PEEL-BEHIND THEIR EYES. Book 1 (Complete)

Chapter 29. Collapse

Stephen Bogner donned his battered red hard hat, grabbed his Hi-Viz vest from the passenger seat and climbed out of his transit work van. The walkie-talkie clipped to his belt chirped to life.

"Hey Stevo, where the fuck you been, your coffee's gone cold and I ate your donut"

With a self-satisfied smirk, Stephen lifted the radio to his mouth "Where'd you think I've bin, Harry, I got a call from the missus dint I. So I popped home to perform my duties, if you know what I mean" Stephen winked even though harry couldn't see him through the radio. Waiting for the inevitable reply he chuckled.

The radio sprung back to life "What again? That's the third time this week. Christ man I need you here on this job not there on the job"

Stephen smiled "I know, but when the missus calls and insists, I pop home and give her one. Who am I to refuse. You'd do the same"

"Yes I would, she's a beaut, your wife. I'll wait for her to call me shall I. It'd give you a rest wouldn't it" laughter followed by Harry snorting erupted from the speaker.

Stephen had to laugh but sternly said "Hey that's my wife you talking about you knob. We're trying for a baby and every time she's ovulating I have to dash home and you know, do the do"

Although Stephens radio remained silent he could still hear Harry's voice loudly and clearly. A moment later Harry rounded the van and closing in quickly launching a brotherly punch hitting Stephen harmlessly in the gut "Gotcha"

Unable to sidestep fast enough Stephen yelped "Ufph!"

Harry barked out a laugh and slapped Stephens back "Come on we need to pick up the pace. Starting this afternoon, we have to level this entire street and clear it all out by the end of next week, that's when they plan to start pouring the foundations for the new build. So are we a go yes. Have you checked all the buildings are clear and ready to have the shit kicked out of 'em"

Stephen clipped his walkie-talkie back on to his belt and set off for the far end of the street and as he passed by the old street sign that read 'Landers road' he said "Yep checked 'em early this morning, all still boarded up. Thunderbirds are go!"

With that Harry raised his hand whirled it around several times and thrust it forwards, whilst simultaneously saying into his radio "Move the excavator's in, let's start tearing 'em down boys"

Both Harry and Stephen sidled up to the ensuing destruction just as the first dump truck was being filled with splintered rafters and shattered slate tiles, the remnants of the roof. Lifting up a clipboard with work plans attached Harry wafted away the dust-filled air and plucked a stubby pencil from behind his ear he and ticked off first line on his list, number 13.

The pencil back behind his ear Harry shouted over the noise of heavy machinery to Stephen "We better have this house down before your wife calls again, Shagger"

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Muck threw the unmarked black Proton police car around like a man possessed. Mason and Jameson braced themselves as Muck took another steep corner. With blue lights flashing in both front and back windscreens and siren screaming he raced through the parting traffic and only eased up a little as he ran a red at the traffic lights.

Mason held tight to his passenger chair and said "Jeez leweez, where the devil did you learn to drive Muck, Monza?"

With a smirk on his face, Muck grappled with the steering wheel and as he was about to reply he heard another siren closing in on them fast. There to the right emerging from beneath the railway bridge underpass was Peels Green Land Rover approaching the same roundabout as they were, at full tilt.