The Stone Gallows by C David Ingram

come home to a nice tidy house?’
    The two boys looked at each other and laughed. ‘Fuck that.’
    â€˜I bet she’s proud of you.’ Joe reached into his pocket. ‘Anyhoo, I didn’t come here to chat. I was wondering if you knew this lassie.’
    He passed a Polaroid to Gerry, who studied it. I was only three months in the job, but I saw his eyes flick to his brother and back, and understood the significance.
    â€˜No, pal. Never seen her.’
    â€˜What about your brother?’
    This time, Derek’s face didn’t give him away. He gave the picture a cursory glance before shaking his head and passing it back.
    â€˜That’s strange. Her name’s Louise Brennan. She lives less than two hundred yards away. Walks her dog past your house every single day.’
    Derek gestured to the closed blinds. ‘Do I look like I give a fuck what goes on outside?’
    â€˜Fair enough.’ Joe passed another picture over her. ‘What about this one?’
    This time, both their faces remained clear. They looked at the picture a long time before shaking their heads. Derek said, ‘Looks like somebody hit her with a bus.’
    â€˜Close enough. It’s actually the same lassie. The first picture was the
    â€œbefore”, and what you’ve got there in your hands is the “after”.
    Doctors say that she might need reconstructive surgery on her nose.’
    â€˜That’s fuck all to do with us, pal.’
    â€˜So why’s she saying that it was you two fine gentleman?’
    â€˜Dunno.’
    â€˜Go out much at the weekend?’
    A smirk passed between the two brothers. Any doubts I had as to their guilt disappeared. Derek ate a crisp. ‘We mostly stay at home and read our bibles.’
    â€˜I’m sure you do. What happened to your face, Gerry?’
    â€˜Walked into a door.’
    â€˜A door with false nails?’ Joe slapped his knees with both hands.
    â€˜Let’s cut the bullshit. I know that it was you two.’
    Derek crossed his legs and studied his fingernails. ‘Aye, well. Knowing something and being able to prove it are two different things.
    That’s how you’ve not arrested us. You know she’s not going to testify, and even if you make her, she’ll just say that she made a mistake. So why don’t you just fuck off back to your sty and leave us alone?’
    Joe looked at me. ‘Don’t you love it? We’re pigs, so we must live in a sty?’
    Derek said, ‘You’re a pair of fucking wankers is what you are. You think you can come into my house and play it fucking cool? Try and scare us? Even if you could prove anything, the worst we’re going to get is a year or so in borstal. Warm beds, good food. We’d fucking own the place. We’re fucking laughing at you.’
    This from a seventeen year old boy.
    He stood up. ‘You can both just fuck off. Tell Louise she’s a good lassie for doing what as she’s told. Maybe one night I’ll go round andpay her a visit. I’ll wait until she’s not quite such a swamp donkey though. . . mind you, they do say ugly birds try harder. She might not be so choosy this time.’
    The expression on Joe’s face never changed, but there was something. . . a deadening of the eyes, the muscle in his jaw. He sighed and got to his feet. ‘It’s a slippery slope you’re on, lads.’
    â€˜Thank you, Mr Policeman, for showing us the error of our ways.’
    I moved for the door, disappointed that our social call hadn’t had a more conclusive ending. Then something made me hesitate. I turned, just in time to see Joe knee Derek in the balls, the impact like a concrete ball wrapped in wet blankets bouncing off a wall. Derek went down, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. Gerry was up in a shot, the towel falling to his feet. I intercepted him as he moved toward Joe, seizing him, putting his arm up his