The Devil's Interval

The Devil’s Interval

Border City Blues: TWO

By J J Salkeld

HERRINGBONE Press

© copyright J J Salkeld, 2014

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover photograph by R F Simpson

Cover art by Michaela Waddell,
www.verityproductions.biz

Tuesday, November 25th

Hotel Bar, Carlisle, 10.25pm

It was a cold evening in Carlisle, and wet with it, but Dai Young’s suit was light and his shoes were shiny and almost perfectly dry. John Porter watched, visibly amused, as Young walked over to his table. He hadn’t even bought any lads in with him, the prat. Porter glanced across at one of his own men, standing at the bar, and shook his head slightly. No-one at all. Young was all alone in this world. So maybe he’d decided to do the right thing after all, despite all the big talk. Aye, that had to be it.

‘Good to see you, Dai’ said Porter, not getting up, and not offering to shake hands. He indicated the seat opposite him, with its back to the room. ‘What are you drinking?’

‘Mineral water please, John.’

Porter held up his hand and another one of his lads came over. Young didn’t bother to turn to look at him. It really didn’t make any difference, how many there were.

‘Gin and tonic for me’ said Porter, ‘and the same for my friend here.’

Young didn’t comment. He looked, thought Porter as he looked levelly at the younger man, like a recently retired professional footballer. Lucky, rich, fit and a good bit too flash.

‘This place is smart’ said Porter, glancing round, ‘for Carlisle, like.’

‘Times are changing, John. Even here. The city’s on the up and up. Can’t you feel it?’

‘You might be right at that, son, but some things never really change.’

‘Oh, aye? Like what?’

‘The way people are. The things they want. The things that scare them too, like. Those things never change.’

‘Well I’m with you on that one, John, that’s for sure.’

An arm reached past Young’s shoulder and put his drink down, heavily, on the metal-topped table. He still didn’t turn, or flinch.

‘Cheers’ said Porter, reaching for his own drink.

‘Cheers’, replied Young, leaving his glass where it was. ‘Here’s to human nature.’

‘Not joining me?’

‘I asked for mineral water.’

‘So you did, lad, so you did. That’s my trouble, always think I know best. Mind you, I usually do, now that I come to think of it.’ Porter smiled, but Young didn’t. He looked completely relaxed, and even very slightly bored. Porter didn’t like that, and Young heard it in his tone. ‘All right, son. You asked to see me, so what is it that you want?’

‘I’m here to propose a merger.’

Porter smiled. He’d been right. They were all the same, these youngsters. Show them the knife, just a glimpse of the blade, and they’d fold right away.

‘Very sensible, Dai. You’re a good lad, and I’m sure I can use you. From what I hear you’ve developed some new skills, while you were away. I like that, and a bit of ambition. We can use your lads, too. I hear you’ve brought a couple of specialists with you. The online side of the game, I’ve been a bit slow into that, I admit it. So you’ll be welcome. Drop into the office, in a day or two, and we’ll get it all sorted out.’

For the first time Young smiled. ‘I suppose I meant a take-over, rather than a merger.’

‘It’s just words though, lad. I know what you meant, and I appreciate you coming to me like this. Saves any unfortunate misunderstandings, like.’

Young shook his head. ‘Perhaps I’m not being clear enough here, John, so let’s try again. Because here’s what I’m proposing. As of now your operation is my operation, all of it, and you retire immediately. Let’s call this your leaving party. There’ll be no compensation, I’m afraid, other than the quiet satisfaction that comes from having made very good money for many years. However, all of your legitimate business interests will be purchased at fair, open market valuations, and an advance payment of half a million is available immediately. It’s your golden parachute, is that. And you will also spend the next twelve months, at the very least, on gardening leave at your place in Florida. You have my personal assurance that you and your family will not suffer any personal misfortune, but only so long as these terms are adhered to.’

‘What the fuck?’ said Porter, loudly enough for a couple at a table ten feet away to glance round. ‘Are you threatening me?’

‘Yes, of course I am. This is a hostile take-over, I appreciate that. But it doesn’t have to be completely calamitous for you and your nearest and dearest. You’ve made a very good living for over thirty years, and you’ve never once been away on an extended holiday. I respect that; a good, old-fashioned work ethic. If more of our customers shared it then we’d all be out of business, wouldn’t we? And, like I say, you should have no reason to feel aggrieved at the deal that’s on offer. It’s infinitely better than most people in your position ever get, I promise you.’

Porter leaned forward. ‘I don’t bloody believe this. You must have a fucking death wish, son. Do you know how many people I’ve got here tonight?’

‘No.’

‘Twenty. I’ve got twenty blokes in and around this place. In here, out the front, the back, everywhere. And who have you got?’

‘No-one.’

‘Exactly. So what’s to stop me from rejecting your offer the old-fashioned way?’

‘Nothing. But you won’t do that.’

‘You just watch me, son. Meeting adjourned, as they say.’ Porter raised his hand to beckon the man at the bar. ‘Actually, I meant meeting over.’

Now Young reached for his drink. Porter stabbed a finger at it. ‘Savour it, son. You’re about to go on the wagon. For ever, like.’

‘I’m really not, John. It’s slightly embarrassing, all this, to tell the truth. Because you’re all talk, I’m afraid. You’ve never killed anyone in the course of your business, we both know that. And I can take a bit of a hiding, believe me. Plus you think too small, you old timers, so you miss the big picture. You’re not seeing it now, in fact.’

‘Oh, aye, and what’s that then, son?’

‘You like this hotel, do you?’

‘Cost someone a few quid, I expect. A bit flash, but it’ll do. But what’s that got to do with anything?’

‘Have you considered who owns it?’

Porter laughed.

‘You haven’t got that kind of cash, son. When you left Carlisle the arse was hanging out of your trousers.’

‘I don’t own it personally, John, you’re right about that. But like I said, you’re missing the big picture here. Let me put it this way. I’m not sitting here as the managing director of the business I represent. I’m just a junior executive opening a branch office.’

‘Just an office boy, like?’

‘Not quite, because our business isn’t quite like straight ones, is it? So I have a different kind of relationship with my employers, and so do all of my employees with me. More fluid, shall we say. Do you understand what I’m saying?’

‘Not really, and I don’t fucking care. You’re making all this up, son. So let’s get this done, shall we?’

Young put down his drink carefully, as if he was afraid of marking the table. ‘Up to you, John, but do I look like a bluffer to you? Really, do I? So I’ll be walking out of here, and no-one will follow me. We both know that. But if tomorrow, or the day after, I’m involved in a car accident, or I take an overdose or something, then my employers will replace me immediately. It’s that simple.’

‘But you’ll be dead, son.’

‘Yes, but so will you, your wife, your children, your mistress and her children. Not all at once, not on the same day, but over time, they’ll all die. And I won’t lie to you, John, you won’t be the first to go. You have to watch, see. You have to be aware of the implications of your mistake. It’s in my organisation’s mission statement, is that. It’s just a firm rule.’

One of Porter’s man had been standing a few feet away, like a shifty butler. Porter gestured angrily for him to go.

‘This is all bollocks, Dai. This is my town, and you’re not going to take it off me. So what if you’ve got some rich mates who want to play at this game? Property boys who’ve been watching too many gangster movies, I expect. I’m not saying I believe you, like, but what if you have? We can take you. We can take all-comers.’

‘But you don’t actually know who you’re up against yet, John. That’s how I know for sure that this is all just hot air.’

‘So why don’t you tell me, eh? Let’s see if you can scare me.’

‘It’s not up to me to do your due diligence for you, John. We’ve done ours on you, though, you can count on that. Every business you have, both straight and bent, everybody on the payroll, we know it all. We know exactly what you’re worth, down to the last penny. You’re welcome to try the same on us, if you can. But I don’t think you’ll manage it, I’m afraid, John. You’re just not set up for it.’

‘I’ve got my sources of intel, don’t you worry.’

‘Like DC Robson, you mean? Robson was a good snout, I’ll grant you that, but you pushed him too hard, and he got caught, didn’t he? That’s no way to treat a valuable employee, not in my book. And even if he does get off at trial he’s never going to be any use to you again, is he?’

‘I’ve got other sources. Plenty of them.’

‘Well that’s good, because you don’t have long to decide. We need an answer, a final answer, in the next few days.’

Porter’s face was really reddening now. ‘Or else what?’

‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, John. The best solution for everyone, and by far the most lucrative for you, is to make this an amicable deal. A business deal, that’s all. Nothing personal, just business.’

‘And what about my people? Some have been with me for over twenty years.’

‘Aye, I know, and some have done some serious time for you, too. A fair few are still inside, I know that. I admire your loyalty to them, so I’ll be honest with you, John. Hardly any of your lads has the skill-set that we’re looking for. The game’s moved on.’

‘I’ve got some right hard men. Don’t you worry about that.’

‘You’ve got some big men, and a couple of violent ones, certainly. But we have people who are in a different class. We keep them medicated, John, because we have to. We have men who would stab your mistress’s daughter straight through her big blue eye with a six inch nail, and not even think about it. Not even for one second, John. Not before, and certainly not after. They’re a different breed, honestly they are. She’s only five, isn’t she, your Jessica?’

‘How the fuck do you know about that? I’ll fucking kill you just for mentioning her name.’

‘Keep your voice down, please, John, or this friendly conversation will be over for good and all. I just want you to understand the situation, that’s all. I wouldn’t want you to be under any misapprehension, if the worst does happen.

Young’s eyes met Porter’s, and they held on tight. ‘But anyway, to return to your very reasonable question, you’ll need to pay off your own people yourself. And I’d certainly do that if I were you. You’ll have the money, and while you’ll have my word that, so long as you stay 100% retired, we will never seek to renegotiate the terms of our agreement we won’t be able to protect you if some of your former staff came looking for you later, if they felt short-changed. You’re entirely responsible for your own redundancy payments, I’m afraid. But nearer the time I’ll give you a list of the few people that we’d like to keep on, so you might not feel the need to pay them all that much money. That will be entirely up to you.’

‘You will give me a list, will you, you little prick?’

‘I certainly will. You see this project is all I’ve worked on for nearly two years, John. And because of my connections with the area, I was the obvious choice to manage our operation here. This is a small territory, but it’s an attractive one. And I’ll be honest with you. We see plenty of untapped opportunities here.’

Porter stood up. Young stayed where he was, and only glanced up. Porter jabbed his finger down at him as he spoke. ‘I’ll check you out, sonny. Don’t you worry about that. And if this is all bullshit, which I’m sure it is, you’re a fucking dead man, you hear me?’

‘Keep it down, John. Take a day or two, and let me know when you’d like to meet again. But let me be quite clear about one thing. When a business is at risk of take-over, as yours is now, it’s only natural for it to reach out, to try to find a white knight to protect it. A bigger company, with the power to keep the aggressor at bay. And you’re welcome to try that, if you like. But your friends north of the border are our friends too, and we do a great deal of business together. And with the major player in Newcastle too, come to that. So like I say, you take a day or two, but don’t take too long. You’re very much in play now, John.’

‘Fuck you, and all this business-speak bollocks. You’re just a shit Alan Sugar, a kid from a council house, the same as me. Your dad was a worthless excuse for a man, and he got what was coming to him. And I played my part in that, don’t you worry. Just so we’re absolutely clear, like.’

‘A shit Alan Sugar? Very good. I’ll remember that. But this is just business, John, it really is. My employers aren’t interested in the past. Not yours, not mine, not anyone’s. All they want to do is bring some innovation and new ideas to the area. A bit of fresh thinking. Now how can that be bad news for anyone round here, eh?’

Porter didn’t reply, and just walked away, towards the bar, making an impatient shooing gesture to his men. Several people noticed, and a couple of whispered comments were made behind hands. John Porter was a well known figure in the city, and a whisper was the most that anyone would risk. But Dai Young sat on, sipped his drink, and glanced outside. The rain was blotting the windowpane, and the lamppost on the far side of the street was starting to sway slightly in the wind. A storm was coming in, that much was obvious. But it wasn’t an omen, or a sign from on high, Young was equally sure of that. Just as he was certain that his car would be at the door in two minutes time, so he wouldn’t even have to get his feet wet as he left.