Flesh and Blood

by Emma Salisbury

  ‘You were perched on his garden wall son, hardly an invite for tea and scones.’

  Liam’s face fell. Shrugging, he turned to use the urinal closest to him. When he was done, he zipped himself up then allowed the chrome contraptions to wash and dry his hands.

  ‘This place used to be a right dive,’ Coupland said watching as Liam studied his reflection in the wall length mirror as he ran his hand over his jaw. ‘Though I can’t say the clientele has improved any.’

  A protective plastic sleeve covered Liam’s left arm. ‘New tattoo?’ Coupland enquired.

  Liam gave him a sheepish look, ‘Had no choice. Had my ex’s name on it, didn’t I?’

  Coupland sucked in a breath as he regarded Liam. ‘Big mistake that. What’s wrong with mermaids or a picture of your mother? So, go on then, what have you gone for?’

  Liam held out his arm for inspection. Coupland could make out a pair of hands clasped in prayer, a set of rosary beads wrapped around them. ‘In God’s arms,’ written inside a scroll. The writing was close together even though Liam’s biceps could never be described as weedy.

  ‘Didn’t know you were religious.’

  ‘I go to church every Sunday.’

  ‘That’s not what I meant.’

  Liam dropped his gaze, ‘I’m not,’ he admitted, ‘but it was the only thing the tattooist could come up with that would cover up Gillian’s name.’

  ‘Thought you’d have gone for something tribal, what with the amount of time you hang around with that lot.’ Coupland jerked his thumb in the direction of the door and the pub’s clientele. The punters weren’t as random as the management made out, consisting mainly of people on Kieran Tunny’s payroll. The bar was run by Aiden Franks, his protégé in the making, one of the new school of gangsters who made his fortune in cyber-crime: dodgy investments, counterfeit goods, an online dating site offering foreign brides who disappeared once they received the airfare for their tickets. Franks dodged arrest because his mentor’s loyal henchmen were persuaded to take the blame, confess to crimes they were far too thick to have thought up themselves, in return for a generous lump sum on their release. Tunny could be found there most days, a subtle reminder to all concerned that he was in charge.

  Coupland scratched his head. ‘I don’t see what you get out of all this. Apart from a nice line in knock off designer gear.’ He was referring to the oversized watch Liam was wearing, worth more than Coupland earned in a month if it was the real deal.

  ‘I’m earning good money now, I can afford to treat myself every once in a while.’

  ‘There’s more to life than money,’ Coupland reminded him. ‘Your mam dotes on you, do something that makes her proud.’

  Liam gave Coupland a funny look. ‘She’s happy enough,’ he shrugged. ‘Besides, I have a laugh with the other guys. Nothing wrong with a bit of craic.’

  Coupland sighed. ‘In the old days we had something similar that bound gangs of people together day in day out…’

  ‘Yeah?’

  ‘It was called work…’

  ‘We all work.’

  ‘Not in the sense I mean. Tunny owns this club, his cousin provides the door men, what is it you do again?’

  ‘I’m a security executive.’

  ‘And what does that mean exactly? You hang about on street corners looking mean? When you’re not lurking about here, that is. None of it makes sense. I wouldn’t mind but you’re a bright lad.’

  ‘Let’s not make out that I was destined for NASA.’

  ‘Fair enough, but what was wrong with getting a normal job?’

  ‘What, work in a call centre? I want more out of life than that.’

  ‘And being Tunny’s gopher is living the dream?’

  Liam had heard enough. ‘You didn’t come here to give me careers advice, Mr Coupland, why did you come?’ He was already starting to sound like one of Tunny’s mini-me’s.

  Coupland shuddered. ‘I want a word with the big man; I take it he’s in residence, going by the number of ‘executives’ lurking round the place.’ Liam’s dad had been one of Tunny’s so called executives, a fat lot of good it had done him. Coupland remembered walking away from the family home a decade ago after delivering the news of his death, a young Liam staring down at him from an upstairs window.

  ‘They’re both here, if you must know,’ Liam told him now, ‘said they weren’t to be disturbed.’

  ‘Oh, I think Tunny will make an exception for me.’

  Liam pulled out his phone and tapped out a message on the keypad.

  ‘Christ, maybe he is moving you up the ranks,’ Coupland muttered, eyeing the adapted smartphone favoured by career criminals. A company in Holland had created software with a ‘remote wipe’ function, enabling incriminating data to be wiped at the push of a button. The phones didn’t come cheap though; at the best part of two grand a time they were given to the gang’s movers and shakers at the top of the food chain, not the apprentice.

  ‘There was one going spare now one of Mr Tunny’s associates has gone inside. He said we could take turns using it when we had any special jobs to do.’

  Coupland’s eyes narrowed. ‘And what might those special jobs entail?’

  ‘Nice try Mr Coupland but I’m no grass.’

  Liam moved towards the door Coupland was blocking. ‘Mr Tunny’s replied, said I’ve to take you to him.’

  Coupland didn’t budge. ‘It’s not too late to change career you know. You’re not so far in they can’t afford to let you go. Following in our fathers’ footsteps isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.’

  ‘My dad was a good man.’

  Coupland said nothing. Liam’s father had thrown his weight around like most men attached to a gang. He’d been aggressive and obnoxious, though that didn’t mean he’d been a bad father. Coupland sighed. ‘Your mother worries about you.’

  ‘All mothers worry.’

  Coupland wasn’t so sure. ‘When you joined Tunny’s crew she phoned me you know. Asked me to have a word. My head was somewhere else at the time and I never got round to it.’

  ‘You needn’t worry. She still thinks you’re one of the good guys.’

  Coupland raised a brow. ‘I wouldn’t know about that, son, but I know a good kid when I see one. Don’t be the reason I have to pay her another visit.’

  ‘You know your problem, Mr Coupland? You worry too much. We need to go.’ He held his phone screen towards Coupland so he could see it. ‘Mr Tunny’s window is a narrow one; the last thing we should do is keep him waiting.’

  Coupland stepped to one side. ‘Then I guess we’re done.’

  *

  Tunny’s protégé was as different from the mean-looking gangster beside him as night was from day. Where Tunny was old school, Aiden Franks was definitely new. Dark hair slicked back into a topknot and dressed in a black silk shirt, he looked like he was about to go on Strictly. Wasn’t a stranger to the sunbeds either, no Salford sun ever produced a tan like that.

  Both men were seated either side of a Formica desk. It was obvious they’d decided who was going to do the talking. Tunny got to his feet as Coupland walked in. Glitter Ball remained seated, arms folded, brooding.

  ‘What an unexpected surprise Mr Coupland. You here to look around our back room? It’s available to hire, you know, weddings, funerals, acquittals…’

  ‘I’ll give it a miss if it’s all the same to you,’ said Coupland. ‘Got a lot on my plate at the moment. It’s the reason I’m here.’

  ‘And there was me thinking you liked the ambience. Can I get you a drink?’

  Coupland turned to Liam who was still hovering in the doorway. ‘I’ll have a beer, but I’m paying.’ He fished a five pound note out of his wallet and handed it over. ‘Keep the change.’

  He turned back to Tunny. ‘You said you’d call your jokers off before things got out of control and I appreciate that. So in return I’m giving you a heads up—’

  ‘—You’ve got the bastard?’

&n
bsp; Coupland held his hands up to quell the barrage of questions Tunny was about to spew in his direction. ‘That’s my point, a member of staff from Cedar Falls is currently helping with our enquiries and I’m here to make sure he comes to no harm.’

  Eyes black like coal stared back at him.

  ‘It’s in relation to another matter, Kieran, not the fire,’ Coupland explained.

  ‘What then?’

  ‘I can’t say, you’re going to have to trust me.’

  ‘Not sure that’s enough to stop me making my own enquiries, Mr Coupland. After all, you’ve piqued my curiosity now.’

  Coupland sighed. ‘Look, there have been allegations of abuse. Not from current patients,’ he added hastily. ‘But we have brought a member of staff in for questioning, and we may bring in others. Don’t read anything into it, Kieran, that’s all I’m saying.’

  ‘Do the allegations relate to the period our Catherine was there?’

  Coupland hesitated a second too long.

  ‘Are you saying some bastard interfered with her?’

  Coupland caught the look Tunny and Glitter Ball exchanged. ‘Look, if I’m honest with you I don’t know for sure, but I can’t have you barging in with your bully boy tactics!’

  Tunny lurched forward, slamming his hand onto the top of his desk, his eyes turning to mean little slits. ‘You’re having a laugh aren’t you? If our Catherine was messed with in any way I’ll skin the bastard, and that streak of piss who calls himself a manager…’

  ‘We need space to carry on with our investigation, work out whether the abuse and the fire are linked. But I can’t do that if you’re breathing down everyone’s necks.’

  ‘Easy for you to say, you haven’t just lost a member of your family.’

  Coupland could be fast on his feet when he wanted to. He moved towards Tunny’s desk and leaned over it, slammed his own fist down inches from the gangster’s. ‘You know nothing about me, Tunny! Don’t start second guessing whether I give a toss about this case or not. Trust me, that won’t end well.’ Coupland realised he’d said too much the moment the words had left his mouth. He could only hope that Tunny hadn’t picked up on it. It never paid to reveal any part of yourself to men like these.

  The gangster’s eyes flashed, but there was no malice when he spoke to his sidekick. ‘Leave us. I want to talk to Mr Coupland alone.’

  Glitter Ball threw a sullen look in Coupland’s direction as he did as he was told, nearly colliding with Liam carrying Coupland’s bottle of beer on a tray, a glass beside it.

  Coupland lifted the bottle to his lips, waving the glass away with his other hand.

  Tunny waited until they were alone, gesturing that Coupland take a seat, waiting for him to do so before returning to his own chair. ‘You know, we’re not so different, you and me, crime pays both our mortgages.’

  ‘That’d be right,’ Coupland sniped, resting the bottle on his lap. ‘Like you’ve got a bloody mortgage.’

  Tunny leaned forward, a smile on his lips. ‘The people of this city call me a gangster. It’s not a label I asked for, but if that’s how they choose to see me I won’t argue.’

  ‘How do you see yourself then?’

  Tunny thought before he spoke, his face growing serious until he found the right answer. ‘I’m more like a social worker; after all, I make decisions that impact people’s lives.’

  An image of Shola Dube floated into Coupland’s mind. He struggled to find any similarities.

  ‘It’s not a position I take lightly,’ Tunny added as though reading Coupland’s mind. ‘The community I grew up in is important to me. The younger generation, mind,’ he nodded towards the door, where Glitter Ball and Liam had both made their exit,. ‘they have different aspirations. I blame Netflix, to tell you the truth. Young men swaggering about like extras from Narcos. High drama but none of the values you and I grew up with.’

  Coupland rinsed the beer through his teeth before swallowing. ‘What, like ‘An eye for an eye’? Since when did that solve anything?’

  ‘I’m thinking more of ‘If the end justifies the means’. From what I’ve heard that’s more your style.’

  Coupland put the beer bottle down by his feet, his eyes never leaving Tunny’s. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I heard about the complaint that’s been made against you.’

  Coupland’s eyes narrowed. ‘Been reading the gutter press? Mind you, it’s a step up from Janet and John books I suppose.’

  Tunny smiled. ‘I get my information from more reliable sources. Trust me, I know everything that goes on in this city, Mr Coupland, I make it my business to.’

  ‘So you knew about the trafficking then?’ Coupland challenged, referring to the case that had placed him under the microscope.

  Tunny looked startled. ‘Not to the extent it was going on. I thought they were bringing over cheap labour. I had no idea about the other stuff, I can assure you. What happened to that little girl was unspeakable. If it’s any consolation I can tell you none of them are having an easy time of it inside. Rumour has it that Reedsy fella drove kids like her around the city, I’m not surprised you took a pop at him.’

  Coupland said nothing, keen to maintain a degree of distance.

  ‘Look, I just wanted to say I get you, Mr Coupland, I get you because you have a backbone and if there’s anyone I trust with catching the bastard who took my sister away from us then it’s you. And for the record you’re right, I would have had someone pay the fella you’re questioning a visit.’

  ‘You know who it is then?’

  ‘I got a call from Harkins minutes after your guys picked him up.’

  Coupland’s lip curled.

  ‘Don’t tell me you’re surprised, people like him are only as good as their last conversation.’

  ‘On that we’re agreed,’ Coupland said. ‘Listen,’ he added. ‘If we’re playing it straight you need to know I won’t be working on the case much longer.’

  ‘Why the hell not?’

  ‘Personal reasons.’

  Tunny regarded him. ‘You think that’s good enough?’

  ‘Not really but it’s the best you’re going to get.’

  Tunny’s eyes grew dark. ‘Did you know one of the victims?’

  Coupland considered this, felt he was entitled to shake his head.

  ‘Your little hissy fit earlier told me something was wrong…’

  ‘Whatever.’

  ‘…That you’re more emotionally invested than you should be.’

  A shrug.

  ‘You don’t want to step aside do you, Mr Coupland? I think catching this bastard means more to you that you’re letting on. What if I tell your bosses I don’t want anyone else taking over? Won’t that carry some sway?’

  ‘More like the kiss of death, given the scrutiny I’m under.’

  A sigh. ‘I trust you, Mr Coupland, I know you’ll do right by my family and in return I’ll do right by yours.’

  Coupland’s eyes narrowed. ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘It means I’m a man who isn’t used to hearing the word no. If you want me to cool my heels then you need to stay on this case – and I don’t give a flying fuck whether it’s done officially or not…and in return, as God is my witness, when whoever did it gets sent down he’s as good as dead. As these young bucks would say, “Hashtag family”, Mr Coupland.’ He bumped his fist into the centre of his chest like a rapper at an awards ceremony. ‘I have no idea what hashtag means, nor what the hundreds of emojis mean that have been posted onto Catherine’s Facebook memorial page but I think you get my drift.’

  Coupland stood. ‘Revenge isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,’ he sighed, picking up the beer bottle by his feet and placing it in the centre of Tunny’s desk. ‘There’s always a price to pay.’

  ‘Maybe it’s a price worth paying,’ said Tunny.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Coupland stepped into the station’s reception area and through the door marked Authorised Personnel On
ly in time to see Alex heading into interview room 3 carrying a forensic sampling kit. She looked uneasy when she saw Coupland, refusing to meet his gaze. His brow creased as he followed her into the room.

  Johnny Metcalfe stared back at them. Apart from a tremor in his jaw his face was expressionless. He looked paler than the last time he’d seen him and Coupland wondered if he was about to be sick. Johnny was flanked by a grim-faced lawyer on one side and the blue haired care assistant who’d previously accompanied him on the other.

  ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘I’m flying solo on this, Kevin, so don’t bother offering to sit in.’

  ‘I wasn’t going to,’ he lied. ‘I wanted a quick word though.’ He moved into the corridor and waited for Alex to join him. ‘You know he needs to be declared medically fit before you can question him formally?’

  ‘Already done, I filled out the paperwork last night and the duty doc came over with a colleague an hour ago to corroborate his decision. He’s been declared fit.’ It was clear Alex wanted to get on with the interview but he hadn’t done yet. ‘Heard anything from Ashcroft?’

  ‘Bernie Whyte’s admitted to being heavy handed at times and doling out more meds than he should so that he could have a quiet shift – that tallies with a warning on his staff file. But he absolutely denies rape – he claimed a colleague was sacked a while back, only it was all done on the quiet, made to look as though he had left under his own steam. Ashcroft’s following it up with Alan Harkins.’

  Coupland nodded. Alex kept looking away from Coupland as she spoke, forcing him to move into her line of vision. ‘What is it?’

  A sigh. ‘You said you were going to tell the boss about your mother.’

  ‘Yeah, and I was, only when Ashcroft brought Whyte in he might as well have had a sign on over his head saying “give this guy a kicking”. I had to go and see Tunny, to tell him to leave him alone. Turns out I was right to, our trustworthy care home manager had already phoned him with the news.’