enemies are long forgotten. In a world as ego-driven as the criminal scene, that is no small boast. As possibly the biggest ego maniac in the underworld, I think that is quite funny.
If everyone who hates me was to buy a copy of this book, I could die a wealthy man. If that isn’t the last laugh, then I don’t know what is.
*
TO quote the Irish comedian, Dave Allen, ‘As I was going up the stair, I met a man who was not there, he was not there again today, I wish that man would go away.’
I am constantly meeting men who are not there, I guess all men at times show one face in public and another face in private. Weak men pretend to be strong, cowards pretend to be brave, losers pretend to be winners, perverts pretend to be normal, mad men pretend to be sane, criminals pretend to be honest, and liars pretend to be truthful.
Junkies pretend that they don’t have a problem and whores pretend to be good girls. For better or for worse most people have two sides, the side they show and the side they hide.
But there are other people where what you see is what you get. Funny, isn’t it, that the up-front person is generally criticised. I’ve never been two faced. If I had two faces, I’d certainly wear the other one. At least then I would have a pair of ears.
Chapter 6
If she leaves me, can I come too?
‘If only I was normal, she wouldn't have to go through hell.’
MARGARET and I have been together for ten years, if you can call it that. She is a widow without a body to mourn over. Most of the time I have known her I have been on the inside.
But when we have been on the outside we have had a great time together. I simply wouldn’t toss that aside for the sake of shooting some ratbag, then driving him to hospital, then hiding the gun in my own back yard.
She is still with me in spirit, still sticking with me through all this heartbreak.
We’ve had a few tiffs. In fact, we had one big blue over my gambling. She threatened to leave. She ranted and raved and threw a few punches at me. I threatened to leave. She said: ‘You don’t have to leave me. I’ll leave you.’
But I walked over and started to take the guns off the wall. When she saw that she knew I was serious. She started to cry and said: ‘If you leave, can I come too?’
I love her, but I can’t understand why she still loves me.
After all those years of waiting for me, Margaret is still loyal and still in love. Don’t ask me why. I would have left Chopper Read years ago. I still don’t know what it is that Margaret sees in me, or why she loves me, or what makes her stand by me through the fires of my insane life.
She is tougher, stronger, harder and more solid than I ever will be. She was in her early 20s when we met, now she is ‘thirtysomething’ and more rock solid loyal than ever before.
Margaret grows stronger, not weaker, as she gets older, and she seems to get better looking as the years pass.
I believe that I am a lucky bloke to have known her at all, let alone have her by my side. In return, all I have ever given her is pain. Margaret is a mystery to me. I have said it a thousand times before. Thanks Bubbie, I love you.
I am a tough bloke, but when I saw her leaving Risdon jail to go home to Melbourne with tears in her eyes, I felt broken hearted. If only I was normal, she wouldn’t have to go through hell.
Chapter 7
The battle in the big court
‘I know my not guilty plea is a fart in the face of a thunder storm.’
AFTER Read’s arrest Tasmanian police became concerned for the safety of some witnesses connected with the prosecution case. They received intelligence that one of Read’s closest friends, a mysterious, mentally-disturbed hitman known as ‘Dave the Jew’, was on his way from Melbourne to even the score. Both Trent Anthony and Sid Collins were placed under guard. It might have been a wise move.
I AM my own worst enemy.
I will fight to win this case, but I must face the fact that I haven’t a leg to stand
Codi Gary
Amanda M. Lee
Marian Tee
James White
P. F. Chisholm
Diane Duane
Melissa F Miller
Tamara Leigh
Crissy Smith
Geraldine McCaughrean