Shadows of Deceit

by Patrick Cotter

  “Tell me something, why is it you were limping the night I first met you?”

  Andrew laughed,

  “Limping? – oh yes. For no other reason than one of my shoes had let water in. My sock had turned under my toes; I must look to buy a decent pair again”

  Harry smiled to himself,

  “And I thought the lameness was another part of your disguise, along with the overcoat?”

  “No, it’s only the overcoat I wear around here. If you appear too smart you could look out of place and get picked on.”

  “Well your overcoat didn’t help much the other night did it?” Harry continued,

  “Next question, why, in your comfortable financial situation do you need to use a pawn shop to obtain money?”

  “That’s all part of a sideline to my property business. You see I buy houses and you’d be surprised what people leave behind, especially if they have to move away quickly. Sometimes I discover abandoned items left in the loft or cupboards, you know, clocks, pictures, gramophones, mirrors etcetera. So I examine them and decide which is worth putting aside.”

  “You mean sell them?”

  “At first I thought of selling them through the trade, but I’m now trying to be a bit more, what’s the word, philanthropic!”

  Harry frowned in disbelief as Andrew continued,

  “You see I give the vendor the benefit of the doubt. I simply pawn them for a few months, and if on the rare occasions a vendor returns and remembers an item they’ve left then I redeem the goods and hand it over to them.”

  “What happens if the owner turns up later than that?”

  “Well that situation is very unusual, it did happen once though and I was able to buy the item back at full price from the pawn shop which luckily hadn’t sold it on. Of course I charged the vendor storage costs then, so I didn’t lose too much!” Andrew grinned.

  “You fucking amaze me.” Harry said as Andrew directed the way across a busy road.

  “Think about it, you either throw away the items found or you make them work for you.”

  At the club Andrew signed Harry in as a visitor. Once inside they ordered some beers and moved across to the window. The smoky lounge was quite full of people, a lot of them in uniform. Andrew took off his overcoat with a theatrical flourish and sat down on a window seat to get a better view of the room. A few R.A.F. Officers nearby stared across at the two newcomers and quietly made a joke amongst themselves.

  “It’s not that obvious is it?” Harry asked Andrew.

  “What?”

  Harry nodded towards the group sitting nearby,

  “Your kind of inclinations, I think they feel we’re together.”

  Andrew looked across to the Officers and smiled,

  “We’ve met haven’t we, recently – I’m trying to remember where?”

  The Officers became embarrassed and turned away muttering quietly to themselves.

  “That’s got them thinking, a knowing smile works every time. Don’t worry about them. Now to business, the job I’m offering.”

  Harry sipped his drink,

  “Firstly,” Harry asked,

  “How did you start in the property business?”

  Andrew drank deeply down his glass and sat forward,

  “I’ve mentioned before that I helped my father out with his construction work for a while but when he died I decided to concentrate on doing something else that I could control myself. He had carried out some major new build and refurbishment contracts during his life. My Dad was a skilled tradesman and knew the industry backwards and could easily manage the various subcontractors required. You see for me I never felt totally confident that I could manage and trust these people. I wasn’t a tradesman so I could easily find myself out of my depth, not fully understanding what their problems were. The antiques market was also poor at the time so I was looking for another opportunity to keep me going. I had managed to save some cash and decided to buy a property in town to convert to flats and rent them out. I scrutinized the renovation quotations that came in, selected the most cost effective and tied up a legal contract with one builder. I didn’t have to deal with all the various trades like my father did. The rentals provided a regular income for me each week. Then I decided to buy another property and convert that one as well. I hired someone to work with me and I set up an Agency. As I bought more cheap houses to convert, the income I received was more than paying for my assistant and later for a secretary. I decided to branch out and advertised that I could manage the letting of houses for absentee landlords as well.”

  “How does that work?”

  Andrew downed more of his drink before replying,

  “The landlords pay me a fee to set up the tenancy; the tenants pay me through my bank. I take my cut and later in the month pass on the balance to the owners. You see that way I’m not using any of my own money, all the funding flows from the owners and the tenants. I just arrange to collect rents and it rolls on month after month. The tenant’s money is lodged in my bank account for a few weeks before I pass on the owner’s share, after deducting my commission. It really is very simple, and by the way, I also collect the bank interest on the cash sitting in my account as well.”

  “Can anyone set up these tenancy or letting arrangements?”

  “Yes, it’s all above board and transparent. You do need to get some legal advice, but apart from that the money begins, and continues, to flow in. The important thing is to try and select suitable tenants that have the means to pay regularly.”

  “Are you still controlling all this yourself?”

  “Yes, I am here in Glasgow, but I do have an association with an old friend of my father, his name is Dermot Cassidy. He used to help dad out with supplying labour and materials now and again. After dad died Dermot continued with his building company but became more interested in what I was doing. So I helped him out in establishing his own letting business.”

  “Where does he operate from then?”

  “Originally in Northumberland but he now has an operation in Edinburgh as well. We work together sometimes and share ideas. He comes up here fairly often with his son. Dermot often visits his sister who lives somewhere in Edinburgh.”

  “So you meet up often?”

  “About once or twice a month I guess. Dermot’s getting to be an old man now, a rough diamond really, as long as you don’t cross him.”

  “Another drink?”

  Harry had been so fascinated by the business description that he had quite forgotten that he’d finished his pint.

  “Andrew, is it OK for me to order and pay at the bar in this club?”

  “Yes, go ahead, no one will mind.”

  Harry walked across to the bar,

  “What’ll you have stranger?”

  The barmaid was in her early forties he thought, possibly a few years older than him?

  “What’s on offer then in this establishment?”

  “Just drinks, at the moment.” She paused and then added,

  “Maybe some food later.” She smiled.

  Harry ordered and watched her move down the bar to fetch the drinks. She was medium height and wearing a tight, black skirt with a fitting green cardigan that emphasised her figure. Her short blonde hair and fair complexion were enhanced by her large brown smiling eyes. She wasn’t wearing a ring, he’d noticed. Another younger barmaid was standing by the till watching what was going on.

  The older barmaid returned,

  “Here you go, will that be all?”

  “For the moment.”

  This time Harry smiled at her, paid and then returned to his seat. As he turned to glance back at the bar he noticed that the two assistants were chatting about him and pointing across. The other girl was smaller in stature, with dark hair; probably only twenty Harry thought. They both sprang back to their dut
ies when they realised Harry was now watching them.

  Harry turned in his chair,

  “What’s this job then Andrew?”

  “Well I was thinking of expanding my business empire a bit more. I have the funds to buy up more houses and convert them. With the bombing still going on there are always families and service people looking for accommodation.”

  “Aren’t you worried that some of your houses may also get destroyed or damaged?”

  “Well yes of course, but there will be government compensation to repair or rebuild, plus the fact that the land they are sitting on is still of value and will be in greater demand, I guess, after the war.”

  “Assuming we carry on winning!”

  “We are winning, especially now with the Yanks in with us.”

  “You can’t seem to go wrong can you?”

  “I try not to.”

  They both drank deeply.

  “The job?”

  “The job…I need someone to front some of the operations. Someone who isn’t afraid to be assertive on occasions.”

  “You mean a heavy?”

  “Hopefully that will never be needed, how can I put it, someone who has a presence, is charismatic, who is able to mix easily, who can persuade.”

  “A heavy, I thought so.”

  “Look I’m running a legitimate letting business. But my work is expanding at such a rate that I can’t vet every tenant who’s now in occupation. My regular payers are fine but I don’t command the presence or time needed myself to argue or persuade the difficult ones.”

  Andrew looked around and then lowered his voice.

  “But there is also a ‘shadow’ operation I’m involved in that you may wish to assist me with. I want someone smart, someone who has confidence. After all that’s why I arranged for you to be suited and booted.”

  “That’s another bone to pick with you. The next time you want me measured for a suit I’ll choose the tailor. I not going back to your friend again!”

  “Yes OK., but remember he’s useful for getting clothes without coupons.”

  “I’ll suffer gladly without him.”

  Harry was now becoming more interested in the alternative option being described.

  “This ‘shadow’ operation you mentioned, it’s obviously not legal is it?”

  Andrew scanned the room and then whispered,

  “Look Harry, I know we’ve only known each other for about a week but I think I can trust you. What I’m describing is, shall we say, a little opaque.”

  “Opaque?”

  Harry couldn’t help laughing out loud,

  “Opa…”

  Alarmed at the outburst Andrew waved his hand to quieten Harry down.

  “I’m sorry Andrew, please go on.”

  This time Harry was whispering.

  “The letting business is the cover, there are some great opportunities to be realised elsewhere but we need to beef up our small discreet team to carry them out.”

  “Have you carried out any such operations so far?”

  “One or two only, very small scale.”

  “This team you mentioned, who’s in it so far?”

  “Dermot of course, he’s invested money alongside mine. There are a couple of other local guys as well. We’re still interviewing other possible candidates but I’m certain Dermot would accept you.”

  “But I haven’t agreed to be ‘interviewed’ and I may not wish to accept this bloody Dermot of yours.”

  “Don’t piss about Harry, I know and you know that you want a job and a bit of the excitement on the side!”

  “OK, give me a clue about what you’re dealing with.”

  Andrew looked around the room again before continuing.

  “We’ve gleaned some information about non military cargoes coming this way from the States and Canada via Ireland, more precisely the Free State. We believe, I mean we know, that we can intercept some of the best bits and divert them to the U.K., we have a ready market here, especially now that American bases are being established everywhere. The G.I.’s have plenty of money to burn on luxury items, plus we already have our own flourishing black market that’s continuing to be fruitful.”

  There was a pause as Harry thought about the ‘shadow’ operations.

  “OK, this sounds more interesting than bloody rent collecting. If your Dermot fellow accepts me then I’ll think about joining you. But on one condition, I need to be fully involved and not just called in at a later stage to run errands for you.”

  “OK, good man. I fully understand your concerns. I’ll discuss all this with Dermot.”

  Andrew finished his drink.

  “The plan would be for you to be employed by me to carry out rent collections, when any ‘shadow’ projects come along then I’ll involve you. Now it’s my turn for a round.”

  “No, I’ll go.” Harry said.

  As he stood up he turned and bumped into the barmaid who was collecting glasses.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

  “Its OK laddie, it happens all the time. Did any spill on you?”

  “No, I’m OK ...”

  She smiled at him and he followed her back to the bar.

  “Right, what can I do for you?” She said, looking warmly up at Harry.

  “A couple of pints again please.”

  “Are you from around here?” She enquired.

  “No I’m just visiting. I’ve have some temporary digs about a mile away.”

  “I was saying to Agnes, I hadn’t seen you here before. But she thought she’d recognised you. Have you been in Glasgow long?”

  “Only a few months. Do you live here on the premises?”

  “No, Agnes and I rent a little flat. Tell me, who’s your friend?”

  “Andrew? – he’s just a work colleague, not really a friend. I only met him about a week ago.”

  “Oh I see.”

  She looked at Andrew again and turned back to face Harry grinning,

  “He’s a way with him, so he has.”

  She put the fresh drinks on the bar,

  “As I said, Agnes and me, we work together. Will you be coming in here again maybe?”

  “I could be, no I’ll change that, in fact I will be. Tell me, do you work every evening shift?”

  “I don’t work on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings.”

  “So if I called in on Wednesday we could possibly arrange to go out on Thursday?”

  “You don’t waste time do you?”

  “There’s a war on you know, needs must. So is that OK with you?”

  “I look forward to it. What’s your name?”

  “Harry.”

  “And yours?”

  “Eileen.”

  “I’ll see you Wednesday evening then Eileen.”

  She smiled,

  “Ask for me at the door when you arrive, I’ll sign you in.”

  He returned with the drinks to Andrew.

  “You’re obviously loining after someone?”

  he said acidly looking towards the bar.

  “Steady on Andrew, keep calm, I’ve only just met her. Look lets change the subject. Can I ask you a personal question?”

  “As long as you’re not asking me to make up a foursome.”

  Andrew giggled at the thought.

  “Seriously, your lifestyle, your inclinations, they could get you into serious trouble, how do you cope with that pressure?”

  Andrew sat further back in his chair and responded in a quieter, wistful voice,

  “It’s knowing where to go, which club, which pub. People tend to seek you out. You’re right of course; one has to be very careful. But I manage pretty well.”

  A pause followed. Andrew took a long draught of beer and then sat forward again, th
e usual confidence and sparkle returning to his eyes -

  “But enough of that, tell me about your background. The truth, nothing but the truth.”

  Andrew leaned back in the seat and relaxed again. He smiled at one of the R.A.F. Officers, and waited.

  “The truth, in confidence of course. Here goes.”

  Harry still wanted to keep some details back. But he felt that Andrew deserved to know a bit more of what he had been up to recently,

  “After the blast injury, I told you about, I went to Ireland, the Free State, for a while and did a few jobs, some legal and some not quite so. But I was forced to leave at the end. A job went wrong and I was beaten up by a rival gang and had to scarper to England. I found out where my brother and his family lived and spent some time there hiding until all my injuries healed. I met my nephew, Tad.”

  “Tad?”

  “Yes, short for Tadeuz, met him for the first time. Great little kid he is, we really got on well together.”

  “A Polish name?”

  “Yes, my sister-in-law, Anna - although she’s English - was brought up over there by her gran. This was between the wars. So their baby has a Polish name. Just as a reminder of the connection. Anna, and David my Brother, had a lucky escape. They were in Poland as the war started and had to evacuate quickly. I’ll tell you all about it some time; it was quite an adventure apparently. Anyway, I left them in London to move up here and just managed to get odd little jobs which sort of paid my way.”

  “Legal?”

  “Most were, but again, I slid a bit on occasions. My real regret is, it still makes me feel a shit, I took a ring belonging to Anna. It was her gran’s. That’s the one I redeemed when I had sufficient funds and now, as you know, I’ve lost it. When I’m fully fit I can return to my old job down south where I was injured. They paid me for a while but after a few weeks that stopped. I could have claimed some benefit from my Union apparently but I knew I could improve on my income by doing a little work on the side.”

  Andrew still found it difficult to believe Harry’s earlier description about his reserved occupation but decided not to reveal his doubts.