'Assuming all the money is in play, within the next twenty-four hours, probably three days.'
'That quick?'
'The Turkish end is all ready to go. Charlie'll get the details to you.'
Bunny shook his head.
'No, we deal with you on this one. No discussion.'
Donovan wanted to argue, but it was clear from Bunny's tone that there was nothing he could say that would get him to change his mind.
'Okay,' said Donovan.
'You call me direct when you've got the money. It's going to be electronic transfer through SWIFT. No used notes in suitcases.'
'Not a problem. We have money in the system.'
Donovan gave him the number of one of his mobiles.
'Call this from a landline. Don't identify yourself, just give me the number but transpose the last two digits. I'll call you back from a call box.'
There was a squeal of brakes from a car in the street. Donovan whirled around. A large Mercedes had pulled up opposite them. The front passenger window was open and something was thrust through the opening. Donovan cursed. It was a gun. A big gun. He'd been so involved in the conversation with Bunny that he hadn't been aware of the car driving down the street. The gun jerked and there was a loud series of muffled bangs. Bullets thwacked into the wall of the house behind Donovan. He felt an arm across the back of his neck, pulling him down. It was Bunny.
'Down, man, get down!' Bunny yelled.
Bullets were hitting the concrete pavement all around Donovan. Now there were two guns spewing out bullets. Bunny grabbed Donovan's jacket collar and hauled him behind a black Wrangler Jeep just as its windows shattered into a thousand glass cubes.
Donovan looked up at Bunny. The West Indian was crouched over him.
'Stay down, man!' Bunny yelled.
The Jeep crashed to one side as its tyres were ripped apart by the gunfire. Puffs of dust exploded on the brick walls of the terraced houses, and glass was shattering everywhere. Bullets whizzed all around them.
Donovan looked back at the house they'd just left. Two West Indians had pulled handguns from inside their coats and were blasting away at the Mercedes. The Mercedes leaped forward and then braked again. Now the gunmen had a clear shot at Bunny and Donovan around the side of the Jeep.
'Bunny, watch out!' Donovan yelled.
Bunny whirled around just as one of the machine guns burst into life. Bullets thwacked into the front of the Jeep, shattering its headlights. Two bullets slammed into Bunny's chest and he fell back on to Donovan.
More West Indians ran out of the house brandishing guns. One of the men had a Mac-io like PM's and he fired a burst at the Mercedes, thudding holes into its boot. The Mercedes sped off.
Donovan crawled out from under Bunny, expecting to see his chest a bloody pulp. Instead Bunny was rubbing his chest and scowling.
'Bastards,' he said.
He sat up.
'You okay?' he asked Donovan.
'Am I okay? What the fuck do you mean, am I okay?'
Donovan got to his feet and helped Bunny up. Haifa dozen of Bunny's crew came running up.
Why aren't you .. .' asked Donovan, his whole body shaking.
'Dead?' asked Bunny. He lifted up his shirt and showed Donovan a white Kevlar bullet-proof vest.
'Pretty much compulsory in Harlesden these days,' he said.
'You should get one.'
'I don't think you'll catch me around here again,' said Donovan. He clapped Bunny on the shoulder.
'I owe you, mate. I'm like a fucking elephant, I won't forget this.'
'We're not home free yet,' said Bunny, looking around. In the distance they could hear sirens and there were shouts from the house. Doors were opening all along the street.
'The Operation Trident boys'll be on their way. They move fast on black-on-black shootings before any witnesses disappear into the woodwork. We've got to move. Come on.'
Bunny headed down the street, away from the house. Donovan followed him. Donovan knew that Bunny was wrong about it being a black-on-black attack. As the car had been driven away, Donovan had seen a face he recognised in the back seat. Jesus Rodriguez.
Louise shuffled the playing cards and laid them out on the coffee table. She'd been playing patience for more than two hours, half concentrating on the cards, half watching the television with the sound muted.
The door to the spare bedroom opened and Robbie appeared, rubbing his eyes.
'I can't sleep,' he said.
'Do you want a drink? Cocoa or something?'
Robbie nodded and sat down on the sofa. Louise went through to the kitchenette and put a pan of milk on to boil.
'That's patience,' said Robbie, pointing at the cards.
That's right.'
'You know you can play it on computer. It comes with Windows.'
'I know. But I haven't got a computer here.'
'Everyone's got a home computer these days,' said Robbie.
'Not me. Besides, I like the feel of the cards. It's relaxing. That's why people play patience.'
'It's boring.'
'Yeah, you're right. But it gives you something to do with your hands.'
Louise stirred cocoa powder into the hot milk, then poured the cocoa into a mug.
She gave the mug to Robbie and sat down next to him.
'Thanks,' he said. He took a sip.
'How do you know my dad?' he asked.
Louise shrugged.
'He helped me when I needed help.'
'You didn't know him when my mum was around, did you?'
Louise shook her head.
'I only met him a few days ago. When he came back from the Caribbean.' She reached over and stroked his hair.
'Why, are you worried that I might have taken him away from your mum?'
'No way!' said Robbie vehemently.
'She was the one having the affair.'
'Because I didn't meet your dad until after your mum left. Cross my heart.'
'She didn't leave,' said Robbie.
'She ran away.'
'I'm sorry.'
'It doesn't matter.' He took another sip of cocoa.
'You know your dad loves you, don't you? That's why he brought you here. So that you'd be safe.'
'He said some people were after him. Do you know who they are?'
'No. He didn't tell me. He just said he needed somewhere for you to stay.'
'He never says anything about what he does. It's like it's all some big secret.'
Louise gathered up the cards and shuffled them slowly.
'You're lucky to have a dad,' she said.
'It's not luck. It's biology.'
'I mean to have a father who's around. My dad died when I was a kid. Younger than you.'
Robbie put his mug on to the coffee table and wiped his mouth.
'So your mum took care of you, did she?'
