Zodiac's toy, John Jones [nonfiction book recommendations .txt] 📗

and it had not been scientifically proven.

The other being coincidence, which still stood on thin ice. Ice that had cracked, that was not freezing over again, but still stood battered and bruised.

Yes, he thought as he drank his whisky. I don't believe. I don't believe. I don't...he sighed, and downed the glass in one.

Perhaps tomorrow night would just be what he needed. A night out, a few drinks, and maybe a chance to meet a woman. Someone he can show off to his parents and Caroline. Look, I've met a woman. I'm not an embarrassment anymore.

How long before she sees you for exactly what you are and leaves you? is what Caroline would probably say. It's happened before. What can you possibly bring to the table in that relationship? A huge portion of nowt. She'll be like your carer. Someone uglier, dirtier, smellier, with a single digit IQ could probably make her more happy. Still though, people can be fickle, and someone out there will look at Ray with hearts in their eyes and say: 'He's perfect'. She'll be out there somewhere. Perhaps on the other side of the planet, or maybe in another era of time, but there is someone for everyone, yet finding them, that can be impossible.

Ray didn't not expect to find the perfect woman. Perfect for him. Liked a smoke and a drink and a laugh and maybe a quick bunk up in a shed or in the park at night-time. She'll do nicely, but life wasn't like that. It was almost random, and chaotic, and sometimes people found their ideal match. It was like the roll of the dice. Roll a six and you've found your perfect partner. Together forever. Still just as in love in the twilight years as when first together. Roll a one and you'll be at each others throats.

Where once they were right, now it's the divorce courts. I love him I love him I love him. Now I fucking hate him with absolute vengeance.

Still though, Ray was not expecting marriage. Just a companion would be nice. Lee was his only friend now outside of family, and he guessed should Lee meet someone, Ray would be left behind, breaking the childhood friendship without a second thought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 46

 

"Really sorry to hear about your business Lee, and I was about to give you the go-ahead as well," said Billy Price, looking genuinely upset. "I know it wasn't your fault. Those guys saw an opportunity and took advantage. But still, you must not let it get you down. Get back on the horse. Stay strong. Start again". Lee was back sitting opposite Billy in the probation offices behind the local police station, in his usual position. Arms folded, hunched down. Papers were strewn before Billy and a small vivobook laptop was open.

"Still though, you okay for Monday?" Lee looked concerned.

"What?" he asked.

"Remember I booked you in to give a motivational talk at the prison".

"Fu..oh, oh that...yes, alright".

"Good. Also, in light of recent circumstances, the Blossom project will make you feel a whole lot better, give you a spring in your step. That will be starting soon as well". Lee just leaned back and looked at the ceiling, thinking of the evening when him and Ray would go out and hopefully enjoy female company.

 

Ray had received no money at all from Lee's robbery. He told him if he wants any he can go back to the post-office and pick up any notes that he had caused him to lose, but Ray still had enough to go and buy some 'going out gear'. He had allowed himself to be coerced into trying on and buying a nice white shirt and charcoal regular trousers, thinking he could wear the shirt with his suit at the wedding.

He had decided to stay in the clothes and put his others in a plastic bag. The shop assistant nodded with approval and told him, when he walked out onto the shop floor:

"You look like a goat-fish. Doesn't he look like a goat-fish?" he asked a confused looking nearby customer.

"Sorry sir, don't know why I said that". Ray just sighed, paid up and left.

On his way back, he was texted by his work as to whether or not he could come in in an hour. He didn't want to, but thought he might as well, and worked in his new clothes with his tatty high-vis jacket.

It was another exerting couple of hours, having to break up an argument between a staff member and a customer, and pick up a spillage of pears, along with his usual duties, but, he still managed to steal drinks and cigarettes, and wondered if perhaps he might have a little 'starter' drink to loosen any nerves he might have in talking to women strangers.

He decided against it. Not wanting to be tipsy, or drunk when they went out later. Plenty of women he guessed would have at some point, had to put up with a drunk man trying to chat them up.

As he walked up the stairs, he saw a few pea crabs high up on the wall, and went into Shanes place.

After a couple of hours, Lee knocked on the door and Ray answered, ready to leave. Lee had also bought new gear.

"Don't we look like a right pair of fucking stallions," Lee said, "or is it cunts?"

 

So they left, and decided to get a taxi to take them further out to places they had never been before.

When they left the vehicle, Lee slammed the door shut and it drove away, leaving them on a thoroughfare of restaurants, pubs and wine-bars.

"Looks a bit posh round here," Lee said. "Might meet Caroline and her mates. When's her hen-night?"

"It's now," he said. "She's gone to a spa retreat somewhere and Wayne has gone on a river cruise. They get married in two days".

"Can't they just have a normal piss-up like everyone else? Hang on, that means there's an empty house. Your Caroline's house will be empty". Ray guessed what he was going to say, but couldn't get out of it. He just nodded.

"If we cop for a couple of birds, we can take them back to your Caroline's. Better than taking them back the flats. It's not like we'll be staying the night. Just the time it takes to have a drink and a shag. She probably won't even know we were there. Not if you tidy up properly".

"Nah, it's too risky".

"What d'you mean risky? If they're out for the night we'll just be there for a short while, then we'll go. What's the problem?" Ray couldn't think of one, and just began walking along the pavement.

"What about in here?"

"It's a winebar," Lee said, "You only get posh birds in winebars. So your Carol and her mates probably come here all the time. And posh birds look down their noses at us anyway. If we're not good-looking and rich then we can fuck right off. Nah, I don't mind a dirty slapper who can drink me under the table".

“Might as well give it a try,” Ray said.

Lee thought for a moment, shrugged and they went inside.

 

The place shouted elegance. At the window there were two-seater tables with several couples enjoying the beverage of their choice. They walked down a couple of steps into a small area with low tables and sofas. Across to the right was the bar with spaced-out round stools. Towards the back were larger tables. The place wasn't full, but people dressed for a night-out talked and laughed in at least half of the seating.

"See, told you it's for posh cunts," Lee said. "Let's go to a pub and find ourselves a couple of slags". A few heads turned in their direction, but then carried on chatting as normal.

At the back, a couple were on a six-seater table, and looked cosy together, as though they were in a newly formed relationship, kindling their passion for each other. They were drinking from a cocktail 'fish bowl' from two long straws. The woman, who looked to be in her early twenties, looked across at Ray, then stood up and walked towards him. Her companion simply looked at her as she walked across the marble flooring to the man who looked out of place.

"Aye aye," said Lee, nodding towards the woman. "Looks like she's coming to you Ray".

She was. Ray looked wide-eyed as the woman approached and smiled.

"Fuck," muttered Lee.

"Hi you," she said, proffering her hand. Ray shook it, for he could do nothing else.

"You look lost and lonely. Would you like some company? My name's Virginia".

"I'm...Ray," she grabbed his wrist and led him across to the area in front of the bar, a pseudo ‘dance-floor’ which was empty.

"You are gorgeous Ray," and she caressed his face, trailing a finger over his shoulder.

"Jammy fuckin' bastard," Lee muttered, hands on hips. Virginia then turned and leaned forward and grinded her posterior against Ray.

"Let's dance Ray," she said, even though there was no music. "I'm dancing to the music inside my head," as she gyrated against him, then turned and put her hands on his shoulders, pressing and grinding against him. Most of the other customers were either simply looking at them, or giving sideways glances.

"Nikki!" her boyfriend said, standing nearby, a look of confusion on his face. "What are you doing?"

"Ben, you can fuck off. I'm with Ray now". Ben's mouth opened but nothing came out. She caressed Ray's face again.

"I want him to fuck me". There was a few mutterings and tuttings from customers. Ben stormed out, and his shoulder knocked into Lee as he went, but Lee didn't care, he was still staring at Ray and Virginia.

"Will you fuck me Ray? Oh hold on. If you did, that means I won't be a virgin anymore. I won't be pure. Oh well, nevermind," she stepped back, turned and headed towards the table, and stopped when she saw the half-finished fish-bowl, looking confused.

"Ben?" she then hurried to the exit, not looking at Ray or Lee. "Ben!"

Ray slowly walked back across to Lee.

"Fuck Ray, what was that about? jammy bastard. I'll bet that won't happen again tonight. That was a one off. She needed her fucking eyes testing. I don't know what she saw in you. She had a boyfriend for fucks sake. She just leaves him and goes to you. How many times does that happen? Rare as fuck. She was out of your league anyway. Let's be honest, you hardly ever see a woman in a pub or bar like this on their own. They're always with someone. So if we see one that looks on her own, chances are she'll be up for it. No-one on their own in here, shall we go somewhere else?" Although people were looking in their direction, nobody else approached. Ray scanned the area, as though someone else would break from their couplings and come over, but all they got from a few people was hostile stares.

"Alright," he said, and they left in the cold, brightly lit street.

"Tell you what Ray, there's no fucking way she was a virgin. And girls today. They're more straightforward arn't they? Just come out with what they want. I don't remember girls being like that, and certainly not in my mother's day. The guy would have fainted. I've been inside too long".

They walked further into the area and ended up visiting four pubs. They did chat to a few women, but some of them dropped the tried and tested method to stop being chatted up by mentioning a 'fella' or boyfriend as early as they could in the conversation. Some they spoke to left with their friends, and a couple they spoke to for a while, but it was clearly going nowhere as they just broke away and went back to their friends, so took a taxi back that night in silence and went to their respective flats in silence as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 47

 

Ray woke with a familiar feeling. A hangover, but he