Disguise on, he smiled at himself in the rearview—fucking fit bastard, you are. If any neighbours saw him exiting his car and word got round he’d been at Brenda’s, he could make out it had been nicked and had no clue who the bearded fella was. Conscious he was creating scenarios that may not even happen, but pleased with himself all the same because it meant he was preparing for every eventuality, he switched his coat for a black hoodie then got going again, ending up in a street a step up from his own where everyone took care of their gardens, not just one or two residents. Mam always tended to theirs, planting flowers in the summer, creating this pretty mass of petals, but it stood out amongst the others with their broken furniture and bags of rubbish cluttering up the over-long grass.
He glanced around, checking for people watching and, convinced he was safe, got out and approached the door. If she wasn’t in, he’d have to phone her, arrange to meet round that old boy’s place, but he’d use a burner, one he kept for making threatening phone calls in Cassie’s name so they weren’t aware it was him.
A brisk knock brought Brenda to the door, and she stared at him, frowning.
Chuffed to bits his disguise was top-notch and had her flummoxed, he grinned. “It’s me.”
“Fucking hell, what are you playing at?” Brenda eyed the street, clearly unhappy he was there. “What do you want?”
“I’ve got shit on my mind and no one to talk to.” He hated admitting that. It had him looking weak as eff.
She folded her arms. “Speak to Cassie. I’m not called Dear Deirdre, you know.”
What? “Who the hell’s that?”
“Doesn’t matter. Go away. I’m already late for work.” She went to close the door and paused. “Why the bloody hell have you got a beard? And what’s with those monster eyebrows? Dennis Healey, anyone?”
“Who?”
“God, forget it, I’m showing my age. Just answer the bloody question.”
He disliked her ordering him around and had to rein in his temper. “I didn’t want you getting in any shit if people see me.”
She laughed. “I could say thanks, but you came in your own car, you stupid prat.”
Jesus, for a minute there, he’d thought she was going to say ‘prick’, and who knew whether he’d have managed to keep it together. Who knew if she’d still have been standing there instead of on her hallway floor, a bullet hole in her forehead.
“I know,” he said. “I’ve got excuses for that covered. Just let me in, will you? Sid Watson isn’t going anywhere, not with that Zimmer of his anyroad.” He pushed past her, shuddering at her leopard-print jeggings, wondering what the hell she thought she looked like. In the kitchen, he paced by the back door, a hand to his mouth, asking himself if he should confide in her after all or muddle through this alone. She hadn’t exactly been receptive so far.
Brenda came in, hands on hips. “This had better be good.”
“I need advice, all right?” He settled on his decision and blabbed everything he’d done—stealing takings from Nathan Abbott, letting Cassie murder the innocent man, getting those kids to do what he wanted, forcing Brett to steal the drugs, Jiang being offed, killing Brett—then went on to outline his idea about taking over the Barrington, incapacitating Cassie and Francis.
“You’re playing a fucking dangerous game, son.” She lowered herself into a chair at the table and fiddled with a ruby pendant hanging over her wrinkly cleavage. “This has gone too far already. What were you thinking, robbing the Jade? And as for Jiang being sliced… Lord above. Not only do you have Cassie on the case, but Zhang Wei, he’ll want something done about this. You know what they’re like regarding family. One member is murdered, the others will be classed as enemies, too, and they’ll end up dead an’ all. Li Jun, he’s different, he’ll trust Cassie to deal with it, but his brother? What if word gets out you ordered Brett in there? Do you think Zhang Wei will let you get away with that?”
“No one knows it was me,” he said, aware he sounded grumpy, petulant, but it was too late to take the words back now. “God, do you think I’m thick? I had this beard and whatever on, contacted Brett on a burner that I’ve since got rid of, approached those kids in the park in all black clothing, nowt that stood out.” He left out the fact he’d shown them his gun in the holster, she’d only ridicule him for it. “No one but you knows it was me, so unless you open your trap, Zhang Wei and Cassie will never find out, will they?”
Brenda shook her head as if he were a stupid child. “They won’t be finding out from me, I can assure you. I mind my own, you know that. But why didn’t you take my advice? Why didn’t you stay in the background, observe, learn a few things before upping your game?”
“I want it all now. Waiting isn’t an option.” He came off as sulky this time. A brat.
Brenda traced a scratch on the table, frowning, as if annoyed it was there. “Being hasty could be your downfall, you do realise that, don’t you?”
He glared at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly that. You’ve rushed it. Cassie’s back will be well and truly up at the minute. Have you considered that very few people know there’s drugs to be had in that fridge? You just told me where it was, so clearly you were trusted enough to be informed, but Cassie will have
