Kingston Bridge

by Ian Todd

  5.00 PM

  “Look, PC Rose! The Royal. Telt ye we’d get ye here safe and sound, so Ah did,” Moses hooted in delight, mid-hymn, looking doon at the bandaged heid oan the stretcher in front ae him, o’er the honking ae the horns.

  Due tae the noise, they didnae hear the spinning wheels ae a frustrated driver, jist as his car shot oot ae McLeod Street, heidin up between the two lanes ae traffic, that wur crawling towards Castle Street. It smashed intae the three ae them, as they nipped across the road towards The Royal fae St James Road, still singing ‘Scottish Sojer’ at the tap ae their voices, sending PC Rose flying sideways oan tae the back ae Lord Campbell ae Claremyle’s fancy Silver Shadow Rolls Royce, while the two stretcher bearers wur sent tumbling aff under the wheels ae the oancoming traffic oan either side ae them.

  5.05 PM

  “Oh, sorry. Have I come to the wrong meeting?” Cleopatra asked, momentarily confused.

  “Naw, naw, Murdina, ye’ve come tae the right meeting, hen. If ye’ll jist staun o’er there beside Chief Inspector John Henderson, the newly suspended heid ae the south’s murder squad,” Chief Superintendent Mackerel sang quickly, taking her by the erm. “Oh, and in case Ah furget…as ae noo, ye’re also suspended fae aw duties, so ye ur…wae immediate effect,” he added, nodding tae Inspector Wilma Thain, who’d been staunin in the backgroond beside her partner, Sergeant Jean Moffat, waiting tae take o’er.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” Cleopatra demanded, panic in her voice, as Wilma stepped forward and started reading aff the charge sheet that she held in her haun.

  It hid been a stressful time ae late, Wilma hid jist been thinking tae hersel, before Cleopatra hid arrive oan the scene. She wis glad that Wee Morag hid thumped oan the bathroom door, demanding tae be let in, the night she’d contemplated suicide. It hid been the first time that she’d become aware that the wean hid been getting up tae use the toilet in the night by hersel. It hid made her very proud, as she’d sat crumpled oan her knees oan the bathroom flair, cuddling her eldest daughter, weeping silently tae hersel. Whit hid she been thinking ae? If she’d swallowed they pills, she widnae hiv witnessed the wummin…the ex-WPCs…finally getting their day in court. Despite the earlier foul-ups in the case, she’d been proud ae the part she’d played in helping Lesley Bare and the wummin find justice…even if it wis fae behind the scenes, under the radar ae her bosses. The last time she’d spoken face tae face wae Pearl wis when she wis in amongst the wummin and their families, who’d aw been hugging and crying thegither in the courtroom, efter the guilty verdict and sentence against Teddy Bare hid been announced the previous Friday. They’d spoken briefly oan the blower earlier, efter the case against Wan-bob Broon hid collapsed. She’d hurriedly informed Pearl whit wis aboot tae happen tae Cleopatra and that auld boss ae hers, John Henderson. Efter the work she’d put in, she deserved the exclusive. As Lord Campbell hid rightly pointed oot. If it hidnae been fur Pearl Campbell, Teddy Bare wid’ve been daeing a few years inside insteid ae life. The last she’d seen ae the wee red heided devil wis the back ae that curly heid ae hers, heidin fur the red telephone box across the road fae The High Court, presumably reporting back the verdict tae that boss ae hers, Sammy ‘The Rat’ Elliot. She thought she’d be nervous wae the task she wis aboot tae perform, bit she felt calm…and proud tae be a Glesga bizzy. They wurnae aw bad.

  “Miss Murdina Munro and Mr John Henderson, you ur baith charged wae obstruction ae duty and perverting the course ae justice in the death ae Mrs Lesley Bare, who wis murdered oan Friday the 24th ae October 1975 by her husband, Edward Bare. The charges against ye baith relate tae an incident that took place at aroond 12.45 pm oan Thursday the 27th ae November, at Craigie Street Polis Station, where ye used yer authority tae criminally pervert the course ae justice by interfering in the investigation being conducted by Sergeant Wilma Thain, noo Inspector and DC Jean Moffat, noo Detective Sergeant, in the said murder ae Mrs Bare, by ordering them tae unlawfully conclude the said murder investigation early, thus contravening yer positions ae authority within Strathclyde Polis. You, Miss Munro, ur also further charged wae stealing crucial evidence in the said investigation, by destroying the haunwritten statements ae victims, which could hiv altered the ootcome ae the murder trial ae Edward Bare, thus perverting the course ae justice. Ah’m duty bound tae inform you baith that anything ye say may be taken doon as evidence and used against ye in a court ae law. Mr Silas Abraham his agreed tae act as a temporary solicitor fur you, Miss Munro, and you, Mr Henderson, until a solicitor ae yer ain choosing kin be reached. Hiv either ae the pair ae ye anything ye wish tae say or comment oan? Miss Munro?”

  Silence.

  “Mr Henderson?”

  “It…it wis her idea, so it wis…Ah wis only following the direct orders ae a senior officer,” he stutteringly claimed, clearly still in a state ae shock, as Cleopatra turned and glared at him.

  7.00 PM

  “Wan-bob…Charlie…ma boys. How ur youse baith daeing?” Pat Molloy, The Big Man, hollered oan entering The Carlton Club, his erms ootstretched, as everywan laughed and cheered.

  “Ach, it’ll take mair than that stupid scrawny Highland cow tae take somewan like me doon, Pat. You should know that,” Wan-bob modestly replied, as the pair ae gangsters gied each other a back-slapping hug, before a rerun wae Charlie took place.

  “And that fucking John The Haun? Whit’s the score there then?” The Big Man wanted tae know, no dwelling too long oan the pleasantries.

  “Ach, we goat word back that he wisnae gonnae staun up there efter aw and turn against us…the lying cunt.”

  “Aye, well, Ah hope he disnae think that that’s that, the slimy grassing basturt.”

  “He’s daft, bit no that daft. We’ll gie him a wee bit ae reflection time, tae sweat a bit, before inviting him roond fur a farewell party,” Wan-bob said tae laughter. “It’s been a risky journey, bit we’ve noo cleared the decks, tae start afresh up in Possil.”

  “Aye, bit there wis sloppiness in there, Bob. There’s nae excuse fur that, so there isnae. That basturt wis able tae point the finger and noo Steady Teddy and Crackling Chris ur up fur Willie Commotion and attempting tae murder John The Haun himsel.”

  “Ah spoke tae Joshua Crankie earlier. He says that it’s John’s word against the two ae them, plus the evidence against Joe Paste fur getting shot ae Black Pat and that wife ae his is circumstantial, so it is. The gun and the car used ur long gone. Ah widnae worry. Maybe three months sitting oan their stupid arses up in C Hall, where we’ve jist come fae, will make them a bit mair careful in the future. Anyway, where the fuck is that Champagne?” Wan-bob shouted, as the sound ae the cork popping o’er by the bar lifted the mood ae the conversation.

  7.25 PM

  “Where’s Aggie and Helen?” Senga hid jist shouted tae Kim Sui, o’er the sound ae Judy Craig, lead singer ae The Chiffons, singing ‘Sweet Talking Guy,’ when the sound ae the doorbell oan the ootside landing chimed.

  “Ah’ll get it,” Mary Swanson, wan ae Kim Sui’s designers fae DIRTY JAKE’S BOUTIQUE shouted, heidin oot intae the lobby.

  “So, whit’s he up tae?” Senga asked Johnboy, nodding across at Tony. “He looks like the cat that’s jist goat the cream. He’s clearly up tae something.”

  “Ach, Senga, it’s his birthday,” Johnboy hid jist replied, when Aggie and Helen burst through the door screaming, wae Silent Smith in tow, looking sheepish at the attention he wis attracting and the excitement that hid erupted in the room.

  “Silent? Bit…did you know he’d been released fae…fae Saughton?” Senga turned and demanded tae know.

  “Me? It’s news tae me,” he replied, smiling across at his auld flat-mate who’d disappeared in amongst the bodies.

  “Ye bloody well did so, Johnboy Taylor.”

  “Christ, ye don’t sound too pleased?”

  “Johnboy, Ah’m delighted, bit Ah knew he’d try something.”

  “Eh?”

  “He’s goat youse aw thegither noo.”
>
  “So?”

  “So, when ur ye gonnae announce that we’re heidin aff up the road then?”

  “When Ah’m good and ready. Look, c’mone, let’s go and welcome him.”

  “Naw, Johnboy. You go and join yer pals. Somehow, Ah don’t think that it’s appropriate fur me jist noo. Ah’ll speak tae him in a minute,” she sniffled, gaun across tae join in wae the rest ae the lassies, who wur aw hugging and kissing Aggie and Helen, while The Mankys crowded roond Silent.

  “Fuck’s sake, Silent. Whit hiv ye done tae yer hair?” Johnboy asked him, gieing him a hug.

  “Look, Ah’ll be back in a tick, Elspeth,” Simon said, as he joined in, play-punching Silent in the guts, as Silent continued to look embarrassed by aw the attention.

  “Wis that you?” Johnboy turned and asked Tony.

  “Me? Sort ae. When Wan-bob asked us tae help him oot against that McGregor crowd, Ah hit him wae three demands. The first wan wis Pearl’s job at The Glesga Echo. The second wis us getting intae the toon centre tae buy up they properties doon in the Candleriggs and the third wis that, seeing as he always claimed that it wis him and Pat Molloy that hid goat us oor parole fae Dumfries, Ah’d gie him a wee chance tae prove that it hidnae jist been a coincidence,” Tony replied, as everywan laughed. “Ah must admit that Ah wis surprised and impressed when he passed word tae me last week that it wis a go-er and that Silent wis getting oot yesterday.”

  “Ye should’ve said, ya tosser, ye,” Simon growled.

  “Ach, Ah wanted tae gie everywan a wee surprise, plus Ah wanted him tae spend a wee bit ae time wae Aggie and Helen. That pair deserve it, so they dae. They’ve been in constant touch wae him ever since he wis banged up. It’s six months before his original liberation date, so it is.”

  “Noo that ye mention it, his eyes dae look like dug’s baws,” Jake said straight-faced, as everywan laughed, before Helen came and dragged Silent aff tae get a welcome and mair hugs fae the lassies.

  “Well?” Senga asked nervously.

  “Well, whit?”

  “Did ye tell him?”

  “Naw.”

  “Why no?”

  “Because it wisnae the right time, that’s why.”

  “He’s orchestrated Silent’s early release tae deliberately noise me up, so he his. He believes you won’t want tae go up north noo that yer pal’s been released.”

  “Fur Christ’s sake, Senga, believe you me, even Tony Gucci disnae hiv the kind ae connections tae get a jailbird like Silent released early. Look, that wee deid nurse’s court case is o’er and done wae. Ye said so yersel. There’s nothing tae keep ye here in Glesga noo, so whit’s yer beef?”

  “Meaning?”

  8.45 PM

  “Where the fuck is that Tony Gucci, Bob?” The Big Man demanded tae know. “Ah thought you said that he’d be popping in before eight o’clock. It’s quarter tae nine, so it is.”

  “He wis supposed tae be here ages ago.”

  “So, where the fuck is he then?”

  “He probably goat caught up.”

  “Caught up? Ah thought that silent, spastic retarded pal ae his goat libbed yesterday?”

  “He did.”

  “So, there nae fucking excuse then, fur no showing face here, is there?”

  9.15 PM

  “Elspeth. This is ma good pal, Silent…the wan Ah wis telling ye aboot,” Simon said, putting his erm roond Silent’s shoulders. “Silent, this is ma girlfriend, Elspeth Jeffries, so it is. Ah hivnae telt any ae the other Mankys yet, bit me and Elspeth here ur gonnae be getting married in a year’s time, before living happy ever efter, so we ur. Anyway, noo that ye’re here, Ah wis jist wondering if ye’d like tae be ma best man?”

  “Hello, Silent. I’m so glad to meet you,” Elspeth said, haudin oot her haun tae the blonde haired new arrival, as Silent grinned, looking at the pair ae them, before leaning o’er and gieing her a cuddle and wee peck oan the cheek.

  “Aye, Ah also pointed oot tae Elspeth that while ye’re mair a man ae action and no the maist talkative species oan the planet, Ah wis sure that best man’s speech ae yers wid go doon a storm, so it wid.”

  “I hear you’re thinking of opening up an upmarket ladies’ salon in the town centre, Silent. You must be excited,” Elspeth said, as Silent smiled politely at her, leaving her wondering if he’d heard whit she’d jist said o’er the music.

  “Wid ye jist look at that knob end?” Jake shouted tae Johnboy, laughing, nodding across at Pat up oan the dance flair in amongst the lassies.

  “Doooo the Spanish Hussell!” Pat sang alang wae them, hauns oot in front ae himsel.

  “If he plays ‘Ah will Fucking Survive’ then me and Senga ur oot ae here, so we ur,” Johnboy growled, as everywan laughed.

  “Right, listen up,” Tony shouted, efter Kim Sui hid turned The Eagles ‘Desperado’ doon oan the record player. “Ah’d jist like tae thank everywan fur turning up fur oor wee hoosewarming and ma wee surprise birthday party that Kim Sui’s organized. Wae me being the shy and retiring type, Ah wisnae convinced aboot a party, until noo, seeing it means aw the staff fae DIRTY JAKE’S hiv been let oot fur the night. The night’s also a wee bit special because Kim Sui jist informed me first thing this morning that she’s pregnant and that there’s gonnae be a mini-me running aboot the pad in the coming months.”

  “Fucking hell,” Ben exclaimed, as aw the lassies converged oan Kim Sui tae congratulate her.

  “Aye, Ah know…as if wan ae him isnae enough, eh?” Jake drawled, tae mair laughter.

  “Ah bloody well telt ye we should’ve goat in there first, Paula,” Pat shouted across tae Paula, as she smiled shyly and aw the lassies, including Kim Sui, rushed across tae scream and hug her.

  “Aye, it’s true whit they say. There’s always some selfish prick that’s guaranteed tae get in there and steal somewan else’s thunder. Why am Ah no surprised that it wis you, ya big dreep, ye?” Tony said tae Pat, putting his erm roond his neck and gieing it a squeeze.

  “Aye, the two ae youse kin take the weans fur a wee walk thegither in their prams roond in Kelvingrove Park,” Ben chipped in.

  “Anyway, unless there’s any mair surprises in the room that Ah don’t know aboot, we’ve also goat cause fur another celebration. That’s that we’re aw thegither again in the same place, at last. It’s been a wee while, bit we goat there in the end, so we did. We cannae bring Joe, Peter and Snappy back, bit wae the lassies in there fighting the good fight, we managed tae get Johnboy hame where he belongs…and as fur Silent? Ach, who the fuck cares aboot him,” Tony cracked, tae mair laughter as Aggie and Helen hung aff Silent’s shoulders. “It’s no jist The Mankys Ah’m talking aboot either. It’s great tae see Jean, wae baby Peter and Francis here the night. We aw know how much ae a terrible time they’ve been through. Ah kept in touch wae Pearl efter Ah goat libbed fae Dumfries. Ah knew fine well that she wisnae happy up there, away fae aw her best pals, in the Highlands. No that Ah’m claiming it wis anything tae dae wae me, bit is it no great tae hiv the wee moaning basturt back doon here, in the fold, where she belongs? The only advice Ah gied her efter she came back, wis tae warn her tae steer well clear ae Donna’s influence. Me and Simon awready warned Wee Mary, bit unfortunately, she widnae take a telling in that regard. Joe wid’ve been proud tae see her staunin in amongst us the night. It’s also great tae see her looking aw grown up, staunin there wae Springburn’s answer tae the Pied Piper himsel, Cheesecake Farrell, apparently her first ever boyfriend, despite Donna’s obvious disapproval…”

  “Second. The first wan dumped me efter meeting Donna,” Wee Mary chipped in, as everywan laughed and Donna came across and gied her a wee cuddle as Cheesecake looked embarrassed at aw the attention.

  “Anyway, the main thing is, we’re aw here thegither and the night is young, so let’s hiv a party.”

  “Er, seeing as everywan is jostling tae steal Tony’s thunder, Ah suppose this is probably the best time fur me tae hiv a crack ae it masel. Ah’m…we’re leaving…me a
nd Senga, that is…at the end ae March,” Johnboy announced tae a stunned silence fae those who knew him and puzzled expressions fae the staff ae DIRTY JAKE’S, as Tony looked across at Senga, before Silent broke the ice by gaun across and gieing Johnboy a hug and Senga a kiss.

  “W…where aboots ur ye gaun?” Pearl blurted oot, oan behauf ae everywan.

  “Where ur we gaun? Christ knows. There’s a road sign no far fae the place that says Ledmore Junction oan it,” Johnboy replied, as Kim Sui led the way in congratulating Senga.

  “Well, at least Senga’s no up the stick,” Pat said, ignoring the dirty look fae Tony. “Noo, that wid be stealing somewan else’s thunder.”

  “Oh Senga, Ah’m gonnae miss ye, hen,” Pearl admitted, tears starting tae run doon her face as Paula drapped ‘Ah Will Survive’ doon oan tae the turntable and switched up the volume.

  “Pearl, ye’ve been ma best pal since we wur wee, so ye hiv,” Senga cracked, sobbing, as she cuddled her. “Ah know a lot ae people don’t agree wae whit Ah’m daeing, bit Ah believe it’s the only way fur Johnboy…and me, tae be thegither. Ah’m always living oan the edge, expecting something tae happen tae him, so Ah am. That’s why we need tae get away fae Glesga before it’s too late. Ah’ve never wanted tae hurt ye, Pearl, Ah swear tae God.”

  “Senga, you’ll be ma best pal furever, so ye will. Ah know the baith ae ye will be happy. Aye, Ah wis in love wae Johnboy, bit that’s no why Ah came back tae the toon. Ah’m looking forward noo, no backwards. If Ah hid whit you’ve goat, Ah wid’ve probably stayed up north, bit Ah hivnae. Ah’ve noo goat the job ae ma dreams that Ah widnae swop fur anything. Ah wis informed the day, by that horrible wee boss ae mine’s, that ma job’s permanent, so it is. Ah’m officially The Glesga Echo’s top crime reporter, so Ah am. So, ye see, we’ve baith goat whit we always wanted.”