Get Even (12 page)

Jamie Ryan was in his fifties, but he looked good on it. He was much taken with expensive suits and handmade shoes. From Irish stock, he had the dark good looks of his forefathers. He had also inherited their strength and sense of purpose.

He had started life as a bank robber, and had the good sense to invest his money in clubs, pubs and other drinking establishments. He could pass for legitimate and that was exactly what he wanted to do. He very rarely made a mistake and, when he did, it rankled with him. Now he had made a major one and the knowledge had been eating at him like a cancer.

He was sitting in the back of one of his clubs on Southend seafront and he was setting about rectifying said mistake. He liked the look of these two, and he had heard good things about Lenny Scott. If Jack Johnson trusted him, then that was good enough for him. Jamie and Jack had known each other for years; they had run about the streets of East London together, the arses hanging out of their trousers and bombs dropping overhead. Oh, they went way back.

He smiled at the two huge young men, envying them their youth, and the future that lay ahead. He didn’t like getting older, and he was well aware he was a laughing stock, as his girlfriends seemed to be getting younger.

‘So, I hear great things about you, Lenny. The Prior business was a coup, all right.’

He liked that the lad acknowledged his words with a small nod, without feeling the urge to discuss it, especially his part in it. That told Jamie this kid could keep his trap shut.

‘Can I get you boys anything?’

Lenny shook his head. ‘No, really we are fine. We had lunch in Leigh-on-Sea.’

He looked around the office, impressed despite himself. This was what he wanted – this kind of legitimate set-up that would bring him money and respect.

‘OK, then. The business I want to discuss goes no further than us and that is imperative.’

Lenny and Reggie nodded in unison and Jamie had the thought they could be brothers.

‘I did a cuntish thing a few years ago. A very cuntish thing. I lent eighty grand to a man I thought was a mate. He took the money, and he ran with it. Invested it wisely, and then stiffed me for my stake. He was last seen on his way to fucking Colombia, and I am sure we are all aware of what the attraction was there! Anyway, I hear through the grapevine that he is back, only he is in Marbella. Built a stonking great big drum and base for himself and living the proverbial life of fucking Riley. New wife – a Colombian tart, apparently – the usual bollocks. I want him taken out and I want my poke back. Now, no one is willing to do this little errand for me because of the man’s reputation with the South Americans. Like they would give a flying fuck – they deal with whoever is available! There is no sentiment in the drug trade, believe me. Now, are you interested?’

‘How much?’

‘You keep the eighty grand, and I put twenty on top. You have my word.’

Lenny digested this information for a few seconds before saying, ‘Who is it?’

Jamie Ryan looked him straight in the eye. ‘Christopher Steel.’

Reggie was heard to whisper ‘Jesus Christ’ under his breath.

Lenny Scott leaned forward in his seat and said seriously, ‘You arrange flights, accommodation, et cetera. I might want to bring a couple more lads out there, and I will need time to plan it properly. I want to be located outside of Marbella, in the countryside. I think the only way to get this done is to lure him out to us.’

Jamie Ryan couldn’t believe his luck. ‘You’re up for it, then?’

Lenny grinned. ‘Oh, yeah. I’ll be in touch within seven days, and I’ll talk you through what I have decided to do and how much it will cost you to bankroll it all.’

He stood up, and held out his hand; Jamie Ryan was impressed at the firmness of the lad’s handshake. If he pulled this off, his future would be secured for ever. But he knew that Lenny Scott was as aware of this as he was, so the thought was left unsaid. He admired the lad’s bravery, because Christopher Steel was not a man to cross lightly. He was a vicious, violent cunt, and that was when he was in a good mood. They had been friends for years, and to think that he had had him over was one of the biggest irritations of Jamie’s life. Steel would not be expecting this little get-together, and he hoped that it worked out in Lenny Scott’s favour. Which would then mean, of course, that he had got his revenge. It was a win-win for Jamie; all he had to do was pay out if, and only if, the trip paid off. He was thrilled at his own acumen. Minimal outlay, maximum benefits – the kind of deal he had always liked. He had written off the eighty grand, so he would wipe his mouth and let that lad collect it. If he managed to take that cunt Steel out, it was worth every fucking halfpenny.

In the car, Lenny was smiling grimly. ‘We can do this job between us, Reg, and we can make some serious bunce. And, on the plus side, we get a few days in sunny Spain in an isolated farmhouse.’

Reggie couldn’t believe the way things had turned out for him. On the one hand he was thrilled to bits, but there was another side to all this that was only just beginning. They had to be careful, so very careful. He shrugged mentally. That was a worry for another day. Placing his hand on Lenny’s knee, he squeezed it gently and, when Lenny placed his hand over his, that seemed to settle it for both of them.

Reggie was happier than he had ever been in his life. He looked at Lenny Scott and felt the pure maleness of him, and he knew that he would take any chance to be with this man.

‘You and Reggie are like the fucking Thompson Twins, all you need is Snowy and Tintin.’

Lenny grinned easily; he was used to people remarking on their friendship. It was funny really, but because they were both so masculine no one even suspected anything untoward was going on.

Jack Johnson picked up his brandy and knocked it back in one, then he motioned to the barmaid to refill his glass.

‘I know. But we have a lot in common. Plus I trust him, Jack. He gets what I mean, and he is shrewd. Natural, really, I suppose.’

Jack nodded sagely. ‘Oh, yeah. You are a great fucking team. I like him, he’s a good kid.’

They were in The Volunteer pub in Barking. Reggae was blasting out from Flanagan’s Speakeasy, the club attached to the side of the public house, but they were in the lounge bar with a few other men having a business drink. The trip to Spain was completely hush-hush, so that was not on the agenda this evening.

Reggie came back from the men’s and slipped into his seat quietly. He had fitted into the firm perfectly: he was good-looking, could have a fight, and he was liked. His friendship with Lenny Scott had been noted and taken on board. Reggie Dornan was going places, simple as that. Tommy King and Davey Boy Harris were with them tonight. Both were good collectors who concentrated on the council estates.

Two young men walked into the bar; both were dressed like New Romantics and had glitter on their faces and eyeliner on their eyes. Lenny judged them to be about eighteen years old.

Tommy King looked at them in disgust. ‘Fucking real, ain’t it? Fucking shit-stabbers out with normal people.’

Jack laughed at the man’s outrage.

‘In my day, Jack, they’d have never got past the fucking door. Fucking animals.’

Davey Boy was nodding in agreement. He was a small man with a big temper and an ill-fitting wig that no one ever mentioned.

‘You’re right, Tom. You seen these adverts for this Aids fucking malarkey? That was brought here by that lot. Fucking poof’s disease. I can’t believe they have the front to walk about like they do. Imagine your son putting on make-up! You would knock the cunt out, wouldn’t ya?’

Reggie laughed, then he said, ‘I think that’s just the fashion now, guys. It don’t mean they are queer as such.’

The older men looked at him askance and he turned to Lenny for help.

Lenny was laughing loudly as he said, ‘He’s right. It’s the fashion.’

Davey Boy started laughing too. ‘Can you imagine going round to collect a debt dressed like that?’

Tommy waved his hands in annoyance. ‘You telling me that Boy George ain’t an iron hoof, Lenny?’

Reggie grinned. ‘Even I would have to give you that one, Tom.’

Jack spluttered through his laughter, ‘And what about Liberace? My mum loved him but I’m sure he’s queer as a ten-bob clock.’

Tommy was still annoyed. ‘They should be put down, it’s unnatural. Even the fucking Bible condemns it.’

Lenny grinned cheekily as he said, ‘It also said “Thou shalt not steal or covet thy neighbour’s wife”!’

Everyone knew that Tommy was a robber in his day, and that his wife had caught him in bed with the next-door neighbour. They were all laughing now, even Tommy.

‘Don’t remind me! She brings it up twice a week, and it was over ten fucking years ago! She still earholes me about it.’

The talk went back to matters of business, but Reggie and Lenny were reminded of just how precarious their positions would be if their secret came out. Lenny could not believe that he was willing to take such a chance just to be with a man he had known less than two weeks. It was unbelievable really. He caught Reggie’s eye and they smiled slightly at one another. He knew Reggie was thinking the exact same thing.

‘Oh, that smells handsome, Shaz. You got enough for Reggie? His mum’s idea of cooking is to raid the fucking chippy.’

Sharon grinned happily. ‘’Course. There’s plenty, mate.’

Reggie smiled his thanks and sat at the table. He looked at the little boy propped up in his highchair gnarling on a crust of bread and butter. His whole face was shiny from the spread and he gave them all a gummy smile. A few minutes later, Sharon placed huge platefuls of Irish stew in front of them and Lenny and Reggie tucked in immediately.

‘This is good, Sharon. I wish my mum bothered to cook. It is so nice to have a proper cooked meal, you know?’

Sharon sat down; she had mashed up a small bowl of food for the baby and, as she was blowing on it to cool it down, she said, ‘According to your sister Geraldine, you’re the cook in your house. A good one too, from what I’ve heard.’

Reggie busied himself seasoning his food for a few seconds. ‘Nothing like this, Sharon – I wish.’ But actually he knew he was a better cook than she would ever be. Trying to make sure his younger siblings had a decent plate in front of them had perfected his skills.

Lenny got up and opened them both a beer. Reggie took his gratefully and watched as Lenny poured his wife a glass of wine. This house was so civilised, it was like being in a TV programme.

‘I’ve got to go away, darling. A bit of business. If anyone asks, you have no idea where I have gone, OK? This is important, Shaz. It is a lot of money if I can pull this off – enough to get us looking for a decent property.’

Reggie watched as Sharon nodded at her husband without a second’s hesitation. She trusted this man with her life, that much was obvious.

‘Oh, Len, have a guess what I heard today? The cab rank by the betting office is going up for sale. The Greek bloke who owns it has had enough. But it’s a good earner – I nipped in with me dad and looked at the books. Cash business, so you can imagine how much he must take under the table.’