‘We’ve an Ingram, there’s a Python .45 and a Glock. We’re well sorted. Whatever happens, you should ditch your gun.’
Rose drank his coffee and Swift put another chunk of croissant into his mouth.
Shepherd put down his mug. ‘And what would my take be?’
‘Three-way split,’ said Swift. ‘How much we get depends on who we turn over.’
‘How much did you get from the Yardies?’ asked Shepherd.
‘It didn’t work out as planned,’ Rose said awkwardly.
‘In what way?’
‘The cash wasn’t there. They’d done a coke deal, so we took the drugs.’
Shepherd raised his eyebrows. ‘There’s no way I’m being paid in gear,’ he said.
‘I sold it to some Paddies,’ said Rose.
‘You did a drugs deal?’
‘It was a one-off.’
Shepherd was astounded. He was sitting opposite two long-serving police officers who had admitted to murder, armed robbery, and drugs-dealing. ‘One more question,’ he said.
‘This is turning into
‘It’s a big step,’ said Shepherd.
‘Except that you killed a man last night,’ said Swift, ‘and put two more in hospital.’
‘Self-defence,’ said Shepherd.
‘Self-defence or not, you’ll be off the force if it comes out. Maybe worse.’
‘No argument there,’ said Shepherd.
‘So, what’s the question?’
‘Knowing what I know, what happens if I turn you down?’
‘After what happened last night, we know enough about each other to cause everyone a whole lot of grief.’
‘So if I say no, I just walk away?’
‘Like I said, you killed a guy last night. Rosie and I did what we did. We don’t have to force you to do anything against your will. It’s your choice.’
Shepherd picked up his mug. ‘It’s good coffee,’ he said.
‘I don’t like instant,’ said Swift. ‘It’s all about grinding it fresh each time.’
Shepherd took a sip. ‘I’m in,’ he said.
Rose looked at Swift and nodded enthusiastically. ‘Great,’ he said.
‘The three musketeers,’ said Shepherd. ‘All for one and all that shit.’
Swift leaned over and shook his hand. ‘Good to have you aboard, Stu.’
‘It’s just the one job,’ said Rose. ‘I need one more hit. So does Ken. One hit and we walk away.’
‘One hit,’ repeated Shepherd. ‘That’s all I need.’ He put his mug on the table and stood up.
‘Can you find your own way out?’ asked Rose.
‘Sure.’
As Shepherd stepped through the french windows, Swift called after him, ‘Hey, haven’t you forgotten something?’
Shepherd turned. ‘What?’
‘That SWAT shirt I lent you, the one from New York. I want it back, you know. Sentimental value.’
‘I’ll get it cleaned,’ said Shepherd. He went back through the sitting room and out of the front door. He knew the two men were talking about him, but that was to be expected. He replayed the conversation in his head as he walked along Wapping High Street. It had gone well. He’d played it just right. Not too keen, not too suspicious, not too eager to break the law. They thought they could trust him because of what had happened the previous night, that he was as much of a criminal as they were. A cold wind was blowing off the Thames and Shepherd shivered.
He went back to his car, taking a circuitous route to check that he wasn’t being followed. He reassembled his mobile phone as he walked. As it was the Stuart Marsden phone he didn’t use it to call Hargrove. When he was in his car, he took his other two mobiles out of the glove compartment and used one to phone Hargrove. ‘It’s Ken Swift,’ he said, ‘the inspector with Specialist Firearms Team Amber.’
‘You met with him?’
‘He’s got a rented flat in Wapping High Street.’
‘And what’s the plan?’
‘He and Rosie are putting together a robbery. Drugs-dealers, same as they did in Harlesden. I’ll be taking Andy Ormsby’s place.’
‘They talked about him?’
‘Shot by one of the Yardies. Died in the back of the van they were using. Buried in the New Forest.’
‘So that’s it, then?’
‘You want to move in on what I have?’
‘Did they mention the Python?’
‘They’re going to use it on the next job.’
‘We need that gun, Spider. The icing on the cake. We’ll get dogs looking for Ormsby’s body. With what we’ve got, Rose will roll on Swift. You won’t be involved.’
‘They’re cops, and they’re not stupid,’ said Shepherd.‘You bust them straight after they’ve talked to me and they’ll put two and two together.’
‘What are you suggesting?’
‘Let it run for a few days. Rose has to move soon because he needs the money for his daughter’s medical bills. Swift said they were putting something together now, so let them fill me in on it and bust us
‘You’re okay with that?’
Shepherd grimaced. He wasn’t happy about setting up Rose and Swift but he had to keep his undercover status secret. The more people who knew who he was and what he did, the harder it would be for him to operate in future. And the greater the risk to Liam. ‘It’s the best way,’ he said.
‘Still no wire?’ asked Hargrove.
‘I don’t want to show out on this case,’ said Shepherd.
‘I understand,’ said Hargrove. ‘Swift needs money, does he?’
‘Two ex-wives and one on the way.’ Shepherd cut the connection, then tapped in another number. The major answered. ‘Gannon.’
‘It’s Spider. Don’t suppose you’re free for a chat?’
‘Where are you?’
‘Wapping.’
‘I’m in Westminster, on my way to talk to a select committee who want reassurance that all’s well with the world. It isn’t, of course, but I’m supposed to sound confident that we can handle anything that’s thrown at us. This afternoon I’m over at New Scotland Yard to meet their anti-terrorism guys. All good stuff.’
‘No sweat. If you’re busy it can wait.’
‘If you can get to the Embankment within half an hour we’ll talk before I go in to the great and the good.’
‘Do you know a guy called Barry Jones? From the Regiment? He just killed himself.’
‘Doesn’t ring a bell. But I’ll check. Is that what you want to talk about?’
‘That’s part of it.’
Shepherd ended the call and drove westwards. He parked in a multi-storey near Charing Cross station and walked down to Victoria Embankment. It wasn’t a problem for him to be seen with the major: Stuart Marsden was an armed policeman not a drugs-dealer or a gangland hitman, so it wouldn’t be out of character for him to know a member of the SAS. The worst that would happen was that he’d have to lie, but lying was second nature.
Shepherd headed along the paved walkway on the north side of the river. It felt good to be out in regular clothes rather than driving around in the ARV in his combat gear. He wasn’t used to working regular hours. His
