‘I hear you put in a good word for me,’ he said.
‘No more than you deserved, Jimmy.’
‘All the same,’ he said, ‘I appreciate it.’
There was a short pause as he looked around, appearing in awe of the surroundings, much like a vampire locked in a fencing warehouse.
Interrupting his trance, I said, ‘I’d love to stay and chat over old times, Jimmy, but I must get on.’
‘Sure,’ he said, taking another drag. ‘I just wanted to let you know something.’
‘You’ve cancelled the adoption request?’
Jimmy elbowed Tommy. ‘He’s still funny, though, isn’t he, Tom?’
Tommy clutched his sides, the pain seeming to sear through him, but he said nothing.
Jimmy moved up a step and continued. ‘Not that, as it happens.’
‘It’s late. Why don’t you just write me a letter? Tom can help with the bigger words.’
‘Not much of a letters man,’ said Jimmy, grinning. ‘And you know me, I prefer things up close and personal.’
‘The hallmark of a great communicator.’ I squinted at Tommy. ‘There’s two words for you right off the bat.’
‘Anyway,’ said Jimmy, ‘I wanted you to know, mano a mano, that as far as I’m concerned, we’re even.’ He winked. ‘No hard feelings, eh.’
‘None on my side. I’m not one for grudges.’
‘Good, very reassuring.’
He stood there quietly puffing away but not moving.
‘Is there something else?’
‘Seeing as you ask, yes,’ he said. ‘You see, we may be even, but my boy here isn’t as forgiving.’ He looked coolly at his favourite gorilla. ‘Are you, Tom?’
Tommy inclined his head at Jimmy and then glared at me.
‘Reckons he’s owed some retribution. He’s still upset about that river dance. Not to mention you sticking him at the Town Hall. His back was turned, for Chrissakes. Where’s that in the fuckin’ rules?’ He waggled a finger. ‘Tut, fuckin’ tut.’
‘Be fair, Jimmy. He’s had loads of free shots at me.’
Jimmy shrugged. ‘That was business. Now you’ve made it personal.’
‘I’m sure he’ll feel different tomorrow.’
Jimmy glanced at Tommy and then looked back at me. ‘No, his mind’s made up. He wants a re-match.’
Before I could reply I saw Kate gliding onto the lower steps from the opposite direction. She didn’t look at me. Her gaze stayed fixed on the “Fun Boy Two”.
‘Either of you come within fifty feet of my client after midnight tonight and you’ll be in breach of a restraining order.’ She took out a document from her handbag and thrust it at them. ‘Do I make myself clear?’
Tommy took an instinctive step backwards, while Jimmy chuckled quietly to himself.
‘It’s eleven fifty-eight, gentlemen,’ added Kate.
Jimmy bit on his cigar and gave a slow clap. ‘That’s a fancy piece of legal skirt you got yourself there, Eddie.’
I looked at Kate. ‘She knows moves all right.’
Kate took a step towards Jimmy, her restraining order out front like a shield. It made a wide-eyed Tommy take another two paces backwards, as if it had turned into a bazooka.
‘Tic toc,’ she said.
Jimmy looked at his watch. ‘Is that the time? Best be going.’ He took out a business card and flicked it towards Kate. ‘My number.’ He winked at her. ‘If you fancy changing sides, call me. I can triple whatever this loser pays you. Think about it, sweetheart.’
‘Keep your money. When I sue you for breach, you’ll need every penny.’
Jimmy gave her another wink. ‘We’ll see.’ He raised his cigar at me in salute. ‘See you around, Eddie. Don’t be a stranger now.’
‘I’m sure we can work out visitation rights.’ I gave him a one fingered wave. ‘Take care.’
On a reflex, Tommy lunged forward, but Jimmy blocked his path. ‘There’ll be other days.’ He patted the damaged “Man-Hulk” on the back and steered him away.
I watched as they turned and ambled back towards the Merc.
‘Hey, Tommy,’ I called out.
Tommy stopped and turned side on. ‘What?’
‘You fell for the oldest trick in the book. Duck next time.’
He stood still for a few seconds, sharing his best menacing look, and then continued on his way. I trundled down the steps and gave Kate a hug.
‘My hero,’ I said.
‘Any time, Mr Greene.’
I looked at her, trying not to smile. ‘That piece of paper?’
‘What about it?’
‘It’s your dry cleaning bill, right?’
She fixed me a look of disapproval. ‘No, Dunderhead, it’s a real restraining order.’
‘Really?’
‘Yep.’ She shrugged. ‘Just not in your name.’
I cocked my thumb at her. ‘Neat move, counsellor.’
She nodded her head at where Jimmy had been standing. ‘Now I know he’s been released, I can get you a real one if you want.’
I shook my head. ‘Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?’
‘You should be.’
‘Never laid a glove on me.’
She touched the stitches on my face. ‘Someone did.’
‘A lucky punch is all.’
Kate turned her head to watch the Merc pulling away. ‘I was hoping he’d have been locked up by now.’ She angled her head back at me, an inquisitive look showing. ‘Seeing as he isn’t, I take it the police are charging the Nkongos?’
I gave her my best thoughtful look.
‘Come on, Ed, what’s going on?’
I took a step forward, tugging her along. ‘This way, beautiful.’
‘Where are we going?’
‘I’m taking you for a drink.’
‘At this time?’
‘Yeah, I know a little place.’
‘Will it be open?’
‘It’s got the latest of late licences.’
She gave me a doubtful look.
‘You’ll love it,’ I said. ‘Trust me.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Sunday – 24:12
We entered the Voodoo Moon Club as a clique of sodden revellers came out. They waddled past us, and I nabbed the side booth they’d just vacated. On the way to the club, Kate had pressed me about the Nkongos, but I’d told her I needed a drink first. Ain’t that the truth. Having arrived, I still needed that drink.
For a basement bar on a late Sunday night, the place was jumping. That’s Weighton for you. The music was chilled, and the volume low enough that people could talk. We sat on grain sack pouffes with a low glass table between us. Before I could even glance at the drinks list, Kate pressed a thumb into my arm.
‘Enough with the prevarication, Ed. Now spill.’
‘I’ll grab some drinks first.’ I stood up.
‘Ed! Give me something to go on?’
‘Okay. Take a look at this.’ I took the confession statement from my jacket pocket and slipped it in front of her. ‘This should answer your questions.’
Kate looked between me and the piece of paper, then began to read.
I watched for a sign on her face, that didn’t come, then limped to the bar and ordered two Voodoo Magic cocktails. After the barman had shaken, stirred, and poured the potions, I took them to our booth. Kate waited for me to sit down and then slid the statement back to my side of the table.
I folded the copy and put it back in my pocket. ‘Surprised?’
‘I had an inkling.’ She showed no expression, just sipped her drink.
‘Okay, maybe something you might have shared … earlier.’
‘I didn’t want to go there.’
‘I didn’t even think of going there.’ The mental picture of Elaine’s final moments kept flashing in front of my eyes. ‘It’s a hell of a thing. Gives new meaning to the expression “twin killing”.’
She rocked from side to side on her pouffe. ‘It m
akes me shudder. It’s not natural.’
‘I know. But they’d been estranged for most of their adult lives, and Helen treated Elaine like she was dead most of the time anyway. That’s what I told Hobbs when the penny dropped. They were more “one and a half” than twins.’
‘I don’t want to visualise what happened that day,’ said Kate, taking another sip. ‘The whole thing doesn’t feel right.’
Letting the booze do its work, I relaxed into the pouffe and told her about my “data transfers” with Hobbs at the station. She took it in without saying much, but a sideways smile didn’t leave her face.
‘What would he have done without you? And no one can say you didn’t go above and beyond, Ed, stitching up your first client like that.’
She was right, and it stung. It made me wonder if Helen Porson was already in a cell, and what would happen to her next.
‘I suppose there won’t be a trial.’
Kate paused mid-sip. ‘What makes you think that?’
‘Hobbs got a confession.’
‘She can always refute it.’
‘Really?’
‘Sure. As soon as her legal team start looking at the angles, they’ll want to run a diminished responsibility defence.’
‘You think?’
‘That’s what I’d do.’
‘And a jury will buy that?’
‘Maybe.’ She shrugged. ‘Her barrister will argue she was in fear of her life, that it was her only way out. They’ll say she was being threatened by Cartwright and hounded by the Nkongos.’ I watched her twizzle her cocktail stick in the ice. ‘If it was me defending, I’d claim she wasn’t of sound mind, that her actions were those of a person incapable of understanding right from wrong, at least at that moment. Also, there’s a kind of euthanasia argument to run. Elaine didn’t have a meaningful life as such.’ Kate traced a finger over my jacket pocket. ‘Just reading her confession you start to feel compassion for her.’
‘I think it’s designed to read like that.’ I took a long draw on my cocktail. It didn’t have much alcohol content, but I was beginning to feel woozy all the same.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Her statement makes out she got caught up in the panic and shock of it all, then acted on a deranged impulse.’
‘But?’
‘I’m not sure. I think after Jimmy left and Helen found Elaine, it didn’t take long before she realised what had happened. And she thought it through, weighed it up. She saw a way out, a neat solution to all her problems. She made a cold-blooded decision to take a piece of cord from her sewing box and do the evil deed. She probably even convinced herself she was doing Elaine a favour.’
‘That’s for the prosecution to put forward. I’m not sure the jury will see it that way. They’ll keep coming back to the fact they were twins. It’ll be hard for them to get past that. They’ll conclude it could only have been done if her mind was disturbed.’
I swirled the last of my drink. ‘All I know is, when I talked to her at the nursing home, before there was any question she’d done it, she kept emphasising how much she’d planned it all. Like she was proud of how well she’d held it together to fool Jimmy, fool the police, fool everyone.’
‘Except you.’
‘You can’t fool a fool, hey. Or something like that.’
Kate looked at me and smiled. I pretended to hit an imaginary baseball out of an imaginary baseball park using an imaginary bat. Ding! I watched it fly.
We sat there and finished our drinks in silence.
Finally, Kate said, ‘Only Helen Porson will know the truth of it. My bet is she’ll get off lightly.’
‘I’m not sure that’s what she wants. Once she realised the game was up, I think she copped the confession to stay out of Jimmy’s reach. Well, that and Hobbs threatening to charge her son with perverting the course of Her Majesty’s justice.’
Kate pushed her empty cocktail glass to one side. ‘What about Clegg and the Nkongos?’
‘Hobbs reckons they’ll plead self-defence and cut a deal.’
She nodded. ‘They might well get out before Helen Porson.’
‘Yup, could be a close run thing.’ I tapped the table top. ‘Right. I think I need a proper drink. How about you?’
‘I ought to be going, Ed. Busy day tomorrow.’
‘I’ll get you a gin and tonic.’
‘Another time, maybe.’
‘Tomorrow?’
‘Ed, come on, you know the score.’
‘You’re saying Mondays are awkward – I hear you. Tuesday then?’
She shifted in her seat, her gaze directed down at first but then coming up to meet mine. ‘I think it’s probably best we stick to a professional relationship.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, don’t you?’
As I looked into her eyes I could feel my head doing a diagonal tilt between yes and no. I wanted to hold her hands and tell her everything. About seeing her again and how much it all meant. How I hadn’t stopped thinking about her since she’d left Weighton all those years ago. How, now I’d found her again, I felt complete. Well, almost. But I knew it would all sound bollocks.
‘I don’t know what to say, Kate.’
‘Reverting to type, I see.’
‘Seriously. There are things I want to say.’
‘So sayeth.’ She kept her tone neutral.
I leaned forward, trying to hold her eye. ‘I’m not good with all the cheesy stuff. You know that. All I end up doing is making tongue typos.’
‘That’s a shame,’ she said, smiling, ‘I was looking forward to you saying, “I complete you”.’
‘What? Like I’m from Cliché Town, population one? Give me some credit.’
‘For the record, you didn’t have me at “what”.’
I sat back and let out a sigh, this time pushing very close to Hobbs’ record-breaker.
Kate stroked my hand. ‘It’s difficult, Ed, you know that. I’m spoken for. I’m happy.’
‘Yeah, but what happened to us putting the band back together?’
‘Maybe someday.’ She stood up. ‘We better go. Come on, I’ll race you.’
I didn’t move. ‘I still love you.’
‘Don’t say that, Ed. We don’t know each other anymore.’ I didn’t like the look in her eye. Like she meant it.
‘Some things don’t change.’
‘Yes, they do.’
I shook my head. ‘It makes no difference where I turn. I can’t get over you. The flame still burns. It makes no difference, night or day, the shadows never seem to go away. The sun won’t shine, and the rains fall at my door.’
‘That’s from a song, Ed.’
‘It still counts.’ I put my hands together. ‘I know I can never give you the things that Judge Dredd can, but here’s the thing: I’d make you laugh, and I’d make you happy, and I’d never lie to you, not once. And when you turned out the lights, you’d know everything was okay. And one day I’d get us a house in the Vale, and I’d buy us a little boat, and we’d have an orchard and I’d try to light candles every day. Thing is … when I’m with you, it’s the only time I feel any grace.’
She bit her lip and held out her hand. ‘Come on.’
I sat looking at the hand in front of me, but it slipped out of focus. I tried looking around the bar ... but everything seemed to be spinning out of reach. I didn’t know if it was the tiredness or the sadness or the Voodoo Magic.
What I did know was it was the story of my life.
Kate stepped toward me and caressed the side of my face, cradling my head against her tummy.
‘Time to go, soldier,’ she said quietly.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Monday – 01:03
We left the basement bar and walked up the steps to the street. Outside, in the cool air, I started to feel better. Kate put her arm inside mine and we started walking back towards Bath Street where her car was parked. As we passed the Cathedral I jumped onto a laced metal bench.
My balance was a little off, but I still managed a complete three-sixty turn, taking in the view.
‘It’s a beautiful town, isn’t it, Kate?’
‘Compared to Kabul, you mean?’
‘It’s home, anyway.’
‘Are you coming down?’
‘Not until you agree to a date.’
‘It’s late, and I’m getting cold.’
‘Sorry, but I’m staying here all night, or until you change your mind.’
She folded her arms. ‘Okay. When?’
‘Tomorrow night. Dinner at the Hale Bar and Grill.’
‘Done. Now get down.’
I made my dismount onto the pavement, reached over and squeezed her arm. ‘You’re too easy.’
‘Am I now?’
‘Yeah.’ I winked. ‘Held out longer than most though, I’ll give you that.’
‘We’ll see.’
‘Viva la vida, hey, Cupcake.’
She looked at me with a jubilant smile. ‘Someone has to try to fix you.’
‘Nice comeback.’ I grinned and made a pendulum movement with my finger. ‘You’ve been practising your song titles while I’ve been away.’
‘As if,’ she said and dug her hands in her pockets. ‘Anyway, what time tomorrow?’
‘If I can borrow your car, I’ll pick you up. When can you be ready?’
‘I’ll drive,’ she insisted. ‘Be at mine for seven. Don’t be late.
‘Cross my heart.’ I did the sign.
‘And, Ed?’
‘Yeah?’
‘Stay out of trouble.’
I laughed the big laugh. ‘For you, anything.’
‘We better go. It’s late, and I’ve got a case review first thing.’
‘And I’ve got a cat to find.’
‘Good luck with that. I’ll drop you home.’
‘No way.’
‘Not another late bar?’
‘No, not that.’
Kate paused and gave me a seeing eye. ‘You’re not coming back to mine, if that’s what you’re thinking?’
‘Do I look like a sleaze bag?’ As she took breath to reply, I interrupted. ‘Okay, don’t answer that. I just need you to take me somewhere else.’
‘Where on earth do you want to go at this time of night?’
‘Somewhere special.’
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