by Tony Black
I felt tears in my eyes, but I didn’t care.
‘This isn’t goodbye, Col.’
‘Och, I think it is.’
He took my hand and shook it. ‘I wish my son had been more like you, Gus.’
It felt like the greatest compliment of my life.
The taxi’s horn sounded again.
‘I have to go.’
‘Goodbye, then.’
We’d no time to linger on a lengthy farewell; for that, I felt grateful.
I told the cabbie to take me to my mother’s house. I planned to collect the urn and get out of town. The furthest ahead I thought was to return Milo’s ashes to his homeland. If I could persuade Debs to come with me, I’d take it from there.
A line of cars stretched bumper to bumper all the way down my mother’s street.
‘Can you wait?’ I asked the cabbie. ‘I’ll only be a minute.’
A huff. ‘I’ll have to keep the meter running.’
‘Well go on then.’
‘I’ll get turned. Can’t wait more than five minutes, though.’
I dashed inside. My mother sat in the living room with my sister.
‘Gus,’ said Cathy, ‘what is it?’
‘I can’t stop. How are you, Mam?’ She didn’t even look up, just stared at an indistinct spot on the wall.
‘She’s out of it. Doctor’s given her a scrip,’ said Cathy.
‘Is she going to be okay?’
Cathy turned around, walked me into the hall and closed the door behind us.
‘It would be nice to have you around a bit more, you know. She needs her family.’
‘Cathy, this isn’t a good time.’
‘You’re her son.’
The cabbie got impatient, another round of the horn sounded. ‘Maybe in a while. I have to get away for a bit.’
I turned from her, went to the hallstand and took down the ashes.
‘Suit yourself,’ said Cathy. She spun around, walked back to the living room, slammed the door.
I wanted to say something, but I knew time was against me. I took the Glock out of its hiding place beside the ashes and stuffed it in my waistband.
As I ran out the cabbie scolded, ‘I can’t sit about blocking streets all day you know. Lucky I never got a ticket round here.’
My mind buzzed. My hand brushed the handle of the Glock, and I felt tempted to put it on the cabbie, but gathered myself.
‘And where are we going now?’ he said. ‘Well?’
Where was I going? Had I any choices left? I knew if I took off, that was it. I’d be running for the rest of my days. Constantly looking over my shoulder. Worrying about strangers. Did I want that for Debs? Christ, did I want it for myself?
‘Well?’ repeated the cabbie.
I’d never see my mother again. I’d never see Col again either. And I might not be able to face Hod. I knew the solution was simple. ‘You selfish bastard, Dury,’ I told myself, ‘for ever out to save your own worthless hide — you coward.’
I thought about Billy. The girls. Those poor innocent Latvian girls who didn’t know what they had let themselves in for.
Then the footage of Cardownie started to play before my eyes once again.
‘Well?’ said the cabbie. ‘Where to? Tell me or get out!’
‘Turn it around again.’
‘ What?’
‘Back that way, to the hills. I’ll give you instructions on the way.’
Cardownie had a mansion house somewhere in the foot of the Pentland Hills. A place for the city’s rich to gather, where backs got slapped and plans hatched to divide spoils. Seemed as good a place as any for me to start.
After a quarter of an hour on the road I got out and tipped the cabbie with a fifty. Immediately, his tone changed.
‘Thank you very much, sir. If I can ever help you out again, just holler.’
‘Actually, there is something. Have you a piece of paper?’
I scratched down a note to Debs. If I didn’t make it, at least Milo would be properly laid to rest. I passed through the carrier with the urn inside. ‘Take it to this address and give her the letter — that should explain everything.’
To sweeten the deal, I dropped another twenty. ‘And make it snappy, eh?’
66
The house was Scots Baronial. Normally, I go near a building like this, it’s a museum or a hotel. To think someone lived here, with the choice of a hundred-plus rooms to rattle about in, made my spleen twitch.
A few generations back, the closest someone like me got to the landed gentry was to muck out their stables. Well, here I was now, ready to rake up some shit.
The pathway scree crunched underfoot, so I moved to the verge, and tried to shrink below the line of the windows. At the building’s gable end, I put my back to the sandstone. I saw Cardownie’s Range Rover parked beside a Seven Series BMW — the missus’s runabout?
At the kitchen window a woman in her bad fifties with bingo-wings, obviously the help, shelled peas. I limboed beneath her line of vision, tried the rest of the windows.
In a small book-lined study I found Cardownie. He sat with his back to me on a chesterfield. My heart raced, pumped fire in my veins. I ducked beneath the windowledge. I sat on my haunches, banged the back of my head on the wall and tried to collect myself.
‘What am I doing? How the hell has it come to this?’ I wondered. ‘Have I totally lost it?’
I felt sweat gather on my upper lip and brow, it dripped in my eyes as I reached for the Glock. I lifted myself to the window again to check he was still alone.
There appeared to be only one door. I figured if I dragged him back through the window, no one would be wise to me.
I took a handful of scree, lobbed it at the glass, ducked back down.
As if on cue, the latch slid open. Cardownie stuck out his head. My hands quivered as I cocked the gun.
‘From this range, I believe it would blow your head clean off. Do you feel lucky, punk?’
He looked down, a gasp.
‘Where’s the shit-stopping smirk now, Minister?’
‘I–I-I…’
‘Why don’t you save it? Out.’
The Beemer was good to go. I made him drive, heading for the city.
‘Where are you taking me?’ he asked.
‘Sorry, didn’t I mention? I’ll be asking the fucking questions.’
‘I have every right to know-’
I aimed the Glock at his crotch. ‘Maybe I didn’t make myself clear enough. This could put a serious damper on your whoring.’
Silence for the best part of the journey. I do believe I’d made myself clear. I’d put him in his place, just where I wanted him. ‘Pull over.’
At the side of the road, I ordered he take out his phone.
‘I want you to listen very carefully. You’re going to ring Nadja and tell her to meet you at Zalinskas’ casino.’
‘But-’
‘No buts.’ I cocked the Glock, put it to his head. ‘And, you better make it convincing. Your life depends on it, in case you hadn’t realised.’
He had the number on speed dial. The call went better than I’d imagined it would.
‘You’re a formidable liar, Minister. Don’t believe I could have done any better myself.’
‘I think I should warn you that this is a very costly mistake you’re making, Mr Dury.’
‘Oh, I think I’ll take the chance. Now drive.’
We put in on George Street, didn’t worry about feeding the meter. I took off my jacket, folded it over the gun, kept it close to Cardownie’s back. ‘One false move will be your last.’
I led him up a side street skirting the casino. A rotten wooden fence was all that came between us and Zalinskas’ lair. I put my foot to a weak stanchion, it split in two. Another kick and we were in, walking towards the fire escape.
The metal gates were, in contrast to most New Town premises, unlocked.
‘Good to see Mr Zalinskas is sticking to the fire-sa
fety regulations,’ I said.
Cardownie frowned. ‘I’m warning you, you imbecile, if you go through with this-’
I put the Glock to his lips. ‘I don’t take threats kindly, Minister. I’m warning you now. Get up there, tap on Benny’s lovely french doors and when he opens up, I’ll be right behind you.’
The gun seemed to focus his thoughts. At the top of the fire escape, Cardownie rapped on the windowpane. It took Zalinskas a little time to answer.
‘What the hell are you doing here?’
I stepped in. ‘Allow me.’ The Glock did all my explaining.
As Zalinskas backed into his office, followed by Cardownie and myself, one of his goons showed and reached for a shooter. I dropped him with one shot to the kneecap. As he writhed around in agony, I lifted his gun from the floor.
The gunshot had set off the wolf, it clawed at the confines of the cage, then began to wail. The wolf’s cry put the shits up every one of us.
‘Now, so we know I’m not messing… that’s the last warning shot, the next time I fire this gun it’ll be pointing at someone’s head.’
I sat them on the couch. The pug rolled about in agony, clutching at his knee.
‘The wolf can smell blood,’ said Zalinskas.
‘He’s not the only one,’ I said.
I helped the goon onto the couch, barked at Cardownie. ‘Get your belt off, tie it round his thigh to stop the bleeding.’
As I kept a close eye on them, the buzzer went. On the monitors above Zalinskas’ desk, I saw Nadja arrive.
I ran to the door, stood in wait. As she walked through, I closed the door behind her.
‘Hello, Nadja.’
‘ You?’
‘I bet you thought I didn’t have it in me.’
She looked round, first at Zalinskas, then at Cardownie and the pools of blood on the floor.
‘Welcome to the party,’ I said. ‘Why don’t you have a seat?’
As they lined up on the couch, I let them simmer. The wolf cries grew louder. I walked over to the cage, shook my head. ‘Poor animal. What kind of a sick fuck keeps such a beautiful beast caged?’
Nobody answered, then Nadja spoke, ‘Gus, surely we can talk about this?’
‘Oh, we’re past the pillow-talk stage, honey, or hadn’t you realised?’
I turned away from the wolf, strolled over to the group. ‘Quite a gathering. I’m sure you must be wondering why I brought you here.’
No one answered. The pug groaned, I put a kick in his back, yelled, ‘Shut the fuck up.’
The others flinched as I turned on them. I cocked the gun in their direction.
‘It’s all very simple. I’m going to ask one question, and I will get an answer.’
‘Mr Dury,’ Zalinskas stood up, ‘I’m sure you are a reasonable man.’
I brought the gun across his face, opened up a two-inch gash. He yelled, fell back. Blood streamed through the fingers he brought up to his cheek.
‘Whatever gave you that idea?’
I pulled up a chair, turned its back towards the group. As I sat down I kept moving the gun between their heads. ‘One question and I will have an answer. Do you understand?’
The three of them nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘Who killed Billy?’
No one answered. Nadja turned to Zalinskas, he turned away.
‘Maybe I didn’t make myself clear.’ I stood up again, put the gun to Zalinskas’ head.
‘It’s not what you think. It’s not what you think,’ he whined.
‘Who pulled the trigger?’ I yelled. ‘Who killed him?’
I pushed Zalinskas aside, grabbed Nadja by the hair. ‘Was it you? Huh? Did you kill him? Zalinskas found out about your blackmail plot, so you took Billy out to save yourself.’
She screamed. ‘No. No. No.’
I threw her down, stuck the gun in Cardownie’s left eye. ‘You? Go to the source, wipe out the threat?’
He cried like a child. ‘Oh my God… no. Please, spare me… I didn’t kill him.’
I took the gun back to Zalinskas. His face was running with blood. I hit him again, opening up a matching wound on his other cheek. He fell to the ground. On all fours he wheezed, gagging for air.
‘Get up!’ I stood over him, fired a shot into the floor, right between his hands. The wolf’s howls rose higher as I grabbed him by the throat. ‘Billy was a threat to everything, wasn’t he?’
He tried to speak but his words were choked.
‘Billy was gonna blow it all wide open, wasn’t he? The girls, the connections, everything. You’d have had nothing left, would you?’
I fired the gun into the ground again. ‘Who killed Billy? Tell me. Tell me, you fuck. Who killed Billy?’
‘It was me, Gus.’
The voice came from behind me. Sweat ran down my spine, I turned and tried to focus.
‘I killed him.’
I let Zalinskas fall to the ground, straightened myself, said, ‘ What?’
‘I killed him. It was me.’
My breath quickened. I wiped the sweat from my eyes. ‘Col — what are you doing here?’
He walked from the balcony through the french doors and faced me. ‘I killed Billy. I killed my own son.’
My thoughts raced, my mind felt numb, but my heart pounded. ‘I–I… I don’t understand.’
As Col walked closer I felt drawn into his wide eyes. ‘He was as good as dead. The life he made for himself had killed him.’
‘What are you saying?’ The room swayed, everything felt surreal.
‘Billy was a thug. A criminal. He preyed on those who couldn’t defend themselves.’
‘Do you know what you’re saying?’ I asked.
‘Every word.’
It didn’t make any sense — any of it. ‘But Billy was tortured. They pulled his nails out.’
‘That’s how I found him — left for dead. I put him out of his misery.’
‘Then why, Col? Why did you need me?’
‘I had no idea about any of this, Gus. You’ve led me to them.’ As Col moved forward I saw he carried a shotgun in his hand. ‘And now, when I do what I have to do, you’ll be here to explain to everyone why it had to be like this.’
He raised the gun to his shoulder.
‘No, Col, you don’t have to do this.’
‘I must.’
He steadied the gun, pointed it at Zalinskas.
‘No, think about this.’
‘I’m sorry, Gus.’
He lowered his eye, stared down the barrel at Zalinskas.
‘No, Col! No!’ I yelled at him.
I couldn’t let him do it. I grabbed for the gun, held the barrel tight. He wrestled me for the firearm. ‘Leave it, Col.’
‘No it can’t be left.’
I heard Nadja and the others screaming, everything blurred as they ran for the doors. I saw the pug hobbling down the fire escape, and then, the gun went off.
The sound of the shotgun echoed round the room, followed fast by the noise of breaking glass.
I fell back with the fierce recoil. Landed on the floor where Zalinskas curled in fear. Nadja and Cardownie were already through the door on the fire escape.
I saw Col take aim at Zalinskas for a second time.
‘No, Col… put it down.’
‘Get out of the way, Gus.’
‘No…’
As I waited for the second shot to come down the barrel, Col suddenly lunged forward, pushed from behind by the wolf as it leapt through the shattered cage.
The shotgun went flying as Col crashed face first into the ground. By instinct I raised the Glock, for a second I put the wolf in my sights, I squeezed the trigger. The bullet connected with the wall behind.
‘No!’ yelled Zalinskas. He jumped to his feet and I saw a flash of red, like paint spilling, as the wolf clamped its jaws into his neck.
The wolf tore and tore, pulling out the carotid arteries, ripping the flesh. I was transfixed, unable to remove my eyes. I felt the
Glock slip from my hand.
As the second round of the shotgun went off, I snapped back to reality.
‘No!’ I turned away. Col lay propped against the wall, the gun barrel in his mouth, the back of his head blown out.
‘Oh Jesus Christ, Col… no.’
67
The wolf’s snarling and the sound of ripping flesh helped me gather myself.
I closed the doors behind me as I stepped onto the balcony, then descended the fire escape. In the ground behind the casino, the pug tried to squeeze through the fence, he was too big, I forced him out of my way.
‘Move it,’ I yelled.
He toppled over, whimpering like a beaten dog. As I ran for the side street, I got tangled in some bramble bushes. They caught my feet and dropped me to the road. As I tried to raise myself, my guts heaved, I threw up. I retched and retched, couldn’t seem to stop, and then I caught sight of Cardownie and Nadja. They were arguing; Cardownie refusing to let her get into his car.
‘It’s over for both of them,’ I thought. ‘I’ll make sure of that.’
I found my feet and managed to keep the rest of my stomach’s contents in place as I turned on to George Street. I tried to put as much distance as possible between myself and the sight I had just witnessed, but my legs trembled.
I stumbled to a bench, dropped like a stone, and dialled the filth.
‘Lothian and Borders Police.’
I got them to connect me with Fitz.
‘I’m paying my dues,’ I said.
‘What? Who is this?’
He played a role, I knew it. ‘An old friend. There’s a casino owner on George Street. Let’s just say someone’s taken a bite out of him.’
‘And who would this person be?’
‘His name’s Zalinskas. I believe he’s known to police. Is that the expression?’
‘Yes. Yes… but.’
‘No. No more, if you hurry, you might find a witness out the back. But you better take a tranquilliser gun, otherwise it will get messy.’
‘Ah, now…’
‘Goodbye, Fitz. Oh and good luck with that promotion. Don’t forget who your friends are.’
I hung up.
Starting to walk again I felt the strength returning to my legs. I made it all the way to Broughton Street where I stepped into an Internet cafe.