by Mark Timlin
Jools looked down at him, and touched her cheek, which was already beginning to swell up. ‘I wish you hadn’t done that,’ she said. ‘I’ll be paying it back for months.’
I leaned over him and found two reasonably chilli-free zones on the lapels of his jacket, and hauled him to his feet. ‘If I hear,’ I said, as slowly as he’d spoken to her, ‘that you’ve touched her because of what I did, I’ll do it again. And again, until you stop. Understand?’
He looked at me with an expression that said I had made a bad enemy.
I let go of his lapels and pushed him away. ‘Understand?’ I asked again.
He nodded. But I knew he was already thinking of ways to get even.
‘Now go and clean yourself up,’ I said.
He looked down at his ruined clothes, and then at me, and then at Jools. He left the kitchen without a word.
Jools sighed and followed him.
Twenty seconds later Alfie swished in and looked at the wreckage of the kitchen. ‘Sorry,’ I said. ‘It was an accident.’
‘You didn’t intend to hit him, you mean?’
‘I meant to hit him all right. But I didn’t mean for him to hit the main course.’
‘Typical,’ said Alfie sniffily, and found a mop and bucket and started cleaning up.
Twenty seconds after that, Brady arrived on the scene. ‘What the fuck did you do that for?’ he demanded.
Everybody who came into the kitchen seemed to be full of questions.
‘He asked for it,’ I said.
‘He’s our contact.’
‘He’s your contact. And he was too fisty with her.’
‘So who died and made you a knight in shining armour? It’s none of your fucking business what he does with her. Fucking stupid bitch probably asked for it. This is just what I didn’t want to happen. You’ve probably blown it, son. That’s what you’ve done.’
Alfie was listening hard throughout our brief conversation.
‘And what are you going to do with her now?’ asked Brady.
‘Nothing. What am I supposed to do with her? We were only talking.’
‘Oh,’ he said, drawing it out like you would if you were talking to someone a little slow on the uptake. ‘Are you stupid or what? I bet she knew that talking to you would get him at it – state he was in. You mug.’
‘Bollocks,’ I said. ‘He asked me to take care of her. Then he went on the bloody turn when I did. His fucking brain’s gone. Too much booze and coke. Where is he? I’ll sort him out.’
‘Not tonight you won’t. He’s hopped it.’
‘What?’
‘You heard. Hopped it. Left. Fucked off in his motor. Get my drift?’
‘Oh shit.’
‘Oh shit is right. You started it. You finish it. I’ve got to sort him out tomorrow. We’ve got a deal on, remember?’
At that juncture Jools came back into the kitchen. ‘He’s gone,’ she said.
‘So I believe,’ I replied.
‘So I’m with you now.’
‘What?’
‘You heard.’
‘Hold on. He’s your bloke. Go home and make up. I’ll call you a cab.’
‘What fucking planet do you come from?’ she demanded. ‘He’s not my bloke, as you so nicely put it. He hasn’t been for months. You saw the way he was tonight. And if you think I’m going round there on me tod tonight to get a good kicking from that bastard, because you hit him, you’d better think again. You’re the one who done him. It’s down to you.’ Her accent was moving freely from the West to the East End the more agitated she got.
It reminded me of that old old Chinese tradition that if you save a person’s life you are ever after responsible for them. In other words I was lumbered.
‘OK,’ I said. ‘So it’s down to me. I’ll sort it. We’d better go.’
‘Where?’
‘I don’t know. We’ll talk about it in the car.’
33
It was all quiet outside, with no sign of Seeley’s car anywhere. Jools and I climbed into mine and she asked for a cigarette. I gave her one and lit it. ‘So?’ I said. ‘Where to?’
‘Don’t ask me.’
‘Haven’t you got any friends you can stay with?’
She shook her head, and her white hair gleamed in the light from the street lamps.
‘Got any money for a hotel?’
‘I haven’t got a penny. And I’m not staying in some flea-bag round here, thank you. Don’t think you can just drop me off somewhere and forget about me.’
She was getting to be more of a nuisance by the minute. ‘Looks like it’s my place, then,’ I said.
‘Looks like it,’ she replied.
I switched on the engine and lights, put the car into first, and drove slowly out of the cul-de-sac and headed south. ‘He knows where I live,’ I said.
‘Is that supposed to make me feel better,’ she asked.
‘It’s not supposed to make you feel anything. It’s a fact. If he decides to come looking…’ I didn’t finish the sentence.
‘I doubt it,’ she said. ‘State he was in.’
When we got into my street I switched off the main beams and drove slowly past my house, checking for Seeley’s car. It wasn’t about. I did a three-point turn and drove back. ‘You’re being careful, aren’t you?’ she said.
‘Always,’ I replied. ‘I like to know what I’m walking into.’
I parked the car up on the front, and let us in. She followed me up the stairs and we went into the flat together. ‘Not much of a place, is it?’ she said. She wasn’t as polite as Kylie had been, and I wished it was Kylie I was coming in with, instead of the miserable bitch I was with. I didn’t bother to try and defend the place, or even point out that beggars can’t be choosers. It would just have been a waste of breath, the mood she was in.
‘Home sweet home for the night,’ was all I said.
‘And the rest.’
I let that one pass, too.
‘You can have the bed,’ I said. ‘I’ll take the sofa.’
‘The perfect gentleman,’ she said.
‘That’s me.’ I turned on the bedside lamp and switched off the main light. ‘Coffee?’ I asked.
‘Sure. Why not?’ I went and put the kettle on, and sorted out the spare duvet and a pillow, and made up the sofa into a bed.
She watched me all the while. ‘You don’t have to do that, you know,’ she said. ‘You can sleep with me. I haven’t got the clap.’
It wasn’t exactly an enticing thought, and, even if it had been, it wasn’t on. Something about the picture wasn’t right.
‘I never thought you had,’ I said. ‘I just don’t think it’s a very good idea.’
‘Why not? You scared of me?’
‘No,’ I said. ‘I just don’t think it’s a very good idea, that’s all.’
She sniffed. It’s just like asking for credit in a boozer. A refusal often offends.
When I’d finished with the sofa, I made the coffees, and she sat on the edge of her bed and I sat on the edge of mine whilst we drank them. In fact we were almost knee to knee. It was quiet as we sat there facing each other, and the room was electric with tension. When we finished, I put the cups into the sink, and she stood up and pulled her dress over her head and tossed it across the bed. All she had on underneath was a pair of brief black panties. No bra. No stockings or tights. I’ve got to tell you she was well fit, and I almost regretted my decision to sleep alone. Almost but not quite.
She looked at me looking at her. ‘Do you approve?’ she asked. ‘Up to scratch, or what?’
‘No complaints,’ I said.
‘And you still don’t want to sleep with me?’
I shook my head.
‘Are you sure you’re not a faggot, like your friend?’
‘Sure,’ I said.
‘You could have fooled me,’ she said scornfully.
I ignored that comment, too, and she climbed in to the bed. I undressed down to my boxers and T-shirt, and got under the duvet on the sofa.
‘Shall I switch off the light or are you frightened of the dark, too?’ she asked.
Once again I didn’t take the bait. ‘Turn it off,’ I said.
She did, and flung herself around under the sheets, and sighed like people do when they want a fuck and can’t get one – and want whoever else is there to know they want one. Christ, I’ve done it myself enough times. It’s a right bastard of a feeling, as it goes. I was tempted to get out of my bed and into hers, and give her what she wanted, just to shut her up. But I thought better of it, and just lay there and let her get on with it. Eventually she quietened down and her breathing evened out, and I guessed she was asleep. I toyed with the idea of getting the Howdah pistol down from the loft just in case Seeley paid a dawn visit. But before I could make a decision I was asleep myself.
34
When I woke up, Jools was still asleep. I got off the sofa and went into the bathroom. When I came back she was awake.
‘I thought you’d run out on me,’ she said.
‘No,’ I replied. ‘Coffee?’
‘Please.’
I put the kettle on and washed up last night’s cups.
‘Have you got a dressing gown?’ she asked. She wasn’t quite as bold in the cold light of dawn – or at 8.40 am as in fact it was – as she had been the previous night.
‘Sure,’ I said, and got my robe off the back of the bathroom door and tossed it to her. ‘I won’t look,’ I said. I fiddled about, putting the coffee in the cups, as she got out of bed and brushed past me on the way to the bathroom. ‘There’s a new toothbrush in the cabinet,’ I said. By the time she emerged, the coffee was ready. ‘Want something to eat?’ I asked.
She shook her head.
‘Are you sure? I’m having some toast.’
‘No thanks. I don’t eat in the morning.’
‘Please yourself.’
I put a couple of slices of bread under the grill, and dug out the butter and a pot of marmalade. She sat at the breakfast bar and watched me over the rim of her cup as I prepared the food.
‘Have you always lived alone?’ she asked.
‘No,’ I replied. ‘I was married once. I’m divorced now.’ I seemed to keep having the same conversation with people. But life’s like that. You don’t talk about something for months, and then all of a sudden it’s the prime subject on the agenda.
‘I’m sorry about all the cracks last night,’ she said. ‘I was uptight. It really wasn’t your fault you got involved. It was that fucking Roy. He’s a crazy bastard.’
‘Do you think he’ll come looking for you.’
‘I don’t know. I doubt it. A couple of years ago, yes. But I’m too old for him now, and too wise. He’ll have an eighteen-year-old bimbo on his arm by the end of the week, I expect. Not that he hasn’t had plenty of them already, as you know. But he won’t forget that you hit him. Be careful, Nick. He won’t forget that you hit him and went off with me. He’ll never believe we slept in separate beds. Not in a million years. Even though he doesn’t want me himself, he won’t want anyone else to have me.’
‘What do you think he’ll do?’
‘He won’t do anything. He’s not into that – violence. He doesn’t mind knocking me about a bit, but he won’t take on a man. He’s too scared he might get hit back. He’ll go to Pat. Pat’ll do it for him. Watch out for him, Nick. He’s a wicked bastard. He…’ She stopped.
‘What?’ I asked.
‘Nothing. It doesn’t matter. Just be careful.’
‘Meanwhile?’ I asked.
‘Meanwhile you’ve got yourself a slightly used lodger. Mind if I stick around? I can cook, clean, wash, iron. The works. What do you say?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘Why not?’
I didn’t answer.
Then it dawned on her. ‘Is there someone else?’
‘Sort of.’
‘Who?’
‘Just someone I met recently.’
‘Why wasn’t she with you last night?’
‘It’s a long story,’ I said.
‘Is it serious?’
I shrugged. ‘Who knows?’
‘Then what does it matter? You can go about with who you like. I’m used to it, Nick. It doesn’t make any difference if it’s you or him that’s doing it.’
‘I don’t want to do it that way.’
She was silent for a moment. ‘I’ll go then,’ she said.
I felt like a right bastard. Even though I didn’t want her to stay, I didn’t want to kick her out. Whatever the reason, it had been me who whacked Seeley. ‘There’s no rush,’ I said. ‘Get yourself together first. Find somewhere to stay.’
‘OK, Nick. Thanks. But there is one thing.’
‘What?’
‘Have you got any money?’
‘Some. Why?’ A naive question.
‘Because I can’t go far in that dress and those shoes.’
‘What about your own stuff, at your place?’
‘It looks like I don’t have a place anymore. He’ll probably rip up my clothes, or burn them or something. Anyway, I don’t want to go there.’
‘I’ll go for you. Got the keys?’
‘Sure. But I don’t know about you going in there. That’ll get him really mad.’
‘I’ll risk it,’ I said.
She considered it. ‘Give it a couple of days,’ she said. ‘Maybe the weekend would be best.’
‘OK,’ I said.
‘Meanwhile, I’ll need some cash.’
‘How much?’
‘Five hundred.’
‘How much?’
‘I’ve got nothing, remember. Just the bit of make-up I’ve got in my bag. No clothes except what I stand up in, and you know there’s not much of them. No Tampax, and I can feel my period coming on. No nothing. Just myself.’ The way she said it made me think she didn’t consider that much of a bargain, and I felt like a bastard again.
I thought about the cash that Endesleigh had sent to me via Brady. ‘OK,’ I said ‘Five hundred it is. No problem.’
‘I’ll pay you back.’
‘Don’t worry about it.’
‘OK, Nick. Thanks. I’m really grateful.’
35
We sat around drinking coffee and not saying much for a couple of hours. There didn’t seem to be much to say. The telephone rang at about eleven. It was Brady. He didn’t waste any time on niceties. Just cut straight to the plot. ‘Is she there with you?’ he asked.
I didn’t have to ask who he meant. ‘Yes,’ I said.
‘Can she hear what I’m saying?’
‘No,’ I replied.
‘She’d better not be able to. You’ve done your best to screw this up good and proper, haven’t you?’
‘Look…’ I tried to interrupt.
‘Shut up,’ he said. ‘Shut up right now. What was the idea of that stunt last night?’
‘You know very well. I wasn’t going to stand by and watch him get off knocking her about.’
Jools stiffened and looked over at me. I tried to give her a reassuring smile. From the look on her face I don’t think it came out right. That wasn’t surprising. I didn’t feel very reassuring just then.
‘It was none of your business. I already told you that,’ he said.
‘Bollocks,’ I said. ‘I made it my business.’
‘And you fucked up my business in the process.’
I didn’t say that it seemed pretty fucked up already.
‘So what are you going to do with her?’ he asked.
/> ‘God knows,’ I said. ‘What can I do?’
‘Fuck her,’ said Brady. ‘But then I expect you already have. I hope it was worth it.’
‘As a matter of fact you’re wrong.’
‘Jesus wept. I was right. You do think you’re a knight in shining armour, don’t you? Listen, I’ve got news for you, pal. They’re extinct. And if you’re not careful, you’ll be joining them.’
‘I take it you’ve spoken to Seeley.’ I saw Jools stiffen in her seat again.
‘Sure I have. And I can tell you you’re right at the top of his shit-list.’
‘Oh dear. I can hardly hold the phone I’m trembling so.’
‘Listen, Sharman, you arsehole, I had to do some fast talking to stop him sending Hughes and a couple of his mates round to sort you out this morning. They were going to kill you and stripe her so’s even her mother wouldn’t recognise her.’
That shut me up for a moment. ‘Thanks,’ I said eventually. ‘I owe you one.’
‘More than one, I’d say.’
‘But it’s all going to be taken care of, isn’t it?’ I meant when Seeley and Hughes were arrested. But obviously I couldn’t say anything with Jools there.
‘Maybe. Maybe not.’ He knew what I meant.
‘Has it all fallen through, then?’
‘No. No thanks to you and her. But they don’t want you anywhere near it.’
‘So?’
‘So I have to do the buy.’
‘That’s no problem, is it? They know you now.’
‘It wasn’t the plan.’
‘Plans are made to be changed.’
‘Not my guv’nor’s plans. He’s another one who’s not best pleased with you.’
‘What’s he going to do?’
‘I don’t know. He doesn’t tell me everything. But he’s going to do something. Count on it. Maybe not now, but he’s a very patient man.’
‘So I’m out of it?’ I said.