by W. Soliman
“Name.”
Joe shrugged. “Like he was going to tell me.”
“So what did he say?”
“That he knew all about my debts. He did too. He named the exact amount and said he could make it disappear permanently.”
I glowered at him. “Did you really think it would be that easy?”
“No, but it was that or be thrown out of the job. And possibly out of Barbara’s life too.”
“What did he want you to do in return?” I held up my hands. “No, don’t tell me, let me guess. To make certain problems disappear. To give advance warnings of raids on gaming establishments.” I glared at my former partner with open contempt. “And you’ve been in their pocket ever since.”
“I didn’t realize what I’d got myself into until it was too late to do anything about it.”
“Oh, pleeease!” How often had I heard that one?
“No, straight up, I—”
“You know, Joe, throughout my career I did everything I could to measure up to you but never thought I’d be half the copper you were.” I shook my head, stood and paced towards the beach, wrestling with my disillusionment and growing anger. Only when I thought I had my temper under control did I sit again and speak without looking at him. “Tell me everything you can remember about the man who contacted you.”
“It was nearly thirty years ago.”
“And you’ve forgotten?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to.” Joe shuddered. “But even if he’s still alive, he’ll have changed beyond recognition by now.”
“Let me worry about that. Just tell me.”
“All right.” Joe threw his head back and closed his eyes. “He was over six foot tall, dark hair, heavy moustache, well-built, menacing. East European accent.”
“Russian?”
“Possibly. How would I know? But I’ll tell you something, he scared the shit out of me and I don’t scare easily.”
“So this Robin Hood got you out of the mire with the loan sharks out of the kindness of his heart. How often did you see him after that?”
“Never. They phone if they want anything. Little things at first, like they were testing me. Then long gaps and a slightly bigger favour.” Joe looked directly at me. “If nothing else it brought me to my senses and I’ve not been near a bookie’s since.”
“Yet you live near the racecourse.”
“That was Barbara’s idea and I’ve always looked upon it as the ultimate test.”
I attempted to remain detached as I learned all I could from Joe. If I let this get more personal than it already was, then I’d lose all sense of perspective. “How did you contact them to let them know you’d done what they wanted?”
“I didn’t. They made contact with me and they seldom had to phone twice. I was more scared of them than I was of losing my job. They always knew when I’d done what they wanted and then left me alone, often for years at a time.” He rotated his shoulders and sighed. “When I retired I really thought it was all behind me.”
“But they got in touch again.”
“Yeah, two days ago I got a call. That same cold, heavily accented voice that I’d hoped never to hear again.” Joe shivered. “It shook me rigid, I don’t mind telling you. He said he knew I picked Amy up from school on Tuesdays.”
“Christ!” This was some organisation, keeping tabs on a bent copper no longer in the job, to the extent they were familiar with his routine. I wondered what the hell I was up against and had the good sense to experience a moment’s fear. Organized East European crime families made the Mafia look like Walt Disney.
“Yeah. They said they knew we were still mates, so talking to Harry would be a natural thing to do. I was to slip the note in his backpack and that would be the last I’d ever hear from them.”
“And so you did it, just like that.”
“Actually, I told them to piss off.”
My expression must have reflected my surprise. “But you did it anyway in the end.”
“He said if I didn’t, then someone else would be placing notes on Amy, or maybe visiting Sarah late at night. They quoted her address and know she lives alone with Amy.” Joe shook his head. “What else could I do?”
“You could have tried acting like a man.”
“Easy for you to say. If it was just me then I’d have stuck to my guns. I don’t care what happens to me anymore. But I knew their threats towards Sarah and Amy weren’t empty. These people are ruthless. They said it was just to frighten you and nothing would happen to Harry.” He shifted his position and fastened his eyes on his shoes. “And so I did it.”
“And now you’re telling me about it, expecting me to forgive and forget.”
“No, Charlie, I know you’ll never do that.”
Even so, I noticed hope flare briefly in his eyes, only to diminish when I didn’t contradict him.
“When Amy said Harry wasn’t at school today, my blood ran cold and I had to know he was all right.”
“And you think they won’t know you’ve spoken to me?”
Joe shrugged. “I suspect they’re counting on it. If their threat against your son didn’t put you off, I reckon they think me telling you how tough they are and how far their network stretches will be enough to make you back off this Jasmine Webb thing.”
“Were you involved with that?”
“No, I had nothing to do with it.”
“Well, at least that’s something.”
“What will you do now? I know you don’t think much of me right now but I’m here because I care.”
“It’s a little late to develop a conscience.”
“I mean it, they don’t fuck about. Listen to me!” Joe placed a hand on my arm but I shook it off. I couldn’t bear to be touched by him. “What’s Jasmine Webb to you that you should risk your life for her? Make no mistake, that’s what we’re talking about here.”
“I’ll bear that in mind.”
“I suppose her little sister’s got you thinking with your prick. I can see why that might have happened, but is she worth dying for?”
I stood and turned away from him. “I’ll let you know what I’m gonna do when I’ve made up my mind. That way you can tell your owners when they ask.”
“No, not anymore. Charlie, just think about it—”
I whistled to Gil and walked away, leaving Joe slumped on the bench. I didn’t look back.
“Hi.” Kara smiled when I got back to the boat. “You’ve been a long time. Joe was here looking for you. Did he find you?”
“Yeah, he found me.” I reached into the cabinet where I kept the booze and poured myself a hefty measure of brandy.
“Charlie, whatever’s the matter?” She hovered ’round me, frowning. “You look terrible. Has something happened?”
I knocked back half the contents of my glass without replying.
“Tell me what’s going on. You’re frightening me. You look like you’re ready to kill someone.” She took my hand and dragged me across to the seating area. I allowed myself to be dragged because I didn’t quite know what else to do and sank down heavily beside her. “Come on, out with it.”
“I thought nothing could surprise me after all I’ve seen in the job over the years but this one’s a real bummer.”
“What’s happened?”
Between numbing mouthfuls of brandy I told her everything Joe had said.
“That’s awful.” She was still holding my hand and gave it a heavy squeeze. “How could he have put Harry at risk like that?”
“They own Joe. That’s the trouble with getting involved with people like them.”
“Well, if they threatened to harm his daughter and granddaughter, it must have made things difficult for him.”
“My heart bleeds.” I looked at her without seeing her, my brain in overdrive. “But what really concerns me is that I’ve made matters worse. Before he poured out his black heart, Joe asked me where Harry was. And I stupidly told him.”
“Bu
t surely they can’t get to him in Spain?”
“I don’t think they actually want Harry but I wouldn’t put anything past them.”
“What will you do?”
I shrugged. “Get to them before they start targeting my family again, I suppose.”
“I agree, we must. But what’s it all got to do with Jas?”
I shook my head. “I just don’t know but she’s obviously mixed up with Eastern Europeans who’ll go to great lengths to prevent anyone from trying to find her.”
“But you still intend to look for her?”
“Someone’s got to stand up to these thugs, but I think you’d better leave it to me after all. These people obviously don’t muck about.”
“Oh no! I got you into this.”
“Somehow that’s what I thought you’d say.” I tilted her chin with my forefinger so she was forced to look into my face. “Do you have any idea how dangerous this might turn out to be?”
“My brother’s dead, Charlie. Does it get any more dangerous than that?”
I shook my head. “No, it doesn’t.”
“His death was no accident, was it?”
“Somehow I doubt it.”
She gulped twice. “Okay, so what do we do next?”
“What did your friend find out about the Laissez-Faire?”
“No sixty-foot sailing boat under that name was registered under a British flag fifteen years ago. Nor has one been since.”
“Well, that makes sense, if the people are East European. Probably on a Panamanian or South American flag, which means they’re keeping a low profile. We can check it out online later but I’m not holding my breath. Anyway, it doesn’t matter, it was a long shot.” I stood up and reached for my biking jacket.
“Where are you going?”
“There’s something I have to do.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“No, you stay here and keep the door locked. I won’t be long. Don’t let anyone on board, whoever they say they are. And if they insist then set Gil on them.” I turned back to face her.
“But, for God’s sake, remember to tell him to attack, otherwise he’ll lick them to death.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“Scared is good. That way you’ll stay alert.” I gave her a quick peck on the cheek and squeezed her waist. “I won’t be long, and when I get back we’ll talk some more. I’ll have a plan, of sorts, by then and we’ll decide whether or not you’re going to stay involved.”
“That decision’s already been made.”
“We’ll see.”
I stood on the pontoon and watched Kara lock the main doors behind me. Then I got on the Harley and headed in the same direction I’d taken that morning with Kara. Back to her mother’s house. The time for pussyfooting about was long past. The thugs had upped the ante when they threatened Harry and used Joe to do it. I fully intended to fight back, but in order to do that, I needed to extract a few honest answers from Mrs. Webb.
Nadia spent the next few days in a permanent state of frustration. She managed not to ingest any of the pills Igor still insisted upon feeding her. He watched her take them, and sometimes she had to hold them under her tongue until he left the room and then dash to the bathroom to spit them out. She was feeling much more clearheaded, had more energy and found it tough acting as though she was still a walking zombie. Igor had heard about her putting the children to bed from Olga. Big surprise! It was something she hadn’t done since Brett’s death, and Igor probably wondered where she’d found the energy.
Now convinced she was pregnant again, Nadia had an added reason not to take narcotics. She hadn’t told Igor the news, nor would she until she got to the bottom of the business with Brett. Igor seemed genuinely concerned about her and stayed closer than ever. He cancelled a lot of his appointments, or arranged for people who had business with him to call at the house, and she hadn’t had a chance to corner Anton again about her brother’s accident.
It was almost a week later when she finally got that chance. She needed to go shopping for the children, refusing to let Olga choose their clothes. On other trips she’d made during the preceding week, Igor had accompanied her himself. When he was busy, the taciturn Viktor took his place. He was being extra-vigilant, like he was expecting someone else to accost her at any moment. But at last, today, Igor had left the house with Viktor and so Anton drove Nadia to the shops.
He seemed edgy and Nadia attempted to put him at ease by chatting about nothing in particular. She bought several pretty summer dresses for Saskia and a pair of pink dungarees that she’d love, even though the colour would clash with her hair. For Sergei she sought out trendy shorts and T-shirts from Kids’ Gap.
Anton carried her purchases and, when she said she was in desperate need of coffee, he steered her to the nearest café. Quelling her impatience, she waited until they’d been served before questioning him.
“I need to know.” Her imploring gaze clashed with his implacable expression. “About my brother, I mean.”
He shook his head. “There’s nothing I can tell you.”
“You, of all people, understand the importance of family.”
“I also understand the importance of staying alive. Leave it alone! You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”
She touched his hand. “Please! Brett was my only brother.”
He looked away. “I can’t help you.”
“It was no accident, was it?” Nadia increased the pressure of her hand on his. “Anton, please, at least tell me that much.”
Looking miserable, he closed his fingers around hers and slowly shook his head. “No,” he said, “it was no accident.”
Chapter Nine
Mrs. Webb hadn’t struck me as the type who had a busy social life and so I took a chance on finding her at home. She answered the door at my second knock and didn’t seem that surprised to see me standing there.
“Oh, it’s you. I had a feeling you’d be back.” She shuffled towards the kitchen, which I took as an invitation to follow her. “What do you want this time?”
“I thought there might be something else you wanted to tell me. Something you’d prefer to get off your chest without Kara hearing it.”
“I told you everything I know.” She slumped into the same chair she’d occupied that morning and lit the inevitable cigarette.
“I haven’t got time to ask nicely, Mrs. Webb, so we can handle this one of two ways. Either you tell me everything you know, or I’ll see if your husband’s willing to reveal what he argued with Jasmine about.”
I took the chair opposite her and fixed her with a penetrating gaze. She glared back with an expression bordering on dislike. Well, I could live with that. I’d become immune to attitudes like hers whilst in the job. Besides, in this case, the feeling was entirely mutual.
“Why can’t you just leave it alone?” She glowered at me. “There’s nothing to be gained from raking over the past.”
I glowered right back at her. “It’s too late for that.” I thought of Harry’s irrepressible smile and had to resist the impulse to shake the truth out of her. “This is now personal.”
Something in my expression obviously convinced her that I wasn’t leaving until she opened up. “If I tell you what happened, you’ll only tell Kara and, trust me, she’s better off not knowing.”
“That depends upon what you have to say.”
“Believe it or not, I’m trying to protect her,” she said. I made a scoffing sound at the back of my throat. “I know it might not look that way, but in this dysfunctional family of ours that’s about as demonstrative as we get.”
I sat opposite her, sensing she believed what she was saying. “You’re just gonna have to trust me to decide whether or not it’s something Kara needs to know. She’s hell-bent on finding Jasmine, and the only way to stop her is to shed as much light as possible on the reason for her disappearance.”
Mrs. Webb lit another cigarette as she contemplated my ultimatum. “I
expect Kara’s told you all about her dictatorial father,” she said after a prolonged silence. I nodded. “Well, she doesn’t know the half of it. I learned just what a control freak, what an all-round fraud he was, soon after Brett was born. But it was too late for me. I was trapped. I hated the man I’d once loved but had nowhere to escape to.” She stared through the window, speaking in a smoker’s low rasping voice about a period in her life she’d obviously prefer to forget. “So I stayed and tried to make the best of it. What else could I do?”
“Didn’t you have parents who’d take you in?”
“With two small children in tow?” She dragged her eyes away from the garden and focused them on my face. “They worked hard all their lives, made all sorts of sacrifices for my sake, and were proud when I married Alan. They thought I’d gone up in the world.” She dragged hard on her cigarette. “Much they knew. Still, I had to keep up the pretence or they would have got upset, so how could I suddenly admit everything wasn’t wonderful?”
“Wouldn’t that have been their call?”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t risk it. Alan would have made life hell for us all until I returned to him. My parents weren’t young and my father had a weak heart.”
“You could have gone to a women’s shelter.”
“If you knew what Alan’s really like you wouldn’t even suggest it.” She shuddered.
“He’d have found us, and I’d have lived my life looking over my shoulder until he did.”
It wasn’t the first time a cowed wife had said those words to me. “What’s all this got to do with his row with Jasmine?”
“I’m getting to that.” She blew smoke rings at the ceiling, delaying the moment. “On the surface Alan’s all sophistication and charm, the life and soul of every social gathering, but underneath he’s nothing more than a tyrant and a bully.”
“He hit you?”
“Worse. He liked kinky sex, and if I didn’t feel like giving out then he just took what he wanted.” She drew a deep breath. “Kara was born as the result of marital rape.” She nodded in response to my stunned expression. “Now perhaps you understand why I can’t warm to her the way I did my other two. I’ve tried. You can have no notion how hard I’ve tried, but every time I look at her I remember the foul things he made me do that night.”