Liverpool Loyalty

by Caz Finlay

  ‘You want us to kidnap one of the Old Bill?’ Jock asked. ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘I’m not asking you to do anything. I think it’s about time we made Craig and Ged earn their keep, isn’t it? You two don’t need to be anywhere near this. And it will be a good test of their mettle. We’ll nab him and I’ll make sure Craig and Ged keep an eye on him until after tomorrow night’s deal, and then Grace will know everything anyway. It’s either that or we call off the whole thing now. It’s your choice, Alastair.’

  Jock watched as his boss sat back in his chair. He licked his lips, deep in thought. He was never one to back down from a challenge, or miss out on some money to be made, but John was talking about kidnapping a copper, and that wasn’t something that should be done lightly. It wasn’t the type of thing that could be easily explained away. The Old Bill were like a dog with a bone when one of their own was taken, and who knew if this copper would end up dead at the end of it all?

  ‘Okay. Do it,’ Alastair finally said. ‘But let those two idiots take the fall if anything goes wrong. I want my name nowhere near this.’

  ‘Of course,’ John replied.

  ‘Let me know when it’s done,’ Alastair said and then he ended the call.

  ‘We’re getting in deeper and deeper here, Boss,’ Jock said. ‘We were only supposed to be coming up here to get your money back from the Johnson idiots, and now we’re knee deep in a fucking takeover.’

  ‘Relax, Jock. It’s all sorted. This John fella is legit – you told me that yourself. He’s obviously been thinking about this for a long time, and who are we to stand in the way of progress? I’m happy to help him out if it puts that stuck-up bitch in her place, and makes me a few quid in the process.’

  ‘Whatever you say,’ Jock replied, but he wondered if Alastair would be as keen to take over Grace’s firm it if was a man at the helm. The level of anger he seemed to feel for a woman whom he’d met only twice was excessive to say the least. For some reason, Alastair could not bear a woman who stood up to him, and if one ever dared to challenge him in public, as Grace had a couple of weeks earlier, then he wouldn’t rest until he had exacted his revenge and evened the score. It was this blind need for vengeance and score settling that was clouding his judgement, but what was Jock supposed to do about it? Alastair had always been this way and he wasn’t about to change now.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Craig and Ged had been driving home from Widnes feeling very pleased with themselves when they’d received a phone call from John Brennan telling them he wanted to meet them in half an hour at Craig’s house. They now sat patiently in Craig’s kitchen waiting for him.

  ‘What do you think this is about?’ Ged asked.

  Craig was about to answer when he heard the doorbell ringing. He answered it and John walked through to the kitchen.

  ‘You both all right?’ John asked.

  ‘Yeah,’ they said.

  ‘Been up to much today?’

  ‘Nothing interesting, why do you ask?’ Craig said with a frown.

  ‘Just making small talk,’ John replied with a shrug as he sat down at the kitchen table. ‘Any chance of a brew? I’m gasping.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Craig replied and he put the kettle on. ‘What did you want to see us about?’

  ‘I spoke with Alastair and Jock today and I think we’re all going to work well together – all of us.’

  ‘Great,’ Ged said as he rubbed his hands together. ‘Where do I sign?’

  ‘I like your enthusiasm, Ged.’ John laughed. ‘And with that in mind, Alastair has a job for us.’

  Craig leaned against the kitchen counter as he waited for the kettle to boil. ‘Oh?’

  ‘Yep. There’s someone who needs dealing with. I suspect he’s been spying on Alastair and Jock, and possibly me, for Grace, and he could cause some problems for all of us, if you know what I mean? But we need to act fast. Like in the next hour. I know what gym he goes to and he’s there the same time every day. I’ll drive the van and you two can grab him. I have a place we can take him to in Walton. Then you’ll just need to watch him for a day or two until Alastair decides what to do with him. If we can sort this out for him, we’ll prove that we’re worth going into business with. That we can be trusted.’

  ‘That we’re indispensable?’ Craig added.

  John nodded. ‘Exactly.’

  An hour later John was parked in an old Transit van near to Cooper’s gym in Crosby waiting for DS Nick Bryce to come out. He glanced at his watch and turned to Craig and Ged who were waiting anxiously in the back of the van, each armed with a baseball bat.

  ‘Are you two ready?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah,’ they said.

  ‘This is your big chance. Don’t fuck this up, lads,’ he warned them. ‘Just grab him, get him in the van and tie him up. You might have to knock him out to get him in. He takes care of himself, this fella, he might give you a run for your money.’

  ‘We can handle him,’ Ged said, full of confidence.

  John turned to face the gym again, just in time to see Nick walking out with a holdall slung over his shoulder. John knew Nick’s car and it was parked about a hundred metres behind them so he would have to pass the van to get to it. ‘Here he is,’ John said. ‘He’ll be walking past us any second now. Go!’

  Craig and Ged jumped out of the van and John was impressed with the speed and efficiency with which they overpowered Nick and had him bound and gagged. He wrestled and shouted a little before Craig and Ged shut him up with a quick blow to the head. John smiled to himself as he pulled the van away from the kerb. Job done, and, best of all, Nick hadn’t had a chance to see his face.

  ‘Good job, you two,’ John said they drove towards Walton. ‘I’m going to drop you off at the old taxi garage on County Road. There’s plenty of food and water in there for you both. There’s a couple of beers too, but don’t get pissed! It will last you for a few days if needs be, but he should be out of there by tomorrow night. The place hasn’t been open for a few years but there’s a working toilet and electricity, and a couple of couches if you need to get your head down. I hope it goes without saying that only one of you should have a kip at any one time though?’

  ‘Of course. We’ve told you before, we’re not amateurs.’

  ‘I know,’ he replied. ‘You’ve just proved that. But this is only the first step. Now you have to keep Sleeping Beauty here alive, quiet and restrained. That’s the hardest part.’

  ‘Are we allowed to mess with him?’ Ged said.

  ‘Mess with him? What the fuck do you mean?’ John asked, wondering if Ged had some twisted tendencies that he wasn’t aware of.

  ‘You know, slap him about a bit? It will get boring in that garage with nothing to do.’

  John shook his head and sighed. Ged really was a fucking plant-pot. ‘By all means give him a dig or two if he gives you any bother, but don’t be slapping him about just because you’re bored. Alastair wants him intact. There’s a portable DVD and a few pornos in there if you get that bored.’

  ‘What the fuck do you usually use this place for, mate?’ Craig asked with a laugh.

  ‘Wouldn’t you like to know?’ John replied with a grin.

  Chapter Fifty

  Jock watched as Alastair McGrath paced up and down his hotel room.

  ‘They should have picked him up by now,’ Alastair said as he looked at his watch. ‘So, why haven’t we had the phone call yet?’

  ‘I’m sure he’ll phone as soon as it’s done. Maybe they got caught up? Maybe kidnapping a copper isn’t quite as easy as John made it out to be?’ Jock replied. ‘Anyway, do you honestly think those fuckwit brothers can be trusted with this?’

  ‘Well, John seems to think so, and let’s face it, if it all goes south it won’t be our necks on the line, will it? We were nowhere near the job. It’ll be him and those Johnson twerps who take the rap,’ Alastair replied and took a seat in the armchair.

  ‘I suppose so,’ Jock agreed.

/>   ‘Anyway, have you spoken to Jerry? Are the lads all okay for tomorrow?’

  ‘Yeah. We’ve got nine men altogether and they’ll be here tomorrow at four o’clock. I said we’d meet them at that service station on the M62 and then we can sort out who’s going to do what.’

  ‘Nine? I asked for twelve!’ Alastair barked.

  ‘Well, he struggled to get twelve.’

  ‘He struggled to get twelve men together? Why? What the fuck were they all doing that was more important?’ Alastair snarled.

  Jock resisted telling Alastair that some of the hired muscle they usually worked with would no longer put their necks on the line for him, on account of the fact that he had screwed a fair number of them over in one way or another – it would only cause an argument that he didn’t have the energy for. ‘They’ve got other jobs on, Boss. Besides, he got nine and that includes four of our best. With me, you and Jerry on board, as well as John Brennan on the inside, that will more than suffice.’

  Before Alastair could answer, Jock’s mobile phone rang.

  ‘Hello,’ he answered.

  ‘The job’s done. The brothers are dealing with him,’ John Brennan said.

  Jock put the phone on speaker so Alastair could hear the call too. ‘Good. But do you think he managed to speak to your boss first?’ he asked.

  ‘No. I followed him. He went straight to the gym after we spoke.’

  ‘You’re sure?’

  ‘Do you think I’d be this calm if I wasn’t?’

  ‘Fair point. Are we all set for tomorrow then?’ Alastair asked.

  ‘Yeah. We’ll be arriving at the warehouse at eight to make the exchange.’

  ‘Will your suppliers get in the way? Are they likely to take Grace’s side?’ Jock asked.

  ‘No. They’re only interested in money. They won’t come armed, Grace won’t allow it, so they’ll duck out as soon as anyone starts shooting. Trust me.’

  ‘We’re trusting you an awful lot,’ Jock said.

  ‘And I you,’ John replied.

  ‘We’ll see you tomorrow at eight then, Johnny boy,’ Alastair said.

  ‘Tomorrow it is,’ John replied before the line went dead.

  Alastair looked at Jock as he placed his phone back in his pocket and grinned. ‘Looks like we’re all set then,’ he said as he rubbed his hands together. ‘Now let’s go somewhere and get ourselves a nice glass of Scotch.’

  ‘Okay, but you’re paying,’ Jock replied as the two men left the hotel room.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Grace walked through the restaurant area of Sophia’s Kitchen towards the bar. She was supposed to be on her way home but Michael had asked her to pick up a takeaway on route, telling her he fancied some Italian. One of the perks of owning a string of Italian restaurants was being able to have a delicious meal boxed up and ready to take home whenever they fancied.

  ‘It will just be a few minutes, Grace,’ Lena told her as she reached the bar.

  ‘No problem. I’ll wait in my office, I need to send an email anyway.’

  Grace walked towards her office and noticed the door was open. She wasn’t expecting anyone to be using it at that time of night. As she got nearer she saw John Brennan in there, rummaging around her desk.

  ‘Looking for something, John?’

  He looked up at her. ‘Sorry, Boss. Just looking for a pen,’ he replied nervously.

  ‘I didn’t expect you here tonight,’ she said to him as she handed him a pen from the holder.

  ‘Thanks,’ he replied as he took it from her and put it in his pocket. He was fidgeting. What was going on with him?

  ‘I’m not here working. I’m waiting for Steph to finish her shift,’ he replied.

  ‘Oh, I see,’ Grace replied with a smile. ‘No wonder you’re a bit twitchy.’

  ‘I’m not twitchy,’ he replied as he pulled at the collar of his shirt with his index finger. ‘Is it hot in here?’

  Grace laughed. ‘I’m not surprised you’re nervous. Does Sean know you’re off out on a date with his daughter?’

  ‘It’s not a date,’ John snapped. ‘We’re just mates going for a drink.’

  ‘Oh?’ Grace replied as she sat in her chair, not believing him for a second.‘I know what will distract you from your date that’s not a date, anyway. Tell me, are we all set for tomorrow?’

  ‘Yep. Everything is good to go. Eight o’clock!’ He flashed his eyebrows at her.

  ‘Good.’

  ‘Are you sure you want to be there? It’s not necessary. Me and Michael can handle it.’

  ‘I know you can, and it’s sweet of you to worry about me, but I want to be there.’

  ‘Okay. Who am I to argue with the boss?’ he replied with a smile.

  ‘Do you think it will all go to plan?’ Grace asked him.

  John shrugged. ‘Your plans usually do, but who can say? In the heat of the moment, anything can happen.’

  ‘Well then, let’s just hope that it doesn’t,’ Grace said.

  John looked down at his feet.

  ‘You sure you’re okay?’ Grace asked.

  ‘Yeah. Just nervous, like you said.’

  ‘Well, even though Sean and Michael might threaten to chop your bollocks off if they find out about you and Steph, I think you make a great couple.’

  ‘Thanks, Grace.’

  ‘You’re welcome. You deserve to be happy. Both of you do.’

  Just then Lena popped her head through the door. ‘Your food’s ready, Grace,’ she said with a smile.

  Grace stood up and gave John’s arm a squeeze on her way past. ‘I hope tonight goes well, and I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  ‘See you tomorrow,’ he replied.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Grace had just placed the hot food on the passenger seat of her car when she came face to face with Leigh Moss.

  ‘Leigh? What the hell do you want?’

  ‘Nick has disappeared,’ Leigh snapped. ‘Did you have anything to do with it?’

  ‘Who the hell is Nick?’ Grace frowned at her.

  ‘He’s my sergeant.’

  ‘Your sergeant has disappeared? So you obviously assume I had something to do with it?’ Grace laughed. ‘Do me a favour, Leigh and piss off!’ She walked round her car and was about to get in.

  ‘Grace!’ Leigh shouted, the desperation in her voice clearly audible.

  Grace turned on her heel. ‘What?’

  ‘Nick is not just my sergeant,’ Leigh said. ‘He’s much more than that.’

  ‘Oh, like that, is it? Well, good for you, but I still had nothing to do with him disappearing,’ she snapped as she opened the car door.

  ‘I think it was Alastair McGrath,’ Leigh said.

  Grace closed the door and stared at Leigh. ‘What makes you think that? Are you sure he’s even disappeared? Maybe he’s at the pub or something? It’s only nine o’clock.’

  Leigh blinked back the tears. ‘He was looking into Alastair for me, and then he didn’t come home from the gym earlier this afternoon. I’ve phoned and phoned his mobile but he’s not answering. It’s not him at all. He’s as reliable as clockwork. I just know something’s happened to him.’

  ‘Well, if you’re right about it being anything to do with Alastair McGrath, then I suggest you call your boys in blue and get them to find him sharpish, while there still some of him left to find, because Alastair and his men do not mess around. He is an evil bastard.’

  ‘I can’t do that.’

  ‘Why? Scared in case they find out you’re screwing one of your subordinates?’

  ‘No,’ Leigh said and frowned. ‘But I wasn’t supposed to be looking into Alastair. I was specifically asked not to by my superiors.’

  ‘So you had your boyfriend do it for you on the side instead?’

  Leigh looked down at her shoes.

  ‘Well, I see your dilemma, but I’m still not sure why you’re telling me all of this.’

  ‘Because you know Alastair. I thought you
might know where he would take someone?’

  Grace laughed out loud. ‘You’re asking me for help? Are you fucking serious?’ She shook her head and opened her car door again to get in.

  ‘Please, Grace? I don’t know where else to turn. I know you have a connection with Alastair—’

  ‘Oh, spying on me too, were you?’ Grace snapped.

  ‘No, but I know that he met with you.’

  ‘Yes, we met, and he is a dodgy, nasty bastard. Even I draw the line at working with him. I suggest you make peace with the fact that you’ll never see your boyfriend again.’

  ‘Grace.’ Leigh glared at her. ‘You know I can’t do that, and you know how hard it is for me to come to you for help. But I have nowhere else to turn.’

  Grace stared at Leigh. She was feisty and passionate and was always willing to fight for what she believed in. She was prepared to do a deal with the devil in order to save the person she loved. They were so alike in many ways, but still so very different.

  ‘Why would I risk a potential war with Alastair for you?’ Grace asked.

  ‘For the same reason you helped me all of those years ago – because it’s the right thing to do. Nick is a good man, Grace. He does his job and he treats people with kindness and compassion. He doesn’t deserve to die at the hands of someone like Alastair McGrath. I know deep down that you’re a good woman, Grace, and you would never let an innocent man suffer if there was a chance you could help him.’

  Grace shook her head. ‘You’re unbelievable, Leigh! I’ll help you, but if I find Nick…’ She didn’t finish her sentence. She didn’t need to. Both of them understood the cost of what they were about to do.

  Grace walked into the kitchen and put the bag of food onto the kitchen counter. Michael walked in behind her. ‘That smells gorgeous,’ he said as he approached her and started unloading the bags.

  ‘I just had a very interesting chat with DI Moss,’ Grace said. ‘Apparently, her boyfriend has been kidnapped and she’d like our help to find him?’