back of his eyeballs start to hurt and that was always a bad sign.
His mother's reaction had seemed genuine. What he'd told her had surprised and shocked her. Either that or he didn't know her like he thought he did. No, there was no act there. And even if he was wrong, if she had known, there was no reason for her to want to have herself killed. Made no sense. He'd heard of it before, of course. People who were depressed enough to want to commit suicide, but couldn't actually do it, sometimes they'd hire a hit man to do it for them. Fools. If you can't kill yourself, there's a good reason. Means you don't want to fucking die. But even though his mum was a functioning alcoholic, she wasn't that depressed. Fair enough, she wasn't happy about not getting to see Sofia, but Carlos doubted she believed Maggie would stay angry with her for long.
Which pointed the finger of suspicion at Maggie. Yeah, it was crazy and he didn't want to consider it, but he had no choice. The facts were that Maggie knew who his mother was; she knew what Carlos did for a living; she had easy access to ten grand in cash; and she called him Charlie. But why would she want his mother dead? Because of what happened with Sofia? Made no sense either.
He turned up the volume, started to sing along with the music.
The answer would come to him. It always did.
Maggie said, 'You're sure?'
'She practically admitted it,' Carlos said. 'Kept saying she was no good to anybody. Just an old drunk who'd be better off dead.' It felt natural to lie to his wife. He wasn't sure why he'd never done it before.
'She said that?' Maggie turned off the TV. 'Wow. I mean, fucking wow.' She put her hand to her head, grabbed a handful of hair, combed it through her fingers. 'I can't believe it.'
'I know. It's fucked up.'
'Wow.' The skin around her eyes creased. 'It's insane.'
'That's my mother.'
Maggie shook her head. 'Wonder how she found out.'
'No idea.'
'Maybe it's a test.' She bit her lip, let it go. 'Maybe she doesn't really want to be… expurgated.'
Carlos looked at her, waiting for her to say more.
'Maybe she found out what you do and she just wants to see how far you'll go.'
Carlos nodded slowly, remembering the word his mother had used. 'See how much of a monster her son is? Could be.'
Maggie sat down, crossed one ankle over the other. 'So what are you going to do?'
'What she wants.'
'You mean…?'
' Si. I'm going to kill the old bitch.'
'Holy shit,' Maggie said. 'You can't do that.'
'If she's had enough, I'll be putting her out of her misery. And if she's playing a game, I'm going to make sure I win.'
'Even if it means killing her?'
'It's what she wants.'
'She can't want that.'
'Well, it's what she's paid me for. Wouldn't want to disappoint her, would I? I'm a professional, after all.'
'Fuck, Charlie.' Maggie rubbed the palm of her hand on her thigh. 'You're serious.'
'I didn't ask for this. And I didn't decide on the stakes.'
'Still…'
''Still what? I thought you didn't like her? Didn't want her round Sofia?'
'Yeah, but that doesn't mean I'd want her… done.'
'Done?'
'You know… expurgated.'
'She won't be expurgated. Only Richie can do that.'
'You know what I mean. Richie, Jordan, same thing.'
Carlos nodded. 'I'd rather not use Jordan either.'
'I thought you and him had an understanding.'
He shrugged. 'This is personal. It's more than just a business transaction. Something I need to do myself.'
'Shit,' she said. She laughed. 'Sorry. I'm just… trying to let this sink in.'
'There's more,' he said, and waited for her to calm herself. 'I'll need some help. Someone I can trust.'
'Hardly spoilt for choice, then.'
'No,' he said. 'What are you doing next week? Tuesday night, maybe?'
'Me?' She widened her eyes as what he was asking her sunk in. 'Charlie, I couldn't.'
'You could. Easy. I'll do the hard part. You don't need to see that. I just need you to give me a hand afterwards.'
'A hand? What does that mean?'
'Getting rid of the body.'
'I really don't think — '
'I'll make sure it's wrapped up, all sanitised and that. Promise. Just keep an eye out for me while I get the body out of her flat and downstairs. Help me get it into the car. Not ours, I'll steal one. We drive to the Forth, lose the body. After that, we'll dump the car and head home. I'll maybe need some help getting the body onto my shoulders, but I can carry it from there. Other than that, you won't need to touch it.'
'Just warn you if somebody's around?'
'That's it. You'd be a lookout.'
She lowered her gaze. After a bit she looked at him again and said, 'You're going through with this.' Not a question.
He nodded.
'Then steal a van,' she said.
Jesus fucking Christ. She was going along with it. He stayed perfectly calm.'You think?'
'Easier to get the body in and out.'
'Yeah,' he said, nodding. He clenched his fists. 'Yeah. You thinking a Transit?'
'Doesn't need to be that big. Didn't Jordan's old man have three bodies in the back of his?'
'That wasn't his van.'
She shook her head, exasperated. 'But there were three bodies in it, right?'
'Yeah.'
'So nick one of those vans, whatever it was. It'll be plenty big enough.'
His fingernails were digging into the palms of his hands. 'I'll ask Jordan.'
'I know a good car thief if you need one. Brother of Arlene's boyfriend.'
'Your sister can certainly pick them.'
'You can fucking talk.'
'He's reliable?'
'He nicks cars to order.'
Carlos unclenched his fists, locked his trembling fingers together. 'Kids've got too much money these days.'
'And we should take a leaf out of their book. Burn the van afterwards.'
'Get rid of any evidence? Not a bad idea.' He waited, throat dry. 'So we're on?'
'I don't know. I don't know, Charlie. This is a step beyond.'
'For me too. But it's going to happen, Maggie. With or without your help. I'd like it to be the former.'
Say no, Maggie.
'Let me think about it,' she said.
Allan Guthrie
Killing Mum
