Designer Crime

by Allen Whitehead

  'Of course I bloody didn't! Last thing I want is cops poking their noses into my affairs.'

  'Well, I'm fucking pleased to hear that.'

  'I told them we had an Arab who got really lucky at the roulette last night, and he cleaned us out. They'll go back and tell that to the bank. I'll say the same to the manager if he rings up.'

  'Okay, at least that sounds fine, but you've got to know – I'm not well pleased with the situation – or with you, Carlo. And you know what Jimmy's like. He'll want to take a hammer to someone.'

  Carlo breathed out slowly and wiped beads of sweat off his brow with his shirt sleeve. 'Thanks, Frank. I'll let you know if I find out anything more.'

  * * *

  At half past four they gathered for a meeting in the conference room of CAT Architects. The usual group of Paul, Neil, Liz, Fraser and George had been joined by Joe, Samantha and Julia who'd all played a part in the robbery. There was an atmosphere of excitement and some silly banter.

  'It looked like George was going to dismantle the engine!'

  'Yeah, especially when he rolled up his sleeves and went to fetch some spanners!'

  'Well, guys – I've got to hand it to you all – the project was pretty successful. It went like clockwork.' said Paul. 'So, how did we do, George?'

  'We got just over sixty four thousand – even more than I was expecting.'

  Julia gave a little gasp.

  'Wow, as much as that?' said Sam.

  'Does it solve our financial problems then, George?' asked Liz.

  The accounts manager smiled. 'For the time being, yes it does. Cormacks still owe us for our work on the Old Town project, and they may delay for a wee while, but they'll have to pay us what we're due in the end. What we really need to do now, though, is get back to our “day jobs” and try to secure some more work.'

  'I'll see if I can have a chat with Laura's old man. I believe he's been talking about some further expansion of his garden centres empire,' said Fraser.

  'That's the sort of thing, ' nodded George. 'It'd be great to get something like that on the boards.'

  'You're right,' agreed Paul. 'It's time to get the focus back on architecture, guys.'

  'It was a laugh, though,' said Liz. 'Joe, you should have seen that fella's face when Sam called him a bully and threatened to punch his lights out!'

  'She would have as well, wouldn't you, love?' he said putting an arm round her shoulders and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

  'I might have ... but Jules deserves the Oscar, though – for her performance as a tearful teenager.'

  As they left the conference room in high spirits, Alison looked up from her monitor. 'It sounded like a party in there, Joe. Why weren't we all invited?'

  'I suppose it did,' he smiled. 'You know it's been a rough time for the practice, Ali? .... Well, we had a bit of good news for a change.'

  * * *

  Chapter 10 October

  Fraser sidled over behind Joe and looked over his shoulder at the drawing on his computer monitor.

  'Have you decided to give the entrance lobby storey-height glazing, then?'

  'Yeah,' said Joe, 'but there's nothing new about that. It's had full height glazing for a few weeks.' He swivelled round on his chair. 'What is it, Fraser? You've been hovering around with something on your mind since the beginning of the week …... C'mon. Spit it out. What do you want to borrow?'

  Fraser looked sheepish. 'I don't want to borrow anything.'

  'That's good, 'cos I'm broke. Sam's taken control of the cash and it looks like this baby's gonna cost us a small fortune!'

  Fraser walked over to the door, looked out into the corridor and then closed it. 'I don't want to borrow anything ... but there is something I'd like talk to you about.'

  Joe saw the serious expression on his face and stopped smiling. 'Okay, I'm listening?'

  Fraser nodded and then pulled a chair over to Joe's desk. He sat down. 'I bumped into Charlie Bell a couple of days ago.'

  'I've heard of him, but I don't know him.'

  'He was at Robert Gordon's when I was there. We had a few laughs together – usual student stuff. He's a good guy.'

  'Yeah?'

  'Yeah, even though he's gone and got himself a job with Dom Franklin Associates.'

  'DFA?'

  'Yes.'

  Joe smiled. 'You know I always want to laugh every time I hear that.'

  'How do you mean?'

  'The first job I had when I was a student – I worked for the council on a year out. They gave me a small job to run, so that I could get some site experience – only a little job – extension to an industrial shed. They used it for storing plant for road works.'

  'And?'

  'And one Friday afternoon, when they'd started excavating for the foundations, the site foreman phoned me. He said that they'd found a drain running across the site that no-one knew about. He said it would need a DFA on it, so I said “Okay, go ahead,” and hung up the phone. Then I ran all around the office asking what a DFA was. No one could tell me and so all weekend I worried about what I'd agreed to. First thing on Monday morning I went down to site and found the foreman. I was ready to eat humble pie, so I said “You know on Friday – you'd found a drain needing a DFA?” He said “Yes.” So I said “Well, I've asked everyone in the office and no one knows what it is – so what's a DFA?” He started laughing his socks off and said “A different fucking arrangement!” ... I think of that every time I hear the name of Franklin's' practice.'

  Fraser smiled. 'Mmm … Nice one. Something I can think about next time too.'

  'Anyway, you were going to tell me about Charlie Bell.'

  Fraser nodded. 'Yep. He said that work on the Old Town Project is moving ahead rapidly now, and that little bastard Smythe has started spending a lot of time in their office. He quite fancies himself as a bit of a designer, and it seems that Franklin and him get on like a house on fire. The word is that they also go to Carlo's a lot, and they say Smythe has a taste for the young girls!'

  'Can't say I'm that surprised, but it won't be much fun for the women. He's a slimy little git.'

  'He's worse than that!' exclaimed Fraser venomously, and he thumped his fist down on the desk. 'He's an evil little fucking shite! ... If it hadn't been for him, Keith'd still be alive.'

  Joe was startled by Fraser's vehemence. 'You and Keith were good friends, weren't you?'

  'Keith was the best friend I ever had,' Fraser said earnestly. 'I met Laura through him.'

  'Oh? I didn't know that.'

  'Aye. He was going out with Debbie – one of Laura's' friends – and he introduced me to her at one of his famous parties. We hit it off straight away. Debbie and him didn't last though. He liked to play the field, but he'd still be around if Smythe hadn't cut him off at the knees.'

  Joe nodded. He turned and looked up at drawings still pinned to the wall. 'And when I think of all the hours I spent, trying to re-do the flats in the Old Town. Once I was up most of the night trying to get something that would satisfy Smythe, 'cos I was due to meet him again the next day. What a bloody waste of time. Whatever we produced, he was going to reject it simply because he was working to a different agenda – one set by Seamus.'

  'Yeah, to get rid of us – and especially Keith. And what's more it worked! He drove past me in York Place one day last week ... and he saw me, but he pretended he hadn't. You know, Joe ... I'd give bloody anything to be able to wipe the stupid smirk off his face,' he said grimly.

  'What do you have in mind,' Joe asked, smiling.

  'I dunno. Get him arrested for drunk driving would be good. I'd love him to spend a night in the cells.'

  Joe thought about it for a moment. 'Arrested in possession of narcotics would be better.'

  'Absolutely ... but I wouldn't know where to get hold of some, though – would you?'

  'Not something I've ever used, or even thought about using. I've a good idea who might though.'

  'Who?'

  'Keith's' girlfr
iend – Madalina.'

  'What – you reckon she's a user?'

  'Maybe ... No, I don't think so, but I'd like to bet she knows someone who is.'

  * * *

  Two days later, Fraser invited Joe to go for a beer after work. The evening was cool, but fine and dry, so they carried their glasses out to a table overlooking the Shore. Once a busy port, visited by sailing ships from around the world, all that now remained of that former life were a handful of cast iron bollards and rings, baseplates for winches, and other harbour-side plant, brightly painted for the benefit of the tourists, while the former warehouses offices and stores had all been converted into restaurants, cafes and shops.

  'Are you still monitoring Carlo's e-mail, Joe?'

  'Yep. I take a look pretty frequently – just to make sure there isn't something we should worry about, but so far there's been nothing very interesting – almost nothing from M&M. I think they must only be using phones to communicate with him now.'

  Fraser picked up his beer and took a large draught before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. 'I've been thinking a lot about our conversation the other day, Joe. I'd really, really like to shaft Smythe, and I wondered if you'd help me do it.'

  'I guessed it might be something like that.'

  'Will you?'

  'I might – what's your idea?'

  'I like what you said. We get hold of some dope, plant it on him somehow, and get him arrested in possession. I fancy the idea of him doing some jail time, if that could be possible.'

  Joe thought about it for a few moments, his fingers drumming on the table. 'I'm not sure, Fraser ... It seems ... Oh, fuck it, yeah. I think we might be able to organize something like that.'

  'You mentioned Madalina and I know you've met her before. I wondered if you could ask her where we could get some heroin or maybe crack cocaine.'

  'I don't really know her that well. I've only spoken to her a couple of times. You must know her better than I do.'

  'I know I do, but to tell the truth, Joe, I wasn't very nice to her. I thought she was just a hooker trying to take advantage of Keith, and anyway, I really can't risk Laura hearing about me meeting another woman ... especially one as beautiful as Madalina ... and besides you know where she lives, don't you?'

  'Yeah, but … '

  'You said she confided in you – that she was in love with Keith. If she really did love him, I'm sure she'd like to get the guy most responsible for his death.'

  Joe didn't look happy, but eventually said resignedly 'Okay, I'll have a word with her, but I'm not promising anything.'

  * * *

  Joe sat in his car. It was parked beneath a street light in Dublin Street in a space reserved for residents only. It was half past eleven in the evening, beginning to drizzle, and he'd been there for the last hour. A man, taking his Labrador for a quick walk around the block, stared at him suspiciously but Joe just smiled and gave him a friendly wave. He settled back in his seat, switched on the radio, and prepared for a lengthy wait.

  Two and a half hours later he saw a movement at the top of the street through the wet windscreen. He flicked on the wipers and saw Madalina heading down the hill. Not wanting to scare her, he got out of the car and stood under the street light as she approached. She came forward hesitantly.

  'It's me, Joe – Fraser's friend,' he said smiling.

  'Yeah … er ... I recognize you. What you want?'

  'I wanted a short chat with you, but didn't think you'd want me to come up to the casino.'

  She looked tired. 'It very late.'

  'Yes, I know, but it won't take long – I promise.'

  'Okay, I'm listening.'

  'Can't we get out of the rain?'

  Madalina glanced around quickly. 'Okay, come in … but only for a minute.'

  She keyed some numbers into the digital lock that opened the door into the stairwell. Inside, it smelled of damp and faintly of garbage. They had to step around three bicycles, that were chained untidily to the iron balustrade, but then began climbing the worn stone steps. Madalina led the way and didn't pause until they had reached the top landing. Facing them were two doors – both with old flaking paintwork that had once been a shade of green. She opened the left hand one which led directly into a single large room. It was immediately below the roof and had a steeply coombed ceiling and a small dormer window.

  She switched on the light – an unshaded bulb hanging down in the centre of the dormer. A single bed was pushed hard against one wall, at the foot of the sloping ceiling, and near it was a clothes rail. On it were hanging an untidy mixture of garments, either simple cotton and denim, or brash bright colours, lycra sparkling with sequins. There were very few items of additional furniture in the room, only a small gas cooking ring on top of a battered cupboard, a bin for refuse, that was filled to overflowing, on the floor beside the cooker and a red plastic bowl, filled with used crockery, cutlery and a small pan.

  'Sorry, it's a bit of a mess,' she said apologetically. 'I didn't do washing up before going to work. It's a pain having to take it down the stairs to the sink. What you want?'

  'Thanks for letting me in,' said Joe. 'Can I sit down?'

  He didn't wait for her reply and, as there were no chairs in the room, he sat down at the foot of the bed. He had to lean forward as his head was bumping against the sloping ceiling.

  'I know how upset you were when Keith died,' he began.

  'I loved him,' she said simply. 'We were going to get a flat together. We went to look at some. He say “I take you out of this dump, Maddie.”'

  'Fraser loved him too. He was his best friend and he wants to get revenge on the man who was most responsible for Keith's death.'

  'I don't understand – it was accident. They say he fell asleep when he was driving.'

  'That's bollocks. He drove off the road deliberately. He meant to kill himself, Madalina, because he felt so ashamed.'

  'What you mean ... ashamed? ... why?' Tears welled in her dark eyes.

  She sat down at the other end of the bed and turned to face him.

  Joe started at the beginning and told her how CAT Architects, together with KRS Developments, had won the competition for the Old Town Project, and that Cormack Construction had schemed to take it over. Seamus had been tipped off by Carlo that Keith had built up a large gambling debt and, following the attack on Fraser, Henry Smythe had been brought in, by Seamus, with instructions to get rid of CAT Architects and undermine Keith, making his position untenable.

  'I know that Henry guy! He come to the casino. Carlo says we got to give him special punter treatment 'cos he gotta lot of money to spend. I don't like him though – he's creepy.'

  Joe nodded in agreement. 'I know what you mean. Fraser and me – we want to get revenge – dump him in the shit, and that's really why I'm here. We thought you might be able to help us.'

  'How?'

  'We want to plant some drugs on him and make sure he gets caught by the cops in possession. The thing is, though, we don't know where to get drugs. We thought that you might know?'

  She shrugged. 'Oh ... I dunno.'

  'Just a name, Madalina?'

  'M&M try to get all the girls to use drugs ... I have score a bit sometimes, but I do it mainly for the punters an' one or two of the girls if they're strung out ... I only use a little bit. What is it you want?'

  'Heroin or maybe cocaine? But as I said – I've never used the stuff myself, so I don't know anything about it. How much do people usually buy?

  'I dunno – a tab – a gram or two.'

  'What's the price of – say, a couple of grams of cocaine?'

  'Street price be about forty – fifty pounds a gram.'

  'And how much would you say someone who's dealing drugs carries?'

  'I dunno – maybe fifty or a hundred gram? I not know many dealers. Me, I only use Dipsy 'cos his stuff is good quality. He doesn't cut the stuff with flour or other crap.'

  'Dipsy – one of the Teletubbies?'

&nbs
p; 'I don't know about that. They say he was pickpocket. He worked Waverley station, but he put his hand in the wrong pocket. This guy caught him an' broke three of his fingers – one at a time.'

  'Ouch!'

  'So he started dealing. He got to feed his own habit.'

  'So if we wanted to buy a hundred grams it would cost around four or five grand?

  'Nah! Not so much as that. Dipsy has to weigh the tabs and meet his customers – takes time and work. I'd offer him two and a half. We'd meet in the middle.'

  Joe looked serious. 'He wouldn't sell to me though, would he? He'd be suspicious ... think we were cops. I wondered … er ... could you get it for us?'

  'Oh, man. I dunno about that.'

  'To dump Smythe well and truly in the shit, Madalina ... for Keith?'

  She shook her head, got up and started walking towards the door, then turned. 'Anyway, I don't have that kind of money.'

  'We'd get it for you.'

  She hesitated. 'Mmm ... okay, I do it,' she said reluctantly. 'But don't come here ... Put the cash in envelope and post it to me – flat 3A.'

  'I will. We really appreciate you helping us, Madalina. Look – this's my mobile number – you can let me know when you've got the stuff, and we can arrange to meet, anywhere you want.'

  He handed her a card and stood up, bumping his head on the sloping ceiling.

  She smiled at him. 'I do that all the time – even though I've been here couple of years.'

  * * *

  Neil Taylor aged thirty five was an intense individual – a loner, who never suffered fools easily. Although he was held in high regard by Paul and Liz for his honesty and integrity, he was avoided by many of the junior staff, because he tended to get irritable if his assistants didn't match the high standards that he set himself. As such he was happiest working alone on projects where he could achieve the meticulous attention to detail he always demanded.

  He was standing in the small kitchen area, with the kettle boiling, when Fraser switched off his computer and went to rinse his coffee mug.

  'You gonna be working late tonight?' asked Fraser.

  'For a couple of hours. I've got a Planning submission to make and I'm not satisfied with the elevations that I've drawn. They need a bit more work.' Neil began pouring boiling water through a filter over his cup, then he paused and continued. 'You and Joe seem to be having a lot of quiet conversations just lately. What are you planning? A bank raid this time?'