Vengeance Always Delivers

By Geoffrey Sleight

Steve Holland thinks life owes him a living and that everyone else has the lucky breaks - never him. He's complaining about his tough luck when a stranger arrives one evening and transforms his life into a world of wealth, riches and romance. But the stranger knows a dreadful secret lurking in Steve's past. Soon the success dissolves into a hell of supernatural vengeance as the dark past returns to haunt him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Geoffrey Sleight
• Release date: Jun 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9798224900480

Geoffrey Sleight

I worked for 30 years in journalism and later pursued a career in acting. I've also scripted audio dramas for CD and written short film screenplays. My favourite genres in reading are an eclectic mix of thriller, paranormal, mystery and historical dramas, and my own writing style is paranormal mystery/thriller. I’ve loved writing for as long as I can remember, and penned my first ‘novel’ at the age of five. Okay, it was only a couple pages in large print, but the spirit was there! Between then and now I’ve worked on newspapers, in corporate marketing and publications and spent a number of years as an actor on stage, in independent films and as a TV extra. I live in Buckinghamshire, UK with my wonderful wife Jenny. We have a son and daughter, and two amazing grandchildren. My other paranormal works to date are: THE ANARCHY SCROLL THE SOUL SCREAMS MURDER A GHOST TO WATCH OVER ME MORTAL TRESPASSES Please feel free to contact me at: [e-mail] Or on Twitter: @resteasily

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

STEVE Holland was never happy with his lot. The type of person whose glass is always half empty. Other people always had the luck. Never him.

But that great leveller called life was about to teach him a lesson that would alter his entire world beyond anything he could ever have imagined. And if he thought he was hard done by now, he hadn't seen anything yet.

As usual, Steve was moaning about his bad luck to a friend he had known for many years, Mark Turnbull, at a local bar in their home in an outer suburb of north London.

They sat at a table with their drinks, surrounded by the buzzing atmosphere, laughing, excited loud conversations and trivial arguments fuelled by alcohol.

I don't know Mark. Whatever I do, I always seem to get a bum deal out of life, Steve was on the same old line.

My success rating is zilch. Good opportunities make a point of avoiding me.

Mark, a true friend, did his best to raise his companions’ spirits.

It's how you look at life, Steve. You should have a positive outlook, he encouraged.

Positive outlook! Steve snarled contempt.

I thought I had a great marriage, but it turns out my wife was shagging someone else behind my back. I was going to be made a manager at my work. Then the company went into liquidation, Steve was working up a sweat.

I take your point and you've had a bad run, but sometimes life is shit. You've got another job now, and I'll do my best to help you out. You've got to keep your head. Work out a plan. Think positive. Mark was trying his best to keep his friend from sinking into depression.

He realised it was a crushing blow for Steve when his wife had left, but he hadn't exactly been faithful to her over the years, and Mark wasn't surprised when they finally split up.

Steve also tended to spend more than he earned, so it was also no surprise he had financial difficulties.

Although both men were of similar age in their mid-thirties, Steve's face was drawn, as if weighed down by chains and already showing signs of greying hair. He looked ten years older. By contrast, Mark's bright, vibrant eyes and fair complexion peeled back at least five.

Talking of positive, it's time for another beer. Same again? Mark stood up, knowing his friend wouldn't decline the offer.

Steve nodded without any hint of thanks.

Mark disappeared into the busy swell of revellers towards the bar, leaving his friend sitting in a cloud of self-pitying gloom, the excited noise all around floating on another plane.

Excuse me.

A voice broke into his lonely world. He looked up. A man about Steve's age, with brown, wavy hair and an earnest, enquiring face stared at him. He put Steve in mind of someone who might do research for a living. Science, medicine, something important. He wore a dark blue, single breasted jacket and black trousers.

Yeah, he greeted the stranger curtly.

I hope you don't mind, but I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. The man spoke softly, almost inaudibly in the surrounding babble.

Which bit mate? About my wife leaving me? Being made redundant, or being broke? Steve wondered if the stranger had experienced some similar misfortune and wanted to commiserate.

No, the part about you never having any good luck. Never any success.

That's right, mate. Why you in the same boat? Steve thought he'd found a soulmate.

No. It's just that I can change that for you. Bring you good luck and fortune, the stranger announced confidently.

Oh yeah. What do you want to sell me? Some kind of scam? Steve turned round to see if Mark was on his way back through the crowd, shunning the uninvited arrival.

No. Nothing like that. I can change your entire life by simply increasing your life credit points, the stranger insisted.

Steve was interested again.

Credit? You mean you want to lend me some money?

The stranger smiled, revealing a row of bright, white teeth.

"No. I mean life credit points."

Steve was puzzled.

Sit down. Tell me what you mean, he beckoned the man to Mark's empty seat.

You see, we are all born with a set credit rating for our lives the stranger sat down to explain.

The more credit points you have at birth, the better your potential for succeeding in life.

You mean it's pre-destiny rather than free will? Steve was growing intrigued. Any straw to clutch at that would prove his rotten luck was not his own fault.

Well sort of, but not quite. You can change things, came the enigmatic reply.

Steve looked hopeful for a moment.

You're not winding me up, are you?

Far from it. This is actual fact. I would guess you were born with a low life-points credit rating, the stranger surmised.

And I'm stuck with it?

The stranger looked at him pityingly.

Don't despair. I can help you. There's a special website that's not accessible to the general public where you can change your credit rating.

You mean logging into one of those illegal sites and stealing people's money. I stoop pretty low sometimes, but I'm not getting mixed up in fraud, Steve was adamant.

The stranger was about to reply when Mark returned holding the glasses of beer. He looked at the newcomer curiously.

This is... Steve paused indicating the newcomer. Then realised.

Sorry mate, I don't know your name.

Alastair. Alastair Deacon.

Mark nodded greeting and placed the beers on the table, slightly annoyed his place had been taken. He sat on another seat at the table while Alastair continued speaking.

No, it isn't fraud. On this special website it is possible to access your life credit points and change them.

Mark was mystified. Steve explained what Alastair had told him.

Sounds like a lot of nonsense to me, Mark gave his briefly considered opinion.

Well it does to me too, Steve conceded.

Alastair shrugged his shoulders.

All right. I was only offering to help. I'll be on my way. He stood up to leave.

No. Wait a minute, Steve called. I'm not really convinced, but I'm prepared to give it a try. Nothing to lose."

Mark shook his head at his friend's ludicrous efforts to improve his luck.

What do I do? Steve asked.

Where do you live?

Steve gave his address.

I take it you have a laptop or computer?

"I've got a smart phone. Steve reached for his jacket pocket.

I'd rather it was more private, Alastair insisted.

Okay, Steve agreed.

I'll come round at seven tomorrow night. Alastair turned and disappeared into the noisy bustle.

He's probably going to try and sell you something, Mark moved back to the seat where  he'd been sitting at the table. They must see you coming.

Probably, Steve replied. But you never know. I'll try anything if it can improve my luck.

******

Steve was settled in his armchair watching television when the doorbell rang at his two-bedroomed, semi-detached house in north London.

He was puzzled for a moment, wondering who was calling. Then he remembered the man who'd gone on about life credit points or some such nonsense in the bar. The alcohol the night before had dulled his senses into thinking such a thing might actually possible.

He pressed mute on the TV remote and got up to answer the door.

Alastair stood there with an expectant look of being invited inside.

Come in. Steve led him to the living room.

Alastair could see this was a man who lived a disordered life. Clothes were scattered over the sofa. Several unwashed plates littered the floor and empty beer cans on a coffee table waited to be thrown away.

Sorry about the mess, Steve could see his visitor surveying the room. My wife left me. Bit chaotic, but I can do what I like now.

Alastair ignored the remark and asked where he kept his computer. Steve led him to a small room used as a study. It was no less messy with DVDs and games cases spread randomly on the floor and across a drawer unit.

You're not winding me up about this life credits website are you? Steve voiced his doubts again while the computer booted up.

No, I'm absolutely serious, Alastair assured him as he sat at the desk. But you won't find it listed on Google or any other search engines.

When the computer was ready Alastair entered a jumbled set of letters and a sequence of numbers into the URL panel.

Steve stood beside him hoping he could memorise what was being typed, but a screen quickly opened and the entry in the panel disappeared from view. An alphabetical list of names in rows appeared on the monitor.

These are the names of everyone living in the world at this moment, Alastair explained, scrolling down the lists.

Now Steve did doubt the man at the computer.

That's bloody impossible. Who could compile a list like that and keep it up-to-date every second?

Alastair ignored him and brought up a screen showing a number of world famous names with numbers listed beside them.

As you can see, these are known by almost everyone. Rock stars, footballers, film stars, Alastair scrolled the list.

"Beside them you