After that neither of us could think of anything to say. Again she came to the rescue.
“I’m sure you have plenty of things to be doing. I really will phone, if you want me to.”
“The ball’s in your court. I meant what I said. If you need me, I’ll be there.”
“Thank you, love. You don’t know what that means to me. You take care.”
“I will.”
I found myself listening to the dial tone. That summed up my life.
“McGonnigal, you’re up.”
I stepped on to the practice floor, bruised and sweating. None of the usual slurs followed me. Nobody lined up to take me down a peg or three and show me that a woman shouldn’t be doing this job. For the first time their faces were sober and sympathetic.
Spink was back. It was the big black man who lumbered out to meet me.
“I’m not here to fight you,” he said, before I could open my mouth. “You proved I can’t well enough last time. Just came to say goodbye. I’m quit of the business. I’ve got a job minding my son-in-law’s market stall on Abingdon Street. Made the wife happy to see me again.”
Some of the men chuckled dryly.
“I just wanted to say sorry on behalf of us all. It doesn’t matter what we think of you professionally or personally. It doesn’t make it any better just to offer condolences. But we all know what it’s like to lose someone. Most of us knew your girlfriend, because of her job. She was a nice lady. One of the best. Did they catch the bastard that knocked her down?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then it’s time to get on with your life. You’ll never forget her. It’ll hurt for a long time. This won’t help. Nobody is going to fight you. We can see the mood you’re in. They don’t want to die. There’s a punch bag over in the corner. Or Eli will happily beat the stuffing out of you a bit longer. You want my advice? Walk away. Getting back on track doesn’t start here.”
“Spink…”
“We’re rooting for you, Randall. You’ve got a good reputation. Don’t blow it.”
I looked round at them, my throat closing up.
“There’ll be other days,” one of them said.
“We’ll be here,” another agreed.
I did the only thing I could before the tears started. I nodded and walked away.
A lot more than soapy water went down the changing room drains. At least I didn’t look like I’d been bawling my head off by the time I hit the street. Maybe I could go to the range? Shoot the shit out of some targets? Anything, rather than think. Or feel.
Dean was waiting. Leaning, grinning, against the side of his Range Rover. I don’t know if Spink or one of the others had called him. I wasn’t going to ask. I was just grateful.
“Going my way?”
“Depends on which way that is.”
“The office, actually. I have a case I’d like to you look at.”
“You know I’m not much of a detective.”
“You’re not so crap as you make out. But I’ll be doing the detecting, if that’s OK with you? It’s unusual – for us, at least. Celebrity stalker. The police don’t seem to have made any headway and they haven’t got the manpower to put someone on her 24/7. If they were taking it seriously – which I’m not sure they are.”
“What do you need from me?”
“Personal Protection, what else?”
“Dean, I’m not sure I can…
“Randall, she didn’t die because you weren’t doing your job.”
“It doesn’t feel that way.”
“You’ve just spent the last ten days in hospital paying the price for your devotion to duty and love. Stop beating yourself up and get back on the horse. The business needs the money. I can’t do it. I’m not qualified and I don’t have the aptitude. You might just have come into money but you still have to work for a living. I need your help.”
There it was. I’ve never turned down someone who asked for help and I wasn’t about to start now. Especially since the one asking was my friend. And business partner. And always there for me when I really needed him.
“Personal Protection?”
“Yep. She wanted the best. I told her she’d come to the right place. Was I wrong?”
“I suppose we’ll just have to find out.”
Personal Protection Page 23