Dave sat down. “Because, sir, the word on the street is that someone else has already picked up the reins and is now running the business. You’ll never guess who it’s supposed to be.”
Paolo smiled. “I can see from your face that it’s not going to be obvious, so go on, shock me.”
Dave leaned forward. “Oh, I think I’m going to do that, sir. It’s Maria.”
For the first time in weeks, Paolo felt genuine amusement and laughed. “Maria? She wouldn’t say boo to a goose, how the hell is she intending to control Paolo’s men? You must have that wrong.”
“That’s exactly what I thought, sir, so I’ve been asking around. It seems that gentle Maria has turned into Iron Maiden Maria. One or two who tried to get in her way have found out that she’s not afraid to deal out pain – and not just by proxy.”
“Bloody hell, that’s all we need. At least half of Azzopardi’s crew will revolt. One or more of his cousins will try to take over. With a bit of luck they’ll wipe each other out. I just hope to God they don’t do it on our streets.” He sighed. “Oh well, that’s a problem for the future and I’ll worry about it when it happens. This will be the first weekend in my new flat and I don’t intend to spoil it by giving any thinking time to Azzopardi and his successors.”
“You all settled in now, sir?”
“Only one box left to unpack. It’s still a bit of a mess, but at least it no longer looks like a parcel delivery depot. What are your plans for the weekend, Dave?”
“You know me, sir. I don’t make plans. I’ll find myself a bird or two tonight and have a good time. Love ‘em and leave ‘em, that’s me.”
“Dave,” Paolo said, trying not to laugh, “you don’t do any such thing and you bloody well know it. You’re head over heels in love, but don’t want to admit it, least of all to yourself.”
Dave shuffled on the chair. “I am not.”
“Yes, you are. It shows in your face every time you look at Rebecca. For Christ’s sake, give her a call and explain to her that you’re a pillock. Ask her to give you another chance. Believe me, letting someone go when you really care about them is stupid.” Lydia’s face flashed into his mind. “I’ve done it and now I’m having to live with the consequences.”
“But, sir, it’s not, she’s not... I don’t know if she even likes me.”
Paolo smiled to take the sting out of his next words. “She might like you more if you stop pretending to be something you’re not. Go on, go away and call her. I can’t take the chance on you going all morbid and getting plastered again. The next time you fall down the stairs you might do more than graze your back. You’re an idiot much of the time, but a good copper; and I need you around the place.”
End
More from the DI Sterling series
Children in Chains
Injections of Insanity
Rage and Retribution
About the Author
When not working on her crime novels, Lorraine Mace is engaged in many writing-related activities. She is a columnist for both Writing Magazine and Writers’ Forum and is head judge for Writers’ Forum monthly fiction competitions. A tutor for Writers Bureau, she also runs her own private critique and author mentoring service. She is co-author, with Maureen Vincent-Northam, of The Writer’s ABC Checklist (Accent Press). Other books include children’s novel Vlad The Inhaler – Hero in the Making, and Notes From The Margin, a compilation of her Writing Magazine humour column.
Find her at:
Website: www.lorrainemace.com
Blog: http://thewritersabcchecklist.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lomace
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorraine.mace.52
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