He told her what had happened and was glad to see that either she was as taken aback as he was, or the greatest performer since Gary.
'He's a devious bastard, we'll need to watch him,' she said.
'If he's around to watch,' said Joe, thinking that in the same circumstances he personally would be long gone.
On the way to the Plezz he watched Zak carefully to see if there was any sign that she'd been got at again. When they got out of the car, he let her stride ahead and whispered to Starbright, Tick up her locker key. Check out that it's OK, no little messages.'
'You think there might be?'
'Just a precaution,' assured Joe.
The Welshman hurried away. Joe caught up with Zak and thought of some excuse to delay her, but found he didn't need it. As they entered the building the first person they saw was Douglas Endor.
'Zak, my girl, you look gorgeous. Happy New Year.'
He kissed her cheek then grabbed Joe's hand and shook it enthusiastically.
'And you too, Joe. Happy New Year.'
This is crazy, thought Joe, looking at his friendly, smiling face. Either this guy's got religion or he's on something.
They stood for a few moments while Endor described a party he'd been at the previous night which had ended with his two snooker proteges playing a challenge match on the municipal bowling green.
It was a good story and Zak went on her way, laughing.
That's the way to do it, Joe,' said Endor. 'Some people need hyped up. With Zak, I never mention the race, just tickle her fancy with a joke or two. If she goes off laughing, I know that chances are she's feeling good enough to win.'
This was getting too much.
Joe said, 'Mr. Endor, it's over.'
'Mr. Endor? Doug, Joe. Thought we'd got that settled. What's over?'
The game. We know what's going on. Zak knows there's no danger any more.'
'Yeah, I told her. You asked me to, remember? You done a really good job, Joe. I know it's Zak who's paying you, but I'd like to give you a little bonus.'
He put his hand into his inside pocket. If he pulls money out, I'll have to hit him, thought Joe unhappily. It was his experience that people who got hit usually hit back. But it wasn't bank notes, Endor produced, but a pair of the ornately engraved invitation cards to the mayor's reception.
'Hottest ticket in town,' said Endor. 'Can't make it myself and it seems a pity to let them go to waste. Bring your best girl.'
He walked away with that jaunty, bouncy step which told all the world, Here comes the most successful guy you 're likely to meet in a long day's walking.
What the shoot's going on? wondered Joe, putting the invites with the others. Either I got it all wrong or this guy's a runner for the Best Actor Oscar.
It was deeply worrying. From what Mary had said, Endor made big bucks but he spent as big as he made, and most of his bets if they were his bets would be in electronic money. Once he lost, however, the bookies would look to see it turn into hard cash. And if it didn't... he recalled one of Aunt Mirabelle's more fearsome exhortations Better you owe money to a Chinese bookie than you risk the wrath of the Lord. He doubted if his aunt had had much experience of the profession, but anything that came even a distant second to her angry God was best avoided.
He went along to the viewing cafe and ordered a whole pot of black coffee. The place was bustling with early arrivals, but he found a table to himself at the highest level right under the big TV screen. ITV was carrying the meeting and from time to time they flashed up shots of the Plezz with hyped-up trails of the excitements to come. There was a recorded interview with Zak on screen when Beryl plumped into the seat beside him.
'Gets everywhere, don't she? But she is beautiful,' said Beryl.
'Yeah.'
'Hey, you could try, not as beautiful as you, my love, or some flattering crap like that,' said Beryl.
'Yeah. Sorry. Where's Desmond?'
'Where you think? Up at the counter, my sister's buying him some junk food. So why're you looking so miserable, Joe? Thought this would be Sherlock Holmes's finest hour.'
'You reckon? When he solved a big one, didn't the villain usually snarl, Curse you, Holmes! and jump over a waterfall or something?'
'Something like that. What's up? Endor not obliging?'
'No. Maybe villains don't act that way any more. Maybe they're like politicians. You get found out, you just move over to a better paying job in the City. I mean, what would you do if you found out your carefully planned and highly profitable crime had been blown?'
'Well, I guess I'd move on to Plan B, and it would be even worse. Hey, my love, you going to eat all of that? You make yourself sick, I'll hose you down with ice-cold water, you hear?'
She was addressing her young son, who came towards them carrying a tray laden with burgers, a banana split, and a glass of liquid so blue it was almost fluorescent.
