One Hundred And Twelve Days

by Ian Todd

  “So, wan ae them could’ve nipped through the gate while clocking-in upstairs, Bob?” The Assistant Chief Constable asked.

  “Aye. Until the conclusion ae the investigation, which is in the early stages, they’re doon as suspects tae.”

  Silence.

  “Murdina?”

  “I would imagine that Joshua Crankie, the defence brief for Brown and Hastie, is rubbing his hands with glee. The defence team will obviously use the fact that one of the police officers committed the murder whilst on remand, hoping to convince the jury, that the two honest businessmen are being fitted up by corrupt senior police officers trying to save their own skin. Crankie will aggressively challenge any suggestion made by The Crown that his clients would have the influence to get a member of the prison staff to carry out a murder on their behalf, whilst under the prison’s custody.”

  “Ma money’s oan McPhee, so it is,” Sam Bison declared.

  “Seemingly, he’s been arguing and fighting wae McGovern and Priestly since they aw arrived oan the wing,” Mackerel admitted.

  “Whit aboot Bare? Where’s he in aw this, Bob?” asked The Assistant Chief Constable.

  “Teddy? He hisnae an axe tae grind. He’s patiently waiting tae hear that his murder charge his been reduced tae culpable homicide.

  “Ah knew that it wis mistake tae house Priestly up there,” Mackerel said, as Cleopatra slung daggers across the table tae him, wae they slitted eyes ae hers and Sam Bison nodded his heid in agreement wae his colleague.

  Chapter Forty Five

  “Gangster? Me?” Simon laughed dismissively. “Christ, you crack me up, so ye dae, Elspeth.”

  “What?” she demanded, eyeing him up o’er the rim ae her peach sundae glass, her long spoon suspended in mid-air.

  “You, that’s whit.”

  “So, you’re denying it then?”

  “There’s no such a thing as a gangster in a place like Glesga…and if there ever wis, they kind ae people wid’ve died aff back in the fifties and sixties.”

  “Oh come on, Simon. Look at what’s been happening lately. It’s been in all the papers and the news.”

  “Whit his?”

  “Honest John McCaffrey? So-called black butchers being shot and disappearing under suspicious circumstances. That man, The Horse or whatever his nickname was, being shot in one of the lanes in the town centre…not to mention One-bob Brown and the other one,” she challenged him.

  “So?”

  “So, you’re saying those people aren’t gangsters?”

  “That’s jist crooks falling oot wae each other. Ye’ve heard ae the expression, there’s nae honour amongst thieves, hiven’t ye?”

  “You mean, gangsters.”

  “Gangsters ur people like The Krays and The Richardsons doon in London, back in the sixties…and look whit happened tae them, by the way. Dae ye really think aw the young tickets up here in Glesga wid staun fur any ae that gangster nonsense? When Ah wis growing up in Springburn, Ah never came across any so-called gangsters. There wur a few hard men oan the go, bit they wur different. They wur jist intae knocking the hell oot ae people who couldnae fight sleep in the first place. Whit?” he asked, laughing at her laughing at him.

  “I can’t believe that you’re trying to tell me that there aren’t gangsters in a place like Glasgow. You must think I’m stupid or something.”

  “Ye’ve been believing aw that shite ye read in the papers or listening tae that boss ae yers trying tae justify they exorbitant rates ae his. Believe you me, if there wur any big-time gangsters operating in the toon, Ah wid’ve picked up oan it long ago. And anyway, whit if Ah wis a gangster? It hisnae stoapped you sitting here admiring whit’s sitting opposite ye.”

  “You invited me to D’Jaconelli’s for one of their famous ice-creams, remember?” she retorted, intentionally ignoring the modest self-admiration fae the silver-tongued chancer sitting across fae her.

  “Ah admit that when Ah wis younger, Ah might’ve been a bit ae a lad, bit that wis before Ah managed tae open up ma wee carpet shoap…”

  “Warehouse…”

  “Ah’ll even admit that Ah used the proceeds ae a bit ae thievery tae put doon a wee down payment oan the rent and tae buy some stock, bit since then, Ah’ve been oan the straight and narrow, clean as a whistle, so Ah hiv.”

  “And The Mankys?”

  “The same boat as masel. They’re aw up-and-coming businessmen noo. And anyway, ye’ve goat that tag wrang, so ye hiv…jist like everywan else who claims tae know whit the score is.”

  “Oh?”

  “Me, Jake, Peter and Ben urnae Mankys. We aw went through school thegither up in Springburn. You’re referring tae Tony and Johnboy. They’re the original Mankys. It wis a name-tag they goat labelled wae as wee manky arsed toe-rags, doon in the Toonheid, back in the mid-sixties,” he said, laughing. “So, anywan that claims tae know whit they’re talking aboot ur talking a heap ae shite. Ask Graham if ye don’t believe me.”

  “And the scary person who’s the spitting image of Milton Reid, the actor who played The Big Pirate in Swiss family Robinson?” she asked.

  “Ha, ha! That’s jist Baby…Baby Huey. Ach, he’s jist a big saftie who hid the misfortune tae be born looking like that. Widnae hurt a fly, so he widnae. And naw, he wis never a Manky either. He came fae Roystonhill, jist up the road fae the Toonheid.”

  Elspeth watched Epstein speak and gesticulate wae they hauns ae his. He wis quite funny. Despite the working-class accent, he wis a charmer. The fact that he hid the looks and the clothes, no tae mention the latest Jenson Interloper sitting at the kerb ootside the cafe, only added tae the attractive good looks he appeared tae modestly ignore. He surely hid wummin falling aw o’er themsels tae be seen, attached tae his erm, she telt hersel. She might no like Swansea, but she respected his understaunin ae the Glesga underworld scene and his knowledge ae the dapper gangster…or should that be ex-crook, sitting opposite her. The way Epstein spoke, convincingly, that he wis jist a young honest businessman, working hard tae get by, belied whit she’d managed tae find oot aboot him fae casual snippets amongst the girls in the outer office o’er a cup ae tea, when they mentioned The Mankys in conversations during the campaign tae free Johnboy Taylor and the little that Swansea hid divulged tae her at the briefing session wae him. She wondered if it wis a wummin dynamic. Aw the lassies at the office spoke aboot how dashing and funny he wis, while the men, like Graham and Swansea, agreed aboot how charming he always came across, bit then raised the darker side. The robberies, violence…murder even? As a solicitor, wan ae the pre-requisites fur a long and successful career in law, according tae wan ae her professors, wis the ability tae read people beyond whit they wur saying and tae differentiate whit they wanted ye tae hear. She’d defy any ae her previous professors or year classmates no tae find the charmer sitting across fae her interesting or challenging. Why could they no get people like Simon Epstein in tae talk tae the law students, particularly the wans who wanted tae work in criminal law, she wondered. He’d be a sensation in the packed lecture theatre, wae that suave patter ae his, whether he wis a gangster or no. The descriptions ae horrendous murders being committed by so-called gangsters, alangside photographs ae the victims and perpetrators, splashed across the front pages ae the daily newspapers and oan the evening news, didnae throw up images that looked anything like Simon Epstein. These gangsters looked much aulder, harder and menacing. Like fae another era or world. She’d been embarrassed by the arrival ae the roses addressed tae her at the office. There wisnae a card wae them, bit aw the girls oot in the front knew exactly where they’d originated fae. It wis only The Mankys that sent flowers tae the female staff oot oan the desks and typewriters, efter Graham successfully beat a charge against them. Seemingly, this hid been a first tae an actual partner in the firm.

  “So, your lunch date with Simon went well then?” Graham hid asked, smiling, turning up oot ae the blue tae her office and grabbing a seat. “The girls are all speculating on which one sent
them,” he’d said, nodding at the bouquet sitting in a milk jug oan her windae sill.

  “Are they?” she’d drawled, feeling embarrassed.

  “So, any news?”

  “On what?”

  “Whether the girls have decided to retain your excellent skills to represent Rose Bain’s family at the coming trial of One-bob Brown and Charlie Hastie.”

  She’d telt him whit Epstein hid said aboot the lassies bringing in a medium.

  “What’s so funny?” she’d demanded at his response.

  “They’re a fabulous bunch. No matter what was thrown at the girls, they always picked themselves up and jumped back in to the affray. Half the time I couldn’t stop laughing with the one-liners. They’re well matched for the likes of The Mankys,” Graham hid said, laughing.

  She’d decided tae gie the young gangster a body swerve. This hid included no taking his calls. Graham hid asked her if she wis sure that it wisnae Simon Epstein that hid been turning the tables oan her.

  “For what purpose?” she’d asked.

  “Who knows? Perhaps he’s stringing you along, tantalising you with promises of being able to influence the girls to change their minds and retain your services in the Rose Bain trial, while trying to have his evil way with you. He clearly finds you attractive.”

  “A lot of men fancy their chances with me, Graham, but that doesn’t mean to say that I would go out on a date with any of them. Are you suggesting that he doesn’t have any influence with them?” she’d stupidly blurted oot, gieing away her actual intentions.

  “I’d be very careful, Elspeth,” hid been his parting shot.

  She’d decided tae nip Epstein’s attentions, amorous or otherwise, in the bud, efter she’d received a card reminding her ae her commitment tae go oot fur the best ice-cream in the city oan the coming Friday night at seven. His card hid said that he’d pick her up fae ootside her flat. She’d been so angry that he knew where she lived, that she’d picked up the phone and dialled the carpet warehoose up in the Coocaddens. When she’d been informed that he wisnae there, insteid ae hinging up, she’d left a message tae confirm that she’d be delighted tae meet up wae him oan the Friday evening. She couldnae believe it when she’d come aff the phone. Why? Why the sudden change? She knew it hid tae dae wae the Rose Bain case. She didnae want tae lose the deid nurse as a client. Whit wis it that Graham hid suggested regarding her getting a using? Well, if Epstein could play that game, then so could she. At least, that’s the rationale she’d come up wae.

  “Coffee or a wee pot ae tea?” he asked, breaking intae her contemplation.

  “No thanks, I’ve been drinking all day in the office.”

  “Ye look absolutely stunning, so ye dae,” he said, leaning back in his seat, exaggerating his interest, by looking her up and doon.

  “Yes, you already said…twice,” she reminded him, as the baith ae them laughed. “So, how did the séance go with the medium then?” she asked, trying tae sound casual.

  “Ah wisnae there.”

  “Oh come on, Simon. You know what I’m asking.”

  “Hiv ye no heard fae any ae the lassies yet?”

  “No.”

  “Ach, well,” he said, shrugging.

  “Oh. Does that mean they’ve decided on another firm then?” she asked, sounding disappointed.

  “No necessarily.”

  “Then what?”

  “It probably means they hivnae made up their mind…yet.”

  “Have you spoken to any of them?”

  “Ah spoke tae Jean Maguire in the passing.”

  “And?”

  “She said they wur aw well impressed by Madame Gies Yer Dosh. Said she looked like something oot ae that auld film, Gypsy Rose. There wur aw sorts ae revelations revealed, seemingly.”

  “And?”

  “And that wis it.”

  “Oh.”

  “Look, dae ye fancy heidin somewhere else?” he asked her, before she could inform him that she jist wanted tae go hame…alone. “The lassies will probably be there,” he quickly added, a wee smile appearing at the side ae his mooth. “Ah hiv tae see a guy aboot a wee bit ae business.”

  “Oh, will my presence not embarrass the girls, if they’ve already made up their mind?”

  “Ye’re wae me. Whit’s the problem?”

  Silence.

  “C’mone, Elspeth, let yer hair doon fur wance in yer life. They won’t eat ye.”

  “Where?”

  “The Dial Inn, doon in West Regent Street. If ye think the music’s shite, ye kin phone up the DJ fae the phone oan the table and ask him tae change it.”

  “What would the girls think… if they see me arriving with you?’

  “How dae ye mean?”

  “Do they know that we’ve er, been out for lunch?”

  “Or oan a date…oan a Friday night?” he laughed, as she blushed.

  “Look, Simon, my job means that we can’t…”

  “Ach, Ah’m only joking. Look, we won’t be in the place fur long. We’ll hiv wan drink and then Ah’ll drap ye aff up the road. Whit dae ye say?”

  “You still haven’t told me how you knew where I lived.”

  “Ah live no far fae ye. Ah see ye coming and gaun when Ah’m driving past. Ye probably don’t realise it, bit ye staun oot, so ye dae,” he replied, smiling.

  “One drink?”

  “Wan drink,” he agreed, staunin up, quickly, jist in case she changed her mind.

  Chapter Forty Six

  Senga stood in front ae the full-length mirror in her bedroom. She lifted her erms up and bunched her blonde tresses up at the back ae her neck wae baith hauns, as she turned sideways. Her breasts rose wae her erms and looked firm. The nipple withoot the dimple in it wis staunin oot, erect. Lizzie hid furgoatten tae switch the central heating oan before she’d left fur work, so the radiators hidnae warmed the room up efter she’d quickly nipped oot ae bed and switched it oan. There wisnae any sagging wae the cheeks ae her bum. Hardly surprising wae the amount ae running aboot and lifting she did during her twelve hour shift up at The Royal maist days. She turned back tae the mirror, letting her hair fall doon oan tae her shoulders, as she stood wae her erms at her side. Her hips didnae look too broad, nor too thin either. The last time she’d been measured by Kim Sui, doon at DIRTY JAKE’S, she’d been a 36-28-38. Fae her breasts, her eyes traversed doon across her firm stomach, pausing momentarily tae look at the mousey blond pubic triangle at the tap ae her legs. At five feet nine, her legs appeared slim and well-proportioned tae the rest ae her body. There wisnae any unsightly cellulite oan them, apart fae an angry bluish green bruise oan the side ae her thigh, where a drunken patient, wae a poker sticking oot ae the side ae her heid, hid kicked her as she tried tae get up aff the trolley she wis being wheeled in oan, a few nights previously. Aw the lassies said she looked a million dollars when she stepped oot in heels. Pearl, oan the other haun, wis aboot five four or five, wae nae hips and even smaller breasts. Granted, her hair wis stunning, even though she claimed tae hate her long, red, almost auburn, natural curly hair that kept spilling across that pale, freckled face ae hers. It hidnae taken Pearl long tae be decked oot in the latest European and American fashions by Kim Sui, a day or two efter her unexpected arrival back in the toon. Senga wondered if she should get a perm. She fought and failed, tae stoap the sob fae escaping fae the back ae her throat, as Dusty Springfield’s voice cried oot ‘You Don’t Own Me,’ fae the radio through in the kitchen that Lizzie hid furgoatten tae switch aff earlier. She turned and picked up her dressing gown fae the bottom ae the bed and slipped it oan, tying the belt tightly, as she heided through tae the kitchen tae hiv her first cup ae coffee ae the day wae Dusty. That sinking feeling ae dread, hurt and loss continued intae her second cup, as Abba’s ‘SOS’ continued tae twist the knife in the pit ae her stomach. She’d known there hid been something amiss, something no quite right, when she’d been across at Johnboy’s a few days earlier, bit she couldnae quite put her finger oan it at the ti
me, that wis, until Pearl hid breezed intae The Dial Inn at the same time as Simon and Elspeth Jefferson the night before. Whit a shock everywan hid goat, efter seeing who wis staunin there wae him, when he’d sauntered across tae say hello tae everywan. No only that, bit the bugger hid hid the cheek tae dump Elspeth oan them, before disappearing aff tae take care ae whit he’d referred tae as a ‘wee bit ae business’. Aw the lassies hid been meeting up tae celebrate Pearl getting a job wae The Glesga Echo as a journalist the previous week. It hid been the perfume she wis wearing. The year before Pearl hid disappeared up tae the Highlands, Jake hid passed oan a batch ae classic Eau De Cologne in their original packaging tae Kim Sui. She’d then invited the lassies tae come doon tae the boutique tae take their pick ae wan ae them. Senga hid gone fur an original bottle ae Fidji by Guy Laroche, that hid been released back in 1966. Johnboy hid telt her that the fragrance hid driven him crazy when he’d smelt it aff her so-called ‘Dear John’ letter that she’d sent him at the start ae his sentence. Pearl hid gone fur a lovely 90ml bottle ae Chamade by Jean Paul Guerlain that hid come oot in 1969 efter Kim Sui hid explained tae her whit the shape ae the bottle wis supposed tae represent.