12 Yards Out , livre ebook

12 Yards Out
Javi Reddy
Austin Macauley Publishers
2019-08-30
12 Yards Out About the Author About the Book Dedication Copyright Information © Chapter 1 23 September 2013. 10:13 AM 23 September 2013. 12:58 PM Chapter 2 23 September 2013. 1:30 PM 4 June 2013 (A few months ago). The Artists. 23 September 2013. 1:57 PM Chapter 3 23 September 2013. 2:07 PM 4 April 2002 (11 years ago). Comfort is not courage. 23 September 2013. 2:32 PM Chapter 4 23 September 2013. The army Chapter 5 24 September 2013. Tequila Sunrises 5 June 2013. Click, click 24 September 2013. 2:03 PM Chapter 6 18 September 2013. 4:41 PM Chapter 7 18 September 2013. 6:28 PM 18 September 2013. 9:02 PM 25 September 2013. 1:12 PM Chapter 8 25 September 2013. 8:13 PM Chapter 9 26 September 2013. Morning in the afternoon Chapter 10 26 September 2013. 3:58 PM 13 September 2004. Under the stands 26 September 2013. 4:17 PM 15 August 2011. 8:57 PM 26 September 2013. 5:22 PM 16 August 2011. 6:03 AM 26 September 2013. 5:56 PM Chapter 11 26 September 2013. 6:13 PM 12 June 2013. Game-time 26 September 2013. 10:15 PM Chapter 12 19 September 2013. 3:27 PM 16 June 2013. Two become one. 19 September 2013. 4:01 PM Chapter 13 27 September 2013. 2:56 PM 16 June 2013. 7:05 PM 27 September 2013. 3:21 PM 17 June 2013. Dr Pillai 27 September 2013. 4:58 PM 19 September 2013. 5:05 PM Chapter 14 19 September 2013. 5:17 PM 27 September 2013. 6:03 PM Chapter 15 28 September 2013. 1:13 PM 19 June 2013. Is that our number seven? 28 September 2013. 2:04 PM 22 July 2013. Miss me? 28 September 2013. 1:58 PM Chapter 16 29 September 2013. 1:12 AM 18 July 2013. Holiday September 2013. 2:21 AM Chapter 17 30 September 2013. Earlier than ever 13 July 2013. Sunrise Mall Chapter 18 30 September 2013. 8:02 AM 14 July 2013. The next product Chapter 19 2 October 2013. 9:08 AM 20 July 2013. 9:08 AM. A new world 2 October 2013. 8:22 PM 2 October 2013. 8:43 PM Chapter 20 30 September 2013. 8:22 PM 2 October 2013. 9:20 PM 4 June 2013. Reunion Chapter 21 2 October 2013. 10:01 PM 23 July 2013. City Hall Chapter 22 4 October 2013. 7:05 PM 25 July 2013. Chains 4 October 2013. Hope Chapter 23 4 October 2013. 8:00 PM 10 August 2013. Two Roses in a cup Chapter 24 14 August 2013. Dream a little dream 6 October 2013. The present Chapter 25 6 October 2013. 10:29 AM 24 August 2013. The semi-final Chapter 26 6 October 2013. 11:03 AM 24 August 2013. The semi-final. Extra-time 6 October 2013. 11:15 AM Chapter 27 6 October 2013. 11:50 AM 28 August 2013. The Tab Chapter 28 6 October 2013. 12:11 AM 28 August 2013. The alley 6 October 2013. 12:11 AM Chapter 29 4 September 2013. Dr Linder 7 October 2013. 2:44 PM 5 September 2013. Play, Jay Chapter 30 7 October 2013. 7:50 PM 7 September 2013. 7:50 PM. The final Chapter 31 9 September 2013. Monday 7 October 2013. 9:13 PM 7 October 2013. The photograph Chapter 32 7 October 2013. 8:14 AM 8 October 2013. 10:24 AM 8 October 2013. 11:35 AM Chapter 33 8 October 2013. 2:01 PM 8 October 2013. 2:27 PM Chapter 34 8 October 2013. 7:39 PM 9 October 2013. 6:12 AM Chapter 35 9 October 2013. 12 yards out Chapter 36 9 October 2013. Reunion Chapter 37 9 October 2013. The artist
About the Author
Javi Reddy has spent most of his career within the business communications realm as a communications manager. He has written on various platforms within a corporate environment. His career has seen him work at companies such as IBM, the Shoprite Group and Telesure Investment Holdings, whilst also freelancing for a few sporting and entertainment publications. His story ‘Sit Down; You’re Brown’ was awarded runner-up in the ‘The SA Writers College 2019 Annual Short Story Competition’. 12 Yards Out is his debut novel. Javi lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.
About the Book
What’s worse than having your father murdered? Working with his murderer to save yourself…
James Tait can do no right. He drinks too much, he’s always in trouble with the wrong woman and he cannot get a job. He’s also just murdered someone.
Jay Chetty can do no wrong. He’s a high school soccer star, he’s adored by everyone and he’s as humble as they come. But Jay’s been living his life from merely 12 yards out. When he’s thrust in deeper, closer to fears and threats he’s avoided his whole life, his world begins to burn down. After his girlfriend, a beautiful dancer, is kidnapped, Jay soon realises that the only person who can help him is James Tait – the man who has murdered his father.
Together they plot on how to stop Vinny De Silva – a man whose evil knows no boundaries… 
Dedication
To my father who gave me this beautiful game… and all of life’s valuable lessons.
To my mother who believes in me when I cannot believe in myself.
To my grandmother who keeps me in her prayers.
And to all of those who fall.
Do not be afraid to get up.
Copyright Information ©
Javi Reddy (2019)
The right of Javi Reddy to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781528953351 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2019)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
Chapter 1

23 September 2013. 10:13 AM
James’ father taught him many things. His old man may not have come into his room to preach to him, but the lessons grew on him. The rapid refilling of a whiskey glass, the inability to stay away from the wrong woman, the pure and unfiltered cynicism. James took all of these to heart and brought them to life more than his beloved father ever did.
But his father’s lessons never prepared him for this.
James closed his eyes. His pupils tossed around in every possible direction, as his eyelids begged them to calm down. He splashed cold water from the kitchen sink’s tap against his taut face before taking a brief sip. His fingernail fiddled in between a grooving of the white and yellow tiles. He was stalling. Eventually, he crooked his neck towards her. The couch, on which she splayed on, was good enough for him and him alone. Yet, she lay there like it was where she belonged. She beckoned him with her tiny black eyes. Foolishly, he joined her. She pressed her nose against his cheek and coiled herself around him like a serpent.
“It’s my birthday today,” she breathed lightly into his neck.
“I know. I’ve got the whole day planned out.”
“Really?”
“Of course, gorgeous.”
“Even though my birthday is actually tomorrow?”
This was a scene his beloved father surely found himself in on many occasions. James didn’t sit up straight or look her in the eye. As his mouth slowly expanded, no words came to him. Only what he felt was absolutely necessary at that moment. A burst of laughter.
“Where was our first kiss?” she pulled her nose away from his stubble.
“I didn’t kiss you. You kissed me. I was actually sober, for once, that night in Melrose Arch.” She crinkled her forehead and narrowed her eyes.
“I’ve never been to Melrose Arch with you.”
“That’s okay. I plan to take you there tomorrow. For your birthday. Pity, it’s no longer a surprise. If only you hadn’t pried…”
Finally, she was off the couch. The back of her moppy blonde hair bobbed around as she hastily slid into her skinny black jeans. James lit up a cigarette and puffed out lethargically towards the ceiling.
“Stop being a drama queen. Come back here and I’ll give you an early birthday gift, down under, if you know what I mean. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.”
She swung around, before biting her lower lip.
“You think this whole quirky and sarcastic display is charming?”
“It worked on you.”
“I was drunk.”
“Something I wish I was. Have you seen the 1818 anywhere?”
He twisted from side to side, scanning the room for his beloved bottle. “I cannot believe I thought of moving in with you.” She opened her mouth wide, as if an unlimited source of profanities were about to flow from her. Then, she took a deep breath.
“Fine. Be alone. Stay here all cooped up in this crummy flat, smoking a pack a day and finishing every and any bottle you can get your hands on. I’ve been sleeping with you for over a week now and you’re still a stranger to me. Who…who are you?”
He had encouraged her to talk more during coitus. A man of words like himself appreciated a bit of oral exchange during intercourse. Instead, she’d given him a mouth-full like this in the morning when all he wanted was another cigarette, the day’s first cocktail and a good Ian Fleming novel. She fidgeted with her bra as she got fully dressed. James caught the last glimpse of her skin, as he spoke through the smoke he’d blown in the room: “So, tomorrow then? Wining and dining with Joburg’s finest?”
A nearby sandal hurtled towards him. It crashed against the bumpy cream wall behind him, barely missing his face. He lit another Stuyvesant Blue.
“Why are you throwing Rebecca’s sandal at me? She’ll die if I lose it.”
Her eyes were wider than the Great Wall. “Who the fuck is Rebecca?”
He dug out some dirt from underneath his fingernail. The tears began to fiercely flow down her rosy cheeks. James rubbed his temples and then pulled in extra hard from the cigarette. He slinked off the couch and moved over to the white wooden dresser sitting in a corner of the room. He picked up a pot plant of the brightest violets he’d ever seen. He held them up to her. Her anger wilted away. “I…I… thank you.”
“Look. Just take this with you. I don’t know how to keep them alive. Also, you can slam the door on your way o