Chapter Thirty-Eight

Stupid, stupid, stupid, thought Lincoln as he drove away from Luca's.  He should have known Luca would have called Sam; adults stick together.  Luca couldn't understand why he wouldn't go back but he wouldn't be the one getting knocked about.

He pulled onto the estate and parked in a free space.  This might be an obvious place to look for him but he felt he was running out of options.  He didn't want to keep riding around in Sam's car.  He obviously wasn't old enough to drive and he had taken the car without permission.  The last thing he wanted was to get nicked; they would have to call Sam. 

He banged on the familiar door several times before he saw a shape in the window.

The door swung open.

"What?!"  Jason scowled into the light until recognition hit him.  "Linc?  What are you doing here?!"

"Tell you in a minute man.  But first, I got something I need to put in your garage."

Once they had put the car out of sight, Jason led Lincoln into the grubby flat.  The place was as cluttered and disorganised as he remembered; Jason's mum's habit often replaced her need for cleanliness.

Jason knocked some papers and a cat off a sofa and offered it to Lincoln, before plonking down in an aging armchair opposite.

Lincoln rubbed his eyes.

"So, I like to have you visit but why so early?" Jason scratched his leg.

"I had to leave there" said Lincoln.

"You beat up that prick?" said Jason.

"Yeah, but that isn't why I left" said Lincoln, trying to find the words without getting upset.

 "Sam..." he said gesturing to his face.

"Bastard" spat Jason.

"Can I crash here?"

"Course"

"Your Mum won't mind?"

"She is barely here – shacked up with some guy who has the money to pay for her dope."

"It might mean a visit from cops – well Luca at least."

Jason shrugged.

"I don't know any Lincoln Taylor" he said with a grin, holding up his hands.

"Thanks bro"

Jason shrugged and lit up a cigarette.

"You want to get high?

"Nah mate.  To be honest, I haven't been to sleep all night..."

"Take my bed" said Jason.

"Cheers" Lincoln got up and started towards the bedroom.

"Linc, I'm sorry this has happened, but it is good to have you back man"

Lincoln smiled a small smile back.

As he lay down in Jason's room, he felt something dig into his side.  He pulled his phone from his jeans pocket.  He pressed it on and yawned as the screen danced to life.  There was a small beep.  He had 13 missed calls, 5 from Sam, 2 each from Kat and Connor and 4 from Luca.  Using them to get hold of me, he thought.  As he held the phone, the ringtone began to play.  Sam was calling.  Lincoln switched the phone to silent and chucked it on the floor.  He watched it vibrate and then stop.  A moment later it started again.  He rolled over and closed his eyes.

The sharp banging at the door woke him up with a start.  Lincoln jumped up, ready to run.

"I'm coming, hold on" shouted Jason at the door.

Lincoln hovered by the door to the bedroom, looking through the crack.  His eye-line ran down the hallway to the front door.

Jason opened it gruffly.

"Detective Luca, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Luca gave him a weary look.

"I need to talk to Linc."

"Talk to who?"

"I know he is here Jason."

Jason shrugged.

Luca barged past him and into the flat.  Lincoln retreated quickly backwards and darted into the wardrobe.

"Hey you can't come in here!" protested Jason.

"Linc" called Luca.

Jason continued.  "This is against the law: you can't just come in without my permission."

Luca ignored him and looked in each of the rooms.  Lincoln held his breath as Luca surveyed the bedroom he was in.

Luca saw Lincoln's phone on the floor.  He turned around and faced Jason.

"Jason, it is really important that you get Lincoln to get in contact with me."

"Why?  You got something to arrest him for?"

"No" said Luca sadly, "He hasn't done anything wrong, but we can get things fixed."

Jason snorted.  "Good luck with that."

"His family are going out of their minds with worry.  They really care about him."

"Great way of showing it" remarked Jason.

"Can you tell him that I am really sorry.  He can trust me:  I am on his side."

"Should I write this down?"

"Look, just take my card" Luca thrust it into Jason's hand.  "Get him to call me.  I'll be watching you."

"Yeah whatever" replied Jason.

Lincoln heard the front door slam.

"Linc?"

Lincoln climbed out of the closet and back into the room.

He dusted himself off.

"God, I never thought I would be hiding in a closet again" he said seriously.

They both looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Jason turned out to be a surprisingly good cook – well good at making eggs, beans and oven chips.  Lincoln sat back and patted his stomach.

"If you cook for me every day, I will never leave."

"You are that easily pleased?  I didn't even have to put out."

Lincoln grinned.

"You are too hairy for me."

Jason rubbed the soul patch on his chin.  "Too hairy?  I can't grow hair anywhere but here!"

Lincoln chuckled.

As Jason stood up and picked the plates up, Lincoln's phone began to vibrate again. 

"Your Dad?" asked Jason.

Lincoln looked at the screen.  "No it is Abbie."

He flicked it open. "Abs?"

"Lincoln" her voice gushed with emotion.  "Oh Linc, are you ok?" 

"I'm fine babe.  Are you okay?"

"I'm fine.  Are you still upset with me?"

Lincoln struggled to remember what she was referring to after all that had happened.  "Upset with you? What do you mean?"

"You shouted.  I just didn't want you to get into trouble or be hurt..."  Her voice cracked.

"No Abs, not at all.  Are you with me?"

"God no babe" she sounded relieved.  He heard some low voices in the background before she spoke again.  "Um, where are you?"

Lincoln was about to answer when he noticed that her voice sounded strained.

"Is Sam there with you?"

"Yes" she said, relieved he had figured it out.

"He made you call to find out where I am?"

"Yeah, my parents too."

Lincoln sighed.

"Are you coming back?"

"Did Sam tell you what happened?"

"Just that you took off."

"How convenient of him to leave out details" sneered Lincoln.  "I had to go; he hit me."

"What?!" said Abbie, "Are you okay?"

Lincoln sighed.

"Not really" he admitted.

There was a sound of movement at the other end and then Sam's voice came on the line.

"Lincoln, it is Dad.  Are you okay? Where are you?"

Lincoln said nothing.  The sound of worry in his voice irritated Lincoln.

"Are you still there?"

"What do you want Sam?" said Lincoln, his voice like ice.

"I'm sorry.  Please come home."

"I don't have a home."

"You do, with us."

"I can't come back."

 "You can.  I am not mad about the car" Sam said, misinterpreting him.

"Good to know" barked Lincoln before snapping the phone shut.

His heart hammered as he turned the phone off.

He turned to see Jason in the doorway.

"You've got a home here bro" he said.

"Thanks" said Lincoln.

"I have got to go to work later, you want to tag along and get a drink?"

"Sure" said Lincoln.  He would rather be out than sitting in thinking about everything that had happened.

Jason led him into the dark club.  The music was pumping and the dance floor was filling up now it was nearing midnight.  Jason stopped to say hey to a few people and Lincoln did as well, seeing some old faces.  Jason headed to the back of the club where a big man stood outside the door.

"Hey Robbie, I'm here to see Jack."

"Who is this?" said the big Robbie, looking suspiciously at Lincoln.

"He is a buddy of mine.  Jack knows him; he'll want to see him."

Robbie didn't glare much less but opened the door for them.

As it closed behind them, the sounds of the music were significantly diluted.  They walked down the corridor.

"Jack has done well the last few years."

"Yeah, considering he spent the last year inside" said Jason.

Jason knocked on the door at the far end.  There was a sound of it being unlocked, and then it creaked open.

It was a big room, with couches and a TV at one end and a desk at the other.  There were two women and three men on the sofas. 

"Yo Jase" One of them called.

They walked over to them.

"Lincoln, man, been a long time" One of the guys stood up.  He was a few years older and Lincoln recognised him from when he had used to work for Jack.  They bumped shoulders.

"Hey Terry" said Lincoln, "Still working for Jack I take it?"

"Yeah man.  Best employer in town" He grinned.

"You know it"

Lincoln turned around to see Jack come in from another room.

In his early forties, he cut a stocky figure with curly brown hair atop a round face.  He smiled broadly when he saw Lincoln.

"Look who it is"

He came over and stretched his hand out.  Lincoln shook it and Jack patted him heartily on the shoulder.

"How are you doing Mr Minchella?" asked Lincoln.

He laughed and motioned to the guy next to him.  His name was Billy and he was Jack's right hand man and brother.  He was a humourless guy and Lincoln had never warmed to him.

"You see this.  Mr Minchella?!  That is why I always liked this kid" he grinned at his brother.  Billy's mouth itched into what could barely be described as a smile.

"Not such a kid now though.  You've filled out, grown."

Lincoln shrugged.

"So what are you doing here?"

"I brought him" piped up Jason, picking some nuts out of a bowl.

"Good Jase, why don't you sort some drinks out?  There is that rum that you like.  You want one Linc?"

"Sure" he replied.

"Come, sit down."

Jack led him to the sofa area and they sat opposite each other.

"So Jason tells me you moved out of London; out to some rinky-dink town.  What is it called?"

"Hartley" said Lincoln.

"Nice?"

"Different" replied Lincoln.

"What happened to your face?" asked Jack, looking at his bruised cheek and cut.

He shrugged.

Jason handed him a drink and answered for him.

"His long lost Daddy."

Lincoln shot him a look.

Jack looked concerned.

"That is no good.  You want me to send a few guys up there to sort him out?"

Lincoln put his hands up.  "No, no Jack, but thanks."

Jack sighed. 

"Your mother was a hell of a woman.  She used to run rings around me when we were kids.  But she didn't half pick some scum."

"Well Sam isn't..." Lincoln heard himself start to defend Sam and then remembered his anger.  "Yeah, I suppose that she did."

He had forgotten that Jack went to school with his Mum. 

Jack lowered his voice. "I was really sorry that I missed Sophia's funeral when I was inside.  Did you get the flowers I sent?"

"I did thanks."  Lincoln remembered a big wreath.

Jack sat back and regarded him.

"You've had a tough time."

"Still am" said Lincoln quietly.

"But that can all change now" said Jack brightly, "Billy here will sort you out some cash and you can work with Jason.  Lord knows he needs the help."

"Hey" protested Jason softly.

"Oh, I am not here for a job" said Lincoln, "Thanks though.  I just tagged along."

"Oh" said Jack, looking disappointed.  "That is a shame.  I could always use someone with a level head.  I can't convince you?"

"Nah, Mum wanted me to try and keep clean, y'know?" said Lincoln.

"I see" said Jack, "So what are your plans?  Back to Hartley?"

"I don't really have a plan" he admitted.