‘Horses?’
‘Some horses. But football recently. Long-odds stuff. Liverpool to win three–one with Owen scoring twice, that sort of stuff.’
‘Is that why you had to leave Scotland?’
Rose had taken the bait. Shepherd had set up the story and Rose was filling in the gaps, which was always the best way. He nodded.
‘And you thought by moving to London they wouldn’t find you?’
Shepherd nodded again.‘My father’s here,though, and he does need me around. But, yeah, I thought they wouldn’t be able to find me down here.’
They sat in silence for a while, listening to the engine click as it cooled.
‘The gun,’ said Rose, eventually. ‘Where did it come from?’
‘I bought it from a guy in Glasgow. It’s untraceable. I needed protection.’
‘Suppose I offered you a way of getting thirty grand. And more.’
Shepherd knew what was coming next. ‘I’m listening,’ he said.
‘We can help each other, two birds with one stone.’
‘What did you have in mind?’
‘What happened out there, we’re in this together.’
‘No arguments there,’ agreed Shepherd.
‘Are you prepared to take it a step further? Become proactive?’
‘If the rewards are there, sure. Depends what you have in mind.’
‘Remember the pizza place? Mike was saying you made a crack about the money.’
‘It was just that. A crack.’
‘But it was a good point. Drugs money is fair game. You take it, who loses out? Drugs-dealers. Do we care? Of course we don’t. Does anyone?’
‘What are you saying?’ said Shepherd, although he knew exactly what Rose was proposing. It was what he’d been working towards over the past week. The attack on his life had been unforeseen, but it had shown Rose that Shepherd had the qualities to take Andy Ormsby’s place.
‘I’m saying that if the circumstances were right, we could help each other. I need a lot of cash.’
‘For Kelly?’
Rose’s eyes narrowed. ‘Who told you about her?’
‘Mike said she was ill.’
‘That was none of his business. Or yours.’
Shepherd held up his hands. ‘It came up in conversation. But it gives you a reason for needing money, so I see where you’re coming from.’
‘You’ve no idea where I’m coming from,’ he said. ‘You haven’t the faintest idea.’
‘She’s really sick?’
‘She’s going to die unless I do something. But that’s not the issue. The issue is how far you’re prepared to go. I’ve got the weaponry, I’m in the process of gathering the intel. All I need is the manpower.’
‘You mean there’s more than you and me?’
‘It takes a three-man team.’
‘You,me and . . .?’
Rose smiled tightly. ‘Let me talk to the third party first. Just in case . . .’
‘Just in case he doesn’t trust me?’
‘It’s like being in the ARV. We all have to trust each other one thousand per cent. We’ve all got too much to risk.’
‘Assuming he’s okay with me, what’s the next step?’
‘We work out where and when.’
‘And we rip off a drugs-dealer?’
‘That’s the plan.’
Shepherd whistled softly. ‘You are one hell of a dark horse.’
‘I’ll fix up a meet tomorrow and call you.’
Shepherd ran a hand through his hair. ‘How soon before we move?’
‘Next week. I’ve got a deadline, money-wise.’
Shepherd sat in his car for a while, looking at his house. His heart was still racing. He felt guilty, but not because of what he’d done to the men who’d attacked him. He’d reacted instinctively, as he’d been trained. The guilt came from having lied to Rose. He liked the man. He was a good cop, too, reliable and disciplined, and he’d crossed the line because he wanted to provide for his daughter. He’d helped Shepherd in the street, with little or no thought for his own safety. If Rose hadn’t turned up there was a good chance that he would have been killed. Rose had saved his life, but Shepherd didn’t want to dwell on that. Rose’s reward was going to be a long prison sentence, and Shepherd didn’t want to think what that would mean for his daughter.
He let himself into the house. There was a light on in the kitchen and Katra was at the sink, washing up. ‘Hiya, Katra,’ he said. She was wearing a white dressing-gown. For a moment he thought it was Sue’s, but then he realised it fitted Katra perfectly and she was smaller than his wife had been. He switched on the kettle.
‘I’ll make you coffee,’ said Katra. ‘And I have a beef and paprika stew and baked potatoes in the oven.’
‘It’s nearly midnight!’ exclaimed Shepherd.
‘You have eaten already?’ she asked.
‘No, but I worry about you staying up so late on my account when you’ve got to take Liam to school. How was he today?’
‘He is a good boy,’ she said. ‘He wants to spend more time with you.’
‘I know. I won’t always be as busy as this. These shifts are unusual.’ Even as the words left his mouth, Shepherd knew he wasn’t telling the truth. He often worked late, no matter what case he was on, and sometimes he was away for days on end. Villains didn’t work nine to five, and neither did undercover cops. ‘I’ve got to make a call first,’ he said. ‘Thanks for the food.’
She beamed.
‘You go to bed. I’ll get it out of the oven.’
Shepherd waited until she had gone upstairs, then phoned Hargrove. ‘I’m in,’ he said. ‘Rose tried to recruit me tonight.’
‘Excellent,’ said Hargrove. ‘That was quick work.’
‘I had help,’ said Shepherd. He explained to the superintendent about Kerr’s attack and how he’d reacted.
‘What state are the casualties in?’ Hargrove asked.
‘Kerr’s dead, I’m sure. Shot in the chest. I hit Wates hard. Anderson was hit by Rose’s car. I’m sorry it got so messy.’
‘Not your fault, Spider. I guess what we need to worry about is how the hell Kerr found out who you are.’
‘He could have followed me from Manchester. But if he did, shame on me for not spotting it.’
‘The Manchester operation was over and Angie Kerr was in custody. You were heading home.’
‘And I let my guard down.’ It was something he was going to have to think about. If Kerr had followed him to Leman Street, he could just as easily have gone to his home. His carelessness had put his son at risk. That was unforgivable.
‘What happens next?’ asked Hargrove.
‘Rose is going to call me tomorrow and set up a meet with his partner.’
‘We’ll arrange surveillance,’ said Hargrove.
‘No,’ said Shepherd quickly. ‘They’re cops, they’ll know what to look for. I’m not even going to wear a wire for this first meeting.’
‘I don’t think you should go in alone,’ said Hargrove.
‘Rose is convinced I’m with him,’ said Shepherd. ‘He saw me shoot Kerr and I spun him a yarn about gambling debts in Glasgow. Tomorrow’s just about meeting this other guy.’
‘And who do you think it is?’ asked Hargrove.
