‘Believe it or not, one of the nurses said that’s a good sign,’ said Annie. ‘Apparently it means his system’s getting back to normal. I’m not so sure about that, myself.’
Mags gasped for air and said, ‘Jesus Christ, where does it all come from? Never mind fracking, if they can ever find a way of connecting that man’s arse to the National Grid, then Scotland’s energy worries are over.’
Annie chuckled and added, ‘I was thinking of bringing a canary in, you know, like they ones they used to take down the mines to check for methane. But the nurse said it was against their health and safety regulations.’
‘I heard that, you two,’ said a familiar grumpy voice emanating from the bed. ‘Can a man not be left to die in peace, without certain people constantly taking the piss?’
While Jack was lying unconscious in hospital, Annie had transferred some of his treasured country music collection from cassette into digital mp3 format, and then brought an iPod and headphones to his bedside. After surgery to repair a gash across the top of his head, where one of Burke’s bullets had scored a deep furrow, he had been placed in an induced coma for three days to allow the swelling on his brain to reduce in size. At the end of the second day, when his doctors were starting to become more upbeat about his prospects, she switched the music player on and slipped the headphones over his ears. Midway through the afternoon of the third day, his right foot began to twitch under the bed clothes, apparently in time to the music. When Annie leaned over to check the tiny screen on the player, she saw that the current track was Hank Williams singing “Jambalaya”.
She patted Jack’s arm, then smiled and said, ‘Thanks Hank, good buddy. I owe you one.’
His surgeon came to see him on the fourth day, shortly after Jack had fully regained consciousness for the first time. Smiling, he held up an x-ray slide to the window and said, ‘You’ve been a really lucky man, Mr Davidson.’
The patient became quite agitated at that point, exclaiming, ‘I wish people would stop telling me how lucky I am. The last time somebody said that was after my office had been firebombed and I’d just received a death threat. And now I’ve been riddled with bullets. So, all things considered, I really don’t feel that lucky at the moment, thanks.’
‘It’s okay doctor, believe me, it’s not personal,’ said Mags, glaring at her ex. ‘He’s a grumpy old bastard with everyone. I’m very grateful and he’s grateful as well, for everything that’s been done by everyone, the ambulance crew and then all the doctors and nurses here at the hospital. We know that it was touch and go there for a while, but it looks like all your hard work and expert care has paid off.’
‘Yeah, thanks doc,’ said Jack, sheepishly. ‘I am very grateful, honestly. But tell me, does that x-ray you’re holding prove conclusively that I do have a brain in there somewhere, contrary to popular opinion?’
Laughing, his surgeon replied, ‘What I meant, when I said you were lucky, was that although you were shot three times, you’ve actually come through it all relatively unscathed. One of the bullets grazed ribs on your right side and another passed straight through the fleshy part of your upper right arm. Both of those wounds should heal nicely and the dissolvable stitches will start to fade away after a month or so. But the really good news is that the swelling caused by the third bullet has gone down substantially. That’s the one we were most worried about, but I can now say with some confidence that the damage to your brain appears to be merely superficial and should have no material effect on future cognitive function. In two or three weeks, with plenty of rest, your mental capacity should be back to the same level you were at before you were shot. However, headaches can sometimes be a problem after this type of surgery and, before you leave, I’ll prescribe something for that. It would also be a good idea not to take any alcohol in the short term, until I give you the all clear.’
‘Not a problem for me, I can take it or leave it,’ said the patient, smugly.
Chapter 57
The next day Annie did the evening shift at visiting time and took the opportunity to update Jack on developments back at the office. ‘It definitely looks like you’re on the mend, boss, and I’ve got some news that will really cheer you up. A cheque for £20,000 came in this morning, with a nice letter, from a very grateful Rupert Jones. He is absolutely delighted that his step-daughter finally contacted her mother, after you sweet-talked her into making the call. Apparently, after floods of tears at the beginning, they both talked on the phone for over an hour, catching up on three years of each other’s news. He said that they’re going to meet up for lunch this week, somewhere on neutral ground, and then take it from there. So it’s a proper happy ending, thanks to you, boss. What a guy.’
‘It was just dumb luck and coincidence, that I remembered seeing Angela’s paintings out at Mag’s house. As you well know, Annie, sometimes in this game you can work for four days and all you end up with is a tray of eggs. On this one I spent maybe four hours, tops, finding Angela Jones and we’ve scored twenty grand. So, happy endings all round.’
‘Anyway I’ve paid the cheque into the business account and, I hope you don’t mind, I’ve arranged estimates for the office to be re-decorated and a new carpet fitted, to cheer the place up a bit. It badly needs it after all the smoke and water damage. But we might get some of the cost back, if you’ve got any insurance.’
Sensing that there was possibly more expenditure being planned, Jack said warily, ‘Is there anything else you think needs replaced, apart from me, obviously?’
‘Funny you should say that, because I was thinking that it seems mad to get a new carpet and paint job and then not get the office properly kitted out at the same time. So I’ve been pricing new office furniture online, as well as checking out office computers and a new printer. By the way, I offered your old fax machine to the Science Museum, but I’ve not heard back from them yet. And I even gave your George Forman Grill a good clean and polish, because it was absolutely bogging. Do you never clean it?’
‘Nope, it’s been scientifically proven that it takes all the flavour and goodness away, if you wash off all the grease. So do I need to call the nurse, for extra pain relief, before you get round to telling me how much all this is going to cost?’
‘It’s not as bad as you might think and most of it can be offset against tax, as legitimate business expenses. We covered that in one of my courses when I was at college.’
‘I said how much?’
‘All in, I reckon around six to seven thousand should cover it, with a little bit of shopping around and haggling. But it’ll be worth it. Honestly, once it’s all done, you won’t recognise the old place. And the main thing is, we won’t be embarrassed any more when new clients come into the office.’
‘But I wasn’t embarrassed, ever.’
‘No, you weren’t, but I was. Look, if you genuinely want to engage with the twenty-first century, boss, and present a modern efficient image … that’s what has to be done.’
Acknowledging defeat, Jack conceded, ‘Okay then Annie, you’re obviously taking advantage of my weakened state, but getting all that for six grand doesn’t sound too bad. So go ahead and start the makeover.’
‘By the way, do you think I could claim on the insurance for a new jacket? The one I was wearing out at Mossdyke is covered in scorch marks and has two great big bullet holes in the back. Although, on second thoughts, I might keep it. It would enhance my street credibility, you know, down at the Royal Bar. So is that me up to date now?’
‘I’ve also done a bit of prep work on a website for the business. I’ll show you how far I’ve got the next time I come in, and we can gradually work it up together. I think it’ll make it a lot easier for new clients to find us. Oh, and there were some phone messages and emails from people about possible new jobs.’
‘No way. We both need at least a couple of weeks off work, kiddo, to get over all the crazy shit that’s been going on. You could get back to the people who made the enquiries and take
their details. Explain that we’re extremely busy at the moment but, if they’re prepared to wait for a couple of weeks, then we’ll see where we are.’
‘No probs, I’ll do that while I’m waiting for the carpet guy.’
‘Oh, I nearly forgot. Since it’s the end of the month, to-day is actually payday for me and, hold the front page, I checked my bank account and the money whizzed in right on time. How cool is that? For a while there, I thought I wouldn’t live long enough to spend it. Once I get these bandages off my hands, I’ll be able to hit the shops again.’
‘I’ve been putting off asking, Annie, how bad are your burns?’ said Jack, wincing at the extent of the bandages covering both of her hands and her right forearm.
‘Well I saw the doc this morning and she says that I shouldn’t need any skin grafts. The burns are superficial and, because the ambulance guys got to us so quickly, they should heal naturally in a few weeks, with hardly any scarring. I just need to remember to get clean dressings put on every few days and to neck a couple of double gins down at night, to help me sleep.’
‘I bet the doctor said in her best bedside manner, you’ve been really lucky, Ms James,’ said Jack, grinning.
‘Funnily enough she didn’t. But she did ask if, in light of everything that’s happened, whether I was maybe considering a change of career, to something a bit safer.’
‘And what did you say?’
‘I told her that we don’t usually get firebombed, or shot at, more than once a month and, anyway, my boss is this crazy old guy, who needs somebody to drive him around everywhere and keep him out of trouble. She told me, if you were as bad as that, I might actually qualify for a carer’s allowance.’
‘Cheeky cow.’
‘Is that her or me?’ said Annie, smiling.
‘But all kidding aside, Andy Welch was in earlier and he told me what you did, Annie. At their de-briefing, the SWAT guys reported that they were absolutely shitting bricks when they got inside the caravan and smelled the high concentration of Propane gas. They reckoned that the levels were so high, we were only seconds away from Armageddon if the fire had been left to burn. I just can’t get my head round the fact that you chose to stay with me inside that room, with the clock ticking down like that. That you managed, somehow, to crawl across the floor and beat out the flames that were all over my clothes with your bare hands. What you did took a lot of guts. I won’t ever forget it.’
‘It wasn’t exactly like that,’ replied Annie, smiling. ‘My feet were still taped together, so I couldn’t stand up properly and my hands were still handcuffed. So the truth is, I couldn’t have escaped even if I wanted to. We were either going up in flames together, or getting carried out together.’
‘I’ve been lying here thinking a lot. I find that a brush with sudden death makes a person do that,’ said Jack, ‘And I’ve decided that it makes sense just to cancel the six month probationary period that we agreed on when you started work.’
Annie was completely taken aback and said, ‘Sorry, what do you mean cancel …’
‘Relax, I’m not giving you the sack. What I’m trying to say, Annie, is that if you’re sure that you want stick with me, to see where we can take the business, I’d like to make you a full partner. We’d split everything fifty-fifty, right down the middle.’
‘I don’t know what to say, boss. Surely it’s a bit soon. Maybe you should just wait until you’re back at work and we can talk about it then.’
‘Look, it’s got nothing to do with what you did back at Mossdyke, I was thinking about it well before that. This is not about gratitude, Annie … it’s more like enlightened self-interest on my part. You’re a complete natural at the business and I think that, between us, we make a great team. What do you think?’
Zoning in on the practicalities of the proposed new working arrangement, Annie sought clarification. ‘So let me get this straight, I wouldn’t be on wages, like I am now? Instead I’d be sharing fifty per cent of any net profit on all the work we do, after expenses and overheads.’
‘That’s right.’
‘Yeah, but what about shared losses? That must be the flipside of the deal as well.’
‘There won’t be any,’ said Jack confidently. ‘And I have public liability insurance that covers us for most eventualities.’
Annie chewed this over for a minute and then said, ‘So if I agreed, when do you see this new partnership arrangement starting?’
Jack held out his hand and said, ‘From the minute you shake my hand. If you agree, I’ll get a formal agreement written by my lawyer up right away.’
‘What about the rest of the money from Rupert Jones?’
‘Good question, I knew you’d ask about that. What I’m suggesting is that, after taking off the cost of doing up the office and setting aside some money to cover tax, we would keep, say, five thousand pounds as a working balance in the current account. Then there’s the cost of a re-spray for Senga. If my arithmetic is correct, that would leave around four thousand which, split down the middle, would leave two grand each. It could pay for a nice holiday, or you could buy yourself a new Apple gadget. Or something really useful, like a Kevlar vest.’
‘I don’t know. I mean that job was completely down to you. I didn’t do anything. I even tried to talk you out of getting involved, remember? So it’s not fair that I should benefit.’
‘That’s not how I see it, Annie. As Mr Jones explained it to me, and he’s no fool, you have to pay top dollar to get hold of the best talent here in the big city. So just think of the money as a golden hello, a signing-on fee.’
To Jack’s surprise Annie hesitated and said, ‘I don’t know, you’ve kind of sprung this one on me. Let me think about it. Anyway, I have to get going. I said that I would meet the carpet guy back at the office in half an hour, so he can measure up.’
As she got up to leave, Jack asked, ‘Annie, I meant to ask you, have there been any more death threats?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Thank Christ for that because, if yet another bampot had appeared out of the woodwork, I was just going to stay here in bed with the covers pulled over my head.’
‘I wouldn’t do that, boss, honestly,’ cautioned Annie, with a smirk. ‘I’m pretty sure that the build-up of methane under there, after four days, would finish you off. And don’t dare try to light up a sneaky fag either, when the nurses aren’t looking, okay? You could take out the entire high dependency wing.’
‘Bye Annie, missing you already,’ said Jack, grinning to himself as he turned over in bed and slipped on his ear buds.
Chapter 58
As Annie helped Jack out of the back of a taxi and into the Royal Bar, for the first time since their close call with death at the Mossdyke campsite, they made an incongruous looking couple. Annie was wearing bright yellow ski mitts, which hid the bandages covering her hands and forearms, while Jack still had a pink crepe bandage wound around his head wound and his right arm was in a sling support. He walked slowly, shuffling slightly like a much older man, but his spirits were lifted by the unsympathetic greetings offered by the Royal’s regular lunchtime crowd of topers and reprobates, who were standing around the traditional horseshoe bar.
‘Hey Jack, did the Sheriff Officers catch up wae you at last?’
‘Who picked out your outfits to-day, guys? Stevie Wonder?’
‘Awright big man? So whit’s the story wae aw these bandages and the sling? Huv you been chasin’ cars up the ootside lane of the motorway again?’
Jack winced as he eased himself up onto his favourite stool and gave the standard Glasgow reply under these circumstances. ‘If you think this is bad, you want to see the other guy.’
One of his regular drinking companions sat next to him and asked, ‘But all kiddin aside, Jack, what the fuck happened to the pair of you?’
Reluctant to get into a full explanation, Jack said, ‘It’s a long story, Rab. We were attacked by a crazy guy, but we’re both on the mend now. It
could have been a lot worse.’
‘Yeah, we were really lucky,’ said Annie with a straight face.
‘There are some right bammers knocking about these days, sure enough. So did the polis manage to get the guy that did it?’
‘Oh aye, they got him all right. Let’s just say we’re not worried about him being a repeat offender.’
Peggy, the landlady, appeared from the small pub office at that point, hurried over and said, ‘Oh my God, would you look at the state of my best customer. Jack, honestly, I’m really sorry that I didn’t come in to see you. But I’ve got a thing about going inside hospitals. I think it’s something to do with the smell.’
‘That was a really smart move, Auntie,’ said Annie, grinning. ‘Trust me on that one. I heard that the room he was in has been sealed off for fumigation.’
Ignoring the jibe, Jack said, ‘No worries, Peggy, your niece person here passed on your best wishes along with the big flask of homemade soup. It was much appreciated because all that steamed hospital grub was giving me terrible constipation.’
Smiling, Peggy then said, ‘So are you still on the Gwynnie Paltrow diet? If you are, then you’re out of luck, because the draught kale juice and the organic rice salads are completely sold out. What can I get you?’
‘After ten days in hospital, I could murder a couple of pints of Best. Believe me, the first one wouldn’t even touch the sides on the way down.’
‘No way,’ said Annie quickly. ‘You’re not allowed booze, until the doc gives you the all clear, remember? So please don’t give him any alcohol, Auntie, no matter how much he begs. But since I’m not driving, for once, I’ll have a bottle of Bud Light and a bag of plain crisps, thanks.’
Fire in the Blood Page 25
