by Owen Mullen
‘Check everything, including your people. It’s early days and, so far, we haven’t a clue who’s behind the hits or whether they’ve burrowed inside the operation. But they’re pros, no doubt about that.’
Nina might not have heard. She watched stone-faced as her staff handed over their mobiles and stepped back from the computers. The corner of her mouth turned down and Mark Douglas realised what was on her mind. ‘You’re thinking one of them might be working against you. You could be right. Everybody’s the enemy, until we can prove they’re a friend.’
Douglas reassured her. ‘Chances are, they’re not involved. But we only get this one opportunity to surprise them if the leak came from this office.’ He pointed to the bearded techie. ‘Introduce us as security experts, which means when your people hate somebody, it won’t be you. Tell them hacking has been reported, and this is a necessary precaution. Then, send them home. You’ll see them tomorrow. They can have their mobiles back as soon as they’ve been checked.’
‘What, you think somebody’s bugging their phones?’
‘It’s possible, though it’s really who they’ve contacted we’re after.’ He held out his up-turned palm. ‘And I’ll take your phone, if you don’t mind.’
‘How long will your guy be?’
Mark Douglas shrugged. ‘Two or three hours, hard to say. Why?’
‘I’m meeting Luke at five. That gives us time for a drink.’ She smiled. The vamp from the club was back. ‘Of course, if you’re too busy…’
I was in the bar drinking soda and lime when the Bishops arrived. Today was their first time in LBC and, by the looks on their faces, maybe the first time they’d been anywhere that didn’t have linoleum on the floor, Formica on the tables and a spittoon within gobbing distance. Individually, they were rich; together the cousins were worth a fortune. But money could only buy so much; under the skin they were still a couple of thugs from Chalk Farm – unsophisticated, not very bright bully-boys, who’d cornered the market in hookers and drugs from Enfield to Barnet and everywhere in between.
The meet would be short: I’d do the talking. They’d do the listening. That wasn’t negotiable. Neither was what I was about to tell them.
Colin picked up where he’d left off on the canal towpath, angry and belligerent. ‘All right, Glass, we’re impressed. Now, why the hell’re we here?’
I spoke to his partner. ‘Your cousin’s been watching too many tough-guy movies, Kenny. Remind him he’s in my drum. Tell him to show some respect before I break his fucking arm.’
Kenny Bishop laid a restraining hand on his cousin’s shoulder. ‘He doesn’t get out much, Luke. He’s easily excited; can’t help himself. But he does have a point.’
‘The plan for Wednesday has changed.’
Colin fell on it like a hungry rat. ‘What do you mean changed?’
‘It isn’t happening, at least, not the way it’s set up.’
Kenny pursed his lips – this wasn’t what he wanted to hear. ‘Because of Friday night? But that was a one-off, wasn’t it?’
‘Was it? Are you sure about that? Because I’m not. From now on the mountain comes to Muhammad.’
My mangled quote went over Colin’s head. ‘Muhammad? What’re you on about, mate?’
Kenny explained it. ‘He’s saying they’re not collecting the cash.’
‘Then, who does?
I put him out of his misery. ‘You do.’
It took a moment to register before the moron said, ‘That’s not what we agreed.’
‘We’re shaking it up, Colin.’ I spread my arms. ‘Mea culpa. It’s got to be done. Suppose they go after it at your place, you ready for that?’
He wasn’t happy. When was he ever? ‘You can’t go altering the terms.’
‘I just have. Somebody’s on to us. Should we carry on as we are and let them do us again?’
Colin turned to his cousin. ‘I don’t like this, Kenny. This guy’s moving the goalposts. He thinks—’
I’d had enough. ‘Tell you what, boys, forget it. My advice: if you find a better deal, take it. See yourselves out.’
Colin’s bloated frame strained the buttons of his jacket. He’d pushed me over the edge and lost them their deal. He let his partner do the talking – a pity he hadn’t thought about it earlier; he was about five minutes too late. Kenny saw the arrangement that would make them richer than they already were slipping away. ‘It won’t do any good to be hasty. Everybody, calm down, and Colin, shut the fuck up. How many times do I have to tell you?’
Inside, I smiled. On the Regent’s Canal he’d been fine about his mad-dog relation having a go. Today, Kenny Bishop was sober and the greedy bastard in him didn’t want to miss out. Suddenly, he was the peacemaker, gently gripping my arm to reassure me there was no problem, that everything was fine.
He waited until it was safe to continue. ‘Luke, you aren’t cool with what’s agreed. Okay. I understand. But maybe you’re overreacting. What’re the odds on getting done again?’
I had an answer for him. ‘The odds, Kenny? The odds are zero. Because we won’t be coming. Wednesday’s a bust. Don’t expect us. On Thursday, I’ll call with new instructions. Have the cash ready. And if that doesn’t work for you…’
The Bishops were up against it, finally realising Luke Glass wasn’t compromising.
Kenny said, ‘We’ll make it work.’
Colin wanted to speak – behind his idiot face, the cogs were grinding. I goaded him, praying that, no matter what was at stake, he wouldn’t be able to put a sock in it and I’d have the excuse I was looking for to take him apart. The outward signs of an internal battle were visible – Bishop breathed hard through his nose, his teeth ground together and his thick neck flushed red.
I saw it and said, ‘One word, just one, and I’ll drag you back to Chalk Farm by your fucking balls, fat boy.’
21
I’d pushed the question of a second sister to the back of the queue of issues shouting for my attention. George Ritchie confirming the birth certificate was genuine had left me no way out. Charlene, or Charley as she preferred to be called, was a Glass.
The news brought no rush of emotion, no longing to hug her and welcome her into the family. But from the moment she’d breezed into the office above the King Pot, in my heart I’d known. Nina hadn’t been told. Without proof, it was better for all concerned she wasn’t in the loop. Nina’s assurances she’d changed didn’t convince me. She was still a headstrong teenager hiding behind the self-assured woman she’d become. Discovering she had a sister would be one helluva shock.
Heels clacked and echoed in the stairwell. At the door, she paused, lowered her head and smiled at me. She was wearing black skin-tight leggings, underneath a long red blouse.
Charley pulled her hair to one side and sat down. ‘I’m here, so I’m guessing that means you realise I’m telling the truth.’
I cut the performance short. ‘Don’t read too much into it. What do you want?’
I was giving her a hard time. Deliberately. She was a Glass – she’d proved it – in my book that meant she was in. You only got one chance to set the boundaries and I already had a stroppy sister. I didn’t need two.
The question surprised her. ‘I should’ve thought that was obvious.’
Everything about her was obvious – but she had style, I’d give her that.
‘Listen, we’re talking. That’s further than many people get. Top tip: don’t blow it. I’ll ask again: what’re you doing here? What do you want? I mean, really want?’
‘I want a job. Not to be too pushy, I want to be a part of whatever’s going on.’
My turn to do the smiling: ‘Take a ticket and wait your turn, is that how you think this works? All you need is the right name and the rest falls into your lap?’
Charley sighed and looked away.
I said, ‘Sorry, am I boring you?’
She ignored me and pulled out cigarettes and a lighter. ‘Mind if I smoke?’
‘As a matter of fact, I do. You’ve got one minute to convince me why I shouldn’t kick your fat arse into the street. Starting now.’
She had her response ready. ‘Because you can use somebody like me.’
‘Not if playing the long-lost-sister card is all you’ve got.’
‘Even long-lost sisters have to pull their weight, and I will.’
I sat back, trying to get a handle on her. She wasn’t overawed, confidence oozed out of her and, again, it was impossible not to catch the resemblance to Nina and Danny. She leaned forward, as if she had a secret to tell. I stayed where I was and let her do her thing – it had got her this far.
‘Our mother died eighteen months ago. Big surprise. She left some money. I could’ve come to London then. You should be wondering why I’ve waited. And why I tried so hard to get your attention.’
‘Let me guess – the cash is running out.’
‘Wrong. I’ve known about the three of you for thirty years. I’m here because this is the time.’
‘The time?’
‘At the end of the day, family trumps everything and I’m ready to be part of mine.’
Nice speech. Tugging on the old heart strings, but not too much. I folded my arms and looked at her. ‘You see, Charley, you’ve had the advantage. You knew about us. We didn’t know about you. Maybe we’re not ready.’
This woman had had a game plan from the beginning – now, she was rolling it out. ‘I hear you need all the help you can get. Apparently, I’m not the only one who’s found flaws in your set-up.’
Her first misstep. Just when I was starting to like her.
The amusement left her eyes. ‘Face it, Luke, you need me. LBC has been open six months with Nina fronting it. With respect, she doesn’t have what it takes, you must know that.’
‘And you do?’
The red lips parted in a smile I was getting used to. ‘If you have to ask, I’ve overestimated you. And that would be a shame because a sister likes to look up to her brother.’ Charley leaned closer. ‘You aren’t going to disappoint me, are you?’
Nina didn’t do sorry. If she’d had a Paul-on-the-road-to-Damascus revelation, I’d take it. Some people never really grew up. I’d resigned myself to the fact she was one of them and was happy to be proved wrong.
She kissed me on the cheek and sat down. She seemed happy and relaxed. Of course, she didn’t know the bombshell I was about to lay on her, otherwise her mood would’ve been very different. Charley was upstairs in the bar, waiting for my call. Even in our dysfunctional family, being ‘the little sister’ counted for something and all her life Nina had traded on it shamelessly to wheedle what she wanted out of her brothers. Her new status would take some getting used to and I wasn’t convinced she’d willingly relinquish her crown.
I began in neutral. ‘How did your staff take to getting kicked out?’
She shrugged. ‘Security comes first.’
‘Douglas hasn’t come across anything that shouldn’t be there, so far.’
Nina frowned. ‘No idea if that’s good or bad. It’s never simple, is it?’
She could say that again.
‘Okay, why am I here?’ She settled herself ready for the big reveal. ‘You said it was important.’
‘It is. Very.’
‘Let me guess. You’ve found somebody to front the club.’ Nina laughed. ‘I spotted her in the bar. Not your type – you prefer skinny – so she can’t be your girlfriend. Am I right? Got the stuff, has she?’
Once she’d met Charley, she’d never ask that question again. I stayed low-key. ‘She’ll do the job, if that’s what you mean.’
‘Are we going to interview her?’
‘Not exactly.’
‘What the hell does that mean? Either we are or we aren’t.’
‘We aren’t. I’ve hired her.’
Nina glanced away and back again. ‘Well, thanks for dragging me across London for nothing. Could’ve told me that on the phone.’
‘I could’ve, except there’s more.’
She shifted in her seat. ‘Well, spit it out or do I have to guess?’
There was no easy way to tell her.
‘Her name’s Charley. She’s our sister.’
The only sound in the room was the air-con droning in the background. I wanted to take her in my arms, but didn’t – she had to come to terms with this herself. Her world, so much of what she’d thought she understood, was turning upside down and she was too stunned to speak. Instinct kicked in and I saw her silently rail against truth beyond her control. Her mouth worked; no words came. Her life had changed and there was nothing either of us could do about it.
Danny was gone. Three had become two – me and Nina. With Charley, we were back to three. It hadn’t worked before. Why would this time be any better? I could see advantages – the reason I’d offered Charley a job – but Nina was a girl who went her own way in all things; she would be harder to convince, and, on the other side of the desk, she quietly ground her teeth.
I felt for her. She’d put whatever was going on with her clients aside and arrived determined to commit to the business for maybe the first time. Across the table, shock morphed into anger; tears weren’t far away. Until now, the questions that came unbidden in the middle of the night had been pushed away and, like me, she’d got on with it. The existence of the woman upstairs in the bar made it impossible to run from that part of our lives any longer and we were being forced to confront the heartbreaking fact we’d avoided head-on.
Our mother had abandoned us.
No matter how many times I’d asked, Danny had refused to talk about it. Had carrying that around in his head turned him into the monster he became?
Then, what about me?
What about Nina?
She raised her chin defiantly, fighting down the emotions threatening to drown her – the reaction I’d expected. Days earlier, mine had been no different. Denial had taken Nina this far, why not further? Except, how we felt – unloved, rejected, judged and found wanting by a woman who should’ve cherished us and all the complex, complicated rest of it – was an open sore, a wound that had never healed. Until we faced it, it never would.
I said, ‘Ritchie checked her out. She’s Charlene Glass – Frances Glass was her mother. She has a birth certificate to prove it.’
‘It could be a fake.’
‘It could be, Nina, but it isn’t. Wait till you see her – for Christ’s sake, it’s like looking at Danny. I’ll get her to join us and you can judge for yourself.’
‘Do what you like, I don’t want to meet her. I don’t believe we have a sister.’
We both understood she didn’t mean it. This was the one chance to find out if our mother ever regretted leaving us behind. Neither of us would be walking away from that, though Charley had picked a helluva time to land this in our lap.
Nina turned her resentment on me. ‘How long have you known?’
‘Nina…’
‘How fucking long?’
‘Days. Just days.’
‘She contacted you?’
‘No. The hits on Lewisham and Lambeth were her.’
The latest in many surprises.
‘What? I thought…’
‘They were tied to the club. We all did. They weren’t. She put it together.’
‘Why?’
‘To get our attention. Let us see she had the stuff. But she’s made an enemy in George Ritchie. He hates her for showing how slack the operation’s got in the last three years.’ Remembering frustrated me. I ran a hand through my hair and carried on. ‘Nobody’s covered in glory here. We’ve been asleep. Charley’s determined to wake us up.’
I reached out my hand. Nina didn’t take it. ‘She’s a couple of decades too late. What the hell does she want?’
‘Good question. Why don’t you ask her?’
They say knowledge is power. That made Charley the strongest person in the room, because she could answer the questions we’d dragged around
with us all our lives. It should’ve been liberating, exciting. It wasn’t. Not knowing had allowed us to build fantasy excuses for why our mother had left three kids behind when she fled her husband. The truth might blow that away and I wasn’t sure I was ready.
Charley sat silently watching us, her painted fingers clasped in her lap. I wondered what was going through her mind. When she was putting the plan together to make her grand entrance, was this how she’d pictured it ending? Beyond a job, I’d promised her nothing yet, in a room full of big personalities, her presence dominated. I gave us all time to adjust to the new reality, if that’s what it was. Nina’s lip curled at the corner, her features twisted like she was smelling something bad and there was a look in her eyes I recognised – I’d been on the receiving end of it plenty of times. Today, it was someone else’s turn. She’d held back longer than I’d expected and wasn’t interested in adjusting. She might never get there but the first words out of her mouth showed she wasn’t messing around, either. ‘If you’re here, does that mean she’s dead?’
Charley kept her answer short. ‘Yes.’
‘When?’
‘Eighteen months back.’
‘Where?’
‘Upstate New York.’
‘What happened to her?’
For the first time, hesitation. ‘You don’t want to know.’
The anger that wasn’t far from the surface flashed. ‘Don’t tell me what I want to know. I’m asking what happened.’
‘A fire. Frances smoked forty Marlboro every day of her life and finally succeeded in doing what she’d been threatening. She went to bed out of it, lit one last cigarette and closed her eyes.’
‘Were you in the house?’
‘No, I’d left.’
‘Why?’
Charley chose her words: this was her show. ‘We had issues. Frances wasn’t the easiest woman to rub along with. Your daydreams of how it was are way off the mark. Whatever it says on the birth certificate, I didn’t like her. You wouldn’t have liked her, either.’
‘Did she ever talk about us?’