Gangsters Wives (16 page)

The pub was empty when Kate arrived the next day, and it had that smell pubs do at that time of day. A mixture of stale beer, stale cigarettes and disinfectant. A barman stood looking bored behind the counter, but cheered up when she walked in and ordered a fruit juice. Ali got there a few minutes later, and the barman pulled a face when he greeted Kate with a kiss. She didn't respond, just took her drink to a table by the door as Ali asked for a pint of lager.

‘Cheers,' he said when he had sat down opposite her and lit a cigarette.

‘Don't fucking give me cheers,' she replied. ‘What was all that about?'

‘What?'

‘You know what. Don't fuck about. You and Robbo, having a cosy chat. Thick as thieves.'

Ali smiled at that and sipped his drink.

‘Why?' she demanded. ‘I'm losing my patience here.'

‘I can't tell you Kate.'

‘Was it about me?'

Ali laughed. ‘No,' he replied. ‘Not about you. Not everything's about you love.'

‘What then?'

‘I told you Kate, I can't say.'

‘Does he know who you are?'

‘What, a copper or your boyfriend?'

‘Either. Both. Just tell me.'

He shrugged.

‘So I assume neither. If he knew you were a copper, he'd rather kill you than drink with you socially. If he knew you were my boyfriend, he'd kill me, or both of us. So it must be business.'

‘That makes sense.'

‘Are you on the bung with him?'

Ali smiled. ‘No. Not on the bung.'

‘So what?'

‘It's complicated.'

‘I could make it more complicated. I could tell him who you are?'

‘And that you know me, and that you were spying on him. I take it you weren't down there buying bagels for lunch.'

Kate was silent.

‘So why were you spying on him? Did you think he'd got a bird on the side? I didn't think you cared.'

‘I don't.'

‘So why?' he pressed.

‘Now it's your turn to mind your own business.'

‘No, Kate. This is important. I mean it.'

‘Wait a minute. You told him you were in the building trade.'

‘How do you know that?'

‘Because he let it slip.'

‘And that's why you followed him?'

‘Maybe.'

‘Tell me Kate.'

‘Are you undercover?'

Ali just pulled a face.

‘Christ, you're going to do that job with him.'

‘What job?'

‘Don't play innocent Ali. The job that needs two JCBs. That job.'

‘What do you know about it?'

‘Just about everything.'

‘You shouldn't.'

‘Maybe. But I do. When is it?'

‘So you don't know everything.'

‘Tell me.'

‘No.'

‘I'll grass you up Ali.'

‘And take the consequences?' he said.

‘Whatever.'

‘I don't believe you.'

‘Then I'll get somebody else to do it.'

‘And I could grass you, us, up.'

‘And take the consequences?' Kate said back to him, echoing Ali's words.

‘
Touché
.'

‘So tell me.'

‘I don't think so.'

‘Soon, obviously.'

Ali's expression said nothing.

‘It must be soon.'

‘Why do you want to know anyway?'

‘So it's true.'

‘Tell me Kate.' Ali said again, gently.

‘Because we're going to rip them off.'

‘Do what?'

‘Rob the robbers.'

‘Who?'

‘Us girls.'

‘Which girls?'

‘Eddie's wife, Joe's wife, Connie's wife and me.'

Ali laughed. ‘You're going to take four of the most dangerous men in London's money? You must be having a laugh.'

‘Three men. Eddie's in prison remember. You were there. You know as well as I do. For all you know they might've seen you.'

‘I made sure they didn't. Only you. Anyway, we all look the same, us Asians. They haven't got a clue. I was booted and suited that day. Now I'm a greasy Paki in a leather jacket, who can get hold of some buckshee heavy machinery. Bent as a nine-bob note, me. Your old man put out the word. And I heard about it. Went to my guv'nors and they agreed that I should do the business. Simple.'

‘And you're going to get them nicked.'

‘That's the plan. But now
you
know…'

‘Then help us. We could go away together. There'd be enough money to last us the rest of our lives. You want to be with me. You've told me enough times.'

‘An interesting idea Kate. But how do I know I can trust you?'

‘You don't.'

He smiled. ‘OK,' he said. ‘Just say I agree. How do you intend to carry out this audacious plan?'

‘You first. Will you do it?'

Ali sat back and sipped at his drink. He was becoming less and less in love with the job every day. The racism, the e-mails calling him a dirty little wog stealing white men's jobs. ‘I'll think about it,' he said. ‘Don't worry, there's plenty of time. It won't be for weeks. Trust me.'

‘I suppose I have to,' said Kate.

‘Now, I'm off today. Fancy going somewhere quiet?'

‘If you do.'

‘Always.'

After she left Ali, Kate called Sadie. She wasn't looking forward to telling her what was going on, but it was the only way. ‘What's up love?' asked Sadie. ‘You got something for me?'

‘Yeah.'

‘You sound rotten. You coming down with something?'

‘No.'

‘So tell me.'

‘Not on the phone. We have to meet.'

‘Sounds important.' There was a note of excitement in Sadie's voice.

‘It is.'

‘When?'

‘Soon as.'

‘Today?'

‘No. Robbo'll get the hump. Tomorrow morning?'

‘Sure. Where?'

‘Bluewater.'

‘Sounds OK. What time?'

‘About eleven.'

‘OK by me. Look I'll ring you when I'm there, and we'll find somewhere quiet.'

Somewhere quiet was a coffee shop on the first floor mezzanine. Kate was already there when Sadie phoned. ‘I'm just parking up,' she said.

Kate gave her directions and ordered more coffee, and within a few minutes Sadie joined her. ‘Go on then,' said Sadie when she was settled. ‘What's the problem?'

‘You're not going to believe this.'

‘Try me.'

Kate was close to tears as she told Sadie about seeing Ali with Robbo, and their subsequent meeting. ‘He's what?' said Sadie.

‘He's going in as a builder. He can get those dump trucks.'

‘And he's a Paki.'

‘Don't Sade.'

‘Christ on a bicycle. I don't believe this.'

‘Believe it.'

‘And you told him about the plan?'

‘It was the only way.'

‘And he's going to help us get the cash?'

‘So he said. When I had his cock in my mouth.'

‘Fuckers will say anything for a blow job.'

‘I know.'

‘Did you believe him?'

Kate shrugged.'

‘And you had a shag?'

‘Two. But he's not the same as he was. He's gone all nasty. Like he's in control now.'

‘That's men for you. Fuck me Kate, you are a one.'

‘So what do we do?'

‘It's obvious. We use him, like he's used you. And then we stitch him up too.'

‘You reckon?'

‘I know my love. Now you're going to have to box clever. Get everything out of him that you can. OK?'

‘I will.'

‘And for Christ's sake be careful.'

‘I'll do that too.'

* * *

Meanwhile Ali was busy trying to convince his boss that he had to obtain two JCB earth moving machines. And it wasn't easy.

‘What the hell do they need them for?' demanded DCI John Loomis, from behind his desk at Scotland Yard. He was an old school type of copper, more Regan than Morse. More seventies pop than grand opera.

‘Well, I don't think they're going to be digging a swimming pool,' replied Ali. ‘It's a blag.'

‘Of course it's a bloody blag. But what? The top layer of the M4?'

‘If it was just one I'd say ATMs. But these blokes are serious villains. It's a tin can of some kind. They like doing cash in transit. Don't forget the mail van.'

‘As if I could. Bastards. But two. Christ, do you know how much these things cost?'

‘I've Googled them.'

‘You bloody well would. Are we going to get them back?'

Ali crossed his fingers behind his back. ‘Sure Guv. I guarantee it.' In a pig's ear'ole, he thought. But tough. The Met could afford it. They had money to burn. Always paying out for some mistake or another. Fuck ‘em. ‘And I'll need a low loader,' he added.

‘Why?'

‘Well I can drive one. I know how. But not two.'

‘How the hell do you know how to drive one?'

‘Gap year. I worked building sites.'

Loomis gave him the sort of look that said he didn't approve of things like gap years, but he relented. ‘Oh shit,' he said. ‘We'll have to hire the fucking things I suppose. What about my budget?'

Sod your budget, thought Ali. I hope I won't be around to sign the chit.

‘Go ahead then,' said Loomis. ‘But take it easy for Christ's sake.'

And, then, when it seemed things couldn't get any more complicated for her, Kate got a phone call from her eldest brother, Ben. ‘Dad's ill,' he said.

‘Something serious I hope.'

‘Don't make jokes.'

‘That's no joke,' she said. ‘I mean it.'

‘He's dying.'

‘Break out the party hats.'

‘Don't be like that, Katie.'

‘What should I be like?'

‘He's asking for you,' said Ben.

‘Tough titty.'

‘He's changed, sis.'

‘Into a frog?'

‘Whatever you feel about him Kate, he's still your dad.'

‘He gave up that job years ago.'

‘You haven't seen him darlin'.'

‘And I don't want to.'

‘How long's it been?'

‘Not long enough.' Four years to be precise, she thought. And she wished it had been longer.

‘Katie, please. He's at the house. He discharged himself from hospital and went home.'

‘With that bimbo?'

‘No. She fucked off when he was first diagnosed.'

‘What is it?'

‘Cirrhosis of the liver.'

‘Painful?'

‘Very.'

‘Good fucking job,' said Kate, harshly.

‘You don't mean that.'

‘Yes I do. Remember the way he was with mum, and me. I suppose you don't. You boys were all right. He worshipped you.'

‘And you. And mum.'

‘He had a funny way of showing it. The thick end of his fist, as I remember.'

‘We did what we could. He laid into us too.'

‘And what did you do? Fucked off as soon as you turned 18. Left us with him.'

‘Yeah, I know. And I'm sorry, sis. But he has changed. He's got religion.'

‘Now you are taking the piss. Johnny Wade on his knees in front of God. That I would like to see.'

‘Come and see him then. He hasn't got long.'

She hesitated.

‘He's your blood,' Ben pressed. ‘Come on love, do the right thing.'

‘OK, Ben. I give in. When?'

‘Soon as. He's going fast. You won't recognise him.'

‘Tomorrow?'

‘Good girl.'

She hung up and poured herself a stiff drink. She was all alone again as usual, and she sat down and thought about the past, and the present, and wondered what the future would bring. Nothing good, she thought. The way things were going.

She told Robbo what Ben had said, and he asked her if she wanted company.