Sue whispered through the open window as she approached, ‘He wants to meet you.’
‘Any problems?’
‘None. I took the liberty of saying that you had offed the two women earlier and had them moved to the coast where they will be soon keeping the bottom-feeders happy in Morecambe Bay. OK?’
‘Not a worry. ‘But what is the second earner he wants me to do?’
But before she could elaborate Babik called over, ‘Come on you two, I’m busy man.’
Vinnie got out and followed Sue to the front of the blue saloon, which Vinnie noted had recent damage to the front bumper.
Greetings over, Babik seemed to be eyeing Vinnie for what seemed an age before he spoke again. ‘You work fast, Mr X. I’m sorry, but Sue wouldn’t tell me your name.’
‘Safer for you that way, so Mr X will do fine. And yes, I had to,’ Vinnie said.
‘Why is that?’
‘A friend of mine has a trawler in Fleetwood and was delayed going out into the Irish Sea this morning, due to fog. The timings were ideal.’
‘I like resourceful people,’ Babik said, adding, ‘you trust this trawler man?’
‘A relative; and he’s a she,’ Vinnie told him, noting that Babik had raised his eyebrows. Then he added, ‘We are all equal and she is the only person I have trusted over many years. Let’s just say that the fish get excited whenever they see her boat approach.’
Babik smiled and said, ‘OK, if Sue here trusts you, then so do I. I’ll pay five large for each of the women and five extra for any more.’
Vinnie wasn’t sure if Babik knew that Sue had told him of the other job, so he decided to pretend that he didn’t know. ‘The women are a freebie as an act of good faith, but I’m afraid the next one and any more will be ten large each.’
Babik didn’t answer right away but looked to be eyeing Vinnie again. Vinnie hoped he wasn’t overplaying his role.
‘Many people will do my bidding for far less,’ Babik said.
‘True, but with me you get a total professional, as I hope this morning’s work has shown. But if you wish to part company, then just pay me the ten you offered for the two women and I’ll shake your hand and walk away.’
Vinnie looked at Sue and caught a look in her eye. But he knew Babik needed him for another job, and at such short notice he hoped that put him in a good position. There was a legal reason why he was negotiating with Babik, too. He knew that in many similar prosecutions for contract killing jobs, a common defence was that the undercover officer incited the criminal into a course of action that he actually really didn’t want to go through with. This negotiation would kill that one off from the start.
Several seconds passed before Babik spoke. ‘Is your trawler lady going fishing again soon?
‘She can go whenever I ask.’
‘You carrying now?
Vinnie nodded.
‘Show me, but with two fingers.’
Vinnie carefully removed the Glock and stood close to Babik, chest to chest as he showed him the weapon.
‘Lift it up for me to see,’ Babik said.
Vinnie lifted the gun up to head height.
Babik appeared to be examining it and nodded as he did so, it became clear that he was a fan of Glocks. He asked Vinnie if this was the weapon he used on the women, and Vinnie nodded again.
Then, Babik smelled the end of the barrel, smiled and told Vinnie he could put the gun away.
‘OK, Mr X, I agree, but I want you to do another job for me, and it has to be today.’
‘No probs,’ Vinnie said, and stuck out his hand. Babik shook it warmly and added that Sue would cash him up later.
‘What’s the next job?’ Vinnie asked.
‘It’s tied up in the boot of this car. Gagged and not very happy. I want you to take my car and do what you do best, then burn the motor. Sue will collect you when it’s done.’
Vinnie hadn’t seen this coming, but held in his surprise and just nodded once more. Babik then took hold of Sue’s arm and started towards her car.
Chapter Sixty
To say that the occupant of the boot was not very happy was an understatement. But nothing could have prepared Vinnie for the surprise awaiting him when he lifted the boot lid.
He’d waited in the car for five minutes to make sure Babik was gone and was not coming back, and then double-checked that no one else was around before he got out and opened the lid. Inside, trussed up like an oven-ready chicken, was Christine. His heart bottomed as he realised who it was. As carefully as he could, he removed the gaffer tape from her mouth.
‘Ouch, that hurt! Good God Vinnie, what the hell are you doing here?’
‘You wouldn’t believe it,’ he said, as he stated to remove the gaffer tape around her arms and legs. ‘But I could ask you the same question.’
‘As much as this is starting to become too much of a habit, I am mightily glad to see you,’ Christine added.
Vinnie didn’t need reminding what had happened to Christine when they worked on their last case; and being locked in the boot of a car had not been the worst of it. He quickly brought her up to speed as she rubbed her wrists back to life.
‘And you weren’t going to involve me?’ she asked.
‘Later, yes, just haven’t had the chance. I knew you were safe at the hotel, or thought you were. Anyway, what the hell happened?’
Christine told him how June, her editor, had called her over breakfast and she needed to get back to her office in Manchester. So Christine decided to keep hold of the hire car and drop it off at an outlet near her office. She’d only got as far as New Hall Lane on the east side of Preston, heading towards the motorway, when Babik rammed her from behind. Of course, she hadn’t realised who he was at that stage, she just thought it was an idiot driver. She’d got into his car to exchange details, and that was when he pulled a knife on her, drove her around the corner to the edge of a large social housing estate, and put her in the boot.
‘In broad daylight! The cheeky bastard,’ Vinnie observed.
‘I don’t think it being daylight mattered, it was one of those streets where nobody ever sees anything,’ she said.
Vinnie knew what she meant; they used to call them ‘house-to-house hellholes’ — nobody ever saw anything. ‘But why?’ Vinnie asked.
‘He said I’d been sniffing around the girls who work Fletcher Road asking about things that don’t concern me.’
‘The mill?’
‘Exactly.’
‘Well, at least we now know where it is, thanks to Sue,’ he said.
‘Still can’t believe she is one of the good guys,’ Christine said, and added, ‘so, where is this damn mill then?’
‘Off Deepdale Mill Street, in a clearing. Apparently, it’s a working textile factory during the day. The brothel is upstairs. Easy to see and disregard. Quite clever.’
‘My God, that girl actually pointed me in the right direction, before blowing me out to Babik!’ Christine said.
‘So why blow you out, that is, if it was her?’ Vinnie asked.
‘Had to be her, she’s the only one I talked to. But maybe she resented the mill. And got herself a double payday.’
‘I guess,’ Vinnie said. ‘Come on, let’s get you to safety.’
‘Then what?’ Christine asked.
‘Then you sit tight at the hotel until I tell you. And before you complain, remember you are supposed to be dead.’
‘I’ll buy a wig.’
‘Not funny—’ Vinnie started to say, before Christine interrupted.
‘I wasn’t trying to be.’
‘No,’ Vinnie continued, ‘it’s not safe. Don’t worry I’ll brief you properly later. You’ll get your scoop.’
‘Now you’ve gone and used the S-word,’ she said.
Vinnie just smiled, and told her to duck down until they reached the hotel.
*
Twenty-five minutes later, Vinnie pulled into the Premier Inn car park and told Christine she cou
ld sit up.
‘Where are you going now?’ she asked.
‘Going to dump this motor on the outskirts and ring Sue up to come and get me. As soon as we can confirm the new girls have safely arrived, we can call in the arrest teams.’
‘I don’t suppose I can observe the arrest bits?’
‘No, as I’m undercover and have no one else I trust who can work with you,’ Vinnie said.
‘Harry?’ she asked.
‘He’s keeping watch on the back of the mill.’
Vinnie kissed Christine and promised he’d come and get her as soon as the job went down. Even stage the arrest scenes afterwards, so she could recreate some ‘live footage’.
Then, he watched Christine walk through the hotel main doors before turning his car around and driving off.
*
Christine glanced over her shoulder and watched Vinnie drive away, before making her way to the reception desk. She asked the receptionist to arrange for a further hire car, taking care to ensure they rang a different company this time. Her original motor wasn’t due back for several hours, so they wouldn’t come chasing her just yet.
The receptionist put the phone down, saying the rental car should be there in 30 minutes. Just long enough for her to freshen up and change her appearance. She knew she’d promised Vinnie she’d stay put in the hotel, but it was his fault; he should have never mentioned the S-word…
Chapter Sixty-One
‘I’m impressed; really impressed,’ Babik said, as they drove away from Brockholes.
‘Why, thank you, sir, I’m not just a pretty face,’ Sue answered.
‘Oh, I know that, and perhaps when we are all sorted and Boldo has gone back, we can have some proper chill-out time. Just you and me?’
‘That sounds nice,’ Sue said, and winked at him. Babik had never made a serious play for Sue, things had gone too mental of late, but the more he got to know her the more he liked her. That wink told him all he needed to know. He’d surprise her when the business was all sorted.
‘Talking of Mr Boldo, when do I get to meet him?’ Sue asked.
‘I’ve told him about you and was planning to arrange lunch but as we’ll probably be busy, I thought we could go and see him now.’
‘At the other hotel?’ Sue asked.
‘No, he’s at the mill, plus I get the impression he won’t be hanging around once this morning is sorted. But when we get there, leave the motor at the front. We’ll use the fire escape.’ Babik was conscious that it was daytime and therefore the downstairs textile part of the mill would be in full operation. Gill acted as manager for the business and as far as the workers were concerned, she lived on site in a flat upstairs. It was the perfect arrangement.
Sue drove them down New Hall Lane and into the Deepdale area. They soon pulled up outside the mill. Babik had asked Sue a few more questions about her hitman, but she’d batted them off with no worries. He could prove to be a regular asset, as long as Boldo could keep up his supply chain as promised.
They walked along the rear of the premises, where the building was blind with no windows, and the small rear yard was hidden from any nosy neighbours by a thick row of privet. Not that there were many neighbours, as most of the buildings around here were all commercial retail units.
Babik used a key to unlock the security chain, which allowed the bottom section of the fire escape to unfold and reach the ground. Once they were at the rear of the first-floor outer fire door, he rang Gill to let them in. Sue had asked him what the ‘other business’ was this morning, but he just told her that she would see soon enough. He had noted what he thought was a look of annoyance on her face, but it disappeared almost instantly. He ignored it, as he led her into the premises and into Gill’s private quarters.
Sitting in the same chair he’d used yesterday was Boldo. He stood up, and as Gill left them alone, Babik introduced Sue and then extolled her expertise, bringing Boldo up to date regarding the morning’s business down at Brockholes.
‘Wow, you run a slick outfit, Cornel. I think we are all going to make a lot of money here, and all over your island,’ Boldo said.
‘No offence, but may I have your phone?’ Boldo asked Sue.
Sue looked at Babik, who just shrugged. He wasn’t sure what was going on. Boldo then explained that he was a very secretive man, and when he met a new business associate he liked to control all the phones. That way, he couldn’t be accidentally photographed or recorded.
‘I can vouch for Sue,’ Babik said.
‘I truly mean no offence, but I feel that I must insist. Just this first time, if you please,’ Boldo said.
Babik was sure that Boldo hadn’t done the same when they first met, but knew that he was a very wary induvial and, as he didn’t want there to be a problem between them, he asked Sue to hand her phone over so they could get on. She did so, and stared intently at the device as she handed it over. But if she was worried about privacy, she needn’t have been, as Boldo paid it little attention as he placed it on the table in front of him. Babik noticed Sue’s shoulders relax as he did so.
*
Vinnie found a spot at the rear of Red Scar Industrial Estate, which was a large retail and commercial place on the east side of the city. In a quiet spot he found an overflowing rubbish container, which looked not to have been disturbed for a long time. In fact, the units near it all looked abandoned, too. He parked the car a little distance away, hidden from sight; he’d sort out its recovery later. He then returned to the overflowing skip and set it alight, then hurried back to the main service road and slowly walked away.
Once at a distance he thought was safe, he looked back over his shoulder and could see plumes of black smoke rising into the air. If Babik came with Sue to pick him up, he could point at the smoke. Hopefully, by then the fire brigade would be there and Babik wouldn’t want to hang around. Vinnie thought that actually, Babik would just send Sue out to get him on her own, but he had to play it safe. A lot was at stake here.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialled Sue’s number.
*
No sooner had Boldo put Sue’s phone on the table, than it rang and started to dance across the shiny surface. All three of them stared at it until Sue spoke. ‘It’ll be my man,’ she said.
Boldo picked it up and looked at the screen before he handed it back to Sue. She took the call which was very brief, and simply said, ‘See you in 10,’ before she hung up and put the phone back onto the table.
‘My man’s at Red Scar, he’s set the car on fire and needs collecting,’ she said.
But before Babik could reply, Gill popped her head around the door, and said, ‘Just to let you know that the two new girls have just arrived, I’ll settle them into their rooms.’
Babik thanked Gill, and Boldo said, ‘Excellent!’ before adding, ‘Come Cornel, I’ll introduce you.’ He picked up Sue’s phone. ‘We’ll only be a minute, Sue,’ he said, making it clear to Babik that he wanted Sue to wait in the room for them.
‘It’s OK, I’ll go and get my man,’ Sue said.
‘Just wait, please Sue. We’ll come with you, I want to meet your man,’ Boldo said.
Babik noted that Boldo didn’t wait for a reply, but turned briskly on his heels and headed to the door. Again, Babik shrugged at Sue as she plonked herself in Boldo’s chair with an audible sigh.
*
In his call, Vinnie told Sue that he would meet her by the main road which passed the entrance to the estate. He got the impression she was not alone, so didn’t risk asking her whether the women had arrived safely. He’d find out in 10 minutes. He then set off, walking away from the main site, and could hear the air horns of an emergency vehicle approaching from distance. Someone must have called in his rubbish fire. He took the opportunity to give Harry a quick ring and bring him up to date. When he’d finished, Harry added that he had seen Sue and Babik arrive at the front and walk around to the rear, but nothing else.
‘You got a view of the rear?�
�� Vinnie asked.
‘Can’t get near it, unfortunately, and the car park at the front is too small to get lost on,’ Harry answered.
‘Where are you then?’ Vinnie asked.
‘On Deepdale Mill Street itself, set back on the opposite side of the road with a long distant view of the approaches to it. Best I can find,’ Harry said.
Vinnie knew it would be difficult, and with little notice they couldn’t get anything more professional in place. They’d have to wing it. He just hoped Harry would see the women arrive, if they came whilst Sue was picking him up. Harry said he would stay vigilant whilst she was away.
Vinnie knew that this could go horribly wrong as easily as it could go right.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Babik followed Boldo into the hall and as soon as the door to Gill’s apartment closed behind them, he spun around and said, ‘Forget the girls for now.’
‘Never thought you wanted to see them; what’s going on?’
‘Not happy with your Sue woman,’ Boldo said.
‘Meaning what, exactly?’
‘I think she is a cop.’
Babik hadn’t seen that coming and thought it ironic, given the circumstances. He had to supress a smile. Boldo clearly had good instincts, but he dare not tell him the truth. He knew Sue was good, but telling Boldo that she used to be a cop before she became bent would not be an easy sell. So he argued her case and tried his best to reassure Boldo that he was right to be cautious; but wrong in Sue’s case.
‘I intend to find out the truth,’ Boldo said.
Babik gave one of his shrugs; he knew that there was nothing to find, but if looking kept his swarthy associate happy? Well, so be it.
‘If she is a cop, you know what this means?’ Boldo added.
Babik wasn’t sure if Boldo was being obvious here, but went along in order to appease him and asked, ‘What?’
‘It means that her hitman friend is also a cop.’
‘But if she if not a cop, and I can tell you that she is not; then he is also not a cop,’ Babik countered.
The Badge & the Pen Thrillers Page 80