Beyond the Rage

by Michael J Malone

  Kenny sat up sharply. ‘I think I was targeted.’

  ‘What makes you say that?’ Ray had too much respect for Kenny’s experience and hunches to dismiss them.

  ‘The gym. Only a crazy person would attack someone who just left that gym. It’s well respected as a place where some top fighters train. And nobody is going to mess with Matty the Hut.’

  ‘Aye,’ Ray nodded his head, ‘unless Matty the Hut – sounds like a charmer, by the way – was in on it?’

  Kenny snorted. ‘Hasn’t got a bad bone in his body, that man. Besides, he’s a mate and I’ve donated loads of cash to his charity work. So he’s hardly going to bash the golden goose.’

  McBain winced. ‘There goes a mangled metaphor. What about a passing opportunist?’

  ‘No.’ Kenny was firm on that. ‘If you’re an opportunist mugger then you pick someone small and vulnerable; someone who looks like prey.’

  ‘Again. Good point.’ You’d have to be drug-addled to think Kenny looked anything remotely like a victim.

  ‘Also there was something about the way he attacked me. Once to the head and I was stunned. Unable to defend myself. My arm was out at the side when his weapon hit it. It wasn’t a defensive injury... it was calculated.’ He paused while the implications of this worked through his mind. ‘The fucker was deliberately trying to break my arm.’

  43

  It was the small hours of the morning before Kenny was allowed to leave the hospital. First he called Alexis to let her know he was safe. The next thing was to call Calum and Mark. As he dialled the number he realised that Ray had in fact disappeared close to the ten o’clock mark. Right after the nurse administered some pain relief. Lucky bastard.

  Mark answered and he asked him to stay on site and for Calum to come and pick him up in the car.

  ‘Oh man,’ said Mark, ‘it’s my car; can I no come and pick you up?’

  ‘I have a sore head, Mark,’ said Kenny. ‘I need someone who hoards words like a miser stores coin.’

  ‘Eh?’ asked Mark.

  ‘You talk too much,’ replied Kenny. Now was not the time to be sparing anyone’s feelings. ‘Sore head. I need silence.’

  When Calum arrived, Kenny opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat with a relieved sigh, delighted to be leaving the hospital.

  ‘Where to, boss?’ asked Calum and Kenny could have hugged him. No questions, no chat, just a simple request for information.

  ‘I need to eat something full of fat and calories,’ Kenny thought out loud. ‘A supermarket’s probably the easiest place to get a cooked breakfast, without thinking too much. Find me a supermarket.’

  ‘Okay, boss.’ Calum put the car in gear and drove off. Within fifteen minutes they were in a supermarket cafeteria. Calum was drinking a black coffee, five sugars. Kenny shook his head at that one, while he cut into a plate high with sausages, bacon, black pudding and a pair of fried eggs. Which was not easy with one good hand. He washed it down with a coffee of his own, sat back in his chair and exhaled.

  ‘Right. I feel like a human being once again.’

  Calum simply sipped at his mug.

  ‘You can speak now and again, Calum.’

  The younger man shrugged. ‘Confucius said that gratuitous speech was the province of the foolish.’

  Kenny laughed. ‘That’s what I get for taking on a philosophy student.’ He reached across and patted Calum’s meaty shoulder. ‘You sure you and Mark are related?’

  ‘That’s what the grown-ups tell us,’ he replied and twitched his face in a brief smile.

  ‘I’m going to need a driver’ – Kenny held up his plaster cast with his other hand – ‘for a few weeks. You up for the job?’

  Calum nodded. ‘What about Mark?’

  Kenny sucked on his bottom lip before answering. He did like the fella but only in small doses. A smile stretched his face as he imagined the complaints from Alexis when he set Mark as her protector. He needed to find out what the hell was going on and sitting in the flat with Alexis was going to get him nowhere.

  There was also the issue of his father. He was still as determined to find the man, regardless of the mess his life was in.

  He called Alexis.

  ‘Babe.’ She started crying almost immediately she heard his voice and his stomach lurched in response.

  ‘Nothing else has happened, has it?’ he asked.

  ‘I need you here. Where the hell are you?’

  ‘I’ve got stuff to do, so I’m going to send Mark up to sit with you...’

  ‘The hell you are.’ She recovered quickly, such was her irritation. ‘He’s a boring twat. I need you, Kenny. You need to be here.’ There was a strong taste of panic in her voice.

  ‘You need to be patient with me, Alexis. Let Mark in. Make him a coffee and I’ll be there before you know it.’ He cut the connection before she could complain any more.

  Next he called Ray McBain.

  ‘Meet me for a coffee?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah, cos crime has paused for the day to allow me the chance of a cappuccino with my mate.’

  ‘Sarcasm is the lowest,’ said Kenny. Wondered where he’d heard that recently. Ian. Shit, he’d forgotten all about Vi. ‘Have you got the time or not?’

  A pause while Ray held his phone out in front of him to check the hour. Kenny wondered how everyone managed before this piece of technology took over lives.

  ‘As luck would have it I’m out and about today. Meet me at eleven. Starbucks in Byres Road?’

  While walking back to the car, stomach heavy with his breakfast, he called the next on his list of contacts.

  ‘Good morning, Dimitri and O’Neill. Your problem is our problem. How can I help?’

  ‘Dimitri, do you stay up all night to practise these greetings?’

  ‘Yeah, and you’re the only schmuck that phones. How sad is that?’ Dimitri laughed.

  ‘Okay,’ said Kenny. He was resigned to Dimitri’s permanent good mood. ‘Enough of the jibber-jabber. Any news?’

  ‘Yeah. There’s a couple of newspapers ready to run with the ad. I’ve sent a pdf to you by email. Not had a chance to see it yet?

  ‘Not had a chance to do much, mate. Long story. Can’t be arsed telling it.’

  ‘Fine.’ Dimitri brushed off Kenny’s brusqueness. ‘I have the pay-as-you-go phone we’re using for any callers. You want to keep it?’

  ‘Aye. I’ll be by some time later on today; you can give it to me then.’ He hung up and almost collided with a teenage girl pushing a pram. She was about five feet six, skinny as a pole-dancer’s pole and dressed in a pair of jeans and a cropped T-shirt that displayed the ring through her belly-button.

  ‘Sorry,’ Kenny said.

  The girl said nothing, simply looked at him through her fringe. The woman with her, possibly her mother, was dressed identically, but she had a good deal more flesh for her piercing to cling to. The mother, who was holding the hand of a small blonde boy, gave Kenny an appraising smile.

  As the small family group walked on, the child made a break for independence. His grandmother shouted him back.

  ‘Kai, ya wee bastard, come back here.’

  Just before Kenny shut his car door he heard the girl remonstrate with her mother. ‘Mum, I wish you wouldn’t talk to him like that.’

  ‘Well, he is a wee bastard, isn’t he?’

  ‘Oh my God,’ the teenager said. ‘You are unbelievable.’ And stomped away from her mother to retrieve the boy.

  Kenny looked at Calum. ‘Well, that wee tableau didn’t work out quite the way I expected.’

  Calum raised an articulate eyebrow. ‘Where to now?’

  • • •

  The Starbucks on Byres Road was right next to the Hillhead underground station. Calum stayed with the car while Kenny went off for his meeting. He wal
ked in the shop and looked around for Ray. The room was small and dark and crowded with students. Some were hunched over books, others over laptops and some were hunched over each other.

  He climbed the stairs at the back to find himself in a larger space with more light and some low sofas. Ray McBain sat at one with two large cups and a chocolate muffin on the table in front of him.

  ‘I had to threaten someone with deportation to get this seat,’ he said to Kenny. ‘Hurry up and sit down before someone else claims it.’

  Kenny sat down on the sofa beside Ray and, turning to face him, their knees brushed against each other.

  ‘Cosy,’ said Kenny. ‘Good job I don’t mind my personal space being violated.’

  ‘How’s the arm?’ Ray asked as Kenny reached for his coffee mug.

  ‘Oh, you know. Broken.’ Kenny made a face. ‘How’s the nurse?’

  ‘Oh, you know, glad she finally met a real man.’

  ‘So she got to meet Little Ray, did she?’

  ‘I like to call him Ray of Sunshine.’ Ray grinned.

  ‘There’s an often-used line if ever I heard one.’

  ‘And yet I never tire of using it.’ Ray tore a piece of sponge from his muffin. ‘So, that’s the social niceties dealt with, what you wanting?’

  ‘Did you ever get anyone for that prostitute that was killed in my “friend’s” flat?’

  Ray shook his head and sat forward. ‘You got any information on that?’

  ‘Nope.’ He paused, wondering just how much to tell Ray. He accepted that there always had to be a fair exchange but he wanted to find the crazy fucker who was hurting Alexis and deal with him on his own. Outside of legal constraints. ‘My friend, the one who lived in that flat, is currently staying with me.’

  ‘You need to bring her in, Kenny, she’s a possible witness.’

  ‘She wasn’t there when it happened. Besides, she’s terrified. This fucker has battered her twice already. If you force her to give a statement, she’ll be on the next plane to whichever South American country speaks French.’

  Ray chewed on another mouthful of muffin.

  ‘Your body is a temple,’ said Kenny.

  ‘Temple of Doom,’ replied Ray. ‘Ah, the old jokes are the best. You think the beating you got the other night has anything to do with whatever is going on with your friend?’

  Kenny shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t rule anything out.’ Another sip of his coffee. ‘What about that young pro that died the other night?’

  Ray twisted his expression into a question mark.

  ‘There was an overdose the other night from this strong batch of heroin that’s apparently powdering our streets,’ Kenny explained.

  ‘You think that wasn’t an overdose?’

  ‘Her number was on Alexis’ mobile. I called her behind Alexis’ back. Went to meet her to see if she knew anything about the people Alexis was working for. That very night, she died.’

  ‘Could be a coincidence?’ As he said it Ray’s expression matched Kenny’s. Neither of them put too much stock in such things. Ray sat back in his seat and considered Kenny’s comments. ‘I think I might have a quiet word with the autopsy guys and see if there is anything out of the ordinary.’ He twisted in his seat and his knee knocked against Kenny’s again. He smiled and raised his eyebrows. ‘We’ll have to stop meeting like this.’ He clasped his hands in front of his gut, noticed Kenny noticing the size of his gut. ‘Shut it,’ he said, ‘I’ll go jogging this weekend.’

  ‘Aye, and then have a haggis supper to celebrate.’

  ‘It’s all about a balanced lifestyle, buddy.’

  ‘So if you get any information that’s contrary to the old junkie overdose story, you’ll let me know?’

  ‘If you get anything on the guy who’s doing this, you’ll let me know?’

  Kenny nodded.

  ‘Fucking liar,’ said Ray. ‘If you go after this guy on your own, I can’t protect you from the law, Kenny.’

  Kenny grimaced. Ray was far too clever at times.

  ‘What about your dad?’ Ray asked. ‘You any closer to finding him?’

  For the next few minutes Kenny filled Ray in on recent events. Minus any mention of Harry Fyfe. Once he’d finished talking, Ray looked at him, saying nothing, as if making his mind up about something.

  ‘I know you went to see Harry Fyfe.’

  Fucker. Kenny said nothing. What could he say?

  ‘Trust is like your virginity, Kenny. You can only lose it once.’ Ray’s expression was unreadable.

  ‘Oh, can the lecture,’ Kenny said, shifting in his seat. He looked at his mug and the coffee stains that ringed the inside. He wondered at the timeline between rings. Two minutes between that mouthful and the next one. He looked back at Ray.

  ‘Let me help you out here, Kenny,’ Ray said. ‘You say to me, “I’m sorry, Ray, it will never happen again.”’

  ‘Right.’ Kenny loosened his tie a little. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘And the rest, Kenny?’

  ‘Fuck off, ya prick. I said I was sorry.’

  Ray grinned. ‘Man, I’m having a good couple of days. I get to see Kenny O’Neill beaten up and then I get to make him squirm.’

  ‘Want another coffee?’ Kenny asked, trying to change the subject.

  ‘And don’t change the subject,’ said Ray, punching his good arm.

  ‘Hey, mate, I’m under a lot of pressure here.’

  ‘This thing... this advert in the papers with your dad’s photo in it. You think it will work?’

  ‘It’s got to,’ Kenny replied. ‘If someone doesn’t want to be found, it can be nigh on impossible to find them.’

  ‘Are you not worried that it could all go horribly wrong?’

  ‘Well, if it turns out my dad’s an arse then I’ll just not see him again, but I’ve got to try, Ray.’

  ‘That’s not what I mean, Kenny.’ Ray paused for a couple of beats. ‘In the letters, your dad said that he had to disappear to keep you safe. What if bringing him back into your life resurrects all that bad stuff that made him vanish in the first place?’

  ‘Well, for one... no, because who holds a grudge for over eighteen years? And for two, I’m a big boy. I can look after myself.’

  Ray thought about that for a moment before replying. ‘One, you forget I’m a policeman and believe me people can hold a grudge for a lifetime. And for two...’ he looked at Kenny’s arm – ‘Right now you’re a wee bit disabled.’

  44

  When Kenny returned to the flat, Mark’s face was so bright it looked like he’d been slapped around the room. Desperate to leave. Alexis simply sat on the sofa, feet under her, arms crossed and her view locked on to the TV.

  ‘Good. Great. You’re here,’ said Mark, looking from Kenny to Alexis. He made a face to Kenny as if to say, I tried, I really tried.

  ‘Yeah, I’m here and you can go. Calum’s waiting in the car for you,’ Kenny said while handing Mark some cash. ‘Let me walk you out.’

  They walked in silence to the front door. Kenny opened it and as Mark brushed past him on the way out he said quietly, ‘Man, she might be a stunner, but she’s hard work.’

  ‘You didn’t argue?’

  ‘She uses too many big words, boss. I don’t know if she’s talking about the weather or if she’s insulting me.’

  ‘Thanks anyway, Mark.’ Kenny patted his shoulder. ‘I appreciate your help.’

  Mark brightened as if he had expected Kenny to kick his arse on the way out. ‘Nae bother, boss. Any time.’

  Alexis was standing by the living room door, arms crossed, expression a mix of concern and irritation.

  ‘The arm?’ she asked as if afraid to.

  ‘Broken.’ Kenny replied as he walked towards her.

  ‘I know that, you idiot.’ She stretched on to her tip-toes an
d kissed his cheek. ‘Are you okay? And don’t go all macho on me.’

  ‘I’ve had worse,’ Kenny said and sat down on the sofa. He opened the box he’d picked up from Dimitri that contained his new mobile. He emptied out all of the different elements in the package, inserted the phone’s sim card and then plugged the phone in for a charge. And was more than pleased that he’d managed to do it all with just one hand. While he was carrying out these actions, Alexis maintained her silence.

  Then he opened his laptop, signed in to his email account and downloaded the advert that Dimitri had organised.

  ‘Do you think it will work?’ asked Alexis.

  Kenny put his hand across her shoulder and drew her closer. ‘God, I hope so. Don’t know what I’ll do if it doesn’t.’

  Alexis reached up and kissed his cheek. ‘I hope so too, honey.’

  And again Kenny thought this was a moment that ordinary people might share. If only they were just like everybody else. He returned her kiss, pressing his lips against the cool silk of her cheek for a few moments. He felt the side of her face push against his lips as she smiled.

  ‘So what’s the plan again?’

  ‘We have the advert. We offer a reward for information. People phone it’ – Kenny picked up the phone and showed it to her as if he was acting in a TV ad – ‘and hey presto, my father is found.’

  ‘You do look alike.’ She gazed at the photo. ‘I can see where you got your beautiful eyes.’

  ‘Flatterer.’

  ‘I never just flatter, Kenny. If I don’t see it, I don’t say it.’

  ‘Even if you are with some old fart who doesn’t know a clitoris from an elbow?’

  Alexis stiffened. ‘Please don’t talk about my work, Kenny. It makes me feel uncomfortable.’

  ‘Sorry, babes. I didn’t mean to...’

  Alexis shifted closer to him. ‘S’okay. I’m... I just... this is just so not like me. I’m usually confident and know exactly what I want. I hate feeling so needy.’

  ‘Hey, honey. No worries,’ said Kenny and kissed her forehead. He understood her frustrations. ‘We’ll get you through this, okay?’