Bridge of Doom (19 page)

Next morning, at ten o'clock, when Jack and Annie arrived in Edinburgh to start work at the Moray Place townhouse, they were warmly greeted by Henry, who ushered them into a comfortable sitting room at the front of the property, on the ground floor. 

'Please go in and take a seat guys, while I organise some coffee. We can catch up for ten minutes and then I'll take your cases upstairs and get you settled in properly. Guy said that he would catch up with you both shortly.' 

As Henry left the room Jack said, 'when he comes back, I'm going to try and pin him down about
exactly
why we're here. We'll tag team him, Annie, so feel free to chip into the conversation anytime you feel the urge.' 

'Just try and stop me,' said Annie. 

Henry returned carrying a tray with three mugs of coffee and a plate of biscuits. 'Ah, Hob Nobs,' said Annie with a sly smile. 'Jack tells me these are his absolute favourites after a night out.' 

Ignoring his partner, Jack cut straight to the chase. 'Okay Henry, we're here and we're being well paid, so that's all good. But the problem is we still don't fully understand why we were chosen and what exactly it is we're supposed to be doing. Can you put a bit more meat on the bone for us?'
 

'That's a fair question, Jack. I think the best way to describe your task here for the next couple of weeks is a form of close protection work. But this isn't the usual style, where a couple of no-neck gorillas are employed to crack their knuckles and growl at anyone who comes too close to the client. Guy wanted something much more discreet, more in keeping with Edinburgh New Town, I suppose. So my brief was to bring in people who don't actually look like bodyguards, or hired muscle. Ideally he wanted two people, a male-female combo, who can take care of themselves, obviously. But, much more importantly, people who are flexible and capable of thinking outside the box. People who have good instincts for heading potential trouble off at the pass. He also requested individuals who are not well known in Edinburgh business circles and who, if necessary, can be passed off at business meetings as independent consultants, brought in by Guy to help smooth away any loose ends as the deadline for closing his big deal gets nearer.’

Jack interrupted Henry’s waffling and asked, ‘okay, I’m with you so far, Henry. But you still haven’t really answered my question.’

‘Look, you're both smart people and you'll have already gathered that there's a hell of a lot riding on this deal for everyone concerned, so I decided that it had to be someone I can trust straight out of the blocks. That meant bringing in someone I'd worked with previously. So, when I sat down and thought about what was required, it didn't take long for me to realise you were the person who ticked all the boxes on the job description, Jack. That's why I sent you the original email two weeks ago and then, when I found out Annie had recently come on board as your new partner, well that really clinched it for me. Believe me, you guys are the absolutely perfect fit for this job.'
 

'Yes but you must know that close protection work isn't really our thing, Henry. I mean back in the day, when I was a serving cop, I occasionally filled in as part of a specialised team of twelve people, whose job was to provide round the clock baby-sitting for key witnesses, or occasionally even the accused, in really high profile criminal trials at the High Court in Glasgow. But what you're talking about here is a completely different ball game.'
 

'You're absolutely right, Jack, but the good thing is you won't be needed 24/7 because Guy has recently had a high-tech panic room constructed in a box room on the top floor, just next to his office. Off the record, I think that tells you something about his current state of mind.’  

'So, if the Vikings come ashore unexpectedly at Leith and come rampaging up through the New Town, raping and pillaging, Guy at least will be safe up in his panic room.’ 

'I know, Jack, frankly it's completely crazy. But that's where we are at the moment. And it'll probably only get worse until this deal is signed off by the lawyers and the bank. He's always been like this to a certain extent when the pressure is really on, but I've never seen him quite as bad as he is this time. To be perfectly honest I'm worried about him, Jack. I've tried several times to tactfully suggest that he should maybe get help and speak to somebody about it. But every time I mention it he blows his top. Truthfully, it's been like trying to walk on eggshells for me round here recently. That's why I'm really glad you and Annie are both on board. Like the old saying, a trouble shared is a trouble halved.' 

'Or doubled,' added Annie with a smirk. 'Sorry, just kidding, Henry.'  

‘But the big benefit of the panic room is that once Guy's back in the house and safely tucked away on the top floor, the pair of you are effectively finished work for the day. I think most days you'll probably just be working normal business hours, mainly hanging around here on the ground floor, checking any visitors in and out of the house and generally keeping an eye on things. There will also be the occasional trip, transporting Guy in the car to business meetings. I predict you'll both be bored stiff after a couple of days. But, there you go, apparently this is what's needed to make Guy feel safe and calm, while he's trying to concentrate on closing out the deal. Honestly guys, you wouldn't be here if I didn't think you could do it.'

Annie was also becoming bored with Henry's relentless flattery and said, 'but if we're here to guard Guy and, as you put it, try to head off trouble at the pass, then we really have to know a bit more about what's going on. I mean, what are the threats? Where is the pass? And who, specifically, is Guy worried about?'
 

Henry immediately became uncomfortable and was clearly on the back foot as he tried to respond. 'That's quite a tricky one for me to answer, Annie, because the deal is at such a critical stage. Just between you and me, I think things could go either way and Guy is totally strung out and paranoid about any leaks of confidential information, which could screw things up.'
 

'Look, Henry, I think we both get all of that,' said Jack. 'We've been hired to do a job here and we'll try our best to give value for money, but you've got to help us. We don't expect to be told every detail of what's obviously a commercially sensitive and complex deal. But if we're to try and prevent trouble, we have to know what direction it might be coming from. Some broad brush strokes would be enough and a few names we could then put faces to. I don't think that's unreasonable as a starting point, is it?'
 

'You're absolutely right, but I think it's best if I leave it to Guy to answer your questions. I'll go and check, but I'm sure he's set twenty minutes set aside in his diary for you both at eleven o'clock. You can ask him all of these questions then. After that, I'm not sure what his plans are for the rest of the day.'
 

'Doesn't he have a PA or a secretary to do all that kind of routine admin stuff for him?' enquired Annie.
 

'Yes he did, but I'm afraid she got the chop two weeks ago. Guy fired her when some sensitive details about the deal somehow found their way into the public domain. He decided that it could only have been her who was responsible, but I'm not so sure. His lawyer and the bank were also privy to a draft agreement for the purchase of a small piece of land next to the brewery site. Anyway, nobody could convince him otherwise. His mind was made up and so she had to go. I've been trying to help cover the admin side of things ever since she left. Guy didn't want to bring in somebody new from an agency at this stage of the game, so we've just kind of circled the wagons and hunkered down, Jack. That's why you and Annie have been invited on board to help with whatever needs doing.'
  

'We'll do our best, Henry,' said Jack.
 

'I know you will, guys. Okay, if you’ve finished with the coffee, I'll show you to your rooms. You're on the first floor at the front, Jack, and Annie has a nice big room on the second floor, overlooking the back garden. You'll have to excuse us if things are slightly untidy, because Guy also fired the housekeeper last week. So if you were expecting a fluff and tuck before bedtime, I'm afraid you're out of luck. He accused the poor woman of listening in to his phone calls and sacked her on the spot. So that's the state of play here in Moray Place at the moment, Jack. We've in complete lockdown.' 

'Oh, and while I remember, Guy asked if you would take a look around the house first, before you meet up with him, so you can give an opinion on our security arrangements. I've made sure all of the rooms are unlocked and you're free to go everywhere, apart from the top floor suite which is completely secure and self-contained.' 

'That’s not a problem, Henry, because we need to familiarise ourselves with the layout of the house anyway.' 

'Great, so I'll leave you to it and give you a shout when Guy is free. Oh, and just before you start your survey, I nearly forgot,' said Henry with a big grin. 'Did you guys see the story in the paper last week, about poor people in Scotland having fewer teeth than rich people? It got me thinking that, if the research is correct, then logically it follows that people who live in Glasgow must have even fewer teeth than anyone else in the rest of the country.' 

'Why's that, Henry?' said Jack with a heavy sigh. 

'Well I would have thought it's fairly obvious, isn't it? For a start, Glasgow is where most of the poor people in Scotland live, right? And they're always fighting amongst themselves when they get drunk, aren't they? So most of their teeth fall out due to the constant diet of chips and deep fried Mars bars and then the few they have left get knocked out, arguing about football or whose round it is in the pub. I'm telling you, Jack, being a dentist in Glasgow must be one of the most soul destroying jobs there is in Britain.' 

'It's not just people from Glasgow who are in danger of losing a few teeth,' said Annie forcefully. 

'Don't let him bug you, Annie,' said Jack as Henry left the room chuckling away to himself. ‘I’ve got a feeling old Henry could be heading for a fall in the not too distant future.'

‘Shit, I didn’t realise that Henry would be staying here in the house with us as well,’ said Annie with a heavy sigh. ‘So there’s absolutely no escape. He's a complete and utter twat.'
 

'No argument from me. Anyway I think it's best if we start down in the basement,' said Jack with a knowing wink to Annie. 'In my experience, that can often be a weak spot. You know, if there's some dodgy character lurking around, who's trying to penetrate your, ahem … security.'
 

Annie stifled a giggle and then eagerly led the way down the steps to the basement level of the townhouse. As they descended the last step tasteful concealed low-level lighting, triggered by a PIR sensor, provided soft illumination to a red carpeted lobby with five doors.

'How about if you take the rooms on the left, and I'll do the ones on the right hand side. Okay, let's see what we've got here,' said Jack, opening the nearest door.  

'This one's a cleaner's cupboard,' said Annie. 'Although when I say cupboard, it's actually nearly as big as my whole flat. What have you got?'
 

'Whew, this one's the sauna,' said Jack quickly closing the door as his glasses steamed up. 'And I think there might even be some kind of plunge pool in there as well. But it's far too hot to go in with clothes on.' 

'Ah, now
this
is
very
cool' said Annie, as she entered her second room. 'A home cinema.' 

'Really?'
 
'Yeah, come and see, boss. This is
so
great, there's six huge padded leather seats, a small bar in the corner and a projector screen with a fancy surround sound system. I bet there wouldn't be much change out of fifty grand for kitting out this room alone.'

'Very nice indeed,' said Jack. 'Remind me to have a word with my downstairs neighbours, to see if they'll move out and let me convert their flat into a home cinema. I'm sure they wouldn't object. So, that's three rooms down. Any guesses what the last two might be used for?'
 

'Well, I already know about one of them from my new best friend, remember her?' 

'The foxy lezz at the party. How could I forget?' 

'Exactly. She told me that one of the basement rooms is kitted out as a gym. And, although they might need somewhere else to keep the coal, my bet is that the last room is a wine cellar.' 

Jack opened the final door on the right and whistled, 'that was very good, Annie, it is a wine cellar. You never cease to amaze me. But tell me, was that a hunch or a feeling?' 

'Neither, boss. There's a sign on the door and a crate of empty wine bottles sitting outside.' 

'Okay, fair enough, I've obviously trained you well.' Stepping inside the wine cellar, which had floor to ceiling bottle racks on both sides, Jack exclaimed, 'God almighty, there must be over a thousand bottles of booze in here at least. Do you think he would miss a couple?' 

Entering the final room on their fascinating basement tour, Jack said, 'so this last one's obviously the gym.' 

Annie followed him inside and looked around, admiring the gleaming array of high-end fitness equipment, which included a cross-trainer, an exercise bike, rowing machine, a treadmill and a weights machine, before announcing, '
she's
been in here.'
 

'Who?' 

'You know, my new best friend.'

'How on earth do you know that?' 

'It's that distinctive musky perfume she wears. I've no idea what it's called, and it's certainly never been on special offer in my local Boots chemist. But she's definitely been in here recently working up a good sweat. And I don't think she was alone either, because I'm getting a faint whiff of something else, maybe another brand of deodorant or cologne.'  

Jack held on to that thought for a moment then crouched over the exercise bike, closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
 

'For heaven's sake, stop sniffing the seat on that exercise bike. That is just
so
gross. I can read you like a book, boss, and I've come to the conclusion that, regardless of their age, all men are complete perverts.' 

'Please Annie, that's hurtful,' said Jack, standing up quickly. 'I'm just following my animal instincts and looking for clues. But this is all a bit dull, don't you think?' 

'What do you mean?' 

'I don't know, I'm not sure what I was expecting the gym to be like. But, in my fevered imagination, I thought it would be more exciting, more like a proper kinky dungeon. You know, with a selection of whips, chains and maybe even a rack or two. Actually having a rack would be ideal, because then we could drag Henry down here and stretch him out by a few inches, until we get some truthful answers from him.'
 

'That would be fun, admittedly, and he does deserve it for all of his rubbish jokes about Glasgow. But since we can now read his emails, it's probably not strictly necessary. Okay, that's all of the basement rooms done, what now?'
 

'I'll check the front and back doors on this level and then we can start on the ground floor and work our way up to the top.'

Jack found that both access doors to the basement were the original solid timber construction and, although their basic mortice locks were also original, with huge keys, the doors had been strengthened on the inside by the addition of thick modern steel security bars and large bolts. 

'Trust me, Annie, nobody's getting in through these doors. Although it looks like somebody has tried to force the back door. See … these are fairly recent gouges on the outside paintwork, made by some kind of jemmy.’
 

'Okay, what about the basement windows?'
 

'No issues there either. They've all got the original cast iron bars on the outside, with modern steel security shutters on the inside. Technically speaking, this whole basement level is as tight as a duck's arse.'
 

As they climbed up the steps from the basement, Annie paused, looked back and said, 'do you want to know something, boss? I think I could actually live down here quite happily for the rest of my life.'
 

'I know what you mean, Annie, but there's only one problem with that.'
 

'What?' 

'Haven't you noticed the CCTV cameras? There's been at least one discretely tucked away in each room we've been in so far and there may be others that I didn't spot.' 

'God that's a bit creepy and I missed it completely, because I've been so gob smacked by all the money that's been spent down there. I've been daydreaming about what it must be like to live in this house. I wonder if there's a Mrs Guy anywhere on the scene?' 

'If there is, I've never heard her mentioned.' 

'Well if he is still single, I think I'll apply because I could really see myself living here.' 

'If you get the job, Annie, could I be your butler and personal trainer?'

'Absolutely, boss. But only on condition that you wear gold lame hot pants at all times.' 

'Ah, I get it. This is yet more revenge for me playing country music in the car, isn't it?' 

'Might be,' said Annie with a smirk. 

'Okay, I'll need to get back to you on that one. I'm not sure if the ones I have in the wardrobe back home still fit.'

Jack then lowered his voice and said, 'all kidding aside, Guy Brodie is obviously a man who takes his personal security very seriously. Until we know otherwise, I think we should probably assume that most of the rooms are bugged as well as having cameras. So, if we want to have a private conversation, we need to go outside while I have a fag break. Or, alternatively, we could use text messages. Although at the speed I text, we're probably quicker going outside.'
 

'Okay, got it. And although Henry mentioned about being able to use the house Wi-Fi, I think we should only use my encrypted dongle when we're checking our emails
and
his.'