“Good, it’s always good to at least pretend this is a going concern.” Edwin smiled. “Now, back to the business in hand.”
***
“Thanks, Sue… For everything…”
“Well, I am sure you don’t want to say thanks for burying you on the muck heap. Although it was very funny from where I was standing!”
“Even that…” I sighed. “The camaraderie and friendship. I’ve not had much of that in my life you know.”
“Well, we’re here for you now.”
“And, when is your birthday?”
“Oh… Wouldn’t you like to know!…” She laughed. “Good night Mandy…”
6
Meeting With a Gangster
“Michael. How pleasant of you to join me.” The slim, dark-haired man was dragged through the door of the office by two heavy-set men in leather jackets. They forced him into a chair facing the desk, he gasped struggling to escape but was forcefully held in place.
“Edwin…” He stuttered. “Please, look I don’t know how the police knew where we were.”
“Michael, I presume you are saying that you were not aware that, through some carelessness of yourself or your people, I lost product with a street value close to five million pounds. You are trying to explain, no doubt that the reason the property, which you personally assured me would be safe, was raided by the drugs squad completely at random and that I should not blame you for this situation.”
“Edwin… I had nothing to do with this. You know me, we’ve worked together for years. I would never do anything to cross you.”
“You say this Michael, however, I am in the unfortunate position that I am out of pocket to a large amount of sterling and, as much as have I trusted you in the past, it was you who let me down.”
“Edwin… Please.”
“Now, my friends in the constabulary tell me that someone in your organisation gave them a tip-off about my goods being stored in your location. That the raid which followed was far from being a coincidence. Whereas I’m sure that it was not you personally who did this, you have to understand I need someone to take the blame.”
“Please… I beg you.”
“I am a very reasonable man. You have to understand I don’t want to have to make an example of you, but if I don’t… Well, there would be consequences.” Michael screamed as he was dragged from the office.
“Must you?”
“Patrick, please don’t start getting sentimental here. An example has to be made; it is as bad as if he had stolen from me himself.”
“No.” Patrick, blond-haired and muscular, dressed in a tailored dark suit snapped. “Kill the stupid fuck if you must. Just don’t do it here. The police are all over us already, we don’t need them to realise that the last place Michael was seen alive was in your own club. For God’s sake Edwin, sometimes you’re a bit naive.”
Edwin laughed. A deep rumble which shook his stocky body, he ran his hand through his black hair and stood up facing Patrick. “You do know that, if anyone else spoke to me like you just did, they would be in the boot of the car with Michael right now.”
“Edwin, I do realise that. As long as you realise also realise I’m the one that keeps this organisation running. Now, we have to get to the meeting we have planned in the City. I don’t want to keep our overseas guests waiting.”
“Patrick, you are right as always.” Edwin stands up rapidly. “The car is outside?”
“Naturally…”
The two men walk through the darkened night club. Edwin Smith, once nothing more than a street-rat, running errands for the local drug dealers, now the lynch pin in the Capital’s drug supply chain. Naturally driven with no visible emotion, he had worked his way to the top by rapidly eliminating his competition, it was clear there were as many skeletons in his cupboard as there were bodies lost in the wilds of Epping forest. He wore a suit hand-tailored in Italian silk and although he was a large man, it was all muscle. His face and body were trim. He had piercing blue eyes which seemed to look through you. Beside him, was his trusted confidant and right-hand man Patrick Newburn, a skinny, rat-faced man whose tailored suit hung on him as if it was far too large. He had a pockmarked face, and a florid, narrow nose. He was deceptively strong and muscular with an evil temper which could flare at a moments notice.
Stepping out onto Clapham High Street Edwin stepped off the curb towards the open door of the waiting black BMW, slipping on a pile of wet horse dung which was settling in the gutter. He swears loudly, yelling in disgust. “These are handmade Italian shoes! My suit is hand-tailored!… This is…” He gasped, before speaking unnaturally softly. “This is an outrage.”
Edwin crossed the road, ignoring the horns and screeching of tyres as he stepped in front of cars, pacing towards the open gateway of the Clapham stables. “You!” He flung out his arm towards Anne who turned quickly towards him. “I am guessing it was one of your filthy animals who left crap outside my club. Crap, I should say which has ruined my hand-crafted shoes.”
“Well, it wasn’t me…” She turned to ignore his ranting. Edwin yelled, grabbing her by the shoulder, spinning her around roughly.
“I’m sorry?” Anne grabbed his hand and pulled it off her shoulder.
“You should be!” Edwin roared.
“No, you misunderstand, I mean, I’m sorry as in, what the fuck are you doing, you nauseating shit!” Anne growled.
“You’re dead lady!” Edwin reached into his jacket.
“What the hell is happening here?” I stepped in front of Anne, directly between the two of them. “No one hurts Anne…”
Edwin laughed. “Oh… I’m sorry…” A smile breaks his face. “Look, Patrick, she has a minder. I will admit, there’s not much to you, but I admire your pluck Missy!” He pauses, taking a deep breath. “Now, I knew there were horses somewhere around here, but had never seen where they came from.
