Kingston Bridge

by Ian Todd

  “Who’s says anything aboot losing us? Ah’m no suggesting anything as dramatic as that. If ye’re saying naw, then fair enough…Ah mean, Ah widnae want tae come between you and that girlfriend ae yours…the wan that’s been trying tae jail us since we wur aw wee snappers. Aw Ah’m daeing is helping oot a pal. Fae whit Ah kin gather, she’s building up a good wee reputation fur hersel doon in Hope Street, so she is. Pearl’s a bit ae a chancer, bit she’s a good wee reporter, so she is. She’s gaun places. Her and Johnboy get oan like a hoose oan fire…always hiv. Aw we want is tae support her in her new job…she’s wan ae us and like Johnboy, she’s oan the fringes. She kin dae us…which in the long run means you, a lot ae good in the future. If we kin help her oot at this stage in her career, the rewards, when the chips ur doon, could mean the difference between wan ae us gaun doon or no.”

  Silence.

  “Does she know you’re here, putting this request to me?”

  “Naw…and we widnae be telling her either. This is between you, me and the four walls…and that horrible girlfriend ae yours, of course,” he’d said, smiling.

  “Glenda,” he said. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Yes, of course. What?” she asked, sipping the hot liquid.

  “I’ve picked up…heard…that there’s a young journalist in the town that’s been investigating the murder of the policewoman, Lesley Bare, by her husband.”

  “Pearl Campbell…the one that did a demolition job on my poor boss, five minutes after he started his new promotion?”

  “Well, there’s that…”

  “The same little lying minx that’s been trying to get in to see me recently.”

  “Yes, well…is there a particular reason why you haven’t met with her?”

  “She also did a fairly good job on the poor investigating officer in the same article as my boss. I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her. Also, the last person I want to talk to just now is a reporter. There’s, er, been an allegation…of corruption. Seemingly, one of the JPs have been taking backhanders from a dodgy solicitor in one of the District Courts for years. So far, there’s no proof…yet. I’m up to my eyeballs in the internal investigation. Why, you haven’t picked anything up that would assist me, have you?” she asked, watching him closely.

  “No.”

  “So, what is it then?”

  “I’ve heard that she’s uncovered explosive information regarding the motive behind the murder of Teddy Bare’s wife...Lesley.”

  “Murder? He’s been charged with culpable homicide.”

  “Well, that’s what I’ve picked up.”

  “From who?

  Silence.

  “Okay then, has she spoken to the police?”

  “Come on, Glenda. Stop acting so naive.”

  “What?”

  “It’s the police that she’s concerned about. She wants to speak to someone outwith the normal channels. She believes that you’re that person.”

  “Me?” Glenda laughed. “What, so she can do a demolition job on me as well? I don’t think so. And anyway, I’m not involved at that level. Christ, I’m lucky to be in the job I’m doing now,” she cursed, bitterly. “Also, don’t you think that it’s totally inappropriate for you to even raise this with me? What about our agreement…about keeping what happens in our work separate from in here, in our relationship?” she reminded him wae a sweep ae her haun across tae the bedroom door.

  Silence.

  “Graham…who approached you? Was it her…or one of your Mankys?”

  “Of course not. And they’re not my Mankys.”

  “Then who? Someone as smart as you wouldn’t be doing this without knowing the legal risks…and the risk to our relationship.”

  “Glenda, it’s not like that,” he said, laughing dismissively, as she stood up and walked across tae the windae at the sink and stared oot ae it.

  “I’ve worked extremely hard to get to where I am, Graham…no, don’t interrupt me,” she said, spinning roond. “I can’t believe you. Despite what you and others may believe, I’m actually quite good at my job. Colleagues have gone out on strike in support of me. They know I might not get it right all of the time, but my integrity is unimpeachable. How you…of all people, could have the audacity to question or try to undermine that, is beyond belief…”

  “Oh, Glenda…”

  “Don’t oh bloody Glenda me, Graham Portoy. I can’t believe you’re attempting to inveigle me in some sort of illegal approach. What have The Mankys…Tony Gucci, got on you, Graham, eh?” she spat at him.

  “Look, stop getting hysterical, for Christ’s sake. If you don’t want to meet with this journalist, fine. I wouldn’t be raising the issue if I didn’t believe that it would be in your and the public’s interest. My understanding is that she’s got information that may contradict the circumstances surrounding the murder of a serving policewoman. If you don’t want to know, then fine. I’m sure she’ll find another outlet to bash the authorities with.”

  “Right, that’s it, I need you to leave…now.”

  “Oh, Glenda…”

  “I’ve warned you before. Don’t patronise me with that ‘Oh, Glenda’ sexist crap. I need to get changed for my work and I want you out of here…and out of my life,” she sniffled, turning back tae face the windae.

  “Glenda…”

  “Go!”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Senga stared oot the windae, baffled and finding it difficult tae keep the shock fae that face ae hers. She looked aboot at her fellow passengers. Nowan seemed tae hiv noticed, or if they hid, didnae seem tae be too bothered. Ever since the wheels ae the train hid started aff, slowly at first, click-clacking past the points oan the tracks underneath them, oan the far side ae the Queen Street tunnel, before picking up speed as it heided towards the yards at Cowlairs Junction, the ugly scars ae where tenements hid wance stood hid attacked they senses ae hers. Aw the places that she’d run aboot in as a wean, back in the Toonheid, and as a teenager in Springburn hid hid the guts ripped oot ae them. She’d never seen the torn doon tenements fae the railway tracks before. The skyline ae Possil, beyond the wee bowling green oan Carlisle Street where Helen Taylor, Johnboy’s ma, hid lived wae his da, Jimmy, suddenly loomed up oan her left. If she’d still been alive, Helen wid’ve been able tae look oot ae her tap flair bedroom windae at the big Caterpillar diggers, sitting silently in the middle ae the cinder pitches, waiting fur the demolition guys tae come and set them loose against the defenceless sandstone buildings at that end ae Gourlay Street, where Issie and Tam McManus lived. She hidnae realised the demolition squads wur so close tae hame. Where wid her ma and da go, she wondered, looking across tae the windae oan the other side ae her, as the train passed under the bridge below Issie and Tam’s windae and the hauf empty tenements ae Kendrick Street streaked past. She didnae want tae wish her life away, bit she wis glad that she wis moving oan. She knew that Johnboy wisnae as convinced as her, bit at least he seemed tae be accepting the inevitable when she announced that she’d be heiding north tae Inverness fur an interview as a district nurse.

  “Inverness? Is that no a fair bit away,” he’d asked. “Ah thought ye wur talking aboot Loch Lomond, Stirling or somewhere like that.”

  “There’s six jobs, so Ah should be in wae a shout,” she’d replied, ignoring him.

  “Six? Christ, dis that no tell ye something?”

  “There’s two in Inverness and the rest ur oot in the sticks somewhere.”

  “Ah hope ye know whit ye’re daeing, Senga,” he’d reminded her fur the umpteenth time. “Ye better no start bleating tae me when ye suddenly get homesick, jist like that curly-haired pal ae yours.”

  “Johnboy, Ah’m no listening tae any ae yer negativity. Ah’ve telt ye, Ah’m leaving…”

  “Whether Ah decide tae stay or no? Aye, aye, so ye keep reminding me…day and night,” he’d quipped, finishing her line fur her, as the baith ae them laughed.

  “Aye, well, ye might want tae get
used tae the idea. Decision time is drawing closer, so it is. It’s me or yer gangster pals.”

  “Aye, well, a widnae haud yer breath. Ye’ve still tae get the job, remember?” he’d come oot wae.

  She’d shown him the map. Places like Tain, Invergordon, Ullapool, Lochinver, Golspie and Bettyhill. Other wee specks oan the map like Beauly, Rosemarkie, Muir ae Ord, Daviot, Dores, Kiltarlity and Lochinver sounded so romantic, even though she wisnae sure if she wis pronouncing them properly. She’d asked him if he’d nip alang tae Woodside Library when she wis at work, tae see if there wur any books wae colour pictures ae the places in them, bit he’d jist slung her a deafy, even though she’d reminded him every morning fur the past week. Despite his obvious lack ae enthusiasm, particularly efter whit hid happened tae Peter and Snappy, she hidnae been able tae get a decent night’s sleep since she’d received the letter oan Hogmanay, inviting her up north. The interview process wid take three days and two nights, the letter hid informed her, as the candidates wid be getting a grand tour ae the districts, apart fae the wans who wur jist applying fur the two Inverness jobs. She wis getting picked up at the train station and taken tae The National Hotel in another strange sounding place called Dingwall. The only other hotels she’d stayed in before hid been doon in Dumfries, when she’d been doon visiting Johnboy and the other Mankys wae the lassies. The letter hid asked her tae bring warm clothes and sturdy footwear.

  “Fur traipsing up the side ae heather-clad mountains in the pishing rain,” Johnboy hid pointed oot.

  Her interview wid take place at The Royal Northern Infirmary in Inverness oan the Friday morning. Since she wis travelling the furthest, her interview wis tae start at nine o’clock, tae allow her tae get back doon the road oan the same day. She wid be back oan the train at ten past twelve. The letter hidnae said when the candidates wid know the decision ae the interview panel. She wisnae sure whit she’d dae if she wisnae offered wan ae the jobs. She’d squealed wae excitement when the letter hid informed her that a car wid be provided fur staff working in the rural areas.

  “Probably wan ae they wee blue disabled wans,” he’d scoffed.

  Efter reading the small print, the only doon-side seemed tae be that married wummin wid be offered a hoose, while single lassies, like her, wid be put up in lodgings somewhere in the same locality tae where her base wid be. She hidnae noticed that when she’d used the hoose as a selling point wae him.

  “Ah hope that isnae meant tae be some sort ae weird proposal, because the answer’s naw,” he’d drawled, as they lay in the dark, giggling away at each other.

  “Aye, you wish,” she’d retorted.

  She’d spoken tae her mentor, Pat Broon, who knew a few ae the Highland District Nurses who’d heided doon tae Glesga tae work.

  “Aye, the single wans?” she’d drawled. “There’s nae living in sin up in they kind ae places. The lodgings ur usually in the local manse, wae the minister and his family or in the primary school heid teacher’s hoose, who ur apparently aw auld virgin spinsters that hiv been left behind, so they ur.”

  “Dae ye think Ah should’ve claimed tae be married in ma application?” she’d asked doubtfully, peering doon at her letter. “Although, it widnae hiv felt right.”

  “Naw, unless you and that scrawny man ae yers kin get yer banns up, doon in John Street pronto, Ah’d furget it. The locals will soon find oot whit the score is within two minutes ae a wee angel like you arriving in their midst,” Pat hid laughed.

  “Aye, and another thing,” Johnboy hid reminded her. “If Mr Hopkins disnae figure in yer madcap migration plans, then ye kin furget aboot me.”

  She couldnae believe the coincidence when she’d found oot that the Mr Hopkins in question wis Collette James’s cat. Geraldine Baker and her hid laughed their heids aff efter they’d found oot that Collette’s Mr Hopkins hid turned oot tae be a cat insteid ae her man. She’d tried tae explain Mr Hopkins’ connection wae the poliswummin tae Johnboy, bit he clearly wisnae interested, wance she’d mentioned that the cats owner wis a bizzy. He’d admitted later that her discovery wis a bummer, as he’d been trying tae figure oot how tae keep the cat withoot haunin it back.

  “He disnae belong tae ye…it’s only supposed tae be temporary, remember?”

  “Ah’d gie her a good price fur him.”

  “Ye jist don’t get it, Johnboy,” she’d harangued him, following efter him intae the kitchen. “It’s goat absolutely nothing tae dae wae money. Everywan isnae like you and they pals ae yours, who think everywan’s goat a price.”

  “Ah’m telling ye, that cat isnae getting left behind…no efter whit that auld cool-mama neighbour ae hers telt me and Simon.”

  “Which wis whit?”

  “Getting stood oan fae aw they men that wur seemingly trooping up tae her door at aw hours ae the day and night.”

  “She wis a poliswummin.”

  “So? How dae ye know she wisnae flogging her arse oan the side while she wis at it?”

  “Ach, Johnboy, ye’ve spent too much time inside, so ye hiv. Ah know Collette James. She’s a total darling, so she is…apart fae her taste in men.”

  Mind you, he wis close tae the cat. The stupid thing hid started walking behind him as he moved aboot the flat. Where he stood, or sat, it wid follow suit. She’d started banning it fae the bedroom at night as it wis starting tae freak her oot. She’d opened her eyes wan night in the throes ae passion and the bloody thing wis sitting there oan his wee bedside cabinet wae a ‘Wid you hurry up’ disapproving look in its eyes. It’d hid the cheek tae start purring wance they’d finished. Despite the ban, it wis always lying underneath his lampshade, beside his heid in the morning, wae its erms folded, purring away, waiting fur him tae waken up.

  “Wid you stoap getting up in the night and letting that cat in. It bloody freaks me oot, no knowing whit the hell it’s thinking.”

  “Hoi, Ah beg your pardon. And as fur your information, he’s a he and no an it. That bad boy wid be a safe-blower in another life, so he wid. He kin open any bloody door you choose tae put in his way, so he kin…and as fur whit he’s thinking? He’s thinking the same as me. That’s whit he’s thinking.”

  “Which is whit?”

  “Which is, how the fuck did Ah ever manage tae allow masel tae get in tow wae this mental fucker?” he’d said straight-faced, before they’d baith burst oot laughing.

  “Johnboy, the cat’s gaun back tae where it belongs, if Collette James wants him back, so he is.”

  She hid tae admit that despite whit hid happened tae Peter and Snappy, he hidnae lost his sense ae humour. He’d also started tae get fit again. She’d spoken tae Mr Sing, the consultant, in case it wis too soon, bit he’d said it should be okay jist so long as he didnae overdo it. Ben McCalumn and Baby hid drapped aff some weights and a bench intae the spare bedroom. He wis talking aboot mapping oot a running route roond the area as well. He wis the only wan ae The Mankys tae be daeing that, as far as she knew.

  “It’s a jail thing,” he’d shrugged. “Auld habits die hard.”

  And there lay the problem. Whit other habits wur still a jail thing? He never ever spoke aboot The Mankys…whit they wur up tae, who said whit tae who. In wan sense, that wis fair enough. She’d always made it clear that she didnae want tae know whit they wur up tae, bit she knew fine well they wur still coming up tae the flat when she wis at work. It annoyed her that there wisnae any cups sitting oan the drainer through in the kitchen sink. Whit wis the big secret? When she asked him whit he’d been up tae during the day, he usually jist shrugged they shoulders ae his and claim that he’d been mapping oot the best seller he wis gonnae write, in that heid ae his. Oan the positive side, he’d started nipping roond tae Great Western Road tae the shoaps fur the messages…jist so long as she made oot a shopping list ae whit they needed the night before. The first time he’d gone, he’d come back wae a bag ae crap and she’d goat oan tae him. Since then, if there wis nae list fae her, he never went. Maisa, Sherbet’s wife, despite being vegetar
ian, hid taken him through tae the back ae the shoap and showed him how tae cook a couple ae amazing meals such as Nihari, a slow cooked, spicy meat stew and another meat dish called Biryani, the main ingredients being rice. She’d jist assumed that he’d goat the recipe fae a cookbook. She’d only found oot aboot his cooking lessons efter she’d nipped in fur a pint ae milk oan the way hame wan night. Despite a few, naw, lots ae disasters, his cooking hid improved. He’d picked up an auld tatty cookery book fae somewhere and wis noo producing meals, other than pie, beans or omelette, that wur actually edible. Her and Pearl still hidnae caught up, at least no thegither, withoot any ae the other lassies being present. She felt embarrassed by her jealousy. If Pearl wis aware ae how she’d felt, she’d never showed it. Even though aw the lassies knew she wis planning tae heid aff intae the wide blue yonder, wae Johnboy in tow, none ae them mentioned it unless she brought it up…which wis weird in itsel. Nowan voluntarily expressed an opinion aboot her and Johnboy, unless she brought his name intae the conversation and then it wid start.

  “How ur ye gonnae feel if ye don’t like whit he becomes, if ye somehow, miraculously, manage tae change him in tae something he’s no, Senga?” Aggie McCoy hid the cheek tae ask her the last time he’d been the topic ae conversation amongst the lassies.

  “Ah’m sorry?”

  “Well, ye know whit ye’ve goat jist noo, bit whit if he turns oot…”

  “Normal?” she’d asked, biting.

  “Personally masel, Ah think ye’re maybe kidding yersel oan, so Ah dae. Ah watched a programme oan the telly recently aboot bionics and genetics efter that Six Million Dollar Man film came oot,” Michelle, Jake’s girlfriend hid chipped in. “Ah mean, even somewan as convincing as you might find it a bit difficult turning a wolf intae a lamb,” she’d said and everywan hid laughed. “Him and they pals ae his? They ur whit they ur, Senga, hen.”

  She’d looked across at Pearl fur a wee bit ae support, bit it wis obvious she wis haudin back in the support stakes. It wis as if everywan wis waiting, like her, she supposed, fur the final instalment, where Johnboy made up his mind whether tae stay or go. Pearl’s presence in the company did complicate things. At least, it did fur her. Before arriving back, oot ae the blue, fae the Highlands, Senga’s focus hid been oan her and Johnboy getting away. He’d rarely expressed doubt aboot following her until…until Pearl hid arrived back oan the scene? Wis she jist being paranoid? Wis his reluctance tae discuss how he felt aboot leaving the toon mair tae dae wae him suddenly being free ae the shackles ae the jail, the reality ae his freedom kicking in wae him, looking at life through different eyes? It wis hard tae tell, bit try as she might, it wis difficult fur her tae ignore Pearl. The other lassies probably wurnae aware ae the true strength ae feelings Pearl Campbell used tae hiv fur Johnboy three or four years earlier. It hidnae been crazy obsessive, bit it widnae hiv been that far aff it. Poor Pearl used tae confess everything tae Senga, bubbling her eyes oot at Johnboy’s lack ae interest in her. Efter Aggie McCoy hid telt her that her best pal hid always been her rival fur Johnboy’s attentions, Pearl hid upped sticks and left, withoot saying a word tae her. Even when she’d come back tae the toon, oot ae the blue, Pearl hid never mentioned how betrayed she’d obviously felt at her best pal’s supposed deception. Back then, she’d wanted tae speak tae Pearl, tae confess tae her that she’d always loved Johnboy since primary school, bit she hidnae been able tae get a word in edgewise, when they wur growing up. By her teens, Pearl hid been in too deep emotionally. Oan her part, she couldnae break her heart…and their friendship. Even noo, even though she wanted tae sit doon and explain it aw tae Pearl, plead wae her tae try and understaun how she’d felt, hivving tae sit there while Pearl poured oot her grief, she knew she couldnae bring the subject up…or whit Pearl clearly still conceived as her betrayal? Tae gie Pearl her due, she hid always been very friendly towards Senga since she’d arrived back, bit there wis a cloud, invisible tae the others, that hung o’er the baith ae them, wae Johnboy oblivious tae it in the middle, as he himsel tried tae come tae terms wae whit he should dae next…stay in the toon or follow her tae God knew where.