The yell "STOP, POLICE!" echoed around the railway station platform closely followed by the slapping of running feet.
Driven by an overwhelming desire to get away from the policeman chasing him Alexi knew if he was caught deportation would be the least of his worries.
The illegal Polish immigrant was doing an errand for a nasty individual called Darren Brown and was carrying a consignment of cocaine. The coke was part of payment between Brown's gang and a rival gang which sealed a deal on the areas they were going to work in.
Alexi was starting to pull away from the policeman chasing him when he was spotted by a man waiting for a train. As Alexi turned around to check where the copper was he was sent sprawling as the bystander executed a perfect rugby tackle.
Winded and dazed the stunned Pole was soon under arrest and hauled off to the police station along with the consignment of coke.
Alexi's partner in crime watching from the car park he quickly pulled away and picked up his phone to ring his boss. "Daz, we have a problem."
"What problem, didn't they pay up?" his boss growled.
"They paid ok boss, but Alexi got busted by the cops."
"That useless Polish twat!" He raged "How?"
"Not really his fault boss he was getting away until some punk on the railway station rugby tackled him."
"Get back here and tell me more; someone's going to pay for this!"
Simon Worth finished his interview with the police and made for home not realising he had scuppered a big gang land deal and a whole lot of trouble was coming his way.
"So let me get this straight."
"The deal went as planned and it was only fucked up by this have a go hero." Darren snarled, lip curling back in anger.
"Yes boss," The driver replied smoothly.
"Ok you better be telling me the truth, Martin."
"Of course boss."
"I will find out who this punk is, he's going to pay for this," Darren grins coldly, looking some place behind Martin's head. Slowly Martin backs away towards the door, slightly nervous with his bosses look of revenge.
The following day Darren made a phone call. "Helen Coombs, Western News, how can I help you?"
"Ah Helen, you owe me a favour and now I need some information." Darren reminds the young lady, resting his feet on the crappy table that was the main centre piece of his tiny, ungraded house.
"...What do you need?"
"As a hot shot reporter, I need you to get something on the wannabe hero at the train station who helped arrest the drug dealer. He's going to pay." He added chillingly.
"Right, I'll get right onto it" she sighs
"Good." He clicks end, not bothering to even say thank you. If it wasn't for him she wouldn't even be alive.
It wasn't long before Helen had the information. All it took was a quick call to her friend a civilian phone operator at the local police station; his name and address were soon divulged.
"Darren I have the info you wanted."
"Who is he?"
"Simon Worth, 26, at address is 12a Watson Close."
"Great, that's just what I wanted" he smiles coldly. Now was for his revenge.
Later that week Simon answered a knock on the door "Yes can I help you?" He asked the two large men in suits.
"Mr Worth, we have something to discuss with you may we come in?"
Something in their demeanour made Simon nervous as he ushered them in. He pushed the door closed quietly, glancing out at the road. A lonely car sat out on the curve.
"What can I do for you?" he asks turning around.
"Well, it's like this Mr Worth, your little stunt at the railway station made my boss a very unhappy man." Watching the colour drain from Simon's face Martin continued, "You see the man you got arrested was carrying a large payment belonging to my boss."
"And as you have cost the boss that money; he wants you to pay up." The second man added punching his fist into his hand for effect.
Simon tried not to tell them seem him tremble, "How much money?"
"Oh let's see about ten grand," Martin replied coolly, as if the exaggerated number was normal. "The boss is a fair man, Mr Worth and will accept five if you pay quickly."
"Five grand?! I don't have that kind of money!"
"We will be back next week Mr Worth, It is in your best interests to get that cash to us." Martin moves towards the door, not even glancing at Martin as he steps aside. "Or our next meeting won't be so cordial."
That Friday afternoon Sharon got home early and heard voices in the lounge. Stepping inside she saw the two smartly dressed men "Simon, what's going on? Who are these men?"
"Mrs Worth, I assume." One man says, eying Sharon.
"Yes, what is this all about?"
"Your husband here owes my boss money Mrs Worth. We are trying to arrange payment I'll let him fill you in with the details. We will be back Mr Worth, good day." And with that both men left, leaving the room tense.
"Oh, Simon, you haven't borrowed money from a loan shark have you?" Sharon asks advancing on her husband.
"No nothing like that love." He replied and explained the past events at the railway station.
"You have to go to the police. They can't hassle you like this!"
"I'm not sure that would be a good idea," Simon added "They got my details from somewhere."
"Well we aren't going to give in and pay up, that's final." Sharon declared, determination flashing through her eyes.
Martin reported back to his boss "Well Monday morning I think we will up the ante Martin." Darren sounded almost satisfied.
"Yes boss."
"Get a hold of him and break a finger or two. That should bring him to his senses." Darren laughed.
"Mr Worth do you have our money?" Martin asked before he'd even stepped foot in the house.
"No,I'm not paying you, go away." Simon replied
"That's too bad Mr Worth, My boss will want full payment now."
Again Simon asked them to leave.
"We have been most patient with you." As quick as a tiger pouncing on its prey, the two thugs grabbed Simon and bundled him to the floor, kicking the door closed.
"Right last chance, are you going to pay?" Martin snarls as Simon attempts to shove them off.
"Go to hell." Simon hissed. A snap sounded through the room, followed by a sickening scream "Oh that's just for starters we will be back and it won't just be fingers next time" Martin sneered, getting to his feet easily while Simon rolls on the floor, cradling his broken finger
Sharon was trembling when she saw her husband's broken hand "Oh love, I didn't think they would go this far. What are we going to do?" she ushers him out the door, towards the car, ignoring his hesitation.
"I have no idea." He replied gloomily and lets his wife lead him to the car. They'd need to think of something to tell the hospital.
Wednesday morning another knock on the door made Simon answered open the door, he was immediately pushed over on to his arse with a crash. A boot crashed into his nose sending blood flowing. Sharon screamed "Stop! Please, stop!." Darren held his hand up, Martin stopped his assault
"Ok let's get one thing straight, Mrs Worth all I want is to get my money back." Martin leans down, eyes hard as he stares at Simon trembling on the ground, blood leaking between his fingers. "Pay up and this all goes away."
Eying up the pretty blonde wife an idea started to form. Darren had a wide criminal enterprise, if you could make money from it he was into it. Sharon said "Can we please work something out? a payment plan perhaps?"
"What do you propose?" Martin asks, trying not to get distracted by the woman's innocent appearance. Oh how he wanted to destroy that innocence, to make her scream and beg.
"We could manage a hundred a month." She hopefully replied "No deal, Mrs Worth, It would go on forever. I'm not a bank you know."
Getting desperate she added "What about if I did some work for you?"