Beyond Good and Evil
Page 14
“My ashes are floating down the Thames,” he finished for me.
Telling the truth about Tony was a calculated risk; and it worked. Pop smiled, but then his face clouded. I saw what the little fish must see just before the shark attack.
“You find whoever it was who killed Danny. He was my favourite. After…never mind. I could have anyone I wanted brought here and have things done to ‘em you can’t imagine to find out who killed my boy, but half of them would grass anyone up just to stop it, and some would be so scared they’d admit to anything. So it’d be bloody pointless. You find ‘em. Otherwise you got me to deal with.”
“No pressure then.”
“No pressure.”
“What gun was used to shoot Danny?”
“Funny that. Old fashioned luger. Like some forties throwback.” His mood filled the room, like a vapour. “My wife will have lots of theories. About everything,” he said wearily.
“Yes, she doesn’t strike me as the retiring type.”
Pop smiled. He was starting to like me, against his will. God knows, I needed an ally in this family. “Congratulations. You spot a domestic rift. In fact she’s listening right now, outside the door. Are you married?”
“Technically. Separated. Polite word for crucifixion.”
He looked at me. We both felt someone listening outside.
“I’m still head of the family. Ma knows that. For thirty years I brought home the bacon that made her fat. I did things…now get out and do your job, Mister Rook. Moderate or poor, becoming cyclonic…” And he turned up the volume. I’d been dismissed.
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