Bitesize 2.1

Bitesize 2.1

Ed had just left the house and was about to unlock his car when he heard a shout.
"Oy! Fuckface!"
He knew that voice and its familiar profanity. Tony. Lead guitarist for Poleaxe. He turned to see Tony grinning at him a few paces away.
"Fuck me man. I ain't seen you in ages. Still living in this shithole?"
Ed shrugged.
"How's things Tone?"
"Fucking sweet as actually mate. We got a new album coming out this summer. Themed around Lucifer's fall from Heaven. Gonna call it 'When Angels Bleed'. That daft cunt Derek wanted to call it 'Rhyme and Punishment'." He shook his head and laughed as though that was hilarious.
Ed nodded in mock agreement.
"Anyway, no time to dick about." Tony went on, his usual relentless monologue, "Gotta go pick up a guitar. Some dude down Galvaston Ave has a Fender signed by Barry Bryant! Fuck yeah!" He made an air guitar gesture. "Gonna take that bitch on tour for the album release. Hey, tell you what. I'll post you a copy of the album and a couple of tickets for the Leeds gig. Backstage VIP motherfucker. Bongs and bitches." He winked at Ed.
"Yeah, that'd be cool Tone. Thanks." said Ed.
"No probs geezer." said Tony, already moving away. He pointed a finger at Ed as he retreated, "Don't be a stranger, you cunt. Laters." And off he went.
Ed got into the car and started it up. Tony might have a runaway mouth but he was a decent guy. He'd go to that gig, he decided, catch up with the guys. Would be nice to let his hair down like the old days. Tony had said two tickets though. Who the hell was he gonna find to take along? He shrugged and pulled away from the curb.

Not being a pursuit driver like Kamran it took Ed the usual fifty minutes to get out to Dad's place in Kelford. There was another car in the drive, an old Megane belonging to Valentina, his Dad's carer. She was an elderly Spanish lady who knew when to stay out of the way. Ed didn't think she was employed by the Bureau but then you never could be too sure. They had a few companies they owned and operated independently so in a way, there were a lot of people who worked for them without ever knowing it.
He parked next to the Megane and tried the front door. It was unlocked and he slipped in. They key was in the back and he figured it had been left open in anticipation of his arrival. He locked it, left the key in and went down the hall and up the grand staircase to his Dad's room. He knocked lightly at the door. There were a few coughs, then his Dad's croaky voice.
"Come in."
He pushed the door open and went in. His Dad was in bed as usual, still connected up to his drip. Ed went over.
"How're you feeling?"
"Like I'm being eaten alive by my own body." his Dad joked, "And you? I heard you took down a werewolf."
"Yeah." Ed said, trying to suppress a grin, "Looks like T alpha is still out there after all. Musta been keeping his head down for a couple of years."
"He'll slip up sooner or later." said his Dad, "He can't hide forever. Things have come a long way since he was spawned."
"He's managed it till now. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he was a Bureau employee."
"Could be, could be. Well, at least I'm ruled out." Ed's Dad laughed then broke out into a fresh coughing fit.
It pained Ed to see his Dad so weak. Living with this disease for so long was already a miracle. Three years ago the doctors had given him months left to live. Somehow he still clung on.
"Oh don't look at me like that." groaned his Dad, "I don't need the pity. I've lived a much more interesting life than people twice my age. Go get the chessboard and then you can tell me all about your lupine encounter."
Ed smiled.
"Been practicing I bet, while I'm out getting half eaten."
He fetched his Dad's chessboard and set it up on the bedside table.