‘He’s still got his knife, boss. Right hand pocket.’
‘All right, cheers, Phil.’
The doors swung closed, leaving the two men illuminated by the small overhead light.
‘Aren’t you going to take my knife?’
‘No need, mate. And you might want to use it.’
‘On you?’
‘On yourself. Thought I’d give you the option, like. I’d let you bleed out, don’t fret, if that’s what you want.’
‘So you’re not handing me over to the cops?’
‘No way. We both know that would achieve nothing. The chance of you going to jail is minimal, and even if you did, the Ferris brothers would only send someone else.’
‘It’s not the brothers you should be afraid of.’
‘Aye, I know. Tania’s a right hard nut, isn’t she?’
‘So you’ve met?’
‘We’ve spoken, aye.’
‘About me?’
‘Aye. We’re handing you over, in ten minutes time. So you’ve still got time, if you want to take me up on my earlier offer, like.’
The van was moving now, and both men reached round, bracing one hand against opposite side walls to steady themselves.
‘What would you do?’ asked Young, after a few minutes.
‘Me? I’d give it a go and take me on, like. All right, even if you do get lucky and off me, in the struggle like, the lads up front would take you out. Of course they would. But it’d be quick, and at least you’d have made your point, like. Because I doubt you’ll persuade Tania Ferris of much, do you?’
‘Maybe not, but I can try.’
‘That’s the spirit.’
It was another minute before Young spoke again.
‘So what’s the deal, between you and Tania?’
‘I turn you over, in return for certain considerations.’
‘And a fucking great big bag of gold, I expect.’
‘No, no money. Just a few favours.’
‘You don’t believe she’s going to leave Carlisle alone, do you, mate? You can’t be that fucking stupid.’
‘No, and I haven’t asked for that. I’ve just made it clear that if Tania or her brothers overstep again then it won’t just be their new lad who’ll be in our sights, it’ll be them and all.’
‘I bet she didn’t like that.’
Hood smiled. ‘Actually, she offered me a job. Your job, as it happens.’
‘And what did you say?’
‘I said I preferred the furniture shifting job.’
‘You really think she’ll let you live, knowing what you do?’
‘It’s not knowing that’s the problem for the likes of Tania Ferris, mate, it’s telling. And she knows that I never will. But she can’t say the same for you, can she? Still, you know what they say. A short life but a merry one, eh?’
‘Mine hasn’t even been that fucking merry.’
The van slowed, and stopped. The doors opened after a few seconds, and the man who’d been in Young’s 4x4 looked at Young, then Hood.
‘I won’t need to clean the van then, Davey.’
‘It seems not, no. Come on then, Dai, mustn’t keep a lady waiting, must we?’
Young recognised the road, right next to the cathedral, in the very heart of the city. It was utterly deserted, and tranquil. He glanced around for CCTV cameras and saw two, both smashed. Tania Ferris got out of the car, and nodded to Hood.
‘He’s unarmed, I take it?’
‘Knife in his pocket.’
Tania looked surprised, just for a moment, and then smiled.
‘You gave him the choice?’
‘Aye, I did.’
‘And he didn’t take it?’
‘It seems not, no.’
‘What a stupid, stupid fucker.’
Hood shrugged.
‘Just can’t get the staff these days, can you, love?’
The Amen Cadence Page 16