We’re passin the Riddrie junction on the M8 at the bend, passin Parkhead n the Cathedral junctions on the way through the city. The lights ae Glasgow ir even a welcome change tae home. At least in the city, yi feel like yir somewhere recognisable. Lanarkshire hus nae real landmarks or anyhin significant tae separate these eld industrial towns, Airdrie fae Coatbridge, Bellshill fae Motherwell or Wishaw fae Larkhall. They ir, wan n aw, council scheme after council scheme ae the same hooses n run-down high streets. Kelvingrove n the University’s spires lit in the dark make yi feel like yir somewhere else, a foreign city maybe. Over the Kingston Bridge yi kin see the Science Centre n doon the Clyde tae Partick n the eld Bilsland Bakery buildin still standin on the bank. Govan n Braehead pass by n we’re nearly there, takin the slip road tae the airport. Then we’re in the drop-off car park sittin quiet, trapped in the amber ae the moment.

‘So …’ she says, glancin over tae me, aw sad. ‘I’m missing you already, honestly. Just so hard to say goodbye.’

This is it, the last few moments ae us.

‘It’s no easy, naw, but you’ve earned the right tae move on. It’s amazin wit you’ve done.’

‘Just do your own thing, Azzy. A know you always do, but it’s more important now. You need to be your own man. You’re different from the rest, you always were.’

‘Don’t worry aboot me. A’ll dae just fine.’

‘Kiss me then.’

A dae, a long, sweet n sad wan n A kin feel wee tears between our faces, comin fae Monica’s green eyes. She lets oot a wee laugh before she goes n hangs ontae ma hand as she leaves. She’s aff n A’m pullin away, heart in ma mouth n a wee tear ae ma ain in ma eye but she’ll never see it. Azzy Williams doesnae greet, fuck sake. A watch hur walk tae the terminal wae hur bags headed fur hur new life. A turn the stereo up, ‘The Voice Inside (Jonas Stenberg Remix)’ plays oot it. The tune breaks n A’m flyin back along the M8, through the coolin twilight towards death.

PART VIII

Reformed

Everybody can change.

We’ve all got things to add … if he’s been in that hole and dragged people out and he knows how to get out, he can do that …

You just need to give people a chance.

Give them a chance and listen to what’s there …

We can make it better.

We can make it much better …

John Carnochan, formerly Strathclyde Police and co-founder of the Violence Reduction Unit, discussing Paul Brannigan during a TEDx talk, University of the West of Scotland

Postcode Warriors

The phone calls started yesterday. Unknown numbers ringin me night n day. Every time A answer there’s a squad ae Toi wans shoutin torrents ae abuse doon the phone. A gee them dog’s abuse back,Wit yi withholdin yir numbers fur, ya fuckin pussies? It’s startin tae piss me aff, constant fuckin buzzin in ma pocket. A’m patchin it n tryin tae furget aboot it. The closer we get tae the weekend the more it’s happnin. It’s Friday the morra. If suhin is gonnae happen, it’s usually a Friday night. Even the night, yi kin feel the eld tension buildin, that static charge that Friday always attracts. It’s still in us n it lies in wait fur me tae be hexed again by its spell, bringin aw the curses n bad juju ae the past back tae life. It is a powerful demon, awaitin only reincarnation.