Ian's Gang: Loyalty

By Ian Kidd

After seven years, startling new evidence sees the Carol Braithwaite murder case suddenly and unexpectedly reopened - and for Matthew Parker, the investigation is coming a little too close to home...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ian Kidd
• Release date: Sep 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310446276

Ian Kidd

I grew up in South Yorkshire, England, before emigrating to South Australia at the age of sixteen. My writing ambitions began as a child, when I became notorious in my class for writing short horror stories that would probably have them calling in the child psychologists nowadays! I have written everything from non-fiction ebooks to published short fiction, and served as script editor on two proposed horror feature film scripts for an LA based director. In terms of fiction I have written dozens of novellas, including more than 70 stories in the "Ian's Gang" sci-fi adventure series. I still live in Queensland, where I work as a freelance writer.

Book preview

IAN'S GANG - LOYALTY

BY

IAN KIDD

Ian’s Gang (c) Ian Kidd 2014

Published by Smashwords

IAN'S GANG

Are:

Ian Williams

Matthew Parker

Steve Botham

Philip Vasquez

Sean O'Reilly

Commander Wilburts

Paul French

CHAPTER ONE

The planet Zerroff, eighteen years ago.

Have a good day at school, honey.

Bye, mummy!

Bye, sweetheart.

Little five year old Robert Stevens waved goodbye as his mother drove away in their car, then turned to face his new school, the imposing Elto Court Primary School. He knew it was very prestigious (his daddy kept going on about it enough) but he still sorta wished he could have just stayed at his old school. Robert began to toddle up the steps to the school but, as hundreds of other little boys and girls began streaming past him, he suddenly stopped, overwhelmed by it all.

Are you new?

Robert turned to see who had spoken to him, to find it was a small, chunky, freckled boy his age.

Well? Pussy got your tongue?

Robert blinked. W - wha?

Are you new? the boy asked. I hope you're not deaf. Couldn't be fwiends with you den. Not learning sign language just to talk to you, far too much of a pain in the arse.

Robert giggled at the profanity.

The boy beamed at him, gratified. Well?

Yes, I'm new. My name's Robert. Robert Stevens, he said proudly.

I'm so sorry about that, I hope there's something I can do, the boy chuckled. I'm Matthew. Matthew Parker.

Robert looked at him, gobsmacked, suddenly realising who it was he was talking to. "You're... you're a Prince!"

I know, Matthew rolled his eyes. But never mind, I'll be King one day, once my daddy pops his clogs.

I - I - I - Robert flustered.

There's no need to be too overawed. Fawn as and when I tell you to, otherwise just be yourself, Matthew advised. Robert gaped. Well? Matthew asked. Do you wanna be my new best friend or not?

Robert's eyes widened. Y - yes, he stammered.

Jolly good. Come on then, Matthew clapped an arm around Robert's shoulder. Stick wi' me, kid, I'll see you right.

The two new friends made their way into the primary school.

* * * *

Zerroff , eighteen years later.

The track was overgrown, practically non-existent, as the gang's hire car made its way down toward the house, which, as they saw upon approaching it, was not in the best of shape itself.

Bit of a dump, isn't it? Steve grunted.

I imagined Robert's mother would have lived somewhere grander than this, Wilburts commented.

She did. Once, Matthew noted.

Robert's father frittered away all the lottery money. Gambling addict, Ian explained from the driver's seat. "Robert kept up the payments on everything while he was in the gang, but after he went to jail and the