Dumfries

by Todd, Ian

  “So, if that’s the case, where wur ye then? Whit’s the big secret?”

  “Ah don’t know if ye’ll remember this, bit it wis in the papers and in the news a few months back. Ah wis wae Danny Murphy, in a car, oan the motorway, heiding oot tae Linwood tae pick up a package, so Ah wis.”

  “Danny Murphy? Shaun Murphy’s brother?”

  “Aye.”

  “Whit kind ae package?”

  “Danny wis the driver and Ah wis there tae pick up a package aff ae an inspector fae the local militia in Paisley. The package contained aw the details ae who wis corrupt and oan the take in the polis in Paisley and Glesga. It also contained the names ae aw the corrupt basturts that wur oan the take doon in The Corporation, back in Glesga as well. It wis while Ah wis daeing that, that the bank in Maryhill wis getting tanned,” he replied, shrugging they shoulders ae his. “Danny Murphy picked me up in Springburn and we heided fur the Clyde Tunnel, via New City Road, across in the Coocaddens, where Danny hid tae pick something up fae. It wis while Ah wis sitting in the passenger seat that somewan spotted me and linked ma presence tae being in the area where the bank wis.”

  “Ah remember The Glesga Echo wur daeing a series oan polis corruption a few years ago, bit Ah don’t remember a polis inspector fae Paisley being mentioned.”

  “The Echo used the information fae the files Ah wis collecting tae hammer the corrupt bizzies wae.”

  “The way ye wur talking, Ah thought ye wur talking aboot it being in the papers lately.”

  “Ah wis. A few months back, the inspector went tae an industrial tribunal tae try tae get his pension back. He claimed tae be a whistle-blower, jist exposing corruption since his bosses wurnae following up oan information he hid awready passed oan tae them previously. He claimed that that’s why he wis passing it oan tae The Glesga Echo. He thought they wid get things moving.”

  “So, why could ye no hiv said that when ye wur up in court then?”

  “Because it wid’ve implicated Danny Murphy, and others…that’s why,” he confessed, shrugging they shoulders ae his again.

  “Johnboy, ur ye trying tae tell me that ye’re daeing fourteen years in jail because ye didnae want tae say ye wur in a car picking up information fae a corrupt polis inspector tae pass oan tae The Glesga Echo?” she asked incredulously.

  “Something like that,” he replied.

  “Fourteen years? Oh my God, Johnboy, Ah’m no sure Ah kin cope wae listening tae aw this,” she hauf muttered, hauf squealed in frustration, looking across the table at him, wondering why the hell she didnae get whit he obviously did, by no mentioning this at his trial.

  “Well, ye did ask,” he reminded her, a faint smile appearing oan his lips.

  “So, whit’s the score wae Johnboy?” Angelo Dundee asked.

  “He’s spilling the beans aboot being in the car wae Danny Murphy as we speak, and no looking like he’s daeing a good job ae it either,” Tony smirked, nodding towards Senga and Johnboy’s table.

  “Bit he’s leaving oot the bit that it wis Shaun who wis supposed tae hiv been sitting in the driving seat, oan the way tae the Erskine Bridge efter picking up the package in Linwood, Ah hope?”

  “Aye, she disnae need tae know aboot that,” Tony agreed, glancing across at them again, realising fur the first time why Johnboy wis so upset. Senga Jackson wis absolutely gorgeous-looking. “He’s also been tasked wae trying tae charm her tae stay in contact wae him…at least until we…you…kin sort oot aw this grief between Wan-bob and her flatmate.”

  “So, he’s stringing her alang then?”

  “Aye, bit he disnae look as if he’s daeing too well, dis he?” Tony said, as the baith ae them smiled at each other, looking across at Johnboy and Senga’s table.

  “So, whit dae ye want me tae dae?”

  “Get in touch wae Baby Huey, well away fae prying eyes. Find oot whit happened tae Wee Eck Thomas. Ye’ll need tae be really careful. And don’t go bloody-well scaring him, Simon.”

  “Me? Scare Baby? Ur ye sure ye’re no thinking ae somewan else, Tony?”

  “Ah mean it, Simon. Don’t go upsetting him. And another thing…the less Baby knows aboot whit’s gaun oan, the better. Ah’m gonnae need Baby fur later oan when Ah get oot ae this shithole.”

  “Right, goat ye…and?”

  “If he disnae awready know, ask him tae find oot who it wis that took care ae the nurse, the doctor and the farmer, bit wance again, don’t go spooking him,” Tony emphasised, keeping his voice low. “Tell him Ah’ll see him awright when Ah get oot.”

  “Why is it so important tae know who done the damage? Surely, the main thing is tae find oot if there’s a definite connection tae Senga’s flatmate’s story and the people who copped it?”

  “We’re accepting the connection. A blind man wid be able tae see who wis at work here, so he wid, apart fae you, that is.”

  “This is gonnae be really dangerous fur us. Ah take it ye know whit the fuck ye’re daeing?” Angelo growled, ignoring the cheek aboot his perception skills.

  “If it’s the same basturt, it means we kin move oan him if we…you…pick up that Wan-bob is oan tae oor nurse.”

  “Aye, okay, that makes sense, bit it widnae take the brain ae Britain tae know that it wis probably Spotty Hector and that ugly pug-faced prick, Chic Shand,” Angelo whispered. “Wan-bob always palms that pair aff wae aw the shitey jobs that nowan else wants tae dae.”

  “Simon, furget the bloody speculation, will ye? If ye pick up even a whiff fae Baby that Senga or her flatmate ur in imminent danger or ur gonnae cop it, ye take whoever it is oot ae the game. Ye’ll hiv tae be very clever here, noo. We need tae make sure that Wan-bob knows that we’re oan tae him and that there will be mair tae come, if the nurse or Senga get touched, while at the same time, leave enough doubt aboot oor involvement that he won’t want tae rush roond tae yours and lay waste tae ye, in case he’s wrang.”

  Silence.

  “So, how the fuck am Ah expected dae that, withoot getting wiped oot masel?” Angelo demanded.

  “Ah don’t know, bit Ah’m sure ye’ll come up wae something.”

  “And they three dumplings ye’ve landed me wae? They fucking question everything Ah say.”

  “Simon, Ah’ve telt ye…ye’re in charge. Noo, if ye’re saying that ye’re no up fur it, move aside and let Ben or Jake take o’er the helm,” Tony growled.

  “Fuck aff, Tony…that’s no funny, so it’s no,” Angelo snorted, as the baith ae them grinned. “Ah’m telling ye…Peter’s okay, bit Ah’m gonnae swing fur that other pair ae useless basturts so Ah am.”

  “Speak tae The Two Johns,” Tony reminded him, haudin up his hauns tae hush any protests. “They’ll keep us right if anything comes oot ae The Garngad. They’re awready looking efter Ben and Jake’s arses anyway.”

  “Look, Ah don’t hiv a problem wae Wee Parky or John Blair, bit it means widening oot who knows whit’s gaun oan.”

  “They’ll be fine.”

  “This is gonnae take some daeing, Tony.”

  “Whit is?”

  “Trying tae keep Senga and that flatmate ae hers safe.”

  “Ye’ll be fine…youse aw will, as long as ye work closely and work as part ae a team. If and when the shit starts tae unravel, dae something spectacular, like nailing the basturts tae the front door ae The Carlton Club, dressed up in nurses’ uniforms or something. Ah’m sure ye’ll use yer imagination, bit make sure that it’s no a full frontal attack that kin be linked directly back tae us. We’re gonnae hiv tae cover oor tracks well on this wan, if we dae hiv tae respond,” Tony warned him. “The main thing is tae leave a bit ae doubt as tae who’s behind the attack.”

  “Aye, okay, bit jist slacken aff wae aw the cheek, eh? Ah’ve hid plenty ae that oan the way in here the day fae the lassies. Fuck, the journey hame is gonnae be a bloody nightmare, so it is,” Angelo moaned.

  “Simon, shut the fuck up and listen. Ah’ve goat loads mair tae tell ye that needs done.

  “Sile
nt, we’re feeling a wee bit under the weather the day, so we’re no gonnae beat about the bush noo, so try and pay attention and make a wee bit ae an effort tae communicate wae us…awright? Right, o’er tae yersel, Aggie,” Helen said quietly, sounding as if she wis speaking tae a blethering idiot, nudging her partner wae her elbow.

  “Aye, right, well…er…we’ve been hivving a wee chin-wag…me and Helen, that is…and we, er, want tae put forward a wee proposal fur ye tae consider,” Aggie stuttered, nudging Helen tae take o’er.

  Silence.

  “Aye, well, seeing as Johnboy will probably be in fur a wee bit longer than you, we…er…thought, efter a bit ae discussion between us…”

  “Wae the best ae intentions…”

  “That’s if ye wanted tae, y’know…”

  “Tae consider…er, whit’s the words…moving in wae us efter ye get oot…”

  “Ah mean, we’d baith be fairly chuffed tae hiv ye…”

  “Obviously, ye’d want yer ain room…a wee bit ae privacy…so we’d hiv tae look fur a bigger place, before ye goat released…”

  “Maybe a three-bedroom, oot ae Springburn, across in the West End somewhere…”

  “Splitting everything three ways and aw that…”

  “Bit, if ye preferred staying wae some ae the boys…”

  “Tony or Snappy, maybe…”

  “Then we certainly widnae be offended,” Aggie finished, as Helen and her looked at each other, before turning back tae the Silent.

  Silence.

  “We’re no expecting ye tae make yer mind up the noo, or anything…”

  “Aye, ye’ve goat plenty ae time tae consider it, if ma calculations ur anything tae go by…”

  “Aw we’d need wis a wee indication as tae whether we go aheid and start looking fur a flat …”

  “Nothing too fancy, bit probably across in the West End…”

  “Bit, it’s up tae yersel…”

  “Nae pressure…”

  “We certainly widnae be offended…”

  “Honest, we widnae…”

  “Sounds really good tae me, so it dis,” Silent said, butting in, as Aggie and Helen looked at each other, their faces breaking intae wide grins.

  “Look, Senga, there’s probably no much Ah kin dae aboot whit this Haufwit wan said, at least no until Tony get’s oot,” Johnboy said carefully.

  “Bit, Ah thought youse hiv that fancy lawyer wan that’s supposed tae be good, despite the fact that he didnae appear tae dae ye much help at yer trial?”

  “Graham Portoy,” he said, ignoring the slur.

  “Aye, that’s him. Ah thought he wis meant tae be good?”

  “He is, and we’ll come tae him in a minute, bit whit Ah’m saying is that ma situation hisnae changed that much fae before ye arrived here yesterday,” he said, hoping tae sound realistic.

  “Why, whit dae ye mean?”

  “Fur a start, baith you and yer flatmate hiv tae put a dampener oan this story aboot whit Haufwit said. Youse cannae go aboot mentioning it tae anywan or any appeal Ah might be able tae put in fur will be deid in the water, because the wans who widnae want tae see that happening will jump oan it and get themsels aw prepared wae blocking tactics. Dis that make sense?”

  “Obviously.”

  “Naw, no obviously, Senga. This is important. Ye cannae mention this tae anywan at yer work, when ye’re oot at night, even tae that lover-boy…the wan wae the sicko name tag…and that includes yer maw as well,” he stressed, no being able tae stoap himsel fae hivving a pop at the boyfriend.

  “Ah’ve telt ye, his name’s Rory and Ah’d prefer ye tae leave him oot ae this, if ye don’t mind,” she retorted, eyes flashing.

  “Look, Ah wis only saying, okay? Ah couldnae gie a shit whit poxy name he’s goat, jist don’t speak aboot ma business tae him,” he hissed, overcome wae jealousy.

  “Look, it wis you that brought his name intae this. Kin we please jist take a breather and calm doon,” Senga pleaded, breathing in slowly.

  “Ah’ll go and get us a juice,” he muttered, suddenly staunin up.

  “Ah need youse tae take a step back,” Tony warned. “Ah don’t want tae hear that you, Peter, Jake or Ben ur getting intae any bother that’ll attract the attentions ae Wan-bob and that crowd ae his. We need tae stay well under the radar, so we dae.”

  “Whit aboot the wee local hash dealers we’re trying tae put oot ae business? The basturts ur popping up aw o’er Balornock, Burmulloch and Sighthill like molehills. The basturts will no take a telling.”

  “Ah’m no saying youse hiv tae live like monks. It sounds tae me as if ye’re no being persuasive enough. Ah’m sure ye’ll be able tae up the ante oan that side ae things by shooting a couple ae the fuckers, bit that’s no whit Ah’m oan aboot. Keep the money side ae things gaun, bit don’t hiv run-ins wae people that ur well connected tae Wan-bob’s crowd.”

  “Like?”

  “Like, get this thing wae the McCaskills sorted oot, as a priority, and you keep well away fae that prick, Honest John McCaffrey. And don’t fucking look at me like that. He’s oot ae bounds, no matter whit he dis. We kin sort him oot thegither wance Ah’m oot ae here.”

  “Ah want that money he owes me,” Angelo retorted, tersely.

  “Simon, ye goat yer money when we tanned his tills…remember?”

  “There’s a principle involved here, y’know. That basturt’s strolling aboot, thinking Ah’m some sort ae eejit that he kin slap aboot any time he takes a fancy.”

  “Naw, he disnae,” Tony replied, dismissively. “Honest John McCaffrey hisnae strolled aboot anywhere in the last twenty years since he goat his first Roller, so don’t exaggerate, fur fuck’s sake.”

  “The fact that he thought he could get away wae no hivving tae square me up fur carpeting that shoap ae his speaks volumes, so it dis.”

  “Ah’ve telt ye, we’ll deal wae him when Ah get oot. He’ll be the number wan priority. If Senga and that pal ae hers ur gonnae staun any chance, we’ve goat tae keep oor noses clean and oor heids doon fur the time being. Ye’re gonnae be too busy tae be bothering wae the likes ae Honest John.”

  “Ah gathered that.”

  “Ah need ye tae find oot whit becomes ae they wee black books that the bizzies use tae write their statements in, as a starter. Ah want tae know if they bin them or whit, when they’re full, bit remember, this aw his tae be done fae a distance. Don’t worry if ye need tae grease a few palms, as long as the info comes fae a reliable source.”

  “Here ye go,” Johnboy said, haunin o’er the plastic tumbler. “Christ, Ah think Ah’m the only wan in here withoot a hangover. Hiv ye seen the state ae that pair doon there?” Johnboy said, nodding doon tae the tea table where Fanny and the governor’s wife wur aboot asleep oan their chairs, as wan ae the weans walked aff wae a big jug ae juice, spilling it aw doon his front and oan tae the flair as his ma ran across and grabbed it aff ae him.

  “Ah’m sorry, Johnboy. Ah’m a wee bit grumpy wae this hangover,” Senga said apologising.

  “Senga, Ah telt ye yesterday, don’t ever feel the need tae apologise tae me. It’s me that should be grovelling at yer feet, efter whit Ah’ve put ye through, so cut it oot…okay?”

  “Aye, sorry,” she replied, smiling.

  “Right, if ye really want tae help me, Ah need a big favour and no jist fae you, bit fae yer flatmate as well.”

  “Anything we kin dae tae help, Ah’m sure Lizzie will be fine wae that.”

  “Simon is gonnae set up a meeting between yersels and Graham Portoy, in his office up in Bath Street, probably sometime next week.”

  “Ah should be okay fur Monday, bit Ah’m no sure aboot Lizzie’s shifts. Ah’ll know when Ah get hame as we baith put them up oan a board in the kitchen.”

  “It disnae really matter if youse go up thegither or no, as he’ll want tae take statements fae youse individually. He’ll probably hiv a strange-looking guy called Swansea present…as a witness…bit don’t be shy or put aff by him…he’s oan
oor side…jist spit it aw oot. Ye’ll need tae tell Graham everything ye telt me yesterday. Don’t leave anything oot, no matter how bad it makes me sound. Hiv ye goat that?”

  “Even the bit aboot supposedly shooting Shaun Murphy?”

  “Especially that bit.”

  “So, whit will he dae wae the information wance he’s goat it?”

  “Tae be honest wae ye, he’ll probably jist file it meantime until we kin get corroborating evidence that ties in wae whit this Haufwit wan said.”

  “Is that the dying man?”

  “Aye.”

  “Ah feel bad that we’re talking aboot some poor soul who wis murdered. Lizzie said he’d been stabbed and thrown oot ae a fast-moving car. Is that no terrible?”

  “That’s Glesga fur ye, bit also keep in mind, Haufwit wisnae an angel either. Ah knew him and he could be a nasty piece ae work, when he wanted tae be, so he could,” Johnboy reminded her.

  “Maybe, bit nowan deserves whit happened tae him. He’s somewan’s son or faither. And noo that ye’ve brought up Glesga, Ah’ve goat something Ah want tae ask ye Johnboy and Ah’d appreciate an honest response, and naw, it’s nothing tae dae wae me hivving a baby,” she said, a faint nervous smile appearing oan they lips ae hers.

  “Fire away.”

  “Ye’ve goat tae promise no tae interrupt, bit let me finish…agreed?”

  “That makes me feel uncomfortable awready, so it dis.”

  “Agreed?”

  “Ah’m aw ears.”

  “Right, this isnae easy fur me tae say, bit Ah need tae say it the way it’s gonnae come oot,” Senga apologised in advance.

  Johnboy felt his heart sink, expecting a Dear Johnboy letter tae be recited tae him in stereo, straight fae the horse’s mooth.

  “It’s true Ah’ve been gaun oot wae Rory, who’s a lovely guy, by the way. If Ah’m gonnae be honest wae ye, Johnboy, he’s kind, considerate, attentive, and shows an interest in whit’s happening in ma life. He’s basically everything ye’re no, or at least, he’s been willing tae demonstrate whit ye’ve clearly hid difficulty wae in the past, despite every opportunity tae rectify the situation. No, no, ye promised me ye widnae butt in,” she said, haudin up the palm ae her haun tae his face, before continuing. “A couple ae weeks ago when Ah came hame efter being tae meet Rory’s parents, Ah wis oan cloud nine, despite Rory’s da hivving jist hid a stroke no long efter we arrived. The reason Ah wis oan cloud nine wis because Ah knew Rory wis aboot tae propose tae me…”