by Terry Morgan
CHAPTER 30
It was very early on Friday morning.
Mark Dobson had slept on one side of the bed, Vigo on the other but it was not Vigo's gentle snoring that woke him but Vigo's phone. Vigo stirred, dragged the phone from his back pocket, put it to his ear, grunted something and handed it to Dobson. "Maz."
Dobson took the phone, heard loud pop music and a shuffling sound. "Pink Lips rocking tonight?" he asked.
"Wah. You wanna know sumtin big?"
"Only if my money's been well spent."
"I take piss. Wait," Mazda said and Dobson waited, wondering if Mazda was having a piss or about to take the piss. The music faded as if a door had shut. Then: "Mmmm." As if he'd definitely been having a piss. "You there, Merc?"
"Here."
"Party time Merc. Some big shot organize a lot of fizz. Then two hour ago, big trouble. Someone take gun. Someone outside get shot. Police come. Blue light mix with pink light. Everyone run inside. All like normal now."
"Go on."
"It's like this. I go have cozy with one smallie in fah corner and........."
"Slow down, OK? Speak English."
"Yah. This smallie, she come on very..........."
"Smallie?"
"Flooz, Merc. You told me to find a flooz."
"Did I say that?"
"So, I find flooz. Slim, slim. Nice titties, tight arse. Listen well, Merc, 'cus this vital, OK?"
"I'm listening."
"Florence say she prefer Flo because........."
"Flo's the flooz, yes?"
"Yessah. Today only, sah. So, I get talking, drinking, smoking. You know Pink Lips, Merc. Very cultural. Eye make water, brain make clear view and then must sleep."
"Understand. What happened?"
"Cut story, Merc. Flo say there one big oga, Merc."
"Oga?"
"Big man, boss man. Listen well, Merc. Pink Panta, he one big atutu."
"You see Pink Panther tonight?"
"No sah, Pink, he big man, no time. Flo laugh like hyena when I ask about Pink, say Pink not his genuine label, Pink called Godwin, sah."
"Yes, Chelsea Scumbag said that. I need more."
"Plenty more, sah. I tell you. Listen well. I say to Flo the flooz why Pink is also Godwin and she say that Pink and Godwin same ting but not same ting. Godwin explain, say God always wins. That's Naija comedy, Merc. You on same wavelength?"
"I'm not sure."
"So, Flo ask another flooz about Godwin. Ansa come back is Pink works for someone called Godwin and Godwin is one big shot in insurance."
"Insurance."
"Protection, Merc. Pink Lips pay insurance to Pink who pays to Godwin who is a big shot called Abubakar Aliyu."
"So, Godwin is Abubakar Aliyu?"
"Yessah. Do I get expenses?"
"I think so. And the problem with the police tonight?"
"Benji do something Godwin not like so Benji was shot dead, sah. Very sorry, sah."