by Todd, Ian
“It gets worse. When Crisscross left the car unattended, he put the briefcase intae the boot, oot ae sight. Whoever tanned it hid tae get intae the boot through the back seat.”
Silence.
“So, it wis planned then. They knew whit they wur efter?” Daddy groaned.
“It looks like it.”
“So, who ur the main suspects?”
“Ah wid put ma money oan Pat Molloy. Who else is there?” The Super said, as the inspectors aw erupted intae a cursing session.
“That basturt will crucify us.”
“No necessarily. Ah mean, whit’s he gonnae dae wae it, eh?” asked Billy Liar, his erms stretched oot wide in front ae himsel.
“He’ll fucking haud us tae ransom until the moon turns green.”
“He’ll sell it tae the highest bidder.”
“If The Glesga Echo gets a whiff ae this…”
At the mention ae The Glesga Echo, The Super stepped in tae take back control ae the situation.
“If ma auld pal, Sir Frank Owen, gets his hauns oan any ae these papers, they’ll throw away the key efter they lock everywan ae us up,” The Super reminded them, getting their attention, as the clock at the far end ae the room struck twelve. “We cannae say fur certain that it wis Molloy, although, given the location ae the car, it probably wis him. Whit concerns me is, how the hell did he or anywan else, fur that matter, know that the car wid be parked in the lane across fae The Chevalier? Another thing that might jist help us is that, because we know Crisscross put the briefcase in the boot jist before he went across the road tae talk tae Liam Thompson, whoever done it must’ve been staunin, hinging aboot, clocking whit wis gaun oan, waiting fur an opportunity tae get intae the car.”
“So, we need tae get oot and talk tae people, tae find oot who they saw in that lane last night,” Colin chipped in, looking aroond the table.
“Wan other thing that’ll help us oot. Apart fae the papers in the briefcase, there wis a stash ae chips fae the casino,” The Super said, hesitating. “Five hunner quid’s worth, tae be precise.”
Silence.
“Did Ah jist hear right? Did ye say five hunner quid’s worth?” Daddy Jackson asked incredulously.
“Aye, noo, either some eejit is gonnae walk intae The Chevalier wae a stash and staun oot like a sore thumb or they’re gonnae try and get shot ae them. Whit we hiv tae dae is track doon who’s punting them and nab them. Whoever that is will lead us tae whit wis nicked,” The Super replied, getting in there quick tae stoap them dwelling oan the amount.
“This will gie us a cover story, tae get the pavement pounders oan the case withoot us hivving tae tell any porkies. Whit we need is tae get the word oot oan the street…fast. Get aw yer best boys chasing this up. Tell them they kin offer twenty five quid as a reward fur information leading tae the chips.”
“We’ll also take intae consideration any ootstauning charges that kin be drapped oan successful recovery ae the chips. That should get the baw rolling,” Ralph Toner, Heid ae the Criminal Intelligence Department offered.
“Ah’ll put Fin O’Callaghan and Paddy McPhee oan tae it up in the Toonheid. If they chips ur oan the street up there, they’re the boys tae pick up oan it. Ah suggest youse aw dae likewise in yer ain areas,” Colin chipped in.
“If they chips start tae get punted anywhere in the toon, Ah want us in there pronto,” Daddy snarled, as aw the heids in the room nodded in agreement.
“Nowan, and Ah mean nowan, his tae get a whiff ae any ae this. We’re looking fur a stash ae chips. We’ll need tae move quickly oan this or we’re aw fucked,” The Super warned them, eyeballing each and every wan ae them.
“So, whit’s gonnae happen tae that squinty-eyed prick, Crisscross, Sean?” Daddy asked.
“Ah’ve awready dealt wae him. He’s been shifted o’er tae the lost property section where he’ll stay fur the duration ae his career. Ah wid’ve goat rid ae him before noo if it wisnae fur that cretin ae a faither-in-law ae his, JP Donnelly.”
Chapter Thirty Four
They wur aw back in the den. Everywan hid been busy. Silent and Paul hid been sent oot tae get a stash ae briquettes fur the fire alang wae a stock ae biscuits, breid and crisps. Joe hid been up and away at the crack ae dawn tae flog some ae the casino chips. Aleck The Humph hid bought fifty quid’s worth fur four crispy five pound notes. Efter seeing Aleck, Joe hid caught Manky Malcolm opening up his rag store in Stanhope Street. Malcolm hid bought the same amount, as hid Fat Fingered Finklebaum fae the pawn shoap. Wae that and the tenner they’d goat fur delivering the blue folder tae The Big Man, they wur rolling in it. While aw this wis gaun oan, Tony and Johnboy hid managed tae tunnel through the final wall, which gied them an escape route oot intae Frankie Wilson’s auld close in Grafton Street. The problem wae them hivving loads ae dosh swirling aboot, wis that wance they goat it, they usually didnae know whit the fuck tae dae wae it. Johnboy remembered wan time that himsel and Tony hid been stripping lead aff ae a roof and Johnboy hid needed tae dae a shite. There hidnae been any newspapers oan the roof, so he’d used two five pound notes tae wipe that bare arse ae his behind a chimney stack. Even when they wurnae trying tae figure oot whit tae spend their money oan, they usually ended up gieing maist ae it away tae people they bumped intae oan their travels. While they could hardly be described as Robin Hoods, they never ever hid any problem robbing hoods, especially if their nametags ended in Murphy.
They decided tae go and buy some decent clobber wae their dosh, doon in the toon centre. Tony, Johnboy and Joe made arrangements tae meet up wae Paul and Silent later oan because Paul and Silent hid lost at Bella so wur being sent aff tae stock up oan the food front. They wur also gaun tae get some groceries fur some auld wummin they’d met, who stayed in a closemooth tenement between Stanhope Street and St Mungo Street. She’d jist been let oot ae hospital and hid come back tae find her hoose ransacked. Silent and Paul hid actually been sniffing aboot in her kitchen when she’d come in through the door. She must’ve been in the hospital fur a while, because her front and back windaes hid awready been boarded up by The Corporation. The board covering her kitchen windae roond the back hid been hauf ripped aff. When they’d gone in tae sniff aroond, they’d assumed that whoever hid lived there hid probably died and the contents ae the hoose abandoned. Wance they’d goat talking tae her and convinced her that they’d jist arrived two minutes before she hid, she’d calmed doon and goat talking tae them. They’d spent maist ae the day helping her tae clean the place up as best they could. They’d also gone and found a replacement kitchen windae frame, wae the glass still intact, that hidnae been smashed yet, fae wan ae the tenements that wis staunin empty, two closes alang fae her. Because they’d been aw o’er the empty tenements in the area, they knew whit hooses still hid good furniture, blankets, curtains and aw kinds ae shite still in them. They’d dumped aw the wet and auld rickety furniture fae hers oot intae the back court and supplied her wae nice clean dry stuff. They’d also killed two birds wae the wan stane and left her wae a couple ae dozen briquettes efter hivving been tasked tae resupply The Mankys’ dwindling stock. The night before, Paul hid promised the auld dear that him and Silent wid nip back up first thing in the morning tae take the boards aff ae her front windaes that looked oan tae McAslin Street.
“Paul, who the fuck ur youse kidding, eh? Helping that poor auld wummin isnae gonnae save that manky arse ae yours fae being toasted when St Peter tells ye tae fuck aff. If Ah wis you, Silent, Ah’d steer well clear ae the ex-altar boy and stick wae us wans. At least we’re honest and know we’re gonnae fry,” Joe sniffed, trying tae noise Paul up.
“Don’t listen tae him, Silent. He disnae know whit the fuck he’s talking aboot. Shite disnae burn, so it disnae,” Paul retorted, as him and Silent disappeared through the hole in the wall in the bedroom.
Tony, Joe and Johnboy spent maist ae the efternoon in the toon centre. Although it wis cauld enough tae freeze the baws aff ae a snowman, there wis still crowds ae shoppers rummaging aboot, l
ooking fur bargains. They spent aboot an hour in Lewis’s oan Argyle Street. They’d latched oan tae a dozen or so aulder guys fur a while, who wur clearly killing time, patiently waiting fur their wummin folk tae satisfy their shopping lust, while spending aw their hard-earned dosh. They’d been staunin watching a nice looking sales assistant demonstrating something that none ae them clearly wanted. She wis a lot aulder than The Mankys…probably aboot nineteen or twenty…wae long red hair and wis wearing a black mini skirt that barely covered her arse. Every time she knelt doon or bent o’er tae show aff how the flair cleaner worked, everywan goat a nice wee swatch ae her orange knickers, which matched that hair ae hers. It hid goat tae the embarrassing stage though, as the dirty auld basturts must’ve seen the demo aboot a dozen times before The Mankys arrived oan the scene.
“Show us how ye extend that pole again, hen,” wan ae them wid ask wance she goat tae the end ae her wee demo, tae nods fae the rest ae the Dirty Brigade.
“Gie us another wee demo oan how easy it is tae pack it away intae its wee special box, hen,” somewan else wid say, as aw heids followed that arse ae hers, bending o’er tae pick up the machine.
It goat so embarrassing that Joe wis aboot tae buy two ae the fancy flair cleaners, until Tony dragged him away. Johnboy and Tony goat themsels a pair ae five-o-wans each oot ae the Levi store at the corner ae Argyle Street and Union Street. While the guy wis slavering o’er their money, Joe managed tae walk oot wae a pair fur himsel. Johnboy and Joe also bought two, aff-the-peg shirts, in Arthur Blacks, deciding tae wait while their names wur sewn on tae the shirt pockets in fancy haunwriting. Wance again, while they wur being served, Tony walked oot wae three fur himsel. They’d also aw jist bought themsels Barathea blazers, wae silver and gold wire club badges that hid three swords oan them, fur the hanky pockets, when Paul arrived oan the scene, looking pretty pissed aff.
“Whit’s up?” Tony asked him, as they nipped across Argyle Street and back intae Lewis’s, heiding fur the cafeteria oan the tap flair.
“The basturts goat a haud ae Silent.”
“Who did?”
“The Stalker and Bumper.”
“Whereaboots?”
“Alang at that auld dear’s place.”
“How the fuck did ye manage tae let that happen?”
“Ah’m no too sure. Efter we goat the boards aff ae her windaes, we went looking fur a sideboard tae replace the auld rickety wan that she hid. We wur jist manoeuvring her auld wan across the landing when the basturts ambushed us. Silent hid been first through the door, walking backwards o’er the doorstep, when The Stalker pounced oan him. Ah heaved the sideboard forward, causing Silent and The Stalker tae tumble backwards and fall oan tae their arses. Ah shouted fur Silent tae jump across the tap ae it towards me as Ah kept the pressure oan the sideboard at ma end. The Stalker wis jammed underneath it, screaming the place doon. Silent jist aboot made it, bit Bumper arrived and grappled him doon oan tae the landing. There wis nothing Ah could dae. Bumper hid drawn his baton and wis swishing it aboot tae keep me at bay while struggling wae Silent. Wance The Stalker goat up oan tae they feet ae his, Ah hid tae leg it oot ae the kitchen windae wae The Stalker oan ma heels. Ah only managed tae shake the basturt aff by nipping doon intae the basement trolley tunnels up in The Royal.”
“Ah telt ye youse wur exposing yersels too much, Paul. That’s whit happens when ye don’t bloody-well listen,” Tony grumbled, looking aboot tae make sure they wurnae being clocked.
“Ye don’t think the auld yin hid anything tae dae wae it, dae ye?” Joe asked.
“Naw, she wis screaming fur them tae leave Silent alane or she wis gonnae get the polis. She picked up that new brush we goat fur her and scudded Bumper wae it,” Paul said, smiling grimly.
“Did he hiv any money, chips or anything tae dae wae the den oan him?”
“No that Ah know ae.”
“Right, well, there isnae much we kin dae aboot it noo. We’ll jist need tae keep oor eyes peeled. We cannae let oor guard doon or they’ll hiv us by the goolies,” Tony warned, looking at their faces tae make sure everywan understood the seriousness ae the situation.
“So, whit happens noo then?”
“Wae Silent? They’ll ship him back tae Thistle Park…or up tae the closed block.”
“Whit aboot the den? Dae ye think we’ll hiv tae shift?” Joe asked.
“Why wid we dae that? Silent isnae gonnae say anything tae them. Fuck, he hardly says anything tae us, never mind that pair ae shitehooses,” Paul shot back in Silent’s defence.
“Paul, Joe’s no saying anything oot ae order. Whit if they torture him?” Johnboy asked.
“Look, we’re sound enough wae Silent. He’ll keep his mooth shut,” Paul retorted.
“Well, nothing better happen before we get oor hauns oan that Mick Murphy prick. That’s goat tae be oor number wan priority. So, nae mair fucking aboot, daeing people favours, Paul,” Tony growled, glowering at Paul.
“Aw, fuck youse,” Paul bit back, storming aff in the huff.
“Don’t take your fuck-up oot oan us Paul, ya prick, ye!” Joe shouted efter him as he disappeared intae the crowds.
It wis pretty hairy, sneaking back intae the den. They anchored in an empty hoose in Grafton Street fur aboot an hour, taking turns at looking oot the broken windae tae see if The Stalker or Bumper wur oan the go. Tony got a glance ae them doon oan the street in a squad car, speeding up towards Grafton Square, in hot pursuit ae a couple ae the Toonheid Toi crowd. They took it in turns tae heid back tae the den at five-minute intervals, wan efter the other. Efter closing the shutters oan the windae, they didnae light a fire that night, even though it wis freezing. They talked and laughed a lot aboot Silent and how he’d come tae be wae them. Paul said he thought Skull wid’ve liked Silent. Tony then reminded them ae the reason they wur sitting there and no oot in Thistle Park or St Ninians.
“Right, we may as well get doon tae business. The longest wan pulls the trigger,” Tony announced, haudin oot his haun.
Four black strands ae copper wire that he’d picked oot ae the grate in the fireplace wur sticking up oot ae his haun. Nowan said a word. They aw sat and stared at the four strands.
“The longest wire?” Paul asked.
“Aye.”
“Dae ye no mean the short straw?”
“Well it wid be, if none ae us wanted tae dae this. Ah take it we’re aw still game?” Tony asked, looking roond at the faces highlighted in the flickering ae the candle that wis sitting in the middle ae them. “Well, don’t be shy then.”
“Fuck, Ah jist assumed it wid be wan ae youse three who wid be daeing it,” Johnboy confessed, as aw eyes fell oan him.
“We wur aw Skull’s pal, Johnboy. If ye don’t want tae dae it…fair enough. There’s nae shame tae that,” Joe mocked, as Johnboy looked back at the three grim faces.
“Oan ye go, Johnboy,” Tony said encouragingly, thrusting his haun towards Johnboy first.
“Jist remember, ye cannae change yer mind, if it’s you,” Paul reminded him.
Johnboy stretched oot his haun. He wis surprised tae see that it wisnae shaking. Jist before his fingers connected wae the wire, it felt as if a bolt ae electricity hid shot up his fingertips tae his erm. Everything became a blur and he could hear the rushing ae wind in his ears. He turned roond tae see if wan ae the windaes wis open, bit the shutters wur sealed shut. He thought aboot that day that they’d sat in the closemooth next tae Sherbet’s…the same day as Skull died. He wis trying tae remember who it wis that came up wae the vow that wan day they’d get the basturts who’d killed their pal, when his sight returned. The sound ae heavy breathing and the smells ae the room came back tae him in an instant. He looked at the faces roond aboot him again before clasping his fingers roond the wire closest tae him and pulling. It looked tae be a short wan…aboot an inch and a hauf long…bit nowan, apart fae Tony, knew how long the other wires wur. Joe went next. He hesitated slightly before leaning o’er and pulling oot his wan. It wis aboot an
inch longer than Johnboy’s. Paul went next.
“Listen, Ah don’t mind daeing it if youse want?” Paul declared.
“Jist pick a wire, Paul,” Tony replied quietly.
Paul shrugged and casually reached o’er, his haun stoapping, jist when it looked as if he’d made up his mind which wan tae choose.
“Eeny, meeny, miney, mo,” Paul mimicked wae his finger, picking the opposite wan tae the wan he’d been aboot tae choose first.
He looked aboot, as he placed the wire oan the palm ae his right haun. It looked tae be aboot four inches long.
Everywan stared at Tony, who suddenly grinned, opening the palm ae his haun tae reveal the shortest length ae wire.
“Great. Ah wid’ve been disappointed if it hidnae been me. Ah’m glad it’s me,” Paul said, smiling.
“Ah’ll arrange fur us tae go roond tae Erchie The Basturt’s and get a bit ae practice wae the gun,” Tony announced, reaching o’er and lifting up a hauf empty bottle ae Irn Bru and taking a slug oot ae it.
They didnae say much tae each other efter that. Everywan seemed tae be lost in their ain thoughts, either thinking aboot Skull or Silent. They started playing pontoon, using the casino chips, then, efter Paul and Joe lost fifty quid’s worth each, they started a game ae Bella. Although he didnae say very much when he wis wae them, Silent getting nabbed by The Stalker and Bumper hid dampened their spirits and the wan-liners wurnae as funny or coming as thick and fast as they usually did.
“Aye, he’ll be nursing a well-tanned pair ae arse cheeks by noo,” wis Tony’s last words before they crashed oot tae sleep.
Chapter Thirty Five
“How ur ye daeing, hen?” Helen’s maw asked her.
“Me? Ah’m fine, so Ah am. How hiv you and Da settled in tae yer new hoose up here in Sighthill then?” Helen asked, crossing o’er tae the windae and feeling dizzy as she looked doon.