you. You could be in serious trouble.’
‘It wasn’t a phony job. It isn’t. I’ve got a client. Look, I got into this game a few months ago. I’ve handled a few small things-down around the lost dog level, you know? It must have been the same for you when you were starting.’
I looked at him; he had a good tan; he was wearing loose white cotton pants and a striped shirt; it wasn’t warm in the dark flat but he was sweating. I didn’t say anything.
‘Well, this was the first real job. I didn’t think I could handle it on my own and I’d heard about you so I thought I’d enlist your help.’
‘Thanks a lot. So far I’ve been coshed and had my licence threatened. I’m really enjoying your case.’
‘You’ve had five hundred dollars too.’
‘How much have you had?’
‘Two thousand.’
The mention of the money seemed to give him confidence. He eased out of his chair. ‘I want a drink.
I’ve got some beer in the kitchen. How about you?’
‘Okay. But don’t get any ideas about pissing off. You’re an easy man to find.’
He walked unsteadily down the passage to the kitchen and came back with two cans of Reschs Pilsener. He popped the cans and handed me one. ‘How did you find me?’
I took a sip and told him in as few words as I could manage. I felt I needed to watch and listen to him a bit more before deciding what to do. He nodded, apparently respectfully.
‘Pretty good. I thought you might be that good. I was giving you a test.’
‘Shit, you’ve got a nerve. Okay, cut the charm. Let’s hear about your client.’
‘I haven’t met him, it’s all been done by telephone. He wanted photographs of that set of inmates at the hospital. The ones who exercise at that time. It seemed like a two man job to me, so I…’
I waved the beer can. ‘Don’t go into that. I might shove this down your throat. Did he say why he wanted the pictures?’
‘No. He sent me the money though. Cash. I needed it.’
‘If you’ve got any brains at all you must have known it was fishy.’
‘Haven’t you ever done anything fishy? Especially at the beginning? How did you get started?’
I could remember enough fishy things not to want to go on with that subject. ‘I had contacts,’ I grunted. ‘From when I worked in insurance.’
Greenway tipped back his head and poured down most of the can. ‘So did I. Actors. I was hired to beat up a guy and get a girl stoned and willing. I was hired to steal a script.’
‘Did you take the jobs?’
‘I tried for the script. I got the wrong one.’
We both laughed. ‘One time I…’ I stopped. I didn’t want to get into comic reminiscences. I put the beer can on the desk next to the gun. ‘Go on.’
He shrugged. ‘I was desperate for something… real. Otherwise I’d have to give this away, like I have with writing, acting… everything. So I got the photos. I’m supposed to get another thousand when I hand them over but I haven’t been contacted yet. What d’you think I should do?’
‘What’s the voice on the phone like?’
‘Muffled. Obviously disguised.’
‘Who told you where to break through the fence and when to do it?’
‘He did. My client. Look, this is a few weeks ago. I didn’t do anything for a while. I thought it over even after the money arrived. Then I checked on the place-went out there, talked to a girl who’d been… ‘
‘Annie Parker.’
That startled him. ‘Right. How’d you know? You’re better at this than I thought.’
‘No I’m not. She came to see me this morning. She needed somewhere to duck into for a bit. Why’d you drop her? She took it hard.’
He said he was sorry but he didn’t look it. ‘She was a junkie. She’d been on the street in her time. I was scared of AIDS.’
‘So you pissed off, like from Selwyn Street.’
He crumpled the empty beer can. ‘You don’t know what it’s like! People wasting away around you, dying.’
‘Especially if you’re bi?’
‘Yeah.’ Something about the way he spoke the word told me he was lying. He was a master liar but there was something showing just then. The tough, selfish facade showed a crack.
‘You and Annie could’ve had a test. Checked yourselves out. Why didn’t you try that?’
The crack opened; he rubbed his eyes and pushed back his hair. Suddenly he looked older, less vain.
‘Annie had the test. She was okay. I was too scared to have it. Still am. I pissed off because I was scared that if I showed up positive… well, I could lie and maybe give it to Annie. If I told the truth she’d drop me, wouldn’t she?’
‘Maybe not. Anyway, you might be clear.’
‘I’ve been around, Mr Hardy. Want another beer?’
‘Why not?’
He brought the cans and we sat drinking and not talking. I was thinking: Life had got more complicated since the time when we worried about VD. My two cases of crabs seemed laughable. They were talking about condoms again. If I’d had to invent a brand name for condoms it’d be Fiasco. Try Fiasco condoms, you’ll never…
‘Are you going to talk to this Dr Smith?’ Greenway said suddenly. ‘To get yourself off the hook?’
‘No, not yet at least. You’re not quite the arsehole you pretend to be. You’re in trouble and you’ve paid me for a couple of days. I can stick with it for a bit.’
‘Doing what?’
‘Doing the things you should have done. Finding out a bit more about the hospital. That’s the first thing.’
‘What else should I have done?’
‘Talked to Annie. Where’s your phone?’
It was in the bedroom. I sat on the bed and dialled my number. Greenway stood, long and tense in the shadow by the door. After many rings the phone was picked up.
‘Annie? It’s Hardy.’ I heard a groan and a sigh, sounds of despair.
‘Annie?’
‘What’s wrong?’ Greenway said.
I hushed him with a sharp movement of my hand. ‘Annie!’
‘I can’t,’ she whispered. ‘I can’t…” There was a crash and another groan and then a long, deep silence.
9
I cut the call off and immediately dialled for an ambulance. I gave them the address and the details. I mentioned the doorkey but told them to kick the door in if they had to. I dropped the receiver and moved towards the passage.
Greenway made as if to block my path but he thought better of it and stepped aside. ‘Wait. I’ll come too.’
I didn’t wait. I charged straight out and headed down the stairs; I could hear Greenway behind me. He caught up by the time I reached the car and I let him in. I lost seconds fumbling for the unfamiliar spare key and I swore about it.
‘What?’ Greenway said.
‘Never mind.’ I started the car and revved it savagely. ‘What were you doing back there?’
He buckled on his seat belt. ‘Putting the phone on record in case he calls.’
That was grace under pressure I supposed, or just cold-bloodedness. I concentrated on driving, took some
