He was just about to buy something trivial when he heard a loud and insistent car horn in the distance. Someone in the car park was trying to attract attention. Maybe it was someone blocked in by an inconsiderate bastard of a van driver.
He dropped the plastic giraffe and headed for the door.
Chapter 38
He wandered up the hill slowly, feeling even this slight level of exercise a bit of a pull on his lungs. That health club was a waste of money. The sea lions were grunting and swaying to and fro in an expectant air, waiting for their keepers and their food no doubt, but the rank smell of fish and stale water stopped him from hanging about.
He passed the pens of colourful flamingos and ducks, heading in the direction of the shrieking coming from the chimpanzee area. He liked watching the chimps and, as he always noticed when he came to the zoo, they seemed just as interested in watching the people who came to see them.
Hordes of kids were running around the adjacent adventure play area and many of the chimps had taken up positions in the higher sections of their vast climbing frame where they could watch them. Primates can’t help but be interested in other primates.
It started to spit with rain and he slipped into the indoor section of the enclosure. The noise was even louder in there as the screams of the animals bounced and echoed around the polished interior. Walking slowly looking in the individual pens, he came to one that had a particularly old animal.
He looked at it looking balefully back at him, all the while slipping grapes and peanuts into its mouth. It seemed to be chewing them in the front of its mouth, rolling long lips and smacking them as it did so, every so often spitting out a bolus of shells and seeds.
Nick wondered what the animal could be thinking, just sitting there stuffing its face with fruit and staring back at him.
Another chimp came in and sat down beside the old guy, extending a hand in supplication. The older animal ignored the newcomer studiously, until that is it tried to take grapes from the feed bowl, when a hearty slap to the back of the head sent it scurrying and screaming through the pop-hole into the outdoor enclosure.
“You’re a grumpy old git aintcha?”
The chimp ignored him and continued serenely eating. Chimps were no different from people really: on the surface there seemed to be a cohesive supportive society, but if you stepped out of line you got a whack from the bigger and stronger ones in the group.
You could scream and whine about it all you wanted, but you were still smacked into line, your future held rigidly by the invisible barriers of your position in the great scheme of things. Plan A was his chance to break out of that. Plan A was his shot at being the Alpha male. Plan A was a new start.
He tapped the glass, but the chimp appeared oblivious and simply dropped another handful of fruit into his open mouth to be masticated into submission.
“You’ve got the best idea mate, think I’ll join you.”
He flicked a salute to the chimp and headed off to the nearby zoo café where he ordered a double cheeseburger, fries, and a large coke. Munching his meal amongst the hoards of screaming school kids, he wondered if he would have had more peace and quiet inside the chimp enclosure.
It was a mystery who the guys in the blue Ford were, but he was in no doubt that they were following him and that they possibly meant him harm.
It didn't really matter who they were working for anyway, it was just another way of saying he’d overstayed his welcome and was now on borrowed time. The failure to show up at the FSA meeting tomorrow would ring all the alarm bells, but his best guess was it would take a week or so to get any concrete action taken against him, by which time he would have the cash out of the accounts and safely distributed among a host of other offshore havens. Not that the Cayman authorities would co-operate with the FSA, but it didn't hurt to put some more clear water between them.
“That lot are noisier than the chimps,” he said to one of the cleaners as he dumped his rubbish in the bin on the way out. She looked at him stonily and swung her mop at his feet. He looked at his watch. Time to go: he could chance going back now.
Meandering back down the hill, he made for the side exit to the park, passing the aviaries where the macaws whistled at him suggestively. It would have been nice to have made that meeting tomorrow, just to put the FSA to sleep for a little while so he could tie up all of the loose ends.
It would have been even nicer to have kept Big Davie thinking everything was cool and he was getting his money back. He was pretty sure the old gangster would find out sooner rather than later that he had buggered off.
Ice gripped his heart in a sudden flash of the reality of his predicament. If the guys in the car were Davie’s men that would be very dangerous, very dangerous indeed.
At least the FSA or even the Police, if it were them, would behave properly if they moved on him; Big Davie’s goons were a different proposition entirely. His stomach lurched at the thought and he wished he hadn’t eaten that burger. He quickened his pace involuntarily.
Pushing his way through the swing gates, feeling slight claustrophobia as the safety cage enclosed him; the metallic click of the mechanism delivered him into the car park.
Where was the Porsche? He headed towards where he knew he’d left it and realised it was behind a large white van. As he drew level he realised the full extent of the problem.
“Shit! This is all I need!”
The van driver had parked right up against the driver door. There was no way he could get the door open far enough to get in. He couldn’t even get in the passenger side as he’d parked too close to the wall on the other side. Looking around in dismay he headed for the attendant’s booth.
“Excuse me, do you know who owns that van?” he pointed back to it.
“Naw mate – not got a clue. Whit’s the problem?”
“He’s blocking me in, that’s what.”
“Canny help ye pal, can ye no’ get in the other side?”
“I’m too near the wall. I need to get out of here now, I need to be somewhere. Is there nothing you can do?”
“He’ll no’ be far. Can ye no’ reach in and peep the horn? That might bring him. He’s mibbe in the hotel. The zoo’s shutting now anyway so it won’t be long.”
Nick was already on his way back to the car. He could get the door open just enough to reach the electric window button and lower it. He toyed with the idea of trying to get in through the window, but with his girth it was unlikely he could make it.
By stretching over in a bit of a contortion he was able to reach the horn and he laid into it with some gusto, the abrasive honking drawing looks from those returning to their cars in other parts of the car park.
He extricated himself after a moment and looked around. No one seemed to be coming towards him and the car park was slowly emptying. Struggling to squeeze his bulk back in, he leaned on the horn again, this time hanging on for even longer. He’d sound that bastard until his battery was dead if he had to.
“Come on... come on... come on!”
A searing pain shot through his leg and then there was a terrific blow to his kidneys. He yelped in pain and struggled to get out of the car but a cold voice said, “Move and I’ll fuckin’ cut yer balls aff.”
Chapter 39
As Kats came into the car park he saw Nick’s ample arse hanging out of the space between the Porsche and his van. How had he got past him? Then he noticed people coming out of a side entrance to the zoo, wandering towards their cars. Rookie mistake: always cover all the exits.
He watched as Nick struggled out of the tight space to look around. He gave no indication of having recognised Kats, and scanned the car park expectantly for anyone who looked as though they could be the owner of the van.
After a few minutes he struggled back into the narrow place and Kats heard the horn going again. The car park was emptying fast as people left, and all the school parties were assembling at their buses well away from Nick.
Kats weighed hi
s options, felt the weight of the gun in his jacket, and headed over to the Porsche. It was sooner than he had intended, but it was also a now or never moment.
Taking a last look around to make sure no one was paying undue attention, he swung a mighty kick into Nick’s calf. He wouldn’t be running far if he got away. He followed with a vicious rabbit punch to his kidneys and told him not to move and what would happen if he did.
“Woah, hang on!” said Nick. “There’s no need to get stroppy mate. I just need the van moved alright? That’s all.”
“Come out of there nice and slowly pal.” Kats stood at the junction of the Porsche and van, blocking any potential escape route Nick might try. He watched as Nick slowly extricated himself from the window to stand up before him.
“Look, I don't want no trouble mate. All I want is my car back. I didn’t know whose van this was, I just need to be somewhere okay?”
“Where would that be then?”
Nick’s eyes registered recognition. His mouth opened and then closed. He looked more closely at Kats, “You. The guy at the health club right?”
“Aye. It’s me. Nice surprise for ye?”
“What do you want?”
“Ha! That’s easy pal. I want what you have.” Kats opened his jacket and showed Nick the gun. “And see that? That says I’m gonnae get it.”
Nick swallowed but said nothing.
“Let’s take this nice and slow then Nick. Can I call you Nick? I’m gonnae step back and walk round the other side of the van. You’re gonnae follow me, nice and easy. I’m gonnae open the van’s side door and you my son are gonnae step inside and go to the back of the van, sit yerself down facing the rear doors and shut up. Are we clear?”
Nick considered his options. He could try to run, but who was he kidding? The guy looked as fit as a butcher’s dog and he wouldn’t get far. People would notice and maybe come to his rescue, maybe even call the cops, but did he really want that? It would be best to do as he was told, buy some time and see if he could talk or negotiate his way out of this. That was where his real talents lay anyway.
“Alright mate, no problem,” he said. “Just don’t do anything stupid. I’m not gonna cause any trouble okay?”
Kats nodded and backed away slowly round the front of the van, opening the side door, beckoning Nick in with a nod of his head. Nick looked warily inside and then got in, walking in a stoop to the back, and sat down facing the doors as he was told.
Kats came in behind him and grabbed the pack of cable ties that were still in the back after his last adventure with Boots. This wee van was turning into a right useful tool.
“Put your hands behind your back.”
“Is this really necessa...” Kats punched him hard on the side of the head, sending him reeling.
“I thought we’d agreed you weren’t going to be any trouble? Now put yer fuckin’ hands behind yer fuckin’ back or I’ll kick yer fuckin’ heid in!”
Nick did it immediately and Kats secured them at the wrist with cable ties. He then tied a cloth rag round his head as a crude blindfold.
“What now?” said Nick. “What do you want from me? Sophie surely can’t think she is going to get anything more out of me by threatening me like this?”
Who the fuck is Sophie?
He said nothing in answer apart from, “Shut it pal. We’ve a wee trip to take together and I’d appreciate it if you’d just sit there nice and quiet and let me drive in peace.”
He got out the back, closed the door, got in the passenger’s side and shimmied over so he could start the engine. He pulled the van forward, got out, and went back to the Porsche and looked in. Nick’s briefcase was on the driver’s seat where he’d left it when he was sounding the horn. He picked it up, closed the window and locked the car up, heading back to the van. All good so far.
“Okay Nick, we’re going on a little joy ride me and you. It might get a wee bit bumpy so I’d advise you to lie down in there and get as comfy as you can ‘cos you’ll be there for a wee while.”
Nick rolled over onto his side.
“Right then, are we all happy? Then we’ll begin...”
He put the van in gear and left the car park.
Chapter 40
Kats had completed all the necessary preparations in advance, just like a good soldier conducting a life or death mission would, even though he hadn’t really expected to be making his move so quickly.
It was late in the season, so the static caravan park at Seaton Sands was almost empty, and the crappy weather had finished off any hope of any late Indian Summer surge of tourists.
When he’d phoned round his mates to call in favours he’d managed to hook up with Smudge, whose parents had a caravan parked there that they only used occasionally, and he’d handed over the keys no problem, no questions asked. Kats had already been there with Badger to check it out and they had tidied away all obvious signs of the owners.
He pulled in behind the caravan and was grateful for the cover the autumnal early darkness and the inevitable driving rain provided as he got out of the van, even though he was certain there were no other tenants nearby. The caretakers at the gatehouse had just waved him through as they’d already seen him come and go a few times. He went round to the cargo door side, got in and poked Nick in the ribs with the pistol.
“Okay, time to go,” he said, pulling Nick up to a sitting position so he could get out.
He frog-marched him round to the caravan door and pushed him inside, pressing him down onto a chair in the centre of the room quickly and efficiently so he would have no time to resist, even if he’d wanted to.
Kats expertly slit the plastic ties he’d originally secured him with, slipped new ones over his wrists, looped them through the chairback and pulled them tight, then quickly did the same with two others ties clamping Nick’s shins to the chair legs. The whole process took seconds and Nick was barely aware he was now totally restrained courtesy of a few pennies worth of hi-strength industrial plastic.
He left the blindfold on him while he went through his coat pockets and removed his mobile phone and keys. He noticed immediately the different door keys now on the keyring and was glad he’d gone straight to the flat, otherwise he wouldn’t have found out what he now knew and would consequently be in a weaker position.
Knowledge is power after all. He put the phone and keys in his own pocket, placed the pistol on the table where Nick could see it when he removed his blindfold, and then took a few minutes to compose himself.
Stepping through to the kitchen area, he flicked the kettle on to boil, nibbling a biscuit absently as he let Nick stew a little more. Then he took a chair, placed it pointing towards his captive, and sat down on it, arms draped loosely over the back. He studied him for a few seconds more then, quickly, and without prior warning, he whipped the blindfold off his head.
Nick blinked in surprise. He looked haggard and old, his blue eyes wide with fear and suspicion and his jowls quivering slightly in nervousness.
Good, maybe this will be a lot easier than I first thought.
“What do you want from me?”
“I’d have thought that was pretty obvious.”
“If it’s money you’ve got the wrong man,” blustered Nick. “Sophie knows I don’t have any but she’s built up this notion I have loads stashed away somewhere. She’s lost it, she really has. To pull a stunt like this, she’s crazy.”
Sophie, there was that name again. Kats decided not to enlighten him any more than was necessary, so he neither acknowledged nor denied this Sophie woman was behind what was happening. Nick looked as though he was about to burst into tears but Kats couldn’t work out whether it was desperation, fear, or he was just feeling sorry for himself.
“We both know that is a load of crap.”
“I’m telling you I have nothing apart from what I declared in the pre-divorce papers. I can’t make money appear out of thin air. She knows how I live; she’s the one with the big country house while I’m in
a small flat in town. She doesn’t even work, I pay for everything now. If I had anything extra don’t you think that it would be more obvious? Where does she think all the money is?”
“Oh I know where it is all right,” said Kats, pausing for effect. “Let’s have a wee talk about First Commercial Bank in Grand Cayman for a start.”
Nick looked up at him with a start. So he had been in the flat after all then. How much did he actually know though, that was the thing. He may know about the bank but that might be all he knows. Perhaps he could bluster it away, maybe get a settlement with her for a few hundred grand. She must be desperate if she’d hired this bozo to put some manners on him anyway. Bloody guns and everything, this whole thing was now totally out of hand and it would be worth buying her off just so he could get away as quickly as possible.
Experience had taught him that everything and everyone had a price. He began to feel more comfortable for the first time since he’d gotten into the van, now that he knew what he was dealing with, and he started to relax a little; this was just another deal to be done and, after all, wasn’t he the consummate dealmaker? He took a deep breath before eventually speaking.
“Okay, okay,” he said. “We can surely sort this out amicably, can’t we? I know she wants to do a deal and I want to get it done too so I can get out of here. How much will it take to get her to call you off?”
“Ten million,” said Kats, without expression.
Nick just looked at him astonished, mouth agape.
“What…? You must be mad! What makes you think I have that much stashed away out there?” he spluttered when he could speak.
“Simple. I know what you’ve been up to. You’ve been a bit of a clever dick haven’t ye? I know you’ve been taking the cash up front as investments and then not actually making any investments. You’ve been sticking all that dosh in yer own bank account, and from the amount of business youse guys have been doing since you set it all up, am betting there must be at least ten million in there by now.”
Waging War To Shake The Cold Page 19