The Mattress: The Glasgow Chronicles 4 (45 page)

  “Me?  Fur whit?”

  “For your advice.”

  “Ah never gied ye any advice.”

  “Yes, you did...about changing my approach in relation to the inmates in here.  I’ve had breakfast and lunch most days, sitting in amongst the inmates in the dining halls the past few days.”

  “Good fur you.  His it worked?”

  “Well, the first day I was ignored, but this morning, one of the boys asked me if I was going to eat my slice of bread and when I said I wasn’t, he gratefully took it off my plate and ate it, giving me a wink and a smile.”

  “Aye, well, it’ll probably take a wee bit ae time, so it will.”

  “Well, anyway, my discussions with you in the, er, digger...I believe that’s what you boys call it…” he said, smiling, “…has done me a power of good.  Thank you.”

  “Hiv ye any advice fur me then, Reverend?” Johnboy asked him.

  “Me? Oh, somehow I don’t think so.”

  “See, ye ur learning,” Johnboy said, smiling, as he slid intae the back seat ae the car.

7.10. A.M.

  “Fuck’s sake, Shaun, whit time dae ye call this then?” Toby Simpson growled as Bootsy Bell and him goat oot ae the car.

  “Aye, sorry, Toby, bit we hiv tae get inside before Montieth arrives at hauf seven.  He’s never early, bit always oan time,” Shaun said, shrugging, as he locked his car and bounded up the steps tae the front door ae the Woodside Accommodation office.

  “So, ye said ye’ve goat the deal ae the century, Shaun?” Toby asked, as Shaun searched his pockets fur the front door keys.

  “Aye, bit it’s no as straightforward as Ah’d like,” Shaun replied, slipping the key in the lock and turning it.

  “How dae ye work than oot then?”

  “Because Ah’ll hiv tae be a sleeping partner fur the time being...at least until The Big Man makes his announcement,” Shaun replied, slipping a separate key intae the second keyhole.

  “Whit, Pat Molloy’s retiring?  He’s set a date?” Toby asked, surprised, as he gied Bootsy a quick glance.

  “Sshhh, we’ll talk inside, so we will,” Shaun shushed him, reaching in through the door and switching the lights oan.

  “Well, ye know me, Shaun…we go back a long way.  Any bother between us is long forgotten...at least, it is oan oor side,” Toby said, as Bootsy and him passed Shaun, who wis haudin the door open fur them, motioning them in aff the steps.

  “Jist go right through.  Ah’ll need tae put these ootside lights aff and lock the door again.  Ah won’t be a tick, so Ah won’t,” Shaun said, as Peter The Plant skelped Toby Simpson across the skull wae a baseball bat, and Charlie Hastie stuck the barrel ae a Walther P38 German luger intae Bootsy Bell’s mooth, knocking oot his two front teeth.

7.25 A.M.

  The Rat wanted tae bound o’er the reception desk and gie Trisha, the bemused receptionist, a great big hug.

  “Yes, yes, yes...ya bloody beauty, ye!” he squealed wae delight, skimming o’er the scrawling haunwriting oan the sheets ae papers in his haun, as the broon envelope that hid contained them lay disregarded oan the polished flair ae The Glesga Echo reception oan Hope Street.  “Thank ye, God!”

7.40 A.M.

  At the train station, McVey and Beattie flanked Johnboy as he opened the door and stepped oan tae the carriage.  He hidnae said a word tae them so far and wisnae intending tae either.  McVey wis jist aboot tae shut the door behind him when Johnboy heard his name being shouted.  Johnboy pushed the carriage door back, hard against that ruddy face ae McVey’s and stepped back doon oan tae the platform.  Tony and Silent wur walking alang the platform toward him, decked oot in black Crombie coats and wae big grins spread across their coupons.

  “Right, listen up, er, Taylor, we’ve, er, tae make sure ye get oan this, er, train or we’ll hiv tae take ye back, so we, er, will,” Ruddy Chops said, nae sure ae himsel, as Beattie started shaking and turned white, clearly no wanting any trouble.

  “Hoi, Beetroot Face, shut the fuck up.  We’re in charge oot here, no you or that spindly wee prick wae the bobbing Adam’s apple who’s staunin there beside ye, aboot tae pish himsel.”

  Johnboy looked McVey in the eyes.  Twenty four hours earlier, he’d wanted tae murder him and his pal.  Johnboy wis a bit taken aback and embarrassed by the fear oan display in front ae him. This wis the guy who wis in charge ae the Mufti-squad who gied poor basturts hidings in the digger, mob-haunded. He looked at Beattie.  He looked like he wis gonnae faint.  Johnboy looked doon.  Beattie wis staunin in a green puddle ae pish, clearly displayed fur the other passengers tae clock oan the white frost oan the platform.  The pair ae screws wur pathetic looking.  He jist gied them a wee smile.

  “Right, Johnboy, let’s go,” Tony said, haunin o’er a coat he’d been carrying, folded o’er his erm, as Silent slapped Johnboy oan the back, smiling, as he pulled him towards the exit.

8.05 A.M.

  “Springburn polis, how can Ah help ye?  Could ye slow doon a wee bit, sir?  Right, that’s better.  Ye wur saying?  Yer two cars wur nicked?  Wan car?  Aye, aye, so where dis the other wan come in then?  Ah thought ye jist telt me there wis two cars blagged?  Yours and a fellow nightshift worker?  Right, goat ye.  And where is the other driver then?  He’s staunin beside ye…right, goat that.  His he reported his car stolen as well?  Look, sir, telling me that Ah’m a useless cunt isnae gonnae get us anywhere noo, is it?” Happy Harry, the desk sergeant, retorted indignantly.

8.50 A.M.

  “Right, that’s me away, Martha.  See ye later,” Tam Simpson shouted tae that wife ae his fae the lobby.

  “Whit time will ye be back at?”

  “When Ah’m good and ready,” he shouted back, slamming the front door behind him.

8.55 A.M.

  “Right, Mr Portoy, sorry tae keep ye waiting.  Let me get this straight noo.  Yer secretary contacted the station here in Possil yesterday, saying that ye wur arriving wae a client this morning, who wished tae report a serious crime and that ye wanted Inspector Mack, fae the city’s murder squad, tae be present.  Is that correct?”

  “It is, Inspector Dougan.”

  “And I take it that, seeing as Mr Harris is sitting wae ye, that Mr Harris is yer client.  Wid that be a correct assumption oan ma part?”

  “It would, Inspector.”

  “Well...” Inspector Dougan said, scratching his heid and leaning back in his seat.  

  “Wid Ah be right in assuming that this crime wid be in connection wae a…a murder, Mr Portoy, seeing as Ah’ve been asked tae attend?” Inspector Mack asked.

  “Yes, I believe that to be the case, Inspector,” the brief replied.

  “Well, if it’s okay wae yersel, Duggie, Ah’ll take it fae here.  Ye kin write doon the statement and Ah’ll ask the questions.”

  “Fine wae me, Bobby,” Inspector Dougan said, taking a pen fae the tap pocket ae his uniform jaicket.

  “To ensure that you have a full and frank outline of what my client is reporting, I have already taken the liberty of preparing two copies of a clear and concise type-written statement, signed by my client.  I believe that the details contained are sufficient to allow you to successfully progress your investigations of the case his statement pertains to, and I trust you’ll acknowledge that my client is voluntarily assisting you in this matter.  I would also like to request that, given the contents, my client can be assured of police protection until such times as those implicated are under the custody of the city’s police force.  Before I hand over the statements, Mr Harris wishes to say a few words to the background of his signed statement,” the brief said, as the two Inspectors looked across at Harper, who wis sitting there in a shirt and tie and wearing a new suit that hid come straight aff the peg fae Burton’s the tailors doon in Union Street the previous efternoon.

  “Oan the night ae Friday the 17
th
December, Ah wis jist walking up Gourlay Street, across in Springburn, when Ah heard the screeching ae tyres and saw three guys jump oot ae a red Ford Cortina and run across and assault a young guy who wis walking up the street oan the other side fae me, in front ae The Princes Bingo Hall.  As well as kicking and punching him, Ah saw wan ae them pull oot whit looked like a bayonet and plunge it intae the young boy a couple ae times, before running back tae the car and speeding aff in the direction ae Carlisle Street.”

  “Did ye recognise any ae the assailants, Mr, er, Harris?” Inspector Mack asked, haudin his breath and quietly praying that some names wur aboot tae be forthcoming.

  “Aye, it wis Frisky Frank McKenna, Jo Jo Robson and…Toby Simpson,” Harper replied, looking at his brief nervously as he said Toby Simpson’s name oot loud and clear.

  The two inspectors sat and gawped at him.

  “And, er, the wan that ye said ye saw wielding the weapon…bayonet…the wan that done the actual stabbing?” Inspector Mack asked, still scared tae breathe.

  “It wis Toby Simpson, sir.”

  “Yes!” Inspector Mack whooped, punching the air, as Inspector Dougan looked at Harper, amazed, bit wae a big cheesy grin spread across that coupon ae his.

  “And, er, ye’re prepared tae swear tae this in a court ae law, in front ae a jury, Harp…Mr Harris?” Inspector Mack demanded, failing tae keep his cool.

  “Oh, aye, that’s why Ah’m here.  The sight ae that poor young boy, who Ah’ve since found oot wis a bit ae a cabbage, lying there in a pool ae blood, jist turned ma stomach, so it did.  A pure dead liberty, so it wis.”

  “So, why did ye no report this sooner, Harp...er, Mr Harris,” Inspector Duggan asked him.

  “Ye know these guys as well as me, Mr Dougan.  Ah wis scared shitless.  Ah think they saw me as well, because they’ve been looking aw o’er the place fur me ever since.  Ye heard aboot that Frisky Frank mentioning ma name, so ye did.”

  “Aye, that’s understandable...ye cannae be blamed fur being feart, efter whit ye saw,” Inspector Dougan acknowledged, nodding.

  “Look, Ah wonder if it wid be possible fur us tae hiv a wee five minute break tae hiv a cup ae tea.  Ah kin assure ye, Mr Portoy, yer client will be afforded the highest protection fae the city’s finest.  Ah think that it’s extremely important that Ah pass this oan tae ma colleagues, tae implement arrest warrants oan these three bast...er, hoodlums, before news ae yer witness coming forward somehow manages tae reach the street,” Inspector Mack said, staunin up, face flushed wae excitement.

  “Aye, that makes sense, so it dis,” Inspector Dougan agreed, itching tae get oot there tae make sure his boys wur involved in some ae the arrests.

  “A cup of tea would be most appreciated, gentlemen.  Take all the time you want.  My client isn’t planning on going anywhere,” Graham Portoy replied, wae a smile.

9.10 A.M.

  “Ah think we’re gonnae miss it,” Johnboy said fae the back seat, as he looked across the expanse ae water ae Hogganfield Loch oan Cumbernauld Road up in Millerston, jist before the turn aff intae Royston Road.

  “Ah’m sure yer maw telt me the service is at hauf nine.  If this wanker disnae keep us here aw day, we’ll make it tae the graveside,” Tony said, trying tae lug in tae whit the bizzy wis saying tae Pat.

  “Ah feel really bad aboot Freckles, so Ah dae,” Johnboy admitted, as the sound ae cars whizzed past them.

  “Aye, there wis a fair turnoot at his funeral oan Wednesday.  It’s a pity youse pair ae plonkers lost a week’s remission or ye could’ve been there,” Tony muttered, fae the passenger seat in front.

  “Fuck, ye should’ve heard me cursing him efter getting that first pass-note aboot Joe and then hearing nothing efter that.”

  “Aye, well, Ah widnae worry aboot that…we’ve goat a lot mair things tae worry aboot noo, so we hiv,” Tony murmured.

  “Dae ye think it’s worked, Tony?”

  “Ah’m no sure, bit if Tam and that social worker he’s been perching oan ur oan time, as Harper swore they’d be, then the earth is definitely gonnae move fur the baith ae them this morning, so it is,” he replied wae a chuckle.

  “Whit did ye dae wae the cars and the gear then?” Silent asked oot ae the blue, as Tony and Johnboy smiled, looking at each other.

  “Snappy and Ben took the cars straight doon tae Greasy Jake’s, right efter we goat drapped aff this morning and Peter nipped roond tae the boiler hoose up at the swimming baths and stuffed the GPO sacks, wae oor gear, in the back ae the boiler before auld Jules started his shift.  If only he knew whit we stuff in that thing efter he sets it up at night, ready tae fire it up first thing in the morning, eh?” Tony replied, glancing oot ae the windae tae see whit PC Plod wis up tae.

  Even though it wis Hogmanay, there wisnae gonnae be the usual celebrations doon at Jonah’s that night.  Everywan hid agreed that it wid be better tae keep oot ae sight.  Joe’s funeral wid be the ideal cover as an excuse fur them no tae be oot and aboot if the bizzies ever questioned them oan their lack ae visibility.  Who could argue wae that?  Efter the funeral, The Mankys hid decided tae heid across tae Pat’s pad, so that Johnboy and Silent could catch up wae them.  Johnboy hid decided that him and Silent wid go and try tae get a new pad later in the day.  The baith ae them wid spend the bells up at his ma and da’s hoose in Carlisle Street and probably the next few days, tae let the dust settle.