The Wrong Crowd

By John McQuillan

James Locke has recently been released from prison after spending a short term in custody for stealing money from his employer, and has moved his wife, Amy and their two sons, Jake and Ethan to a new district to start a new life.
16 year-old Jake is worried about his younger brother who has fallen in with a bad crowd. Their parents are unaware of the situation and Jake knows they will be devastated if Ethan falls foul of the law, particularly because of James’s own experience and Amy’s ill health, for which they are desperately trying to save the money for an operation.
Jake is determined to keep Ethan out of trouble at all costs, but his warnings about the likelihood of Ryan Brooks and his gang’s antisocial behaviour landing him in big trouble is ignored by Ethan who is in awe of Ryan and will not hear a word said against him.
Jake contrives to infiltrate the gang and become an accepted member whilst plotting to extricate Ethan from Ryan’s evil influence. This proves to be a difficult task as he too becomes embroiled in loutish behaviour and shoplifting. However, when Ryan plans a burglary, Jake realises he must find a way to stop it happening, but without making it public and possibly losing his brother’s respect.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John McQuillan
• Release date: Mar 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370068128

John McQuillan

On leaving school in London, where he was born, John completed a five-year signwriting apprenticeship with a local company and just eighteen months later started his own sign business, which is now run by the youngest of his four sons.He was always a keen listener to radio plays and short stories, and one day decided he would rather be writing the stories than listening to them. Spare time was scarce so he stuck to short stories at first, of which he wrote many, until as more time became available he was able to add full length novels to his repertoire.Apart from family time and writing, John enjoys: music, radio and TV drama, swimming, walking, socialising and using his imagination. He has also lived with a life-long love of the cinema, and has a large collection of films. "I never tire of watching old classics," he says.John describes himself as a creative optimist who loves telling stories. He says: "My optimism helps me deal with most of life's challenges and my sense of humour takes care of the rest."

Book preview

The Wrong Crowd

By

John McQuillan

First Edition

© 2017 John McQuillan. All rights reserved.

Also by the Author:

Mates

Jump!

What Other Readers say about the author’s work:

It had me hooked from the first page…really good mix of characters who I found myself instantly attached to.

Alexis Cave

The major events of the book are interestingly and convincingly described … entertaining and very readable.

G. J. Parnell

The writing is wonderfully descriptive.

K. Sargant

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 1

Jake looked out of his bedroom window for the third time in as many minutes. His brow furrowed as he recalled the conversation he’d overheard his younger brother, Ethan, having on his mobile with one of his dubious friends earlier in the day. He’d only heard part of the call, but it was enough to know they were planning something dodgy and probably illegal for this evening. He could do without any aggro from Ethan at the moment. He went back to his desk and sat down. If he concentrated on his essay he could finish it in less than an hour but try as he might, his thoughts inevitably wandered back to his brother.

Ethan had been susceptible to illness as a child, and one of Jake’s earliest memories was of his brother being rushed to hospital by their parents, with himself in tow, and waiting in a small, dingy room as Ethan was taken away. He remembered seeing the tears in his mother’s eyes and his father standing tall with a strong arm round her shoulder, trying hard, but failing to disguise his troubled thoughts. Jake had wondered at that moment if he would ever see his brother again.

That was a long time ago, and although Ethan was now seemingly as fit as anyone, Jake still thought of him as being vulnerable and weak and took it upon himself to watch out for him, fussing over him like a mother hen at times, which didn’t always go down well with his brother.

Jake looked up from his work yet again, unable to focus on the job in hand. ‘Why should I care?’ he thought. They weren’t kids anymore and he couldn’t always be worrying about what Ethan was getting up to. If he wanted to mix with Ryan Brooks and his bunch of layabouts, what could he do about it? Jake picked up his pen, thought for a moment or two, then began to write. He wrestled with the work for about five minutes, then sighed and leaned back in his chair.

It was his parents he was worried about. They would be devastated if Ethan got into trouble with the police. They had only recently moved to this area to start afresh after their father’s own unfortunate brush with The Law. What with that and their mother’s problem with her eyesight, Jake reckoned it would be the last straw for them. Couldn’t Ethan see that? He was acting like a selfish brat. Everyone knew Ryan Brooks was a waste of space and yet to Ethan he’d taken on the status of a hero.

Jake got up and went over to the window yet again. His eyes scanned the road outside but still there was no sign of his brother. What was he up to?

Jake heard footsteps on the stairs and intercepted Ethan as he came past his room.

‘Got a minute,?’ he asked, quietly.

‘Suppose,’ Ethan answered in and offhand sort of way.

Jake ushered him inside and closed the door quietly behind them.

Ethan looked quizzical. ‘What’s all this then?’ he asked.

‘I don’t want Mum or Dad to hear.’

‘If it’s about the money I owe you for Dad’s birthday present ...?’

‘It’s not that.’

Ethan raised his eyebrows. ‘What then?’

‘It’s about Ryan Brooks.’

Ethan’s eyes went to the ceiling. ‘Not that again. Honestly, Jake, what is your problem?’

‘It’s not my problem, but it will be yours if you’re not careful. It’s just a matter of time before Ryan and his bunch of zombies land themselves in trouble with the police.’

‘Ryan’s smart; he knows what he’s doing.’

‘Don’t be an idiot all your life Ethan. He’s a waster.’

‘Yeah, like you’re an expert on people all of a sudden. What do you even know about him?’

‘What is there to know? Anyone with half a brain can spot a bully and a hooligan a mile away.’

Ethan glared at his brother. ‘I’m 14 now – remember?’ he said defiantly, ‘I can choose my own friends.’

‘Nearly 14,’ corrected Jake. ‘I don’t want to see you get into trouble, that’s all.’

‘You’re beginning to sound like Mum and Dad.’

‘Yeah well, I don’t suppose they’d be exactly over the moon to see you inside a police station either.’

‘I don’t need you to hold my hand – OK!’ exclaimed Ethan, now with real anger in his voice.

‘Keep it down; I think Mum might be in the bedroom.’

‘I don’t care if she does hear; I’m fed up with you telling me what to do.’

‘I’m just worried that ...’

‘Well, don’t! Just stay off my case. We’re just having fun, that’s all. A bit of fun.’

‘I don’t think ...’

‘You wouldn’t understand,’ Cut in Ethan, defiantly. ‘And you know why? Because you’re boring. Boring, boring, boring!’

Jake huffed and shook his head. ‘Do you call vandalising the car park last Friday night a bit of fun?’

Ethan shuffled his feet, uneasily. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Look,’ said Jake, ‘I know Mum and Dad aren’t exactly in the fast lane when it comes to knowing what’s going on around here, but it’s only a matter of time before the word on the street reaches them, and then what? Have you forgotten why we had to move here?’

‘No, I haven’t. I haven’t forgotten it wasn’t my fault either. Anyway, I’m fed up with this conversation; I’m going to my own room to get some privacy and listen to some decent music, and do me a favour, Jake – don’t come and find me for at least a week.’

Chapter 2

It was a seedy part of town and the street was poorly lit, which suited the gang’s purpose perfectly as they crouched behind the wall opposite the empty shop. There were