Lads put your name up. Reckoned you might like to put the ears out. Lads aren't getting a lot of news coming in up to now.'

'And a few sobs in it eh?'

'Lads had a whip like I said.'

'Had a fucking whip? So it ain't official? Jesus. First day out and I got ninety homeless discharge, half of it gone on a pint of lager, you and your mates reckon dosh me a pony and I bound to put the squeal on some geezer plugged a copper and fucking DS Grant at that. You got to be a sandwich short of a picnic, George.'

'One other thing Nicky.'

'Eh?'

'They got your mate in the bargain.'

'What mate?'

'Your mate Rameez.'

Had to cackle.

'You reckon Rameez my mate George? You marked Rameez my mate?'

'You did the piece of work together on that last business.'

You had to laugh eh. Pigs reckoned they were smart. Got the wrong grasses maybe. Business it was, strictly business Rameez and me.

'They near as put his eye out.'

'You makin' joke George? Put his eye out?'

'And took off a finger. He's up Whipps Cross.'

'Didn't reckon he was up clubbing. He got protection?'

'Twenty-four hour. Only he ain't talking.'

'Sure they never took his tongue out in the bargain?' We clocked our beer. That Noreen still waiting by the machine.

'Just wondered if you were interested Nicky. There's feelings running very high when a copper gets killed. Lot of people don't approve, even villains reckon it's out of order. Then again you put the questions on that last one, got the right noise, and I might say you were successful finding a solution too in the bargain.'

'Leave it out George. Manslaughter not murder you know that. Never planned nothing.'

'Yes of course Nicky. And people did say DS Grant slipped you the word on who was the main man.'

'Big fucking man DS Grant made himself busy.'

'And Rameez being your mate. And how that last business was after your mate Vinnie got blown away.'

'Rameez ain't no mate of mine George you got your whisper wrong.'

'Well that's as maybe. Only we thought, mention it now, give you the weekend to settle down then you might like to consider it. Fair bit of spending in it like 1 say. You only got to let me know if you're in the frame.'

'Fuck me George.'

'See you around Nicky.'

I sat there staring up the walls. No doubt what the real message was. Straight out of nick and Old Bill wanted me to go round plunging geezers.

Enough to make you lose faith in the British police eh.

'Noreen,' I went, 'I got to get some grub and that I'm pissed as a rat not used to this lager.'

'All right Nicky let's come on round the corner.'

So we went round the corner in the market and I got pattie and chips and coffee. Noreen had a diet coke, got to keep a watch on those tits of hers.

Got to be a doddle this release.

CHAPTER 2

So what's the story Noreen?' I went over my pattie.

'Can't say nothing now Nicky, like a secret.'

'Why they send you?'

She went confused, like blushed only she just went darker how black people do.

'They reckoned you'd come if I met you Nicky. Wouldn't think it was like a set-up or something.'

'You ain't changed your mind about a bit of nookie with me Noreen I suppose?'

'Piss off Nicky,' she laughed. Always tell that Noreen passed exams on account of how she went 'piss off', very polite. In the bargain she never put any nookie round my way, showed she passed her exams.

So there we were sitting in the gaff down the market getting my pattie. And I was supping my coffee and goggling her boobies. Then would you believe what happened but some geezer I never knew walked in came straight up. Big bald geezer about forty.

'You Nicky Burkett?' he went.

'No she is.'

'Got a bit of work put your way.' He plonked himself down our table. Big bald fat geezer. Belly coming out his jeans. Probably lived up Waltham Way.

'Do me a favour geezer I just got out the fucking nick. Spend the discharge first eh?' Hard to credit, there I was never knew what day it was, only wanted a pint of lager and put it up some bird and he was there offering up a bit of work.

'Plenty shekels in it.'

'Look feller I ain't clocked me mates yet, been round me mum's.'

'Plenty in it.'

'Like?'

'Five.'

'Five?'

'Big ones.'

Middle of the fucking eater, there he was talking five big ones.

'Spot of kiting? Stealing milk bottles?'

'Geezer rubbed out. Stepping on a man's toes. Give you the subcontract.'

Then he wrote a number on a napkin, went out the door.

Jesus.

Geezers kept wanting me to kill geezers. Been out half an hour. First George the warrant, never mention it himself and maybe even not want it, only the next pig up the line had to mention. Now this geezer. For five poxy grand. All on account of I had an accident one time.

Noreen was shitless couldn't believe her jam pies. 'Jesus Nicky,' she went.

Welcome to the zoo.'

'Jesus he wanted you to kill someone.'

'General idea.'

'How'd he mean sub-contract?'

'They hand him or his mates twenty, he gives me five. Take the rest for the introduction to the business.'

'Jesus Nicky.'

'You finished your coke?' Noreen was so straight she never even had a bent MOT. No-one came round theirs wanting them rub geezers out. She finished her coke.

Then I was out the door, forgot you had to pay. Never had to the last few years. Noreen doshed.

Then we crossed over Hoe St, missed all the traffic even though I was still pissed. Started up Church Hill past the dole 'Reckon I ought to sign on Noreen?' I went. 'Get that out the way?'

'In a bit Nicky. We'll get that done this afternoon. Only first I want to take you up the road here.'

'Sounds good to me.' Except I was cream crackered could do with a good lie down. We walked up the hill past the sorting office turned left on Howard Rd.

'What happen Noreen?'

'Just a minute Nicky you'll see. Be patient man. Fortunes weren't built in a day.'

'Weren't built in Walthamstow neither.' Anyone but Noreen I'd be spacy by now reckon it was a hit. Noreen was so pure it was painful. We trotted along past a few more doors then stopped. We went up a house and Noreen used a key.

'You shacked here now Noreen?'

'You'll see Nicky.'

Inside the door were two more doors, one the downstairs flat the other by the stairs for the other one. Noreen turned another key and we went upstairs. People were moving there. Someone went 'Put the drink out they're coming up.' Bit more reassuring that, on account of they don't put the drink out when they plan on slicing you.

'Yo Nicky!'

We turned the corner in the main room.

'YO NICKY!'

Jesus.

It was the collection. It was Sherry McAllister and Jimmy Foley and Ricky Hurlock and Dean Longmore and Wayne Sapsford and Paulette James and Julie Seagrave and Brendan Streeter and Elvis Littlejohn and Shelley Rosario and Javed Khan and Aftab Malik. It was the collection of my mates and then it was one or two I scrapped against. Half of them geezers you never trusted on taking your grannie home, have to steal a wheelie for it. One or two of them straight geezers never thieved. Then at the back there was our Sharon. Got to be how they clocked my release, on account of how I never told anyone except Mum. She was all right Sharon, must have reckoned it was cool letting on these.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from It Was An Accident ... by Jeremy Cameron. Copyright © 1996 Jeremy Cameron. Excerpted by permission of HopeRoad Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Edition details

• Publisher: HopeRoad
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 190844634X
• ISBN 13: 9781908446343
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 226