Living Dangerously

by Dan Latus

  Each according to his taste, I guess.

  ‘What are we going to do?’ he asked then. ‘Now we’re out of there, I mean?’

  ‘What do you want to do? Go back to Marton?’

  He shook his head. ‘That’s the last place I want to go at the moment.’

  I took my foot off the throttle, slowed and changed into second before heading down a long slope that looked particularly icy. I saw in the mirror that Senga held back and sensibly kept her distance all the way to the bottom.

  ‘I need some thinking time,’ Tom continued, as if he hadn’t even noticed the driving conditions. ‘There’s a lot to sort out.’

  ‘Like what? What’s changed?’

  He sighed. ‘Nothing, I suppose. It’s just that I’ve still got it all to sort out.’

  He was right about that. I doubted if Logan had changed his mind, and Blue and his gang were out there somewhere. So Tom was still in danger. It was good to hear him thinking of it as his problem, though. That made a welcome change.

  ‘Can we just go back to your place?’ he asked.

  I was surprised, but tried not to show it. ‘Yes, if that’s what you want.’

  ‘Thanks. It is.’

  In a way, it wasn’t a bad idea. We both needed to rest and recover while we worked out what to do next. One thing I knew for sure: it wasn’t over. This story had plenty of legs left in it yet.

  Tell me about the accident, Tom – or whatever it was.’

  ‘What do you want to know?’

  I shrugged. ‘Just tell me what happened. That will do.’

  ‘It was ridiculous,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘It was just a stupid situation that shouldn’t have ended the way it did.

  ‘Bryce Logan had been hassling me for a while, and hassling Julie as well. He wanted her and he wanted the car Dad had given me. It wasn’t going to happen, any of it, but he wouldn’t give up. He told me he was going to make trouble for my family if I didn’t give him the car. He was going to bring us all down.’

  ‘By doing what? Telling the police about the shipments of stolen plant and equipment?’

  ‘He never spelled it out, but that was definitely one possibility.’

  ‘But it would have dropped his own father in it, surely?’

  ‘That wouldn’t have worried him. He hated his father, and vice-versa. They couldn’t stand each other.

  ‘Anyway, one night I’d been out with some mates for a drink. He was waiting for me when I got back to the car. He said he was going to take it – just like that! I laughed at him. Then a couple of my mates came up and he walked away.

  ‘He must have followed me to Julie’s. Later, when I came out of her place and got in the car, he was there again, waiting for me. He wanted the keys. I told him to get lost.

  ‘When I started the car, he walked into the middle of the road and held his hand up to stop me. He had a gun in his other hand. I kept going. I assumed he would get out of the way. But he didn’t. I hit him. I wasn’t going fast but he hit his head on the road, and that was that.’

  ‘You said all this in court, presumably?’

  ‘Some of it.’

  ‘Which bits did you leave out? The bit about Bryce having a criminal father who was in business with your father? Or the bit about Bryce wanting your car and your girlfriend, and making threats?’

  ‘What else could I do?’ Tom sighed and shuffled in his seat. ‘I didn’t want Mum and Dad to lose everything they had worked for all these years. I didn’t want them to be sent to jail. I just pretended Bryce was a stranger who stepped off the pavement in front of me.’

  ‘And you’d been drinking. You were over the limit, I believe. Well over?’

  He nodded.

  ‘What did your dad tell you to do?’

  ‘He wanted me to tell the full story – about Bryce hassling me, and making threats.’

  ‘But stopping short of the bit about him and Logan being in business together?’

  Tom nodded. ‘He didn’t think it was necessary to mention that part.’

  ‘I bet he didn’t!’

  He sighed and added, ‘But I knew that wouldn’t work. If I gave the cops a bit of the story, they would work out the rest of it eventually. They would just keep on pulling at the thread till they had the whole damned lot.’

  I thought he was probably right about that.

  In the space of just a few minutes, my opinion of Tom had begun to change. No wonder Senga was so supportive. He was an astute kid who had done his best for everyone but himself.

  I could see now why he was so mad at his father. It was Josh’s doing that had got him into all this in the first place. I could also see why Anne was so fed up with her husband. Poor Josh. Everybody had it in for him, and you couldn’t say it was undeserved.

  ‘Dad was on about getting me an expensive lawyer but I wouldn’t have it. I knew that once that happened it would be difficult to keep all the other stuff quiet. I told him I would refuse to be represented by someone like that. I was just going to plead guilty. Mind you, I might have changed my mind if I’d known I would get a year in custody. I assumed I would just lose my licence and get fined. That didn’t seem so bad.’

  That irritated me.

  ‘What? You thought running somebody over, and killing them, was just like a speeding offence, or being a bit over the limit?’

  He winced but said nothing. There was nothing he could say. I changed the subject.

  ‘You mentioned that Bryce and his father didn’t get on?’

  ‘No, they didn’t.’

  ‘Father and son?’

  ‘It’s not that unusual. Anyway, Bryce wasn’t Logan’s real son. He came with his mother when she got involved with Logan. I don’t know who his real father was. I don’t know if he even knew himself.’

  ‘Fathers and sons, eh?’

  ‘Me and Dad are different.’

  ‘Of course you are. I’ve seen you both in action.’

  Tom smiled ruefully.

  ‘We’ll go back to Risky Point,’ I said, ‘but I want to see your dad. We’ve got to sort out a way of getting Logan off your back.’

  ‘How are we going to do that?’

  ‘We’ll think of something,’ I said with more confidence than I felt.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  ‘I know what he’ll be doing,’ Tom confided.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Dad. He’ll be doing what he said he would. To get me off the hook, he’ll be offering Logan a bigger percentage from the next shipment. It’s a big one, apparently, due out on the first of December.’

  In three days’ time, then. That was interesting.

  ‘What’s in it?’

  ‘The usual, I suppose. I heard Dad say it was particularly valuable, though. So there’s something special about it, but I don’t know what.’

  ‘Would giving Logan a bigger share work?’

  ‘No idea. But Dad thought there was a chance. He wanted me out of the way for a while, in case things went wrong. I guess that’s where you came in.’

  All this put me in a bit of an ethical quandary. My client’s interests come first usually, but not always. I wouldn’t be party to shipping stolen property abroad. I had to draw the line somewhere.

  On the other hand, I couldn’t let the Steele family go down the tubes either. I didn’t know Josh, but there was Anne to consider. More than that, there was Tom’s life to protect. I had made a commitment to do that, and once committed it was a matter of principle with me to stay the course. Conscience and professional reputation wouldn’t have it any other way.

  I decided to speak candidly to Josh as a sensible first step. Then I’d have to see. Hopefully, we could sort something out that suited us both. Hopefully, too, I would find a way of squaring things with Bill Peart – and avoid getting myself locked up.

  Just north of Morpeth, the snow thinned out and some of the lanes of the A1 had been cleared. The going was better but I decided to pull into the town for a rest and
a cup of coffee. The Golf followed us obediently as we looked for somewhere to park. A half-empty supermarket car park fitted the bill nicely.

  ‘Thank goodness!’ Senga said, as we met them getting out of the Golf. ‘I was in danger of going down with snow blindness.’

  ‘And caffeine withdrawal symptoms,’ Julie added.

  They both seemed in good spirits. I was pleased about that. Julie actually seemed better – and more normal – than at any time since I had first laid eyes on her.

  We had coffee in a busy Costa on the main street. Then Julie said she needed to do some shopping. Tom said he would go with her. So Senga and I had another coffee and talked.

  ‘How did you find the drive?’ I asked.

  ‘Fine. It was a bit difficult at first, coming over the moor.’ She shivered and added, ‘I’ve never seen such snow!’

  I had to agree. ‘The North Country, eh?’

  ‘You’re not kidding. So what’s next, Frank?’

  ‘Tom and I have been talking about that. I need to see Josh, I think. I want to find out what he’s been doing to get Tom off the hook – if anything.’

  ‘Are you and Tom OK now?’

  ‘Better, I think. He wants to come back to Risky Point with me. I said fine. Perhaps he’s decided we’re both on the same side, after all. He’s told me about the accident, by the way, and a bit more of the background.’

  ‘Good.’

  Senga thought for a moment and then said, ‘I think you’re right about talking to Josh. We do need to know what he’s been doing.’

  ‘We?’

  ‘I’m in this as much as you, Frank.’

  I took a moment. Then I smiled and said, ‘Good! I hoped you’d say that.’

  My phone started buzzing at that point.

  ‘Yes, Bill?’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘Morpeth. Drinking coffee with the gang.’

  ‘Nice. I’m still here in the snowy wastes.’

  ‘Making progress?’ I asked cautiously.

  ‘Not really. I’m just catching my breath while the local officers sweep up the remaining interviews.’

  I waited. He hadn’t rung to tell me that.

  ‘Remember asking me about that Blue character?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘I’ve come up with something. At least, someone has. The name meant something to somebody.’

  ‘What have you found?’

  ‘Well, it may not be the same man, but there is a guy known to French police as “Monsieur Bleu”.’

  ‘With a criminal record?’

  ‘Not as such, but he’s known to be part of the southern mafia. He’s half-British, apparently. He works out of Mar-seilles, as an enforcer, but he’s been off the local scene for a little while. And – get this! – the rumour is that he’s gone to the UK on business. Interesting eh?’

  ‘Very. I wonder if that could be our man?’

  ‘I think it might.’

  Senga looked at me expectantly after the call.

  ‘Does Josh have any French connections?’ I asked. ‘That you know about?’

  ‘Possibly. I don’t really know. Why?’

  ‘It might mean nothing, but Bill Peart tells me that a Monsieur Bleu is known to French police as part of the Marseilles mafia.’

  ‘And that’s Blue, is it?’

  I shrugged. ‘I dunno. But it might be.’

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  The house in Marton had been fully restored, a remarkable feat in such a short time. Gerald was worth his weight in gold when it came to getting things done.

  Josh and Anne said nothing about it. They were far too preoccupied with getting their son back in one piece, and eager to hear all about his experiences. After a decent interval for the family reunion, I managed to draw Josh aside for the serious discussion he and I needed to have.

  ‘First,’ I said, ‘I have to admit that I didn’t do a very good job of looking after Tom. I should have handcuffed and leg-ironed him so he couldn’t run out on me.’

  Josh smiled ruefully. ‘He can be an awkward so-and-so, when he wants.’

  ‘I gather you found that out for yourself after the so-called accident?’

  That raised eyebrows. ‘What do you mean, Frank?’

  ‘Tom has told me what really happened.’

  ‘About the accident?’

  ‘And other things. The shipments of stolen machinery along with the legitimate trade, for example, and your business dealings with Logan.’

  ‘He shouldn’t have,’ Josh said, looking peeved. ‘Some things are better kept in-family.’

  ‘Not these things, Josh. Not if you want my help.’

  He looked unsure about that for a moment. Then he said, ‘Well, it’s water under the bridge now. Thanks for what you’ve done for us, Frank. We’ll sort it out ourselves from here on.’

  I shook my head. ‘It’s not over, Josh.’

  ‘It is for you,’ he said tartly. ‘You’ve done what we asked you to do, and you’ve been well paid for your trouble. My cheque is in the post.’

  I shook my head again. ‘I don’t think so. You don’t get rid of me that easily.’

  ‘So what now? You’re going to blackmail me? Join the queue!’

  ‘I signed on to protect Tom. The job is not finished.’

  ‘It is for you,’ he repeated.

  Again I shook my head.

  ‘What have you done to get Tom out of this mess, Josh? Anything at all?’

  ‘Logan will withdraw his threat against Tom’s life, if that’s what you mean. We’ll reach an understanding with him.’

  ‘You and Anne?’

  He nodded.

  ‘So what will you do – offer him a better deal on your illegal exports? Perhaps you’ve done it already?’

  He looked absolutely furious now. He was livid with mounting rage.

  ‘You go too far, Doy! This has nothing at all to do with you. What I do in my business is my business. Clear?’

  ‘If you think I’m going to stand idly by while you and Logan conspire to export another load of stolen property, you’re living in cloud cuckoo land. It ain’t going to happen, pal.’

  He slowed down and studied me. ‘So what are you going to do – blow the whistle? You took our money, remember?’

  ‘Josh, I’ll be quite happy to tell Cleveland police what I know, and let them be the judge of whether or not I did anything illegal.’

  ‘You can’t do that.’

  ‘Watch me.’

  We stared at one another for a few long moments. Then he said with a sigh, ‘What do you want? More money?’

  I shook my head. ‘Not money, no. I want to know what steps you’ve taken to safeguard Tom. Then, if necessary, I want to work with you to figure out a way of undoing them, and finding a legal way of protecting Tom – and you and Anne, as well, for that matter.

  ‘I accept that you didn’t know what you were getting into initially, and ideally I would like to see you come out of it a free man still, and with a business that’s still afloat.’

  I had reached him. I could see that. His anger was subsiding. He had his thinking head on now, and could see he wasn’t going to be able to brush me off as lightly as he’d hoped. He probably regretted ever having involved me, but what could he do now? My threat to unload to the police was a potential disaster for him, his business and his family.

  ‘Come and sit down, Frank,’ he suggested. ‘Let’s talk.’

  He led me through to a room that served as an office. There, he opened a drinks cabinet disguised as a filing cabinet and motioned to me to select something. I shook my head. We sat down around his desk and stared at one another.

  ‘Just tell me what’s going on,’ I suggested. ‘It can’t be worse than I already think.’

  ‘Oh, it can!’ he assured me with a wan smile. ‘Far worse. I can almost guarantee it. What do you think of Tom, by the way?’

  ‘Tom?’ I chuckled and shook my head. ‘At first, I thought he wa
s an ungrateful, spiteful, egotistical, spoilt little rich kid. Now? Now I can see where he’s coming from, and I rather like him. He’s done well by you and Anne, even though he has a lot to complain about.’

  Josh nodded. ‘You can say that again. I got him into all this, and he wouldn’t let me get him out of it. I’m proud of him.’

  He looked challengingly at me.

  ‘I understand all that, Josh. Just tell me what you’ve been doing to try to keep him safe. Time isn’t on our side, if the first of December is as important as Tom says it is.’

  That earned me another malignant look. Clearly, he questioned my right to know that date, and resented the fact that I did know.

  ‘The shipment,’ I said impatiently.

  ‘I know what you mean.’

  He sighed again and shook his head. Then he started.

  ‘I’m going to offer Logan the proceeds from the entire shipment, in exchange for dropping the vendetta.’

  ‘You haven’t done it yet?’

  He shook his head.

  ‘Will it work, do you think?’

  ‘The shipment is worth a lot of money, but who knows?’

  ‘Tom seems to think Logan isn’t really all that bothered about avenging the death of his son – his stepson, rather.’

  ‘That seems to be true.’

  ‘You and Anne misled me.’

  He shrugged, implying that they had done and said what they had thought necessary at the time. Perhaps it had been.

  ‘So money might do it,’ I continued. ‘How much is the shipment worth?’

  ‘In round figures?’

  ‘Round figures will do.’

  ‘Twenty million?’ He shrugged again. ‘Maybe a bit more.’

  ‘Sterling?’

  He nodded.

  I was impressed. It was a lot of money for what still seemed to me like a shipload of old junk.

  ‘That’s without being able to price Logan’s own contribution,’ Josh added.

  ‘The stolen stuff?’

  ‘Yeah. That’s worth maybe another five to ten million. Plus whatever it is that he’s adding this time that I don’t know about.’

  ‘Oh? What might that be?’

  ‘I dunno.’ Josh shook his head. ‘But I’m told there’s a special item this time that he’ll bring forward only at the last minute.’

  ‘And you’ve no idea what it is?’