First story in a collection of interlinked tales of crime and retribution laced with dark humour, set around the festive season. Includes first chapters of Shatter the Bones and Birthdays for the Dead.Billy Partridge wasn't really cut out to be a cat burglar, but it was 'do the job, or come up with thirteen grand by Thursday ... or have both legs shattered'.'Do the job' seemed the least worst option. But he's about to find out just how bad the least worst option can be...