Undercover

Chapter 1

There’s a lot of money to be made, man, shit, I’ve already earned £200 in one day! What other fifteen year old do you know making that kind of dough?

Leroy smiled at his best friend Daniel, nickname (Digger) by his friends. He was a few months younger than Leroy and of a darker caramel complexion. Digger frowned slightly making him look years older.

Yeah, but them men ain’t no good man, remember what they did to that other brer? Leroy raised his big brown eyes to the black sky and breathed in the cool night air.

Look, Digger continued, running his fingers through his neatly canerowed hair, I’ve lived in this area longer than you have, blud…

Look, Digger, Leroy shrugged. Seeing his friend’s worried expression, he patted him on the shoulder.

Look blud, I know what I’m doing, trust me on this one! Man, the last thing I need right now is another lecture! You of all people should know why I’m doing this!

Leroy placed both hands deep inside his trouser pockets.

If they find out what you’re doing… I’m telling you Blud, they’ll kill you!

Don’t be stupid, I’ve earned this paper. Besides, I’m the one taking all the risks!

Leroy grinned widely. Things were finally starting to fall into place. He was making some serious money! He would show his father that he didn’t need him! He would take care of his mother! This was just the beginning. He knew that he would have to be careful, as he was a newcomer to the area. He looked more like his uncle Mark, than his father, people had always commented. They both had the same brown coffee colour skin, wide hazel colour eyes and high cheekbones.

Leroy continued, Besides, I’m one of their best player’s. I heard Minter and Rick talking about it the other day! He exclaimed loudly.

They were approaching the flats where Leroy lived in West London. The place hadn’t changed in years. In the early 1940s the houses had been devastated by bombing and were low on the list for rebuilding or redevelopment. There were poorly structured with not enough modern facilities. In June 1948 nearly five hundred people arrived from Jamaica, Trinidad and other Caribbean Islands, and their role was to play a part in the reconstruction of Britain. Now there were tall blocks of flats with never ending grey concrete balconies with satellite dishes. Not all the doors had matching colours and there were boarded up doors and windows from where people had been evicted for not paying their rent, or using the premises to sell drugs. The lifts constantly smelt of urine, except for Mondays when the cleaners had been and it had a strong smell of disinfectant. There were now a mixture of people of all ages, backgrounds and different cultures and the familiar sight of the young prostitutes who worked on the street corners and even some new faces. Leroy knew most of them by their names. He waved to a young girl named Shona, she beckoned him to come over.

A bit nippy tonight innit? The young mixed race girl spoke with a cockney accent. She was a beautiful girl with wide hazel nut coloured eyes, a slim build and shoulder length brown hair. She was wearing a blue denim jacket and matching mini skirt and fake black leather knee high boots. She wrapped her arms around her body and moved both feet restlessly trying to keep warm.

Yeah, man, Leroy smiled. Better you than me. I hope you got your thermals on under that mini skirt to keep out the chill.

The girl laughed. She had an infectious grin. She was standing on the corner of Westbourne Park Road and Great Western Road in West London. The roads were always busy, with cars stopping. She had managed to build up a regular clientele and was waiting for a regular pick up. Digger shouted at Leroy from across the street.

Come on man, I’m freezing my bollocks off standing here.

Digger had his hooded black Nike top pulled over his ears, baseball hat beneath, bothhands pushed deep inside his matching jogging bottoms. There was defiantly a cold nip in the air. Although it was coming up to summer there didn’t seem to be any sign of it.

Look, Shona, Leroy continued, I’d really love to stand and chat to you, but I’d better be getting home before Digger’s balls turn into ice cubes!

Shona laughed and Leroy pulled out a £20 note from his trouser pocket and handed it to her.

Look, take this, and be lucky!

Thanks, Lee, business must really be booming! She smiled at him.

Yeah, man, it is! Take it easy.

He crossed the road to where Digger was standing. She gave them the thumbs up and jumped in the front passenger seat of a black BMW with black coloured tinted windows. Digger frowned. One of these days that girl’s gonna get herself into some serious shit!

Swear down, said Leroy. He didn’t really want to think about it. He often thought back to when they were kids and he knew exactly how Shona had ended up like this. She skipped school on a regular basis, mainly to look after her two little sisters and her alcoholic mother. She had dreams of becoming a lawyer one day. They’d sat down in the school playground when they were only ten, and had shared their dreams together. Leroy had a love of computers. One day he would invent his own games of which he could sell. He figured he would be a millionaire by the age of twenty. Digger interrupted his thoughts.

Do you reckon your mum’s gone to bed?

I hope so. Because the last thing I need right now is another lecture from her about where I’ve been. He mimicked his mother’s voice. And your dinner’s been in the oven since…"

That’s because she cares about you, blud…

Yeah, yeah, said Leroy, pressing the lift button impatiently. He kissed his teeth loudly when Digger pointed to the ground at the scrunched up piece of paper, saying lift not working.

Serious, man, there’s some parents out there that don’t give a shit about what their kids get up to. Take Shona for instance…

I don’t wanna chat about Shona, Shona’s different.

Shona aint no different and she ain’t stupid, she’s a bright kid. Nobody sent her to work on the streets! Look, Lee, all I’m saying is…

Give it a rest, Blud, I understand what you’re saying! Leroy signed deeply.

The two teenagers began to make their way up to the second floor.

These lifts are always out of order man! said Leroy trying desperately to change the subject. He could hear the sound of reggae music and a heavy baseline and guessed where the music was coming from. It would be coming from Cruize’s older brother Marcus, who lived two blocks down.

Come we go check out Cruize? said Leroy smiling widely.

Digger shrugged his shoulder. Yeah, man, why not? I haven’t seen him in a while.

Before the two teenagers reached the doorway of the house the smell of marijuana drifted to them. Outside Cruize’s house there were a bunch of youths gathered. Cruize grined widely at Leroy and Digger and Leroy touched fists with the Mediteranean looking teenager followed by Digger. The other friends were quickly introduced as Jools, who was aged sixteen and sported an afro hairstyle. Trent who was mixed race, almost six feet tall and wanted to be a professional boxer and trained regularly at the local gym. He was wearing a black and white bandana and was building a large spliff, which Leroy couldn’t help admiring.

Your brother’s pumping some serious tunes! said Leroy.

Yeah Man, said Digger, nodding his head to the music, Come we go check him?

Cruize went inside the house followed by Leroy and Digger leaving the other two teenagers outside. There was a small kitchen on the left and down a few stairs was a large size living room with laminated flooring and large beige scattered cushions. The room had hardly any furniture and in the middle on a wooden stool, stood a grey ghetto blaster and covered on the floor were a variety of CDs. Marcus didn’t hear or see his brother and his friends walk in. He was sitting on the floor trying to find a cd by Alicia Keynes. He felt it was time for some slow vibes.

Some visitors to see you, Cruize shouted above the drum and bass. Marcus looked up at the two youths and smiled, which revealed a gold upper tooth. He stood up and touched fists with the two teenagers, the action making his neat shoulder length dread locks fall across his face, which reminded Digger of the doorway beads hanging in his mother’s kitchen doorway.

Still pumping them bad tunes, Said Leroy laughing. I could hear it from right across the estate. So me and Digger thought we’d come check you.

Yeah man, that’s cool, said Marcus. Glad you come, me have some fresh tunes that will tickle your taste buds much more than the weed I bin smoking!

Leroy and Digger laughed. Cruze rolled his eyes to the ceiling. His brother’s eyes were red from tiredness and the weed smoking. He knew his brother was buzzing. Marcus threw the orange rizzla to Leroy to build up. Digger looked through the cds on the floor. Check you two later, said Cruze to Digger and Leroy. Oh, and have fun!

Marcus shouted to his younger brother Cruize, Chuck us some beers from the fridge before you leave? Leroy smiled. It was gonna be a long, long, night!"

***

Leroy pushed his key slowly into the lock of number 47 Westcroft House, as quietly as he could. He turned the key and the red peeling door creaked slightly as he pushed it open. He closed the door and tiptoed across the narrow hallway followed by Digger.

Leroy, is that you? His mother, Pam shouted. Where the hell have you been? Don’t even bother try sneaking in!

Ah, shit! said Leroy.

Look, listen Blud, I’ll catch you later. Digger whispered, turning back to make a quick exit.

And who’s that you have with you?

No one!

Don’t give me that shit! I can hear voices.

Digger walked over to the small cream coloured living room and stood awkwardly by the doorway.

Hello, Mrs Johnson, it’s me Daniel!

Hello, Daniel, isn’t it a bit late for you to be out on the streets? Does your mother know where you is? She was a beautiful slim woman with big brown eyes and smooth coffee coloured skin just like Leroy’s.

Yeah, I was just leaving. Digger grinned widely. He put his arm around Leroy’s shoulder.

Just making sure he got home safely, Mrs Johnson.

Leroy laughed and relaxed a little. He thought his mother looked quite comical as she stood there, in her pink fluffy dressing gown, matching slippers and a black stocking tied neatly on her head. She was thirty-five years old, although she sometimes felt like fifty. She stood there, hands on hips watching her son accusingly. She was tired and all she wanted to do was curl up in bed with the latest John Grisham novel. When Digger was gone, Pam turned to face her son. O.K, Leroy, empty out all your pockets.

Ah, Man, this is ridiculous! he protested, but he did as his mother told him. She was in no mood to be argued with. He put his hand in his trouser pocket and pulled out several crumpled twenty-pound notes, some fell onto the laminated flooring. His mother picked them up and counted them. He handed the rest of the money to her. She held the money as if it were contaminated. One hundred and eighty pounds,! O.K, where did you get this?

Well, you know I bin saving...

Cut the bullshit, Leroy, don’t lie to me, I wasn’t born yesterday. What did you have to do to get this money?

I done a favour for a friend. I done a good job and they paid me. I swear Mum, it’s legit!

You wouldn’t know the meaning of the word. If only your father was here he’d know what to do!

Leroy had heard this conversation at least a thousand times. Tonight, he was in no mood to hear it. His eyes darted to the wooden mantle piece, with the fake fire-place, where a picture of his parents wedding photo stood. They had looked so happy together. His father dressed in a black suit with a starched white shirt smiled back at him.

If only your father was here, she continued.

Well he’s not here, is he? Leroy took a deep breath. And do you know why? It’s because he never wanted to be here...

That’s enough, Leroy! his mother shouted at him. She could feel her blood pressure rising. Beads of sweat appeared on her face. She opened the belt of her dressing gown for some air.

I won’t hear you talk about your father like that. Your father was a good man!

You never want to hear the truth, why can’t you see him for what he was? A lying piece of shit! He left you for another woman! And with a pile of bills! Can’t you see? That’s why I’m doing this, it’s to help you!

Oh no, you don’t drop that one on me! I’ve already told you, I don’t need your help. I know we’re a bit short of cash, what with me being made redundant. But, that’s no excuse for you to be out on the streets all night, getting up to all kinds of things!

What kinds of things? Now you’re calling me a thief! Leroy kissed his teeth.

I ain’t listening to any of this! I’m going to bed, man. I’m tired, this conversations going nowhere!

He marched out of the living room slamming the door behind him and stamped up the stairs to his bedroom.

Leroy come back here, I haven’t finished talking to you! His mother shouted after him.

But she didn’t have the energy to go after him! She sat down on the black leather sofa, tears streaming down her face and tried to convince herself that things would get better. In time she would find another job! But she hated to admit that what he’d said about his father had been right! The truth hurt! Leroy had a right to be angry! Why she kept defending a man who had left her for a younger woman, she didn’t know? But that was in the past and they had previously spent many happy years together. Everyone was entitled to even one mistake! It wasn’t healthy for a boy of fifteen, to be filled with so much hate! His father had begged for his forgiveness and had said he was sorry. Then they had all tried so hard to make a go of things, trying to pretend that nothing had ever happened. But it had all been in vain, because Pam knew she couldn’t fully trust him, and Leroy never let him forget; so in the end they had decided to go their own separate ways!

Chapter 2

Pam stretched her body on the sofa and yarned loudly. She could hear the doorbell ringing. She glanced at the clock on GMTV. It showed 9am.She answered the door in her dressing gown. Her eyes squinted from the morning sun. She rubbed her eyes that were red and puffy through crying, tiredness and lack of sleep. Pam’s younger brother Mark took one look at his sister Pam and walked in. Where is he? And what’s he done this time?

He went straight up to Leroy’s bedroom and knocked on the door loudly. Leroy! He shouted. There was no answer. He pushed the bedroom door wide open that revealed a wall covered with posters of R&B and pop artists, which included Leroy’s favourites Aaliyah and Tupac. There was no sign of Leroy. He went downstairs and sat down at the pine kitchen table and pulled out a pack of 20 Benson and Hedges cigarettes while his older sister put the kettle on.

He’s not in his room! Didn’t you tell him I was coming?

No, sorry, I forgot. He came in late last night and we got into an argument!

What’s he done this time?

Nothing, Apart from walking in at nearly midnight, with one hundred and eighty pounds in his pocket!

Mark lit his cigarette and inhaled deeply, then rested it on the small metal silver ashtray.

Where did he get that kinda money? I’m impressed. Mark smiled. That’s some serious dough! Do you know how hard I have to work to…?

Mark, this ain’t funny. This is serious! I’m worried sick about him!

She put two steaming mugs of black coffee on the table, adding milk and sugar.

I know you’re worried about him, sis I am to. That’s why I’m here. I really need to talk to him. Have you any idea where he is?

Pam sat down opposite Mark. I haven’t a clue. Since we moved here Leroy’s not the same person, he just seems to wanna do his own thing. When I give him a time to come in, he comes in hours later, he just doesn’t listen to me, sometimes I think it’s useless talking to him! What I say goes in one ear and comes out the other!

I suppose it’s understandable, but I’m sure he’ll settle down soon. Leroy’s had to adjust to some big changes, new school, new house, different area! Mark sipped his coffee. Have you tried ringing his mobile?

Yeah, but I guess I’m tired of talking to his voice mail!

Mark stood up and walked over to her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

Don’t worry sis, everything’s gonna be Ok, I promise. I’ll pop round to the arcade or something and see if I can find him.

***

To survive in this game you have to be cold and ruthless, but you also need to have intelligence to be a success.

Rick patted the teenager on the head and smiled at him with false affection. Leroy being one of his youngest recruits had picked up the game quickly. He delivered the drugs on time and didn’t ask too many questions and he also knew when to keep his mouth shut. The boy was going places, and he didn’t even know it. His hobbies were no longer checking out girls at weekends and playing football with his friends. Since his father had walked out, his mother Pam didn’t have any real control over him. He’d done his research on the boy’s background. There was no one to really look out for his welfare, just an uncle who lived somewhere in Feltham.

Is that what it takes to be a gangster? Leroy couldn’t help smiling.

Rick laughed, revealing several gold teeth. He ran his fingers over his smooth black hair that was tied neatly in a ponytail. Is that what you see me as, some kind of gangster? Rick laughed and shook his head. Nah man, I’m no gangster. I see myself more like a business man, supply on demand, you get my drift?

Leroy nodded in response. Rick pulled out some orange rizzla paper and sat down on the cream leather sofa and began to lick the paper and stick the pieces together.

I need you to do a delivery for me today, down by the Darklow Estate. But you need to be extra careful. I heard that there’s nuff Boy-Dem patrolling the area.

Leroy tried his hardest to put on a brave face, but it didn’t fool Rick.

You’ll be O.K star, I know the place can be a bit rough, but trust me, at this moment in time, this is something we just have to deal with.

You mean I have to deal with! Leroy answered with a sulky expression on his face.

You still don’t get me do you? I have big plans for you, Leroy, trust me. Very soon all these small time operations will be just a ting of the past. The Estates getting too dodgy, I’m looking to spread my wings a little.

Leroy’s eyes brightened and Rick noticed.

Yeah, man, nuff notes to be made!

How much pees…? Leroy rubbed his hands together. In his mind he was already spending the money!

Money you could only dream about, Leroy, just deliver the stuff to the regular customers, and remember, no cash, no drugs.

Yeah, man, that’s cool.

Rick lit the spliff and inhaled deeply and then passed it to Leroy who took a few puffs. He’d definitely need it to have the courage for the journey that lay ahead.

***

The Darklow estate in South East London lived up to its name. It wasn’t a safe place to visit, let alone live in. Gangs roamed the area and drugs were sold openly. Rick was heavily into the crack cocaine market and was doing extremely well. He operated from several different locations, and when he felt that the area was no longer safe to distribute the drugs, he quickly moved on someplace else. The operation was getting really big and the money had quickly come rolling in. They had so many customers and not enough loyal and trusted people like Leroy to deliver! Business was finally booming! One more heavy shipment from Columbia would set Rick and his partner Minter up for life and would put a stop to all their financial worries for good, and Rick could go some where nice and quiet to retire!

***

It was dark when Leroy arrived at the Darklow Estate. He really dreaded the visits. He knew that every time he went there he was putting his life in danger. On his first visit, he’d been robbed of his gold chain, a birthday present given to him by his mother. When she had questioned him about the missing necklace, he’d felt bad about having to lie to her about losing it! The night he was mugged he had learnt several lessons. Rule number one, was not to wear any form of jewellery. Rule number two, was not to dress too smartly, or you would draw too much unwanted attention to yourself and the people on the estate would know that you were not from around there. Rule number three, never carry too much cash or an offensive weapon like a knife, unless you were prepared to use it. The person, who had robbed him of his gold chain, had even tried to use his own penknife on him. As he approached the Darklow Estate he began to walk quickly. He could hear the sounds of dogs barking in the distance. He made his way through the concrete jungle as he had nick named it. It reminded him of a jungle, the flats took the place of the bushes, they seem to be scattered everywhere and some stuck out from different angles. On the balcony there were dirty washing hanging from makeshift clotheslines. An old television set which two teenagers, had thrown out of the window, had almost landed on an old man passing by, while out walking his dog, whose life had been miraculously spared. There were the children’s park that nobody used in the daytime except the drug addicts and the prostitutes, who used it regularly when darkness fell. As he turned the corner the sound of the dogs barking grew louder. A middle-aged white man was lying on the ground screaming, his jacket had been ripped to shreds. Two white teenagers were struggling to hold down two unfriendly looking pit bulls. Leroy didn’t stand around to ask any questions. He’d forget about the lift, he’d use the stairs instead. He ran up all the way up to the third floor without stopping. He was completely out of breath and sat down on the top of the stairs to rest. The first delivery was at least another two flights up. He thought he could hear voices. He stood up and looked around the balcony where he spotted two white men whispering. By the sight of the small foil wrapped packages they passed between them, they looked like ordinary drug dealers. But he couldn’t tell. They were dressed in identical leather jackets and black trousers. He thought they looked more like undercover policemen, he could always tell, the polished black shoes being a dead giveaway. He didn’t mean to stare. He couldn’t help it.

What the fuck you looking at? one of them shouted at him.

He knew it was best to ignore them so he didn’t answer and continued walking up the next flight of stairs. He looked over the balcony from the fifth floor. There was no sign of the two men with the pit bulls that had been near the lifts, just the remains of a ripped jacket and blood on the concrete! The sound of a police siren could be heard in the distance. Leroy pulled out his mobile phone from his trouser pocket and switched it on. He listened to the voicemail from his mother asking him to ring and that his uncle Mark was at home waiting to see him, reminding him that he’d come all the way from Feltham. He punched in Digger’s number.

Wah gwan?

Leroy, where the fuck are you, blud? Your uncle Mark’s been looking everywhere for you. Why’s your phone switched off?

I’m at the jungle doing some deliveries.

The Darklow estate! Have you got a death wish? Your taking a risk blud, you’re not from them ends…

Yeah, yeah, man can get killed! Look blud, I know the runnings! Cool it man, Digger, I’ll be at my yard soon. In the meantime, do me a favour, just tell my mum and uncle that you haven’t seen or heard from me. I promise I’ll be back soon.

Oh, come on Lee, I’m sick and tired of having to lie for you!

Yeah, I know, I know, I’ve just got some very important runnings to deal with. Come on, blud, do this last favour for me! I’m depending on you Digger, man!

Lee, that’s the last time I cover for you!

***

Pam paced the living room floor arms folded. She was feeling angry. Leroy had been gone the