He turned his head. His eyes narrowed.
‘The important thing is,
He shook his head. ‘The crew have been with me for years. They know their lives depend on their loyalty. The other two knew nothing.’
‘What about the lads upstairs?’
‘They are the only people I trust. They are also godfathers to Stefan. No, that knowledge has come from elsewhere.’ He jabbed a finger at me. ‘But that can wait. How much do they want?’
‘Three million US.’
He jabbed his finger again. His voice boomed around the granite walls. ‘Give them what they want. I want Stefan back here, and safe. I want this ended before anyone else gets to them.’
‘No, Frank. That’s not how it works.’
His eyes burnt into mine. I wondered when he’d last heard the words ‘No, Frank.’ I had to get past this alpha-male shit.
He jabbed a third time, his face taut, a natural reaction when people are preparing to fight or just plain scared.
‘Do what I say!’
He shouted again, this time so angrily he almost lost it. The sound reverberated like thunder round the pool- room. ‘
Mr Lover Man and Genghis pushed their way in, pistols drawn. Frank obviously never raised his voice unless there was a problem.
I stood stock still, arms out, presenting no threat. Frank waved his hands at them. Everything was OK.
They gently closed the doors behind them.
‘Frank, I want them back too. Tracy was my best mate’s wife. Her sister was my friend. I told you she’s dead, but I didn’t tell you how she died.’
I reached down and grabbed two of the colouring pencils off the table. I held them either side of his head. ‘She had been tortured, Frank. Fuck knows why, because she didn’t know anything. Maybe they did it for fun. But they took a pencil just like this and they rammed it into her ear. Right through her fucking eardrum. Can you imagine the pain? Can you imagine how loud she must have screamed? And then they did the same the other side. And when she didn’t talk, because she had nothing to tell them, or maybe because they’d had enough fun for one morning, they hammered both pencils right into her brain. She must have died in agony, Frank. You wouldn’t wish that on your worst enemy — let alone your son. But fuck this up, and that’s what could happen.’
I didn’t need to say more. All of a sudden, his imagination had joined the dots. His eye twitched. Well, it was something, I supposed.
He fought to find the words. ‘Tell them … if they hurt my son, I will declare war on them. Tell them that.’
It was messages like that that would get his son killed.
‘No, Frank. This ain’t no Swiss watch. All the pieces aren’t going to work perfectly. It’s not just another deal. And, Frank …’
I let it hang as he fixed his eyes on his own reflection in the water.
‘I need to know everything. I need to know if there is anything that might affect the negotiation, and so affect Stefan and Tracy. I need to know everything you know, Frank.’
He looked up slowly. Our eyes locked.
‘The crew have told you about the two of them together?’
‘No. Are they?’
‘In all the houses. Even the boat. My shadows, they plant the cameras and collect the recordings for me. No doubt there will still be one on the boat. Knowledge, Nick, is power. Like you, I need to know everything that affects me.’
The chink in his armour was widening, and it wasn’t Tracy.
‘I want my son back. You do it your way. If it goes wrong, I will do it my way. I will have my son back. I will have my son … here … with me.’
‘And Tracy? Where will she be, when Stefan’s here? Does she still have a life if she comes back?’
He pursed his lips. ‘I am not an animal, Nick. If I was … well, I wouldn’t have a problem. Of course she will have a life. She is my son’s mother. He has been her saviour.’
His hand came up, pointing back the way Mr Lover Man and Genghis had gone. ‘Those two I trust with my life. Others, I pay for their time, nothing else. And you — I believe I can trust you with what you now know. Am I right to trust you, Nick?’
That didn’t deserve an answer. ‘We start with a decent sum. Then we move at a slower rate, reducing the amount each time, until we get to around ten per cent of their demand. Say three hundred thousand dollars. No more than four hundred. Less than you paid for that watch. But it’s not about the money. It’s what they’ll expect. If we go big-timing, the three of them are dead.’
I gave him another second. ‘Do you have that property for me?’
His eyes were distant again. The machine in his head was telling him what I was saying was right. It just didn’t feel right. He turned back to me. ‘Yes. Today. You will have the details later.’
‘I also need some money. USD.’
He nodded.
‘I don’t want it in my hand, I just want it available.’
‘Whatever you need. When will you inform me what’s happening?’
‘When I’ve got something to inform you about.’
I was silent for a moment. ‘Where does that leave Justin?’
Frank rubbed the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb. ‘I don’t even think about him. He’s no good, just like the other two Brits that have worked for me.’
‘No — this one’s good at his job. He’s doing the right thing. He’s keeping you out of it and so keeping those two alive. If the Somalis knew who Tracy and Stefan were, it would be a whole different ball game. And if they do find out, they’re going to be in even more danger than they are now — because if the Georgians get to hear, we’re all in the shit. For now, Justin is keeping them as just another three quick paydays. So he should be paid up and fucked off when he gets back, yeah?’
The machine was a long time processing. I waited till his hand came down.
‘Yes, of course. Now, you and I, we both have business to do. Different business.’
The ?475K wrist rested on my shoulder again as we made our way to the lift. German hydraulics and Italian design carried us smoothly to the ground floor. His two shadows were waiting. He started leading me to the front door.
‘The number you have for me — it will be exclusively for your use. I will always answer.’
We got to the threshold and shook. He turned away. I was to let myself out. He headed for the stairs with Mr Lover Man and Genghis.
I pulled out the mobile. The missed call was from the estate agent I’d bought my Docklands flat from a couple of years ago.
I opened voicemail. ‘Mr Stone, it’s Henry. Got the message you left mega early about us selling a small apartment of yours. That would be a pleasure. Could you please call me back to discuss?’
By the time I’d finished listening, I’d opened the door. I stepped outside. It was colder. And Jacques was waiting.
5
I jumped into the warmth of the Merc. Jacques was facing the front, being very professional. Mouth shut, both hands on the wheel.
‘Tell you what, mate. Drive me down the hill to the town and I’ll tell you if the place has got a pool or not.
