by Drew Black
"The tags are going to be increased in size by forty percent. IE two bodies each."
Tom nodded, he'd never thought five was enough for a real skirmish, anyway.
"That will push our manpower out in the field up to thirty, plus yourselves of course." Jessop smiled, "It's time to get your lily-whites dirty, Jack my boy."
Jack smiled back.
"We've already recruited the men, they'll be back from training by the end of the week, so you don't have to worry about that. And don't think for one minute that you've been undermined because you haven't. Trust me, you're going to have enough on your plates without having to worry about infrastructure. No, what I want my two generals to focus on is turnover. I want an increase of fifty percent minimum within the next two months. In fairness, we've been playing at this game for far too long, so it shouldn't be that difficult. No, it's about time the fair patrons of Lancashire realised The Burnley Boys just got serious. I'm not interested in how you do it, just do it. Cheesman won't like all the extra hassle, but fuck him, he doesn't run this shooting match, I do. Any questions?
Jack went to speak.
Jessop clapped his hands together; "Right let's get to it then."
3
Jack opened the door to his house, his head was spinning, he'd been up most of the previous night preparing Jessop's investment report. The meeting with the bankers had gone well but that had become the least of his worries. "Come in Tom." he said entering the house. Mcilroy came bounding down the stairs to greet them. "Ay-ah Mac, how are you? Jack said bending down to stroke his cat. "Let's get you some tea." Mcilroy trotted ahead of Jack into the kitchen.
"Do you want a brew Tom?" Jack asked whilst doling out Mcilroy's cat food into a bowl.
"Yeah, go on then, I'll have a coffee please."
Jack came back into the lounge and flopped into his chair.
"How the fuck are we going to increase turnover by fifty percent in just two months, Jack, when it’s taken us donkey’s years to get it to what it is currently?”
"The logistics of it are simple." Jack replied, "it's the backlash I'm worried about. We simply put our fees up by fifty per cent, and reek fuckin havoc for a few weeks. On top of that we build the client base which shouldn't be too difficult considering the amount of blood and guts that's going to be flying around the place. The only danger is though, if it does eventually kick off with Eddie Briggs and the Seedmore Park Boys we might not have enough men left to fight them with." Jack went back into the kitchen to brew the coffee.
Tom sat on the sofa stroking his chin. The face's will go fuckin' mad when they find out about this, he thought, not that he was frightened of them, far from it, but Jesus were they going to earn their money over the next couple of months. "What about Cheesman?" Tom asked as Jack handed him his coffee.
"What about him?" Jack replied, "He'll rant, and he'll rave, but he'll cover us, he'll have too, he's got too much to lose. The only thing that worries me on that front, is if this thing gets bigger than Cheesman."
Tom smiled as he took a sip of his coffee; "What like World War Fuckin’ Three, you mean?"
“We're just speculating at the minute. it may turn out to be easier than we think."
Tom looked up from his mug at Jack, and they both shook their heads. "Nah!" they said in unison.
"You and I are going to have to go public on this one Jack."
"Why is that? Jack asked sounding surprised.
"Come on Jack, you can't expect the faces to cope with all this extra heat, surely?" Tom said absently stroking Mcilroy who was rubbing up against his legs.
"Listen Tom, if we are going to break our cover we may as well drive down to the nick and hand ourselves in right now. With or without Cheesman on our side, we'd be sitting ducks. No, we'll mingle with the client's customers, that'll be our remit. Don't worry about the faces, when they see the size of the bonuses, we're going to offer them, they'll soon lighten up. When we put it to them though, we'll give them the worst-case scenario - make it sound as bad as possible. Draw the sting, then sweeten them up with the honey. We'll have them falling over one another to get us new business, and like I said; what better time for them to go looking for it than when everyone's scared shitless."
"You're enjoying this aren't you?"
"I must admit, things are starting to come together a bit. The syndicate is already performing much better since you, me and Dave came on board, well you know what I mean about Dave, since we were all made officers. In a couple of years’ time, me you and the girls can piss off somewhere nice and leave all this shit behind us."
"A couple of years, I’m struggling to see beyond the end of next week." Tom said, but it was obvious that Jack wasn't listening to him.
"Jessop's cleared it for us both to have a couple of months sabbatical, but he did say that one or both of us would have to go back in if something urgent cropped up."
Tom just nodded.
"Shit, I'll have to get someone to look after Mac, won't I baby." Jack said running his hands alternately through Mcilroy's fur.
"What do you mean, someone to look after the cat?" Tom asked with a bemused look on his face.
"Well, we can't stay here, we'll have to rent a bedsit somewhere outside of Burnley, somewhere that's a bit more central."
"Shit Jack, two months away from home, are you mad? Helen's already fed up to the back teeth with me traveling all the time, and now you want me to tell her that I'm going to be away for two months? It'll just tip her over the edge!"
"Chill out, I've already told her."
"What, what do you mean, you've already told her?"
"I rang to tell Jane earlier, and Helen was with her. I told them both that we were going to Europe to do the trade fair circuit and oversee Jessop's French and Belgian plants. You are the fuckin' company's sales manager for Christ's sake, what the hell's got into you?"
Tom noticed that Jack's lounge windows were beginning to spot with rain. "Yeah, but for two months, what did she say?"
"Hope he has a nice life." Jack said grinning.
"Come on Jack, be serious, what did she say?"
"No, she had a whinge, they both did, but by the sounds of it, Jane's going to stay with her. They'll be as happy as pigs in shit with us two out of the way."
"What are you saying, you don't think they'll get up to anything do you?"
"Tom, this is Jane and Helen we're talking about, not Christine. Shit, that's a bit unfair on Christine, but you know what I mean."
Tom drummed his fingers on the coffee table.
"What's up mate? Go on there's something on your mind, that's obvious." Jack knelt down and switched the gas fire on.
"Listen Jack, you make it sound so easy, but I'm a worker, not a leader."
"That's bollocks, and you know it is. The only reason Jessop's drafted me in on this is because he knows it's much too big for one officer to handle. I wouldn't be surprised if all of us aren't involved in it by the finish. Plus, he knows how well you and I work together. I'm telling you now, if Jessop didn't think that either you or I were up to it, we wouldn't hold the positions we do. Besides, he made you the operations officer, and that's the job he used to do. Just think about it."
"Thanks mate, I know your right, it's just occasionally I become overcome by self-doubt, I think it stems back to the reading thing".
"Hey," Jack said getting hold of Tom's shoulders, "Everyone doubts themselves, but the difference is; some people, people like you and me, push on regardless."
"You know Jack, sometimes you don't half spout a load of bullshit! When do we leave?”
"I'll meet you at yours tomorrow at eight a.m. we'll need both cars mind, now piss off and let me get some food inside me."
"You not seeing Jane tonight then, with it being the last night?"
A knock came to the door, Jack raised his eyebrows.
"I'll leave you to it then," Tom said with a smile, "see you in the morning."
4
John Jesso
p's Jaguar pulled into Diamonds' carpark, its tyres kicking gravel. He removed his driving gloves, laid them on the dashboard and took a deep breath. He got out of the car and closed the door, and as usual it hardly made a sound which still made him feel good despite the apprehension he felt in his stomach. He could hear his own footsteps as he made his way to the hotel's entrance. He entered the foyer and approached the girl on reception.
"Good afternoon sir, how may I help you." she asked him with a smile.
Smart uniform he thought absently, "I'm here to see Mr Briggs, Eddie Briggs." he said in a noncommittal tone.
"Your name sir?" she asked running a polished nail down a list in front of her.
"John Jessop."
"Ah, yes. Mr Jessop - one o'clock. I'll just let Eddie know you're here sir, if you'd like to take a seat."
How very progressive Jessop thought, letting the staff call you by your first name, as he took a seat on one of the striped sofas. He had to admit, this place was quite impressive though, what with its fountain and green and gold decor. The room had an airy feel to it, nothing like he'd imagined. This must be his wife's influence Jessop concluded.
"Bill, I've got a Mr Jessop here to see Eddie, okay thanks - he'll be with you shortly Mr Jessop."
Jessop smiled back at her. That probably meant he'd keep him waiting fuckin' hours he thought cynically as he listened to the trickle of the fountain. He'd met Briggs before at several functions and had spoken with him numerous times on the telephone, but this was the first time he'd had a full-blown meeting with him, so he was a little unsure what to expect. He neither liked nor disliked the man, he found him a bit loud, but he respected him, because he was a shrewd operator. He was a large fellow, without being fat, and he had quite a pleasant face with the exception of his eyes that irrespective of his expression always struck him as being cold and lifeless. His wife was pleasant enough though, a smart demure woman, and quite attractive as he remembered.
A door opened; "Hello John, how are you doing? It's great to see you again, it's been a while." Briggs said taking his hand and shaking it with sufficient force to wrench his arm free from its socket. "You on your own? I thought you'd bring the cavalry with you, or are they swinging by later?" Eddie said laughing heartily at his own humour.
"No, it's just me Eddie." Jessop said getting up and following his host.
"You hungry, we can grab a spot of lunch in the restaurant if you like?"
"That'd be fine."
As they walked into the restaurant, a large man dressed in an immaculate suit asked to take Jessop's coat. Jessop took it off and handed it to him. "Raise your arms please sir." the guy in the suit said to him. Jessop didn't respond.
"Do me a favour please Simon." Briggs said, "John's an old friend, you've been watching too many late-night movies that's your problem."
"Thank you, Simon." Jessop said to the heavy marking out his features and committing them to memory. The last man who had spoken to him in such a manner had ended up with a fractured skull. He would've let him search me, if I'd complied Jessop thought as he descended the restaurant's large semi-circular steps. Again, the brightness of the room amazed him. He'd expected a dimly lit smoke-filled cavern, but this place was the exact opposite. When Dave Quilter had informed him that it was a decent place, he'd underestimated Quilter's perception of decent. The place seemed to be fairly well staffed, mostly by women, and what was even more striking was that there didn't seem to be unattractive person in the whole place.
They both ordered and Eddie continued the small talk. Jessop listened and nodded, he wasn't a naturally patient individual, but he respected Briggs, so he was prepared to let him warble on.
"Anyway John, I'll get to the point." Briggs said finally. "You've probably guessed that I haven't dragged you all the way down here just to talk about the good old days."
Jessop stiffened a little, no one dragged him anywhere. Let it go, he thought, it's just his way, that's all.
"It's a nice little operation you've got going up there in the sticks. You've done a great job up there over the years John, and it hasn't gone unnoticed."
"Yes, I know it's a good operation, it always has been, but what's your point Eddie?"
"My point is John; we're looking to expand up that way."
Jessop raised his eyebrows.
The waitress placed their meals in front of them, and Briggs smiled up at her. "Thanks Dawn." he said.
Jessop just sat there in silence. He'd guessed all along what Briggs's intentions were but guessing and knowing for sure were two completely different things. "So, this is a warning, is it Eddie?" Jessop said calmly.
Briggs looked at him for a moment. "No John, it's nothing of the sort. I didn't drag you all the way down here. to threaten you."
If he says that one more time ...
"I want to put a business proposition to you, that's all. We want to buy you out, and before you start in on me, let me finish. All we’re interested in is the security side of the business. I don't care about any property or land deals you've got going on up there, that's not our bag. You can even keep the Burnley Boys running if you like, just not in security, that's all. I know your proud of the way your syndicate has thrived since the end of the war, and rightly so,"
This is all Tolson and Hunter's doing, he thought nodding begrudgingly. He finally started his meal, cutting away the skin from his chicken breast.
"John, we don't want to tread on your toes. Listen, any syndicate member, I'd even push it as far as any relative of a syndicate member, would be exempt from any security payments to Seedmore Park."
"I didn't think you were interested in our neck of the woods Eddie. It's no picnic to patrol, you know."
Eddie carefully cut up a section of his beef before popping it into his mouth. "Yeah, I'm aware of all the pitfalls John, and I also know I could've had that turf for free ten, maybe fifteen years ago, but time moves on and things change, I appreciate that. It's a lot less radically policed up there, John, and that appeals to me. Besides you've broken up the ground, so to speak. I'll give you one and a half million for it."
"If I was considering selling our protection or security side of the operation, as you put it …"
Eddie shrugged his shoulders, opening up a roast potato.
"and I'm not, I'd want a damn site more than one and a half million for it. I've spent sixteen years building it up for Christ's sake."
"Ten years John, tops, that's how long your boys have been involved in security.
Jessop shook his head.
"John, you turn over half a million a year, from security, I'm offering you three times that amount in clear profit, no strings. Surely, that's worth thinking about because one thing's certain John, we're coming up there with or without your co-operation."
"Now you are threatening me." Jessop said putting down his knife and fork.
"No, no I'm not John, I merely stating a fact."
"Well, let me state a fact to you Eddie. We've never encroached on your territory, not once."
Briggs nodded.
"Yet, you've sent people to spy on us."
"They approached me." Briggs protested, Jessop just waved a hand, "I don't care how you dress it up Eddie, you've had men gathering information about my syndicate on your behalf."
Briggs shrugged his shoulders.
"Now I've turned a blind eye to all that, but if you think you can just waltz in and take over something that in your words you didn't want for free ten years ago, after we've sweat blood and tears to build it up, you're sadly mistaken. Jessop threw his napkin down and got up. "Thanks for lunch Eddie, I'll see myself out."
"Hold on a minute John, don't be so defensive." Briggs said motioning for Jessop to sit down. Jessop just stood his ground. "Please John, at least finish your meal."
Jessop stood for a moment longer before finally re-taking his seat.
"No one is waltzing in anywhere. Trust me, if that had been our intention, we would’ve just done it. I d
on't want to fight with you John, or your boys, I've done all that on the way up, and so have you. No, it's too much like hard work. All I'm asking is that you put my offer to your people, that's all, just discuss it with your syndicate. It's a lot of money John. I've no intention of teaching my granny how to suck eggs, but how much profit are you clearing from the half a mil John, when everyone and everything’s been paid? Is it really worth all that hassle, how long do you think it would take you to clear one and a half million in profit? We could even go a shade higher. Not much mind, but another hundred to a hundred and fifty K."
"Okay Eddie, I'll discuss it with the board, perhaps even float the idea to the rest of the boys, but I'm promising absolutely nothing more than that. When do you want a decision by?”
"John," Briggs said mopping up his gravy with another carefully cut section of beef, "there's no rush, let me know in your own time."
5
As Jack rode in the back of the transit he decided he was going to have to persuade Jessop to invest in some new vehicles. This was like riding in a cattle truck. In fairness though, he supposed Jessop wouldn't want the men getting too comfortable.
"How much are we up Jacko?" Jimbo, Bear Tag's leader, enquired turning around from the passenger seat.
Jack had known Jimbo from his school days, and he'd always had a bit of a soft spot for him. "You're up plenty Jimbo, everybody is. In fact, on reflection, I think we've been a bit too generous."
Jack's re appraisal of the bonus scheme, he and Tom had devised for the tags, certainly got Bear Tag's attention.
"Bollocks Jack," Jimbo exclaimed, "you can't go changing the rules now, not after how hard we've worked over the last two months. You can vouch for that personally."
