She had spoken in riddles to avoid eavesdroppers but he understood what she needed was the name of someone in England, preferably London, who could supply her with a sufficient stash of cocaine for a very large party. She hadn’t mentioned to Eduardo the specifics relating to Ashdown and how she planned to use the drugs. He knew from previous meetings, she wasn’t much of a user but he didn’t pry. When she explained she had no current access to funds to pay for the drugs, he had been very obliging. Her explanation that it would be considered a personal favour and she would repay him, left him in no doubt he would get the shag he had been after for so long.
He was at home in Spain when she called and announced he needed to make a business trip to England anyway and would take the next day’s plane. He was obviously not planning to wait long for his repayment. She told him she was staying in Brighton but he decided to take a room at a central London hotel, as he would have a little business to attend to while in town. Sam assumed that meant getting his hands on the coke. Sam gave him her mobile number and told him to call her, as soon as he was settled into his hotel. She imagined they would then go together to collect the drugs. Sam thought it a more than reasonable trade.
After agreeing all the details to meet, Sam had an inspired thought and suggested that after her current business was finished she was thinking of spending a few days in Paris. It wasn’t particularly subtle but Eduardo had immediately mentioned how much he enjoyed the George V in Paris and would free his calendar for a whole week, if she would like his company. Sam knew the hotel well by reputation from her time as a student in Paris but had slept in cheap hostels and never been inside its doors. They’d walk pass on the Champs-Elysees and try to spot celebrities coming or going. She promised herself that one day she would return and stay there. The chance to see Paris with Eduardo, opened up all sorts of exciting opportunities. She had no doubt he would take her to expensive restaurants and nightclubs. It would also give her a chance to practice her rusty French. She used her Spanish regularly but had spoken very little French since university. So she told Eduardo she would love to spend time in Paris with him but it should remain their secret. He understood that she would not want her family to know of their plans. As she finished the call she suddenly remembered how she had changed her appearance. She hoped Eduardo liked a brunette as much as blondes.
Sam knew it would be unwise to return to Ashdown’s betting shop and it was too cold to be wandering the streets, so settled down to an evening in front of the television in her hotel room. When the local news followed the main evening news she was shocked to see Ashdown being interviewed. A few minutes later she heard a knock on her door and got up to answer, expecting it to be the landlady who had been overly chatty when she arrived. She didn’t recognise the man standing in front of her but immediately didn’t like the look of him.
“Hello Samantha,” Connor said with a glint in his eye. “How you doing?” He brushed past her as he entered the room without waiting for an invitation.
“Who the fuck are you?” Sam challenged. His accent had already told her he was bad news.
“I’m a friend of your father’s. I’m here to see you come to no harm”
Sam was still standing by the door of her room. She had no intention of closing the door with this bastard now inside the room.
“I don’t need babysitting, so why don’t you piss off back where you came from.”
“Now, now. That’s no way to talk to a friend. Especially as I’m here to help.”
“I don’t need your help. And if you don’t get out my room, I’m going to start screaming.”
“Look, you aint going to get anywhere with Ashdown by yourself. If you wanna hurt him I’ll help you. But you have to do as I say. Your Dad and the Chief are worried about you.”
The reference to the Chief decided her to shut the door. That and the thought she recognized the intruder in her room but wasn’t certain. “What’s your name?” she asked.
“Connor. Brendan Connor.” He smiled a knowing smile.
She knew him all right. Or at least knew of him. She’d seen him around a couple of times but never properly met him. Everyone back home though knew his reputation for violence. He was a man you didn’t want to cross.
She sat in the only chair and he perched opposite on the edge of the bed. She didn’t need or want his help. Especially not now Eduardo was on his way. She had to tread carefully though. She couldn’t let on about Eduardo and neither did she want to wind Connor up.
“If you really want to help, then kill Ashdown for me,” she said matter of factly.
“If I do will you promise to go straight back home?”
Sam was shocked Connor sounded serious. She hadn’t really meant what she said. She was just testing him.
“Tonight,” she added, knowing Eduardo was arriving tomorrow and wanting to get well away from Connor before then.
“You don’t waste time,” Connor replied. He was warming to the idea of disposing of Ashdown. He certainly had no problem in principle with getting rid of a bloody Brit. The Chief had said it was okay. And the sooner he did it the quicker the Murphy girl could go home. Not too quickly though. Face to face he liked what he saw. He wasn’t going to be able to do anything about her