Hearts of Stone (7 page)

15

I
looked round, and Seeley and Hughes were coming back through the door. Seeley was with Steph, and Hughes was with a girl who looked like she might get to the age of consent within a year or two. All four of them came over to us.

‘All right, Nick?' asked Seeley, who seemed to be in high good humour, and totally out of his mind.

‘Fine.'

‘Good.'

‘You?'

‘Never better. Me and Pat have been taking advantage of the amenities.'

‘That's nice,' I said.

‘You too, eh?'

‘Yeah.'

‘Enjoy yourself?'

‘Yeah.' I looked over at Kylie and she winked.

‘Not letting on, eh?' he said. ‘I like that. A man of few words.'

I nodded.

‘That's good. I like a bloke who can keep his gob shut. I see you've got some more booze in. I'm ready for another myself. Lil,' he called, ‘a couple more bottles of bubbly over here.'

‘Right, Roy,' she answered. She brought out another pair of dark green champagne bottles and four more glasses, and filled them all up.

‘So, Nick,' said Seeley when he'd three-quarters emptied his, ‘what do you think of the old place?'

‘Top of the shop,' I said.

‘I know a couple of places like this, but Sonny's is the best. Best girls in London, eh, Steph?'

‘That's right, Roy,' Steph agreed. The state she was in she would have agreed to anything. And probably already had done.

‘So what are we doing?' asked Hughes.

Seeley looked at his watch. ‘I'll have to be off soon. You know how it is?'

‘I know,' said Hughes. ‘What about you, Nick?'

‘Me too,' I said. ‘I'm working tomorrow.'

‘Jesus! What a pair,' said Hughes.

‘You want a lift, don't you?' Seeley said to me.

‘If you're going my way.'

‘I've got to get back to Dulwich. I'll drop you off. Pat, what about you?'

‘I'm not under the cosh like you,' said Hughes. ‘I'll catch a cab later.'

‘You going to settle up, then?'

‘Course.'

‘I owe you…' I said, reaching for my wallet. ‘Keep your money, Nick,' said Seeley. ‘It's on us tonight. You can pay next time. I said we'd had a good week. Pat'll take care of everything.'

‘You sure?' I said. ‘I don't want to ponce off you.'

‘Sure I'm sure. Like I said, next time it's your shout.'

‘All right, then,' I said. ‘Thanks. It's been a good night.' Then to Kylie, ‘Looks like I'm off.'

‘Take care,' she said.

‘I'll see you again.' She knew what I meant.

‘Sure you will.'

Seeley tapped me on the arm. ‘Come on, Nick. Leave her alone. Let's go if we're going.'

I said goodnight all round and we left. On the way back to Tulse Hill, Seeley's driving was even worse than it had been earlier. We were lucky not to get a pull. He dropped me off outside my place just after three.

16

I
went straight to bed when I got in, but I couldn't sleep at first. Too much coke in my system. I just lay in bed and dozed. I finally fell asleep properly around eight, and didn't wake up until noon. I got up and went out to get a paper and some milk. When I got back, Brady's Porsche was parked behind the Cosworth. He was leaning against his car waiting for me.

‘Oversleep?' he asked.

‘Late night.'

‘Sonny's?'

‘How the hell do you know?'

‘I know everything. Can we go inside? I fancy a coffee.'

We went up to my flat and I put the kettle on. ‘Black or white?' I asked.

‘White. One sugar.'

I made him a coffee, and tea for myself. ‘Am I being followed?' I asked.

‘That's right. I must say you didn't waste any time getting to know our boys. I like that.'

‘They got to know me. The car worked just like Endesleigh said it would.'

‘Shrewd bloke. Youngest DCI in the country.'

‘Is that right?'

‘It is. So, how was Sonny's?'

‘Interesting.'

‘You get fucked?'

I nodded.

‘Which one?'

‘Kylie.'

‘Oh, Kylie. Hot stuff I believe.'

‘You know her, too?'

‘Course I do. I know all the tarts who work there. I told you I like to know the territory.'

‘Bit of a waste for you, isn't it?'

‘Don't get funny.'

‘Sorry.'

‘So what's the strength with Seeley and Hughes?'

‘We're going out again. It could get pricey. I'll need some exes. I am supposed to be a bit of a ducker and diver, after all. Break into the contingency fund.'

‘I'll see what I can do. How much?'

‘Well, last night's little caper must have cost the best part of a grand. They paid for everything.'

‘Including Kylie?'

I nodded.

‘You did have a result. And you want exes money as well. What were you drinking?'

‘Champagne.'

‘The real stuff or the crap?'

‘The stuff we drank had Moët on the label, and it tasted real enough to me.'

‘Moët, eh? It's about a ton and a quarter a bottle at Sonny's.'

‘How much?'

‘A ton and a quarter, or thereabouts.'

‘Straight up?'

‘Straight up.'

‘Then the bill must have been well over a grand. They said they'd had a good week.'

‘I bet they fucking did,' spat Brady.

‘And that's not counting the coke we had. Seeley had a bagful big enough to choke a donkey.'

‘You had some, did you?'

‘What do you think? I had to. Protective colouring they call it. And next time I'm supposed to be paying. You'd better get me some scratch. I need all
my
money for my old age.'

‘What, next year?'

‘Very good. I'll have to remember that. So?'

‘I'll get you some cash. Don't worry.'

‘Good. Make sure you do.'

‘Do you know when they're getting in touch?'

I shrugged. ‘No. Seeley was too out of it when he dropped me off last night. But I'm working tonight. It's Saturday. They might pop in.'

‘Right, I'll get you some cash tomorrow. Are you working?'

‘Day off – all day.'

‘Doing anything?'

‘The
Observer
crossword. And catching up on lost sleep.'

‘You
are
getting old. I'll be round about six.'

‘You'd better give me your number, just in case.'

‘Right,' he said, and went through his pockets until he came up with a scrap of paper. ‘Got a pen?' he asked.

‘Is this the new face of the Met then?' I said. ‘High-tech, computer-literate, but still short of a biro?'

‘I'm old-fashioned.'

I shook my head and found one, and he scribbled down three numbers. ‘Home, car and bleeper,' he said. ‘Twenty-four hours a day. Like you said, high-tech.'

‘I am impressed,' I assured him.

‘I'd better split,' he said. ‘Things to do.' He finished his coffee and left. I made more tea and read the paper until it was time to get ready for work.

17

I
was on time for work that night. Early in fact. I rolled in about six. The place was fairly full, and JJ and the two barmaids were busy.

‘Want a hand?' I asked.

‘Clear the tables will you, Nick?' said JJ. ‘It's been a bloody nightmare in here this afternoon.'

I took off my jacket and got stuck in. At six-thirty the shifts changed. That Saturday night we had a chef on, JJ worked the restaurant, and I ran the bar with one barmaid. By eight the place was buzzing. At eight-thirty Seeley and Hughes arrived. They came straight over to me.

‘Can we have a table?' asked Hughes.

I looked through. One couple was just leaving and there was no one else waiting. ‘Sure,' I said. ‘No problem. Want a drink?'

‘Two Pina Coladas,' said Seeley. I knew it. I knew eventually they'd have to have Pina Coladas.

‘I'll bring them through.'

‘Take a break. Join us,' said Hughes.

‘It's a bit busy right now.'

‘Join us,' said Hughes, and his tone was almost menacing. ‘We need to talk.'

I didn't like the sound of that one bit. ‘I'll see what I can do,' I said. ‘Go through and sit down. I won't be a minute.'

I checked with the barmaid as I made their drinks. ‘Can you manage on your own for a minute?' I asked.

‘I'll cope,' she said.

I took the drinks through to their table.

‘Sit down, Nick,' invited Hughes.

‘I haven't got much time.'

‘You've got time for this. I've been hearing some funny things about you.'

That sounded ominous. ‘Such as?' I said, pulling out a chair.

‘Such as you used to be a copper.'

‘Is that all? I suppose Kylie told you.'

‘Yes. She told me last night after you'd gone. She thought I'd know.'

I shrugged. ‘It's no secret. Did she also tell you I was busted out of the force?'

‘Yes.'

‘And it's true. Years ago. That's all finished with now. What's the problem?'

‘Once a copper…' said Hughes.

‘You reckon. I've got news for you.'

‘What did you get busted for, Nick?' asked Hughes. As if he didn't know.

‘Didn't Kylie tell you that, too?'

‘
You
tell us,' he said.

‘For stealing from the evidence lock-up.'

‘What kind of evidence?'

‘Evidence from a drugs bust. Cocaine.'

‘How much?'

‘Enough.'

‘And?'

‘And what?'

Hughes looked at Seeley. ‘What did you do with it?'

‘I used some. I sold the rest.'

‘And you got captured?'

I nodded.

‘Didn't they prosecute?'

I had to laugh, though it wasn't funny. ‘No,' I said. ‘They didn't need the publicity. It was all hushed up. They let me resign, and I lost my pension.'

‘Who did you sell the drugs to?' asked Seeley.

‘A contact.'

‘Who?'

‘Do leave off.'

‘Nick, listen. Be reasonable. You saw what we had last night?'

‘So?'

‘It was part of our stock.'

I looked around the restaurant. ‘Do you think this is the right place to talk about stuff like that?'

‘Where better?' asked Seeley. ‘It's noisy. No one's listening.'

‘I still don't know what it's got to do with me. Your business is your business. I just want a quiet life.'

‘Nick,' said Seeley. ‘We know you didn't get that motor you're driving by serving beer in this dump. You've obviously got a pedigree.' From him I suppose that was a compliment. ‘We buy and sell. Now, if you know a buyer…' He left the sentence unfinished.

‘Yeah.'

‘You could do yourself a bit of good. Do us all a bit of good. So, what's his name?'

I pretended to think about it for a minute. ‘Brady,' I said.

‘Where's he based?' asked Hughes.

‘Kennington.'

‘Shifts a lot, does he?'

‘He has his moments.'

‘Could we make a meet?'

‘I don't know.'

‘But you could ask.'

‘Sure.'

‘And Nick.'

‘Yeah.'

‘It had better be kosher, or you're dead.'

‘It's kosher. Don't worry,' I said. Fucking hell, I thought. I wish I'd never started all this.

By then I was getting dirty looks from JJ and the barmaid, so I made my excuses and went back to work. Seeley and Hughes had their meal, paid the bill and left.

As he went out, Hughes called me over. ‘We'll be in touch,' he said. ‘Get hold of your man. We can all do well out of this, Nick.'

‘Don't worry, it's done,' I said.

And so am I, I thought. If this little caper goes wrong.