Read Her Last Call To Louis MacNeice for Free Online

going to be a big help.’
    When they were gone, I carried the glasses over to the bar, said, ‘Sorry about those wankers, mebbe you could recycle these.’
    He slung ’em down the sink, said, ‘Naw, they’re friggin’ contaminated, am I right.’
    ‘Absolutely.’
    Three days passed, no sign or light of Cassie. Doc had the heavy word out but no show. I began to relax, figured she’d headed for higher ground. Kept thinking of her though, the leather sex, the bloody chemistry of the crazy bitch. But I knew I was better off without her. The hell of it is, trouble is so exciting and I’d been sliding along, not bored but heart not beating rapid either. The repo business was doing good and I’d gone to Brixton to suss out a major job. Done that and drifted into the big pub on the corner. Ordered mash and a banger, half a bitter. Found a table at the window and dug in. Never heard her till she sat opposite, she glanced at the food, said, ‘No shit Cooper, but is that phallic or wot.’
    I cut the sausage, hefted a wedge and she licked her bottom lip, whispered, ‘Give it to me big boy.’
    ‘Fuck off.’
    ‘You want me to haul ass.’
    ‘Yeah … and give me back the bloody gun.’
    ‘Aw-righty,’ she said, and opened her bag.
    ‘Jeez, not here, what … are you outa yer tree.’
    ‘Well outa federal jurisdiction. I wanna make up.’
    ‘Make up, like stories is it?’
    ‘I’m hot for you Cooper. I could service you now, under the table. You just go on eating your vitals, all your appetites satisfied together.’
    ‘Go away’
    She touched her hair, asked, ‘Do I look like Jennifer Aniston?’
    ‘Who?’
    ‘Oh Gawd. Don’t you watch TV … like, you never heard of
Friends
?’
    ‘I’ve got the Doc.’
    ‘ JES-US … like get real. It’s a comedy series, like mega. A million women copied Jennifer’s style. There’s even a cult called “The Holy Tabernacle of Aniston The Divine”.’
    ‘Don’t mean shit to me but yer hair … is … I dunno … circa Cathy McGowan … the 60s … like that.’
    She rolled her eyes and that closed the hair rap. Said, ‘I bought you a present.’
    ‘Keep it.’
    ‘Please Cooper just let me explain. I was jealous, it makes me crazy, I never met a man like you. Mind if I smoke.’
    ‘And you’ll refrain if I do.’
    She took out the Camels, soft pack and crushed, shook one free, asked, ‘Can you light me?’
    A couple in their twenties, laden with food, approached and asked, ‘Might we share your table?’
    Cassie’s head turned, spat, ‘What, you goddamn blind, we look like we’re receiving company? Can’t you see we’re having sex here.’
    I jumped up, said, ‘Sure, we’re all finished.’
    And strode out. She was right on my heels as I hit the path, shouted, ‘Don’t leave me, what about the children.’
    You can do just about any weird shit in Brixton and no one gives a toss. Ain’t nothing new. But she got attention, maybe it was the bloody Yank accent. A group of the brothers were hanging outside the blues music shop, one of them said, ‘No way to treat a lady, man.’
    I said, without breaking my stride, ‘That’s no lady, it’s the shoplifter from hell.’
    As I moved fast into Coldharbour Lane, her voice carried: ‘I love you David and Louis MacNeice.’
    I dunno if it meant Louis loved me too but I doubt it. Got the car keys out and my hands were shaking. Half expected her to start shooting. The engine revved and I burned rubber, sweat dancing on my upper lip.
    Back home I got right on the phone, called a mate, asked, ‘You still fitting locks?’
    ‘Sure.’
    ‘OK, can you do a rush job, like now?’
    ‘Naw, we’re booked solid, no can do old son.’
    ‘If I throw in a few ponies for yourself’
    ‘What time would suit you?’
    ‘And shoot the works OK, deadbolts, state-of-the-art shit, top of the line.’
    ‘It will cost.’
    ‘Tell me about it. What’s the best system?’
    ‘The three five