by Anna Smith
Donna felt her blood run cold. She must be hearing things. Surely to Christ he wasn’t involved in kidnapping that wee guy? Surely to fuck not. She listened hard, but Lenny wasn’t speaking, so she assumed the other person was talking to him. Then she heard him again.
‘I’ve only been paid two grand, man. The agreement was two grand – one drop. That was all. But that’s two nights now I’ve had to go and drive again and I haven’t been paid another penny. It’s fucking dangerous, man. What if I get stopped by the cops or something? It’s all over the fucking news again. I just saw it on the telly.’
Donna had her hand on her mouth in disbelief. It was him. That wee boy. Holy Christ. This couldn’t be happening. What kind of bastard was Lenny that he would play any part in kidnapping a wee wean? Only a monster would do that. She slipped back down the hall into the kitchen and poured the remains of her tea into the sink, then scrubbed the mug furiously.
*
Donna convinced her mate Shona to come along with her. She wasn’t exactly her best mate, but they’d met at AA, and Shona was already eighteen months drug free. She had a job and a council flat in a decent enough area. But most importantly – she had a car. Donna hadn’t told her what they were going to be doing, but promised her it wasn’t anything illegal, they weren’t on the rob, but she would get well paid in due course. Probably sooner rather than later, she’d told her. Depending on how it worked out. She’d been cryptic enough to whet Shona’s curiosity, but the promise of money was what spurred her on, because Shona had become houseproud since she’d got her own gaff, and was saving up to get a new kitchen. Donna told her mate to be standing by for the night, that she would give her a ring to tell her when to come. Donna had to wait until Lenny went into the shower so she could sneak a look at the text message she’d heard pinging late afternoon. She read it quickly. It said simply ‘Be at the address at seven pm.’ There was no address, which made it a bit more tricky. That meant they’d have to follow him, running the risk of him clocking them. But Donna was fairly confident that Lenny was so wound up, he wouldn’t even be looking in the rear-view mirror. Wherever he was going, she had to get there too. If he was doing what she suspected, this was dynamite. This could bring her in a fortune.
She’d taken the precaution of telling Lenny she was going over to her mum’s to see the kids, so she would be out by the time he left the house. As soon as he came out of the shower and was throwing some clothes on, she left. It was already six twenty. So wherever he was going, it wasn’t that far. She went down the stairs of the apartment block into the street and walked briskly up to the corner where she could see Shona’s dark blue Ford Fiesta parked with the lights out. She glanced over her shoulder at the darkened street, then opened the door and got inside.
‘You are freaking me out, Donna, with all this cloak and fucking dagger stuff,’ Shona said as she planked herself onto the passenger seat. ‘Are you sure we’re not going to get arrested by the end of the night?’
She could smell Shona’s perfume and noticed the fresh look she had, all smartly dressed, and she wished she could get to that stage where she would look respectable like her. She half smiled at Shona.
‘Don’t be daft,’ she said. ‘We’re not breaking any laws. All we’re doing is watching.’ She looked over her shoulder down the street. ‘We have to follow somebody – discreetly, obviously. We need to find out where they’re going without them seeing us.’ She looked at her. ‘That’s all. Then once we see where they are, we disappear.’
‘What if they clock us following them? I mean, if this is some fucking dealer or something and they see us, we’ll get our heads kicked in.’
‘No,’ Donna said. ‘It’s nothing like that. It’s a kind of watching and following situation.’
‘Like a private eye?’
‘Yeah. Like a private eye.’
‘Fuck me! Maybe we’ll get our own TV show out of this!’ Shona grinned. ‘So what do we do now?’
‘We sit here until I see someone going into their car. In my street.’
‘In your street?’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Aw, don’t tell me we’re spying on your man to see if he’s out shagging. Christ’s sake!’
‘Not shagging. That’s not what we’re doing.’ She paused, trying to keep herself calm, but she was cold and shivery with nerves. ‘I told you. It’s something that can make us money. Listen. Don’t ask questions. Just trust me.’
‘Fair enough. But there better be a decent payola for me.’
‘There will be. Not tonight. But soon.’
They sat in silence for a moment, Donna’s eyes peering at her block of flats, watching for the light going off upstairs. It was half six. She was beginning to wonder what was going on. Then suddenly, a black Jeep pulled up outside Lenny’s flat, She watched as the lights went off in the flat. Lenny never drove as he was always hyped up on coke, so he must be paying someone to drive him.
‘Get ready,’ she said. ‘Don’t switch the engine on just yet. But be ready. Any second now.’
Seconds later, she saw Lenny come out of the building and climb into the car. Then the Jeep eased out of the space and drove down the street.
‘That’s it. Let’s go. Keep well behind, but don’t lose them.’
‘Christ! I must be off my fucking head.’ Shona switched on the engine and carefully came out down the long street that led out of the scheme.
They followed the car in silence, Donna’s heart in her mouth. She hadn’t really thought out the plan in any detail, but she had to see where Lenny was going. She was even asking herself what if she had got this totally wrong and it was perfectly innocent, but her gut told her it wasn’t. He’d been totally wound out of his box in the last two days. He was up to something. They followed the car all the way into the city centre and across Jamaica Bridge, then onto the Kinning Park area that was mostly warehouses and old buildings. It was a creepy, dark street with not much traffic except people heading onto the M8 motorway. But it was busy enough with moving traffic for them to keep a few cars behind and still see the Jeep. Then they saw it park at the entrance to a warehouse. There were a few cars in the car park next to it and lights on inside. Donna thought the warehouse might still be open, and wondered what the hell was going on.
‘Pull over there, Shona. So we can still see what’s happening.’
‘It’s quiet down here, Donna. It’s not the kind of place you can just sit in your car.’
Donna looked at her.
‘You’re wrong about that,’ she said. ‘If you were to stroll up this street and car parks and look into some of these cars, you’d find some punter getting humped in the back seat by one of the hookers. It’s where the girls sometimes take their punters. Close enough to the city, but far enough away from the main drag.’
‘Seriously? How do you know that?’
‘Don’t ask,’ Donna said, staring out of the windscreen, trying to blot out the memory of giving blowjobs to men in suits who were probably on their way home to their wives.
‘Oh,’ Shona said. Then she gave Donna’s arm a supportive squeeze. ‘Sorry. But all that’s in the past.’
‘Too right,’ Donna said.
They sat watching, quietly, the car lights turned off, and Donna straining her eyes peering at the building. She took a little camera out of her bag that one of the shoplifters had sold her a couple of years ago. It was a good Nikon but small. She’d learned how to work it and had taken cherished pictures of her kids on it. She switched it on.
‘Fuck’s sake. Pictures and everything. This is like the telly.’
Donna managed a smile but her mouth was dry with nerves. They sat for a few more minutes. Then a shaft of light from a side door hit the darkened car park. She could see figures coming out of the building, and luckily for her, their footsteps set off a security sensor lighting up the car park. She snapped a couple of pictures, but only captured Lenny and whoever was driving the Jeep. They went forward and opened the back door. She watched, sn
apping away like the paparazzi, glad her hands weren’t trembling because she was shaking inside. She wound down the side window to see if she could hear anything, but there was nothing. They were too far away to be able to hear conversation. But there were muffled voices. Then out of the building came someone carrying something wrapped up in a blanket. She zoomed in. Her stomach dropped. It looked like the feet of a child dangling below the blanket. Then they heard the screams.
‘Muuuuummyy! I want my muuummy!’
Donna’s heart stopped. She turned to Shona.
‘Oh, fuck!’
‘Donna. What the fuck is this? That’s a wean screaming.’
‘Ssssh. Keep down.’
They both watched in horror as the little booted feet kicked and the child screamed all the way to the car. Then the bundle was shoved into the back seat and the car sped off. Donna snapped again, getting the number plate.
‘I’m not following that car,’ Shona said. ‘Whatever the fuck is going on there, I’m not following that.’
Donna nodded. ‘It’s okay. We don’t need to.’
Chapter Nine
Kerry sat in the semi-darkness of the living room with only the glow of the fire and the small reading lamp to give some light. So much had happened in the last couple of days, and she had scarcely drawn breath, trying to get her head around the mess they were in. The hotel venture was now looking to be given the green light by Spanish planning officials. The hard work to take everyone involved in the Casey organisation to a different level should have been about to begin. Now it was dawning on her that it wasn’t going to happen. The dream was over. It wasn’t important any more. Only two things mattered to her right now: Marty’s boy – getting him away from the monsters who took him; and the little life that was apparently now settling into her womb. She hadn’t even taken time to think about that, barely acknowledged that she was actually having a baby, apart from the confirmation of the pregnancy test kit. Yet sitting here listening to the rain rattling on the windows, it occurred to her that there was more to fight for now. It wasn’t just her own dream to take the Caseys out of the swamps in memory of her father. She had to build a future for the baby that would grow inside her in the coming months. It was worth fighting for. She’d been ready to hand everything over without a fight after the call from Frankie saying that the Colombian wanted it all. It was only money, she’d decided. She would survive and so would the Caseys – in some form. But again the thought kept coming back to her. Why should she give in so easily? There had to be a way to fight back. She was tired, but she knew there was no point in even going to bed.
Her mobile rang on the coffee table, and she could see it was Vinny’s number. Marty had called her earlier to say the detective had visited his home and was fishing to see if he was telling the police everything. Marty had also said Vinny was remarkably well informed about the Colombians, and the problems Kerry was having with them. She sensed from Marty’s voice that he was beginning to buckle and question if they were doing the right thing – trying to go this alone without the police. Forty-eight hours had now passed. Two nights out of the house for little Finbar. She let the phone ring four times then picked it up.
‘Vinny.’
‘Hello, Kerry.’ There was a pause for a single beat. ‘I called you a few times.’
‘I know, I’m sorry.’ She was surprised at how emotional she felt. ‘I just wasn’t able to talk to you. I . . . We’re all in a mess over Marty’s wee guy. It’s awful. Can’t stop thinking about it.’
Kerry waited in the silence. She knew he would have to get to the point soon.
‘I know, Kerry. I’m on the case now too. Was asked to get involved.’
She didn’t want to say she already knew that because Marty had phoned, so she said nothing.
‘Kerry. I don’t know if you talked to Marty since I did earlier today, but I need you to know that if this kidnapping is anything to do with the problems you are having with this Colombian mobster, then we should talk.’
Kerry couldn’t trust herself to say anything. So after another moment’s silence, Vinny continued.
‘Look. These bastards don’t play the game the way other criminals do. They will stop at nothing. I know this. I worked in the Colombian cartels and I’ve seen the brutality. It’s beyond anything you could imagine. They’ve murdered innocent children asleep in bed with their mothers. Believe me, Kerry. They will have no qualms about harming wee Finbar, if it is them who have him. If they are holding him to ransom, you need to know that you cannot do this alone. Not the Caseys, not even the combined forces of every gangster family in the UK. You cannot beat these people.’ He paused. ‘Please listen to me. If you have had any contact with them and if you know or suspect they have Finbar, then you need to bring in the police. If you don’t do that, the blood will be on your hands.’
His words cut through her like a knife.
‘Christ’s sake, Vinny!’
‘I’m sorry. There’s no easy way to get this point across. If it is nothing to do with your family, then I apologise. But if it is – please, please don’t put this off. I’ve seen how these things pan out before. Bad things will start happening to this kid very soon if they don’t get what they want.’
Kerry shivered. The truth of what he was saying was overwhelming, and she had no answers. They stayed that way on the phone, saying nothing, until she thought for a second he was gone.
‘Kerry,’ Vinny said softly, ‘I’ve been thinking about you since I last saw you. I want you to know that.’
‘Thanks,’ Kerry said, choking back emotion. She was sitting here alone and terrified, and carrying Vinny’s child, and he was the one person in the world she should be able to confide in for support. But she couldn’t.
‘Can I see you?’
‘Oh, Vinny,’ she said. ‘My head is all over the place. I can’t right now.’
‘What about tomorrow?’
She took a breath. ‘I don’t know.’ She couldn’t do this any longer. She had to get off the phone. ‘Look. I have to go just now. I . . . I have to go.’
‘I’ll call you tomorrow,’ Vinny said.
‘Okay,’ Kerry said as the line went dead.
She stood up and walked across to the window where she could see the lights of the security gatehouse and a couple of guards inside. Then her mobile rang again. No name or number. Her stomach flipped. She pressed the answer key.
‘Kerry.’
She thought she was going to explode with rage.
‘You fucking traitor. What the fuck, Frankie? A whole day. And nothing from you or the fucking monsters pulling your strings. A whole day, Frankie!’
‘I know,’ Frankie said, deadpan. ‘Calm down. Just take it easy, Kerry. There was some sorting out to do this end. I’ve been talking to Rodriguez.’
‘Where is Finbar, Frankie? Where is that wee boy? Tell me that right now or I’ll hang up.’
‘You wouldn’t be wise to hang up.’
‘Fucking tell me, you evil bastard!’ Kerry could hear her voice quiver. She tried to breathe slowly but couldn’t catch her breath. ‘Tell me!’ Her voice was almost a scream.
‘Kerry! Calm down, I said. Blowing a fucking gasket isn’t going to get you anywhere. Not with me, and not with the people I’m dealing with. Listen. The wee guy is safe.’
‘Where is he?’ She had managed to climb off the edge of hysteria. ‘Please, Frankie,’ she pleaded. ‘Just tell me that?’
‘Look. I shouldn’t be telling you anything, Kerry. But I need you to calm down and listen. I can’t tell you where he is, but all you need to know is that he’s in Glasgow.’
‘And where are you?’
She heard him give a wry snigger.
‘Well. I’m not in Glasgow. That’s for sure.’
‘Probably just as well, for your sake.’
‘Aye. We’ll see about that. But this is no time for fucking around arguing. I told you Rodriguez wants a meet.’
‘You told m
e that yesterday. I’ve been waiting for your call.’
‘And I told you what he wants – everything.’
‘I know you did.’
‘So. Are you ready to make a deal? To have the meet? To give everything to him?’
‘Frankie,’ Kerry said, trying to be calm, ‘I don’t have any documents here. Everything is in Spain.’
‘We don’t need documents. Rodriguez’s men will bring legal stuff. Look, I’m not involved in that. But I suppose you’ll be asked to sign something – an affidavit or some shit.’
Kerry didn’t reply, waited to see what he was going to say next.
‘And,’ Frankie said, ‘if you do what he wants, then that’s it.’
‘Where is Rodriguez?’
‘He’s not in Glasgow either. But his people are. And he’ll be there for the meet. You just say the word.’ He paused. ‘But if I were you, then I wouldn’t hang about on this. I’ve met him, and he’s not a patient man.’
Kerry bit her lip to suppress another furious outburst. There will come a time, she made a vow to herself, when this is over, and I will have my revenge on you, Frankie Martin. For everything you’ve done.
‘Okay,’ Kerry said. ‘Organise the meet. But only if Finbar is going to be there to be handed over.’
Frankie hung up without replying.
*
If ever anyone was out of their depth right now, it was her, Kerry thought as she paced the floor. She didn’t even know where to start. Vinny was right. A little boy’s life was at stake here. The police had more resources at their fingertips than the Caseys could muster in the next twenty-four hours. But if the Colombians got wind that the police were involved it didn’t bear thinking about. She was glad Danny was home in the morning, when they would have to make a serious decision. There was a knock on the door of the living room.
‘Come in,’ she said.
