The Tale of the Wolf (The Kenino Wolf Series) (4 page)

I could feel my phone ringing in my pocket the vibrations trembling through my jacket. I looked at the screen: it was Tabatha. I let it ring. What was I supposed to do? I knew she was pissed, knew she was going to start. But what could I do? Some things you don't explain on the phone.

Bosley came back across accompanied by a small mousy haired woman dressed in the same plastic white jumpsuit. The grey-haired guy and three of his colleagues walked through the main entrance, off to delve through Longy’s private affairs. They didn’t seem perturbed. I suppose they were used to it.

I’d always thought that normality’s merely what you did most often, which for them was probing the underbelly of man, searching and scouring the minuscule for the facts. Where what they faced others would regard as disturbing, they regarded as average. It was far easier for man to adapt to his situation then for the situation to adapt to man.

‘I want you to dust this drainpipe thoroughly,’ Bosley said to the woman.

She viewed the drainpipe with hostility. She was more than likely an underling, new to the job and so burdened with all the nasty tasks; dreaming of the day when it fell to some other sap to catch the crap.

‘
I take it that’s your car?’ Bosley pointed at Betsy. I nodded.

‘
Well, that one’s mine.’ He indicated a crusty old red Astra. ‘I want you to follow it.’

‘
Why?’

‘
I need you to make your statement at the station. Get it all above board. Unless you’d rather go in my car?’ The malice had returned to his voice.

‘
Yeah right, but I’m not following too close. I have a reputation to protect. Being seen near that dirty old thing could seriously damage it.’

‘
Oh, I thoroughly understand. It must be extremely difficult to protect your reputation for probity.’

‘
Sarcasm hey, Bosley? Is that allowed in the police force? Isn’t there some kind of directive that banned it, along with a sense of ethnic equality?’

‘
Just follow.’

Throwing the pepperoni in the back of Betsy I followed his Vauxhall Astra at a distance. We weaved in and out of the traffic, Bosley going deliberately slow, making sure I stayed near him. He didn’t want to lose me. He didn’t need to worry. I was well acquainted with the station Bosley worked in. So well, in fact, that I could tell you what the canteen served on Wednesdays.

I cut down a back street and lost Bosley. I know it’s childish, but I couldn’t help it. I flew down another road, down an alley way, up another road, a few more turns and arrived a full five minutes before he did. He got out of his car and gestured me inside, saying nothing.

Bosley escorted me into one of the interview rooms. I was stuck in there for about two hours giving my statement explaining what had happened.

It was overcast by the time I left. Dark clouds were forming in the sky. A storm was brewing. A heavy feeling tinged the air. I had the feeling I was going to get drenched. I got back into Betsy and turned the engine. As always she started first time, but it didn’t feel as good as it usually did.

What had happened was playing on my mind: the gunman, Longy, his ghastly gaze. I know it was wrong, but I couldn’t help wondering what would have happened if I’d got there earlier. Would he still be breathing, or would I be dead? Maybe I could have saved him if I’d driven faster, not gone shopping, not bought that bastard pepperoni that was still stinking out my car.

I was letting my mind twist itself up on the
ifs:
the
ifs
were unlimited, the
whats
were few. I knew that nothing could be changed.

I pulled up outside my place and trudged into my flat. Weary and heartbroken I heaved myself into the bath and fell asleep. I really wanted to stay indoors and not leave again. But even with Puglia's money, I knew I still had to go out that evening and steal a chicken.

Wednesday 8:00 p.m.

I woke at eight, still in the bath. The water had turned cold and I was shaking. What little sleep I’d had was troubled. Longy’s horrified face had played a prominent part in it, along with the cowboy hat and Bosley. I got dressed: old jeans, trainers and a large woolly jumper. I still had an appointment for the evening. I didn’t really feel up for it, but felt even less inclined to stay at home and dwell on my own thoughts. I didn't even want to see Tabatha, who was pissed with me at the very least. But reluctantly I jumped in Betsy and headed to Soho to see Leon.

Leon owned a club in the West End: a cabaret and comedy number, which I’d helped set up, getting hold of the stock, decorators, alcohol licences, all the required paperwork that Leon said he needed. I also put some of my own money into it, not a major stake, just enough to get me twenty per cent. Leon at the time was a bit short and I for once was a bit flush, so I jumped in. It was the best move I ever made. It had been keeping me alive for months.

Leon had given me a bell and asked if I knew anybody that needed some work … which, by coincidence, coincided with a call from Tabatha asking if I knew of any jobs floating around. It was a pure Wolfy moment: want and need. Obviously there wasn't any Wolfy tax. But getting Tabatha's brother Boom-Boom working for Leon was by far reward enough. I'd woken that morning absolutely relishing seeing Leon; it was to be the highlight of my day. Now I was dreading it.

I pulled up across the road. Tabatha and Boom-Boom were standing outside; Tabatha smoking and Boom-Boom pacing frantically. As soon as he saw me he came racing across.

‘Wolfy, I'm not being ungrateful but are you sure this is all that's about?’

‘Yes Boom, it's hard times, it's a good job, what's wrong with it? I'd been expecting this reaction from Boom-Boom. Truthfully, I’d been looking forward to it.

‘It’s just I can’t believe you got me working for a transvestite.’

‘
He’s not a transvestite Boom, he’s a Drag Queen. It’s a big difference.’

‘
What difference?’

‘Sequins mostly.’

‘Wolfy you know what I mean.’

‘Boom the money’s good and Leon's got another little job for you. Did you remember your wellies?’ At the word ‘wellies’, Boom-Boom's brow furrowed so deep you could've planted potatoes in it.

‘Yeah,’ he said clutching a carrier bag to his chest.

‘We better go in.’ I said addressing them both. If Boom-Boom was terrified, Tabatha was terrifying. She’d done nothing but stare daggers the whole time I was speaking to Boom-Boom. She was absolutely raging.

We walked on in. Everyone was still setting up for the nine o'clock opening. The club had about fifty tables and a long bar that ran along the east wall. At the north end was a medium-sized stage, next to a thin corridor. At the end of the corridor a large fire exit door opened on to Leon’s yard where he kept his three industrial and two domestic freezers; large metallic monsters that stored his crooked cache. Part of the little job we had to do later, the job that required the wellies.

Kelly (Leon's wife) came rushing across the minute she saw me.

‘Hiya, Wolfy,’ she said kissing me on the cheek. Kelly was nine months pregnant, and had a radiant glow about her. She was dressed in a loose-fitting black dress and looked ravishing with her strawberry blonde curls hanging around her shoulders.

‘
Y'oright, Kelly?’ I said pecking her cheek. ‘How’s things?’

‘
Good, real good.’ She patted her belly, trying to pretend she was fine, but I could see the anxiety in her face.

This was Kelly’s second attempt at a child; the first time she’d miscarried. It tore her and Leon apart. They’d set their hearts on a baby, and when the baby was lost they couldn’t really cope. They’d bought all the baby clothes, made a room in their house into a nursery, they’d got everything they needed … except the child. It almost destroyed them. Everything back then was falling apart for them; a true London storm.

A little while after we bought the club. I think it gave them something to focus on, saved them. Saved me too, if I’m honest.

‘
I’m sure it’s all gonna be fine,’ I said. ‘The only problem you got is when that one’s born you’ll have two children to take care of, a little one and Leon.’

‘
Yeah but I’ve got a few years before this one starts nicking my dresses.’

‘
Where is the old queen anyway?’ I laughed.

‘Upstairs ... Winston can you call Leon please, tell him Wolfy's here.’ She signalled the barman. ‘So are these the two?’ She said indicating Tabatha and Boom-Boom.

‘Yep this is Tabatha and Boom-Boom.’ Kelly shook Tabatha's hand and gave me a wry smile.

‘Oh this one's going to be very popular with the ladies,’ she said, shaking Boom-Boom's hand. He clutched his bag even tighter to his chest.

‘Hey, Wolfy.’ It was Leon.

‘
Hey, Leon. How goes it?’

‘
Not bad. I take it these are the two.’

‘
Yeah.’ I introduced Tabatha and Boom-Boom to Leon.

‘
Okay then Boom-Boom. Let me show you round. Wolfy told you I've got another little job later for you?’

Boom nodded sheepishly.

‘
Brill, and you brought your wellies?’

He nodded again, still holding them as though they'd prevent the machinations of lusty drag queens.

‘
Super.’ Leon continued ‘Wolfy be a dear and show Tabatha the staff room and stuff.’

‘
Will do.’ I was desperate to speak to Tabatha alone. I desperately wanted to explain what had happened, before she did something I'd regret.

We walked in to the staffroom and I closed the door behind us.

‘
Well?’ Tabatha said as soon as we were in the room.

‘
I know I didn’t turn up, but it wasn’t my fault.’

‘
Whose fault was it then? Whose fault was it that I spent two hours freezing my tits off waiting for you? Was it my fault? Of course, it was
my
fault. It was my fault for thinking that you can be relied upon to do anything that doesn’t benefit you. It’s alright for you. You’re actually doing something with your life. Mine’s a heap of shit. This job’s alright but I want something more. I want to be going somewhere. I want a future.’ She was near tears. ‘And this was my opportunity, my chance to step out on my own, and you let me down, you bastard.’ She slapped me in the face.

‘
Cheers. Cheers. That’s exactly what I needed, after the day I’ve had. That’s exactly what I needed! After the fucking day I’ve had that’s what I need; a fucking slap in the head. No, don’t say anything. I’m just gonna tell you about my day so you understand how you just made it perfect. I have been on the go since eight o’clock and it has been nuthin’ but shitty since I started. Some psycho in a cowboy hat tried to perforate me with a machine gun. I found Longy swinging from a light bulb with a plastic bag on his head, and some copper is planning the rest of his life around sending me down. So when I say, it wasn’t my fault, I mean it, okay? It’s not just some shitty excuse. The world doesn’t revolve around you, y'know. People have problems of their own. Oh, and just so you know … my life ain’t going nowhere. I'm as broke as fuck and am crashing at Kendall's so I can make a change. So, don’t think you’re the only one who’s got it shitty.’ I still had more to say, mostly along the lines of I’m broke but I’d run out of steam.

‘
Someone shot at you? Are you okay?’ She was genuinely worried.

‘
Yeah, I’m fine. Longy's not though.’

‘
What?’

‘
Yeah, some fucker killed him then tried to shoot me.’

‘
Oh, Wolfy. I’m so sorry.’ She wrapped her arms around me and we stood there silently. Tears ran down her face. If Leon hadn’t poked his head round the door I don’t think we would’ve moved.