Midnight's Door

by Robert F Barker

  I was still about thirty yards away when Eric's voice sounded again. 'Crew Two striking.' Crew Two was Steve and his mates. At the same time I was aware of a sudden commotion in the crowd towards the back of the room, the area where they had been monitoring one pair of visitors. It lasted seconds then normality returned. A moment later Eric said, 'Pair One down and out.'

  Okay, I thought. So far so good. At that moment the leader pushed himself away from the bar, picked up a glass of what looked like lager from the bar next to him and started towards the group of lads. As I headed for him, Gol and Eve joined from my right.

  I was still yards away when the leader barged into the back of the lad nearest, hard enough to knock the bottle from his hand. It fell to the floor, spilling beer. I saw but couldn't hear his, 'What the fuck?' reaction. At the same time the leader dropped his glass, as if jarred by the impact. As the lad turned, still wearing an innocent expression, the leader shouted into his face. I still couldn't hear, but the way the leader was readying himself, his intention was clear enough. Behind the four lads I could see another pair of our visitors bearing down, arriving right on cue. The lad was saying something to the leader now, no threat as far as I could see, but more a, 'What're you about mate?' query - the sort of response a lad not looking for trouble gives when first challenged. Red Leader was ready and came straight back with an angry tirade. This time I was close enough to catch the, '-FUCKING WANKER.' To my right I was conscious of bodies moving rapidly through the crowd, converging on the scene. I hoped it was Winston. If it was the other three, we could be in trouble.

  As I neared, Red pulled his left arm back, fist balling, eyes focused on the lad he'd bumped. The spark that would ignite the fire. The lad's face changed as he realised he was in trouble. The fist shot forward, heading for the middle of the lad's face. It was six inches from its target when my fingers closed round the wrist behind it, pulling and diverting the blow into my chest. The attacker turned with it and just had time to register his surprise before my other hand closed on top of the first, pulling his fist even tighter into my chest and keeping it there. At the same time I took a step back with my right leg and bent forward from the waist. I felt the snap as something in his forearm gave, and he let out a scream of pain. I stood up again straight, bringing him up with me, then spun him round and away to where I hoped Gol and Eve were waiting to take him.

  Looking through the group of lads - who were now spinning like tops, trying to keep abreast of what was happening all around them - I was relieved to see Winston's broad back. He, Chris and two rota-lads had formed themselves into a tight circle around the pair I'd last seen bearing down on the group. They must have got there just as I was dealing with the leader. The expressions on the pair's faces were of the, 'What the fuck's happening?' variety. In my mind, an image formed as to what they'd have looked like a few short seconds earlier, about to launch themselves onto the group as their leader struck the first blow, only to find themselves suddenly surrounded by a group of doormen who'd appeared from nowhere. I turned to the lad who'd been the leader's intended victim. He was still spinning, looking from me, to his would-be attacker, to his mates and beyond them to the door staff who'd suddenly materialised next to them.

  'What's going on?' he said.

  'Nothing, now,' I said, giving him my best, Everything's-Under-Control smile. I turned to check Gol and Eve had the leader. They did. His face was racked in pain but, I could see his brain was still working enough that he was beginning to realise how his plan had come apart. I nodded to Gol, who turned to march him away, then did the same to Winston. Like a Roman Phalanx guarding the Legion's Eagle he, Chris and the others began shuffling the other pair towards the doors. I gave the lads one last nod. 'Have a great night lads,' and chuffed the arm of the one who'd nearly taken the hit, You'll never know how close you came, sonny. I walked away to the sound of their expressions of astonishment ringing in my ears.

  'What was that all about?'

  'Did you see what he just did?'

  'Was that, Danny Norton?'

  But for all that at that moment I was glad we'd managed to prevent some serious mayhem which would have seen blood on the dance floor and led to questions about DoorSec's competence - I wasn't about to crow. The man upstairs would not be happy to learn his plan had gone awry. It wasn't over yet.

  I caught up with everyone in the staff room. We'd arranged to take all the 'prisoners' there and, depending on how it had all gone, decide what to do with them. Sitting on their backsides, backs to the wall I found a line of pissed-off ex-militaries. But with their wrists cuffed behind and with Winston, Gol and Eve watching over them, they could be as pissed-off as they liked. They weren't a threat now. The only one on his feet was their leader, still wincing in pain and whose uninjured arm Gol had in his vice-like grip. The fly in the ointment was that Tony-the-Manager was there, looking like he was about to have a heart attack. Apparently he'd seen some of the commotion, wondered what was going on, and followed Steve's mob with some of the prisoners back there.

  'What the fuck's going on, Danny?' he wailed as I came in. 'Who are they?' pointing at Steve and his crew. 'And who's this lot?' pointing at the Russians.

  'I'll tell you later,' I said, not keen to get into the whys and wherefores when I still had things to do.

  But Tony wasn't for having it. 'You're out of fucking control, Danny. Who do you think you are, the fucking SAS?'

  At that point I nearly gave in to my instincts, but decided it would be undiplomatic. I turned to him and in the most even voice I could manage said, 'Tony, you may be able to tell that just at this moment we are dealing with a... situation. Perhaps you could come back later?'

  For a moment he looked like he might explode, then turning, he stormed out through the door. His parting words were, 'Wait 'til Frank hears about this.'

  I took a deep breath, turned to Gol. 'Right. Bring him.' Gol held up a mobile. It was buzzing like a bee. 'His?' I said, nodding at the leader. Gol nodded. I turned to Winston and the others, 'Wait quarter of an hour then let them out the back, in pairs. No rough stuff unless they piss about, then you can do as you like.' The way the prisoners responded, swapping wary looks, wherever they were from, most had no trouble understanding English.

  As I made to leave with Gol and the leader, Eve said, 'Can I come?'

  'Why not?' I said.

  As we made our way towards the stairs, Vicki came into view, walking fast as her heels would allow.

  'Tony's just collared Frank in the office. He looks well-pissed. What've you done now?' As she spoke, I could see her eyeing the man nestled between Gol and Eve, no doubt wondering why he was looking so unhappy.

  'We've just stopped a riot. Now I'm returning this one,' I thumbed behind me, 'To his boss,'

  She didn't say anything but pointed up and let her face ask the question. I nodded.

  Her response was a muttered, 'Oh, crap.'

  'Do me a favour?' I said.

  'What?'

  'See if you can keep Frank in the office until I get back. If Tony winds him up, he'll want to do something. And whatever it is, it will be wrong.'

  'I'll do my best.' She turned and headed back along the corridor. I loved her more than ever.

  All the way up to the top corridor, the leader's mobile kept buzzing. Someone was ringing it, repeatedly. I could imagine who. Unusually, Alexei wasn't at his designated post. Crisis meeting, I thought.

  At the door, I didn't knock or anything but went straight in. Yashin, Bergin and Alexei were in a huddle, all with phones to their ears. The women were over on the couch. The look on their faces, I could tell they were out of it. As the men looked round and saw us, the phones came down. A second later the mobile in Gol's hand stopped buzzing. I dragged the leader round to the front. Yashin's face was already turning puce.

  'I believe this gentleman works for you.' I shoved him forwards. As he stumbled towards Yashin, he spat something back at me that I didn't understand. Making a last show of d
efiance I thought. So his boss may be minded to go more kindly on him. Fat chance.

  Yashin gave the man just one derisory glance, before turning his attention on me. For once he seemed lost for words, but the way he was looking at me, I was glad he wasn't stupid enough to be carrying a gun. Though I was still wary in case that didn't apply to Bergin or Alexei. Yashin’s silence wasn't a problem. I wasn't looking for conversation.

  'As you've probably worked out, things haven't quite gone to plan.' I took a step forward, for emphasis. Our gazes locked. 'I'm not expecting this will put you off doing what you're trying to do. All I'll say is, if this keeps up, someone's going to get seriously hurt. And I mean, seriously. And I don't intend it'll be anyone from my side.' I could have added, 'You get my drift?' but didn't think I needed to. His eyes told me he got it.

  The thin lips parted, his mouth opened. I waited to hear what his response was going to be. It never came.

  From behind me came a bellow. 'WHAT THE FUCK'S GOING ON?'

  I turned to see Frank Johnson coming through the door, Tony behind him, Vicki following, looking desperate and face full of apology for having failed in her appointed task. Frank came between Yashin and me, looking from one to the other, but mainly at me. 'Speak to me, Danny.'

  I nodded at the Russian. 'You may want to ask him.'

  But Frank wasn't having any. 'I'm asking you.' He was as angry as I've ever seen him. Tony had done a good job. Vicki hadn't had a chance. I counted to three, knowing I needed to be careful.

  'Our friend here thought that a riot on the dance floor might convince you I'm not doing my job properly. I was just telling him it wasn't a good idea.'

  'Riot? What riot?' Frank looked to Tony, who shrugged his ignorance, then back at me. 'What're you talking about? I haven't seen any trouble?'

  'That's because we stopped it happening.' Something was ringing in my gut. Frank wasn't calming down the way he should have been doing.

  Frank turned to Yashin who said, 'I have no idea what he is talking about.' He turned to look at the man behind him whose wrists were still locked in the plastic cuffs. He said to Bergin, 'Who is this man? Do we know him?'

  Bergin looked at Alexei, who shook his head, then spoke to the man in Russian. There was a brief conversation.

  Bergin said, 'He says he is off a boat, from Runcorn. He was minding his own business when he,' - he nodded at me - 'grabbed him and broke his arm. He says he wishes to press charges and that we must call the police.'

  I sighed.

  Yashin turned to Frank. He tutted, like he was sorry about something. 'I think, Mr Johnson, your Security Manager does not like Russians perhaps?'

  I sighed again. 'Go and look at the CCTV, Frank. Eric will show you-'

  'I don't need to look at any fucking CCTV, Danny. I've had enough of this. You've gone too far this time. After tonight, you're off the door.' He turned to Tony. 'Get hold of Dave Charnley for me.' Eyes wide, Tony nodded, and disappeared. As he passed Vicki I saw panic start in her face.

  'Hang on Frank,' I said. 'There's no need to-'

  He whirled round on me, eyes like saucers. I wondered if he'd taken something. And he could barely get the words out quick enough.

  'Don't start telling me how to run my fucking club again Danny. You've done that once too often. That's it. You're out.'

  CHAPTER 43

  It was five o'clock in the morning. I was crashed on my living room couch, staring at the unlit gas fire. Apart from the tie, I was still in full uniform, jacket and all. The bottle of JD I opened when I got in was three quarters gone. I was fucked, in several senses of the word.

  It's hard to remember the detail of the rest of the night. I knew from the moment of Frank's snap decision - which on reflection, may not have been that 'snap' - I was up against it trying to get him to see sense. But it didn't stop me trying. Apart from not wanting the business to go belly up, I had a responsibility, not just to the people who work for me but to the club and the people who use it regularly. As far as I was concerned, a change on the door would be disastrous for everyone. Not least I felt a huge responsibility towards Vicki. And while I couldn't have put into words exactly how a change on the door would be bad for her, I just knew it, instinctively.

  So when the chance arose, after we'd all beaten a retreat from Yashin's suite and I'd gotten my guys to get rid of their prisoners, I tried to pin Frank down, in his office.

  He didn't want to know.

  'There's nothing you can say will make me change my mind,' he said, soon as he saw me. 'This has been brewing a long time, Danny. It's time for a change.’

  I was conscious that since the confrontation upstairs, Tony-the-Manager had been hanging off Frank's shoulder like they were conjoined twins. So, as I have done in the past when I needed Frank to see some sense, I suggested that maybe we should speak, 'In private.'

  'Tony's the Club Manager,' he said. 'Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of him.'

  Right then I knew I had my work cut out. I still gave it my best shot.

  I tried explaining how, if we hadn't done what we did, there'd have been a riot. And that wouldn't only have reflected on me and my team, it could have affected his licence.

  He said, 'If you knew something like that was brewing you should have told me, or Tony first.' I decided against mentioning that if I had, it would have likely got straight back to Yashin, who'd have postponed things to a day when we were less well prepared. 'Anyway, why go to these lengths? You've handled trouble on the floor loads of times.'

  'With drunken clubbers. These were professionals. And sober.'

  'So you say.'

  As we'd already got rid of them, there was little more I could prove on that score.

  I talked about my fears for the club if Charnley took over the door, who he would let in.

  'All door guys have their favourites. You're no different.'

  I pointed out - though I shouldn't have needed to - our record. How over the past three years we'd done pretty well keeping organised dealing out of the club, which for a place like Midnight's is remarkable.

  'So you say, but how do you know? How do you prove something like that?'

  By now it was becoming clear that whatever I said, whatever argument I put forward, Frank was always going to have a comeback. His mind was made up. I thought I knew why.

  'You're giving in to Yashin,' I said, finally. 'Letting him win.'

  'Stop blaming Yashin. This has got fuck-all to do with him.' But the speed of his anger told me I'd hit the nail. Frank was scared.

  I tried mentioning the contract, though I guessed what his response would be. 'You're required to give us one month's notice.'

  He didn't disappoint. 'Don't worry, I'll pay you for the month. But as from Tuesday, you're off the door.'

  Eventually there was only one thing left to say. Not an argument, just a statement of fact.

  'I can't protect you if I'm not here, Frank.'

  'I don't need protecting. I can look after myself.'

  But as he said it, the look in his eyes, which Tony couldn't see but I could, gave the lie to it.

  I shook my head. 'You've no idea how much I wish to God that were true.' I turned to leave. 'When you've seen sense, call me.'

  I left him and Tony working out what to do next.

  The hardest thing was seeing the night through. Word had spread like wildfire. Everywhere I went people were whispering. Not surprisingly, my team wanted to know what was happening. Their worries weren't only around Charnley taking over.

  'They're saying we're sacked off the door. Is it true?'

  'Does that mean we're all out of a job?'

  'Where do we stand, money-wise?'

  I couldn't blame them for a second. Most of them had other mouths to feed as well as their own. I gave them what reassurance I felt able. 'There's no need to panic. Give Frank a couple of days to calm down, then we'll see what comes out in the wash.' Inside, I wasn't holding out much hope for a change of hear
t.

  At one stage I thought about ringing Mike. It was his business too. But then, what good can he do, I thought? If I can't talk Frank round, Mike sure as hell won't be able to. Through it all, I did manage to keep an eye on one thing. Vicki still had her podium duties to do. I was about to seek her out when she came looking for me. We spoke in the now-deserted staff room. She was still reeling, and feeling guilty.

  'I'm sorry, Danny. I tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen.'

  'It wasn't your fault. This isn't just about tonight.'

  'What else is there?'

  So far, I'd avoided telling her stuff I thought might unsettle her. That hadn't changed. 'I'll fill you in another time.' I checked my watch. 'Aren't you due on the podium?'

  'What, with all this going on? No chance.'

  I thought about it. 'There's nothing you, or I, can do about Frank tonight. I think you should carry on. Your guardian angels will be set up to see you home I take it?'

  She nodded. 'But I thought you didn't like me dancing.'

  I turned to face her. For all the strain in her face, she was still Vicki. God knows how, but I forced a smile. 'Maybe I'm getting used to seeing you strut your stuff.'

  She looked doubtful. 'Yeah, right.'

  'No, honestly. Maybe you'll do it for me... sometime.'

  She stared at me, eyes narrowing, trying to weigh how far to believe it. 'Danny Norton... If I thought for one minute you were being serious, I'd-'

  'You'd, what?'

  She couldn't, or wouldn't finish it. 'Never mind. Another time maybe.'

  I nodded. 'Another time.' As she turned to leave, I added, 'Message me.'

  She threw me a glance over her shoulder, through her hair. Still sexy as hell. 'I will.'

  After she'd gone, I let out a long breath. What I hadn't said was that after what had gone on with our visitors, I preferred that the police shadow her home rather than some Russian who might see her as the opportunity he needs to get his own back.