Holy Island Trilogy 02 - Nowhere Man (22 page)

‘Don’t you think I wanted to? But it was only weeks ago that I even found out about the monastery, right under my bloody nose an’ all. We were planning something.’

Brother David frowned, wondering who she meant when she’d said
we.

Before he could ask her, she went on, ‘Remember the last I’d heard from you was that you were going on a long sabbatical. So for a good few months I wasn’t worried. When I did find out, there was nothing I could do. This battle has been going on for centuries. I couldn’t let the sisterhood be compromised.’

‘The sisterhood?’

She sighed. ‘You need to know a lot more before we even go there. For the moment, I will tell you what Jill was looking for, and what the bloody creep who wrecked the place was looking for. The Lindisfarne Gospels.’

‘But isn’t that in London?’

‘A lot of people think it is, but as Keeper of the Book, I can tell you it bloody well isn’t.’

‘Keeper of the Book?’ Brother David said. Slightly amazed, he repeated it. He could barely believe what he was hearing. It sounded like the biggest conspiracy theory in the world. If he hadn’t been part of it for a year in the monastery, he would have laughed at the thought of Aunt May being involved in anything remotely like this.

‘An old title that I inherited,’ Aunt May said.

‘So…you have the book here?’

‘Sorry, love, can’t tell you.’

‘What’s in the book? Can you at least tell me that, seeing as it nearly cost your life?’

‘The book contains the names of the Families, past and present. They have been searching for it for centuries. The last thing they want is for it to fall into the hands of the public.’

‘So tell me, Aunt May -why haven’t you exposed them before now? Really, dear, I find it impossible to believe that you----’ He shook his head, unable to go on.

‘We’ve never been bloody strong enough, that’s why. They control the media worldwide, and some of the armies.’

‘What?’

‘Oh, yes. You name it, they have a big fat bloody finger in it. Trust me on that.’

Brother David shook his head. ‘And you’ve kept this secret for all this time?’

‘Part of the job, son. They know about us, have done for a bloody long time. They’ve tried to ferret us out, but we’ve managed to keep one step ahead. Nearly got rid of us in that huge witch hunt a few centuries back. And in the time of Boudicca-now, she gave them bloody hell all right!'

‘And Jill?’

‘Jill is actually nothing more than a piece on a chess-board. She tried to walk away a good long time ago, but the Families don’t let anyone go. She’s only working for them out of fear, not loyalty. That’s the reason she’s so on edge all the time. I actually feel quite sorry for the poor girl.’

‘OK, Aunt May, more tea and some sandwiches, then you can carry on filling me in on this’- he shrugged as if he only half-believed - ‘this fantastical tale.’

Aunt May smiled. If only he knew, she thought.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

Danny woke up stiff and freezing, four hours after he’d fallen asleep on the kitchen floor. His mouth felt as if a rat had curled up and died in there, and the side of his face was nearly stuck to the floor with dribble and snot.

‘Damn,’ he muttered. Shivering, he used the table to haul himself up. Stretching, he went to the kitchen sink, where he splashed handfuls of cold water over his face before sticking his head under the tap. Surfacing a few minutes later, he dried himself off and, feeling only marginally better, began to look through the cupboards for a bottle of anything.

‘Damn,’ he said again, slamming the last door so hard that it shook just about everything in the flat. ‘Gonna have to go out and get some shopping. Fuck the lot of them.’

He went into the bedroom. Stripping off his wet t-shirt, he threw it into a corner and found a clean one at the bottom of the drawer. It was pale blue and had
Kiss me quick!
printed on it. Danny stared at it trying to get the memory back, he knew it was probably more than ten years old. But couldn’t remember buying it.

‘Couldn’t give a shit,’ he muttered, looking in the mirror as he felt the stubble on his chin with a shaking hand. ‘Fuck you, an’ all,’ he said to himself.

Slamming the front door as hard as he’d slammed the cupboard door, he walked off in only a marginal straighter line than he had a few hours ago, back in the direction of the same pub.

There were quite a few people sitting outside on this warm evening and the sound of someone murdering Meatloaf’s
Bat Out Of Hell
coming from inside.

‘Karaoke night,’ he muttered, with a small grin. He loved karaoke, but Evan would only ever go to them if he couldn’t come up with an excuse to be somewhere else.

Don’t know why, he was thinking as he drew closer, he knows I love nowt more than a bit of singing.

That should be
he knew.

Danny sighed.

Evan never could sing.

At the bar he was served by a waitress with a blue rinse who looked like a walrus on speed. She looked down her large bulbous nose at him. Danny groaned inside. He’d had a few run-ins with her before. The old bat was worse than her miserable flaming son, the bar manager. Not in the mood for any bother with anyone, least of all her, he picked his change up when she slapped it down, said nothing when his pint was shoved over to him, white foam spilling over the top, picked up the wet glass and turned to the stage.

The Meatloaf murderer had been replaced by an attractive middle-aged blonde who really could sing. When she had finished her rendition of Tina Turner’s
Simply The Best
, people stood up and cheered. It was then that Danny caught sight of a couple of old work mates. Carrying his pint aloft, he wound his way through half a dozen tables until he reached them. Pretending not to see the frown on one of their faces, he pulled up a chair and sat down.

‘Hi, guys.’ He smiled at them, noticing for the first time the two women, who also worked with them. ‘Hi Zoë, Elizabeth. What brings you two here, then?’

‘Just a night out,' Zoë replied quietly. Zoë was always quiet and most people had to ask her to repeat herself, but tonight she seemed even more so.

‘Just a change,’ Elizabeth muttered, as she rummaged around in her handbag with her plump fingers, an excuse not to meet his eyes.

Turning to Simon and Todd, he raised his glass. ‘Drink up, guys, 'cause you never know when it’ll be yer last.’

The one who had frowned at him, Todd-long, lean almost to the point of emaciation, with cheekbones sharp enough to put a knife out of business.’ darted a quick glance at Simon.

Simon shrugged, his glasses falling down his nose with the movement.

‘What’s the matter?’ Danny asked.

‘Seeing as you’re asking, Danny, word is you’re bad news to be around. OK?’

‘It’s not me, it’s them.’ Danny downed half his pint and put the glass back on the table, before repeating firmly, ‘It’s them.’

‘Who’s them?’

‘The boss people, them who’s in charge.’

The four of them exchanged glances.

‘Honest.’ Danny nodded sincerely at them.

‘What, you mean our bosses at work?’ Todd asked.

‘No!
Them
.’ Raising his pint to his lips, Danny finished it off. ‘Just gonna get another.’

When he had gone, the four of them moved their heads closer. ’How we gonna get rid of him? The daft sod’s lost the friggin’ plot,’ Simon asked.

The girls shook their heads. ‘I feel sorry for him,’ Elizabeth said.

“Don’t,' Todd put in. ‘Everyone reckons he’s a murderer.’

‘So why hasn’t he been arrested, then?’

‘Probably some stupid technical hitch. You know the law's a load of rubbish these days.’

‘But we’ve worked with him for a few years now. I can’t believe he’s a murderer.’

‘Neither can I, really.’ Simon shook his head. ‘I actually got on quite well with him.’

‘Just saying, that’s all,’ Todd said.

‘Shh, he’s back,’ Zoë whispered.

Danny sat down. As well as a pint this time, he also had a glass of whiskey. He knocked the whiskey straight back, followed by a large drink of his beer. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he leaned forward and said in a conspiratorial tone, ‘It’s
them
.’

‘Not again,’ Todd said. ‘Who the fuck's
them
?’

‘Them. They know everything. How much you have in the bank, how many times you take a shit.’

‘Gross.’ Elizabeth tutted.

‘It's true. Everything is gonna change. The whole world is gonna change. Better be prepared.’

‘Where are you getting all this from, Danny?’

‘They’re watching all the time.’ He picked up his pint, swallowed the lot and turned to the couple on the next table. ‘They’re watching you, an’ all.’

The woman frowned at him, and turned away to look at the stage. Her husband did the same. Shrugging, Danny turned back to his work colleagues. ‘I’m due back in next Monday. Never thought I would make it a few days ago.’

‘Why?’ Simon asked, ignoring the nudge from Todd.

‘Them.’

‘Back to them again, eh?’ Todd said sarcastically.

His sarcasm went right over Danny’s head. ‘They know everything about you.’ He waved, his hand enclosing all four of them.

‘So you said.’ Todd rose. ’Anyone else want a drink?’

‘Me please,' ’Zoë smiled.

Elizabeth shook her head. ‘None for me, but I’ll have a packet of cheese and onion crisps.’

“I’ll have a pint, mate.’ Danny grinned at Todd.

‘I’m not your mate, so get your own in.’ Todd weaved his way to the bar, which was proving more and more difficult as the place was now full to the brim.

‘What’s his problem?’ Danny’s grin slipped into a frown as he followed Todd with his eyes.

‘Don’t you think you’ve had enough, Danny?’ Elizabeth said. ’Maybe you should just go home.’

‘No,’ Danny replied stubbornly. ‘Haven’t had a sing yet.’

‘You’re not getting up, are you?’ Simon asked.

‘Why aye, man. You know I like to sing.’

Todd arrived back at the table with the drinks on a tray. Before he put the tray on the table, Danny snatched the pint meant for Simon. ‘Cheers, mate,’ he said, before taking a large drink.

Simon shook his head at Todd, mouthing, ‘It doesn’t matter. Just leave it.’

Gritting his teeth, Todd said, ‘That right? You’re getting up to sing?’

‘Don’t I always?’

‘It’s about time someone told you that you sound like a frog farting up a drainpipe.’

‘Who, me?’

‘Come on, Todd, he’s not that bad.’ Simon tried to hide a grin.

‘I’m better than him.’ Danny pointed at the small sixty year old man who had just left the stage.

‘Marginally,’ Todd replied.

‘I’ll show you.’ Danny jumped up. He stood still for a moment until the room stopped spinning, then headed for the stage.

‘What the hell did you want to wind him up for?’ Simon hissed at Todd. ‘The poor bugger’s going through enough already.’

‘Yeah, so you say. I for one think he’s guilty as hell.’

Simon sighed. ‘Dunno. Just can’t believe it.’

At the stage, Danny snatched the mike as it was being handed to someone else, who just shrugged and stepped back. Telling the girl who ran the karaoke the song he wanted, he turned back to face the audience. Suddenly a deathly silence descended over the pub. Clearing his throat, Danny started to sing
Make The World Go Away
. He hadn’t reached the first chorus when the four men who had been in the fish shop the night before, and were now standing at the bar, started to boo him. Soon everyone in the pub was doing the same.

Danny carried on for a few more beats before the tears came. The music was still playing as he collapsed to his knees, and started sobbing his heart out.

Most of the crowd carried on booing, but Elizabeth and Simon jumped up and helped Danny down from the stage.

With Todd and Zoë’s reluctant help they got him outside, but he was inconsolable. Curled in upon himself, his sobs became even louder and his speech, when he managed to say anything between the sobbing, more and more incoherent. 

‘That lad needs an ambulance,’ said the barmaid, who had followed them out. ‘Trust me, I’ve seen this happen before. The lad's had a breakdown.’

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

Smiler and Robert were sharing a pepperoni pizza with Louise, who had just finished telling Smiler about her role as the bird woman. Smiler had been amazed to find that at least five of them played the part. They were a brilliant source of information for the sisterhood. The bird woman, whichever one she was, never missed a thing. She knew exactly who came in and out of Scotland Yard.

‘But hasn’t anyone noticed that there are more than one of you? What if you were on a CCTV camera at the same time?’

‘The chances of that are so rare, it's practically impossible, especially as most of them are black and white. Plus, we know where all the cameras are, and take care not to be on them if it can be helped. You have no idea how many times the bird woman has been on the CCTV when they are in the area, and never been noticed.’ She smiled at him.

Smiler nodded. It had been good to learn just how extended and organised the sisterhood was, but sad to know that a lot of the safe houses stood empty, sometimes for years.

‘So, is the government involved with the Families?’

‘Not as such,’ Robert replied. ‘Certain members, yes. Part of our job at the moment is to gather information on these members.’ He put the slice of half-eaten pizza on the plate. ‘Really, I shouldn’t have had that third piece.’

‘Rita’s gonna kill you,’ Louise laughed.

‘She will if that new red dress is too tight,’ Robert moaned.

Laughing, Louise stood up. ’I’m going to sit with Lynne for a bit. I believe Robert has something to tell you, Smiler.’

Smiler gave Louise a rueful half smile. He was actually dreading what was to come.

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

Prince Carl swooped down on the private airport after doing a full circuit, and made a perfect landing on the airstrip. A car was waiting to take him to the house, only a few minutes away. He’d had time to do plenty of thinking on the way over. The sky had been good to him and kept calm right to the end, showing nothing but a clear crystal blue the whole trip. He got into the chauffeur-driven car and, when his luggage had been deposited into the boot, they made their way to the house.