Final Account

Banks shook his head. He didn’t want to know, but he knew Burgess would tell him anyway.

“They get a handful of those little glass tubes the doctors use to keep liquid in. What do you call them, vials, right? Really thin glass, anyway. And they put them in the victim’s mouth, lots of them. Then they tape the mouth shut securely and beat him a bit about the face. Or her. Churchill himself thought that up. He likes to watch. Think about it.”

Banks thought, swallowed and felt his throat constrict. “Been letting you practice it at the Yard, have they?” he asked.

Burgess laughed. “No, not yet. They’re still running tests in Belfast. Anyway, the point is that we know who they are.”

“No, that’s not entirely the point,” said Banks. “The point is where are they now and what are you going to do about them?”

Burgess shook his head. “That’s a whole different ball game. We’re talking about international politics here, politically sensitive issues. It’s out of your hands, Banks. Accept that. All you need to know is that we know who they are and we’re keeping tabs.”

“Don’t give me that politically sensitive crap,” said Banks, stabbing out his cigarette so hard that sparks flew out of the ashtray. “These two men damn near killed a woman here a few days ago. You say they like to go around stuffing people’s mouths full of glass, then you tell me to trust you, you’re keeping tabs. Well, bollocks, that’s what I say.”

Burgess sighed. “Somehow, I knew you were going to be difficult, Banks, I just knew it. Can’t you leave it be? They won’t get away with it, don’t worry.”

“Do you know where they are now?”

“They won’t get away with it,” Burgess repeated.

Banks took a sip of his beer and held back his rage. There was something in Burgess’s tone that hinted he had something up his sleeve. “What are you telling me?” Banks asked.

“That we’ll get them. Or somebody will. But they’ll go down quietly, no fuss, no publicity.”

Banks thought for a moment. He still didn’t trust Burgess. “Can I talk to them?” he asked, aware he was speaking through clenched teeth, still keeping his anger in check.

Burgess narrowed his eyes. “Got to you, did it? What they did to the girl? I’ve seen pictures of her, before and after. Nasty. I’ll bet you fancied her, didn’t you, Banks? Nice dusky piece of crumpet, touch of the tarbrush, probably knew a lot of those Kama Sutra tricks. Just your type. Tasty.”

Banks felt his hand tighten on the pint glass. Why did he always let Burgess get to him this way? The bastard had a knack of touching on exactly the right raw nerve. Did it every time. “I’d just like to be there when you question them, that’s all,” he said quietly.

Burgess shrugged. “No problem. If it’s possible, I’ll arrange it. All I’m saying is no publicity on the Churchill matter, okay? Let your liberal humanist sentiments fuck this one up and you’ll be in deep doo-doo, Banks, very deep doo-doo indeed.”

“What about the press?”

“They can be dealt with. Have you ever considered that for every scandal you read about how many you don’t? Do you think it’s all left to chance? Don’t be so bloody naive.”

“Come off it. You might be able to tape a few mouths shut, but even you can’t guarantee that no hotshot investigative reporters aren’t going to be all over this one like flies around shit.”

Burgess shrugged. “Maybe they’ll hear Churchill’s been killed in a coup. Maybe they’ll even see the body.”

“Maybe it’d be best for everyone if he did get killed in a coup. Less embarrassing all round.”

Burgess remained silent for a moment, glass in hand. Then he said, slowly, “And maybe he’s got life insurance.”

“Well, I suppose you’d know. Let’s hope there’s a good plastic surgeon on St. Corona.”

“Look,” Burgess said, “let’s stop pissing around. What I want from you is a promise that you won’t talk to the press about the Churchill angle.”

Banks lit another cigarette. What could he do? If Burgess were telling the truth, Mickey Lanois and Gregory Jackson would be caught and punished for their crimes. He could live with that. He would have to. Burgess certainly had a better chance of catching them than Banks did, by the sound of things. Perhaps they were even in custody already.

Also, with luck, Arthur Jameson and his accomplice would go down for the murder of Keith Rothwell. But was Burgess telling the full truth? Banks didn’t know. All he knew was that he couldn’t trust the bastard. It all sounded too easy. But what choice did he have?

“All right,” he said.

Burgess reached over and patted his arm. “Good,” he said. “Good. I knew I could depend on you to keep shut when it counts.”

Banks jerked his arm away. “Don’t push it. And if I find out you’ve been buggering me around on this one, my promise is null and void, okay?”

Burgess held up his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay.”

“There is another thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Rothwell’s killers. Lanois and Jackson didn’t do that.”

Burgess shook his head. “I’m not interested in them. They’re not in my brief.”

“So what happens when we catch Jameson, if we catch him?”

“Jameson?”

“Arthur Jameson. One of Rothwell’s killers.”

“I don’t give a monkey’s toss. That’s up to you. I’m not interested. It’s unlikely that this Jameson, whoever he is, knows anything about Churchill’s part in the matter. He was probably just a hired killer working for Clegg, who has conveniently disappeared with a shitload of cash.”

“Any ideas where?”

Burgess shook his head then jabbed his finger in the air close to Banks’s chest. “But I can tell you one thing. Wherever he is, he won’t be there for long. Churchill has the memory of an elephant, the reach of a giraffe and the tenacity of a bloody pit bull. He didn’t get to bleed an entire country dry for nothing. It takes a special talent. Don’t underestimate the man just because he’s a butcher.”

“So we write off Clegg?”

“I think he’s already written himself off by double-crossing Churchill.”

“And Jameson?”

“If he goes to trial, and if he talks – both big ifs, by the way – all he can say is that Clegg hired him to kill Rothwell. I doubt that Clegg would tell him the real reason. He might be a crooked lawyer, but I’m sure he still knows the value of confidentiality. He wouldn’t want to let his hired killers know exactly how much money was involved, would he? It would make him too vulnerable by half. Anyway, I trust you’ll have enough physical evidence to prosecute this Jameson when the time comes. If not, maybe we can fabricate some for you. Always happy to oblige.” He held his hand up. “Only kidding. My little joke.”

Burgess glanced over at the two women, who had got yet another round of drinks and seemed to be laughing quite tipsily. “Look,” he said, “if I don’t strike soon they’ll be past it. Are you sure you won’t join me? It’ll be a laugh, and the wife need never know.”

“No,” said Banks. “No, thanks. I’m going home.”

“Suit yourself.” Burgess stretched back his shoulders and sucked in his gut. “Anything to liven up a miserable evening in Leeds,” he said. “Once more unto the breach.” And with that, he strutted over to their table, smiling, pint in hand. Banks watched them make room for him, then shook his head, drank up and