Ashes by Now (13 page)

34

When I got home I checked the action of the gun, and dry fired it a couple of times. It seemed fine, so I loaded it with six brass-jacketed bullets from the box the geezer in the cab had sold me.

Dawn called me at around ten, to tell me that she and Tracey were safe and well at Tracey's mum's in Milton Keynes, and to give me the phone number there. She was adamant that they hadn't been followed. I trusted her judgement. She told me to be careful. I told her the same. I didn't tell her I'd bought a revolver.

I called Jacqueline Harvey at the hotel. She was in her room.

‘Hi,' I said. ‘It's me. Nick. How was dinner?'

‘Wonderful. They've got an excellent chef here. And Toby was great company.'

So it was Toby now.

‘I look forward to joining you tomorrow,' I said. ‘Unless you've got a heavy date with old Toby, that is.'

I almost felt her blush over the phone.

‘Don't be silly,' she said. ‘You almost sound jealous.'

‘I almost am. He's a lot younger and fitter than me.'

‘But you're you.'

‘Thanks, Jackie,' I said. ‘I appreciate that.'

‘It's the truth.'

I changed the subject. ‘I'm meeting the news editor from the paper tomorrow at lunchtime; I'll ring you when I get back. OK?'

‘I'll expect your call.'

‘And I'll see you tomorrow evening.'

‘I wish you were here now.'

‘Me too,' I said. And I did.

‘I'm lonely, Nick.'

‘Me too,' I said again. I didn't mention Toby. The time for teasing was over.

‘Goodnight,' she said.

‘Goodnight, Jackie.'

And I put down the phone.

It was true that I was lonely. But it was Dawn I missed the most. Up until then I hadn't even realised that it was. I'd have to watch that.

The night passed quietly. I slept with the Colt under my pillow, and took it with me when I went for a piss at three a.m.

I called King's the next morning and the ward sister told me that Chas was on the mend, although not talking yet.

That made me feel better.

I took the gun with me when I went to meet Slade.

That made me feel better too.

I was in the Crown & Sceptre by eleven forty-five. It was a big old boozer on a corner, with seats and tables outside on the pavement.
Très
continental, and just right for a lungful of carbon monoxide. I went inside and asked behind the counter for Tom Slade. The barman sent me into the back where a grey-haired geezer in a dodgy sports coat was sitting, with a briefcase and the biggest pile of linens I've ever seen on the table in front of him.

‘Tom Slade?' I asked.

‘Sharman?'

I nodded agreement, and he pushed the papers to one side, gestured for me to sit down, and asked what I wanted to drink.

‘Lager,' I said.

He went to the bar, got me a drink, and brought it back, plus one more for himself.

When we were sitting comfortably, we began.

‘Have you seen Chas?' I asked.

Slade nodded.

‘Is it true that he can't talk? Or is that hospital flannel?' I asked.

‘It's true,' said Slade. ‘He's under sedation, and his jaw's wired up. He's not a well boy, but he'll survive.'

‘I'm pleased to hear it,' I said. ‘And I'm pleased to hear you're still considering using the story.'

‘It's a good story,' he said. ‘Or it would be if you could supply us with corroborating evidence. Some
hard
corroborating evidence.'

‘I will.' I hoped I sounded more convincing than I felt. If there was nothing at Collier's I was well fucked.

‘You'd better, or we'll have to drop it.'

‘Jackie's sister was murdered. She was abused. Isn't what I wrote down, plus her story, hard enough evidence?'

He gave me a pitying look for my naivety. ‘Not in this day and age, son. The libel settlements are getting bigger every week. We can't afford to take a flyer with a story like this. Sorry. It has to have backing.'

I didn't like the ‘son' bit. ‘I told you, it will,' I said. ‘And thanks for taking care of Jackie, whatever happens.'

‘No problem.'

‘I'd hate for what happened to Chas to happen to her.'

‘You think he was given a beating because of the story?' asked Slade.

I gave him a pitying look for his naivety, but stopped short of calling him ‘son'. ‘Don't you?'

‘It's possible.'

‘More than that,' I said. ‘It's definite. I got a phone call.'

‘You didn't tape it by any chance?' This guy was beginning to get right up my nose.

‘No. I didn't tape it,' I said.

‘And it was the same people who gave you a going over?'

‘The same policemen, yes. I didn't know you knew about that.'

‘I did.'

‘Then you know that, even without so-called hard evidence, someone out there doesn't want this story to go ahead. The only reason can be that we're on the right track.'

‘I agree. But even so,
without
corroboration I can't move. And if you're so sure, why come to us? Go straight to the police yourself.'

Another one. When were these people going to rent a room in the real world?

‘Police did it,' I said exasperatedly. ‘You don't set one copper on to another. For Christ's sake, Slade, where have you been? You work for a Sunday paper. Surely sometime in your career you've come across a bad copper.'

‘Yes, I have,' he said. ‘You, for one.'

Jesus. So that was it. ‘Terrific,' I said. ‘They've been to see you, and told you all my family secrets in passing?'

He nodded.

‘And?' I asked.

He pulled a face. ‘Have they been to see
you
?' he asked.

‘Course they have. They may be dumb as shit, but even
they
worked out it was the same people worked me and Chas over. Especially as it was me took him to the hospital. But you haven't answered my question. What did you tell them?'

‘Nothing.'

‘Thank Christ for that. Nor did I. I played dumb. So tell me, how far had Chas got with the story? Do you at least have a start?'

‘Of course. Chas was working from a desk in the office. And I was keeping this in my safe.' He opened his briefcase and took out my exercise book. Boy was I glad to see it. I'd been wondering where the hell it had got to. ‘The story's on disc,' Slade went on. ‘And we're putting another writer on to it. His name's Walter Sturridge. He's good. A staff man. It'll run next Sunday if you can give me something that the lawyers will go with.'

‘The sooner the better,' I said. ‘And tell him to be careful. People who get involved in this caper tend to spend an inordinately long time in hospital.'

‘He'll be careful. I've put two more of our security staff on to him, twenty-four hours a day.'

‘Good. And that was a good idea putting your man into the hotel. I feel better knowing that Jackie isn't on her own,' I said.

He shrugged. ‘It's par for the course with a story as sensitive as this one.'

Even if you don't know if you can use it, I thought. You bastard. Keep her well away from the competition just in case.

‘I hope they're as good as you say. Tell them to expect the worst. Collier and his pals fight as dirty as shit,' I said.

‘They can take care of themselves.'

‘I certainly hope so.'

‘They're ex-SAS. Just like Toby Gillis.'

‘They need to be, believe me.'

‘Point taken. Another drink?'

I accepted. He was on exes, I wasn't. In fact I wasn't on anything. Except a possible disability pension. What a mug punter I was turning out to be.

When he came back with another beer for me and Scotch for himself, he said, ‘Walter's going through everything that Chas put on to disc. Tomorrow he'll want to talk to Jacqueline Harvey. There won't be any problem will there?'

‘Not that I can see. She'd like me to be there, I know that.'

‘That's fine,' said Slade. ‘Then Walter can talk to you as well.'

I nodded.

Slade sank his Scotch in one and gathered his stuff together. ‘I'm off back to the office, then,' he said. ‘You'll be at the number you gave me today?'

‘Or at the hotel,' I replied. ‘Jackie and I are having dinner tonight.'

‘Enjoy your meal,' he said, shook my hand and left.

I finished my pint and went back to the car, and home.

35

When I got there, I telephoned the Fortescue and asked for Miss Clancey. I got put straight through.

‘Jackie,' I said. ‘Nick.'

‘Hello. What's happening?'

I told her that I'd seen Slade, and that everything was progressing well. I didn't mention what he'd said about dropping the story if I couldn't come up with some hard evidence.

When I'd finished, I asked, ‘How's Toby today?'

‘Fine. We had breakfast and lunch together. It's really weird, I feel like Madonna or someone with my own bodyguard.'

‘Where is he now?'

‘In the next room. He told me I should get some rest. I must admit this is all a bit of a strain. I'm not used to anything like it.'

‘You'll be all right,' I assured her. ‘Just stay calm.'

‘I will. Are you still coming for dinner tonight?'

‘Of course. I'll be with you by seven. But I have to split about eleven-thirty. I've got to see a man about a dog.'

‘Couldn't you come over a bit earlier then? I'd really like to see you.'

I looked at my watch. It wasn't quite three.

‘Sure,' I said. ‘I'm not doing anything special.'

‘I'd appreciate it.'

‘All right. I'll make a call, and I'll come right over.'

‘I'll look forward to it,' she said.

We made our farewells, and I rang the number Dawn had given me in Milton Keynes.

Tracey answered. She told me that Dawn was out. I told her that I was going out too, and wouldn't be back until quite late. Then I was going out again. I explained what had been happening and gave her the number of the hotel, just in case. She told me to call when I got home, however late it was. I said that I would. I asked her how they both were. She told me they were fine. She told me that she loved me, and I said that I loved her too, and to send my love to Dawn, and we both hung up. I stood looking at the phone and wondered how it would all end. Then I shrugged and left. When you start wondering things like that you can go crazy.

I drove to Bayswater in the Cavalier, the Colt Commando tucked into the belt of my blue jeans.

The receptionist told me that Miss Clancey was in the lounge taking afternoon tea.

I swanned in and found her and Toby chattering prettily together over the remains of a plate of scones with clotted cream and jam.

‘Hello,' I said, as I pulled up a chair to their table. ‘Having fun?'

Jacqueline coloured up to match the preserve she was eating, and even Toby seemed a trifle embarrassed. ‘I'll leave you two alone,' he said. ‘I don't want to intrude.'

‘No need,' I replied. ‘I talked to Tom Slade today and he told me that you're OK.'

‘That was very kind of him,' said Toby.

‘But I'll tell you what I told him,' I said. ‘Be very careful. The people we're dealing with here play for keeps. This all goes back a very long time, and it's serious. I don't know what Jackie's told you, but keep your mind on business. This is all very nice and cosy, the afternoon tea and all, but it could change in a second, if they find out what's going on here. I know. I got a good beating because of it, and so did the writer I involved.'

‘I'll bear that in mind,' said Toby. ‘But I didn't get this job because of my charm.'

‘So I gather,' I said. ‘And believe me, your being here makes me feel a whole lot better. It's just that I don't want anyone else getting hurt. Anyone else on our side that is.'

We were interrupted by the arrival of a waitress who took my order for another pot of tea and some more scones with jam and clotted cream.

Whilst we waited for her to fetch them, I pinched a corner of Jackie's last cake, and we talked inconsequentially about nothing much at all.

When the waitress reappeared, I let her be mother with my tea.

‘So how's the hotel?' I asked, around a mouthful of scone.

‘It's great,' said Jackie. ‘It's like a holiday.' At least her mood seemed to be improving, and I'd bet it had something to do with the presence of Toby on the scene.

‘And the chef's good?' I said.

‘Really good.'

‘Oh, well,' I said. ‘At least you can eat free for the next few days. And talking of that, this bloke Walter Sturridge, the writer – he wants an interview with both of us tomorrow. Are you going to be all right with that, Jackie?'

‘Will you be there?'

‘Of course, if you want me.'

‘And Toby?'

‘Sure.'

Jackie got up and went to the loo, and I said to Toby, ‘I hope your intentions are honourable towards her. It looks like she's starting to rely on you. She's been through some shit in her life, and it's not over yet.'

‘Perfectly honourable,' he replied. ‘I'm becoming very fond of her. She told me a little of what happened. And anything I can do to help, I will.'

‘That's good, Toby,' I said. ‘Just don't let her down.'

‘I won't. For instance, if I didn't know who you were, you wouldn't have got within five yards of this table carrying what you're carrying on your left side.'

I touched the butt of the gun through my jacket. ‘Very good,' I said. ‘I didn't realise it was that obvious. Are you carrying?'

‘Of course. But mine's legal. I imagine yours isn't.'

‘You imagine right. You're not going to shop me, are you?'

He smiled. ‘No. I just hope you can use it.'

‘I can,' I assured him.

Right then, Jackie came back and sat down again.

‘Are you going to join us for dinner tonight?' I asked Toby.

‘It's not really part of my brief,' he replied.

‘Oh, do,' said Jackie. Then looked at me. ‘As long as you don't mind, Nick.'

‘Will I be gooseberry?' I asked. ‘Or aren't they on the menu?'

‘Silly,' she said, and I poured myself another cup of tea.