Lewis, enjoying himself now, picked up a domino. ‘Double six. Looks like I won, Sadie.’
Sadie gazed once more into his eyes. Voice soft and feminine, she said slowly, ‘You always win, Mr Lewis.’
Georgio heard the conversation around them gradually starting up once more; heard the clatter of ashtrays and the striking of matches. He saw the men in the room turn back to what they were doing, trying to put Timmy’s plight out of their minds. Lewis was once more engrossed in setting up his game of dominoes. Georgio observed
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him intently. With Timmy now upset over the loss of Sadie, he realised he had an ally.
As he looked at the hardest of Britain’s criminals it amazed him that one man could cow them all so quickly and so utterly. When he was sprung, he would make a point of letting everyone know he had got one over on that sick-minded individual Donald Lewis. The thought was a balm to him, because until he was well and truly away, he had to toe the line like everyone else.
He watched Sadie rolling a cigarette and felt respect and also affection for the boy.
Sadie was on his side. Timmy was on his side. He wasn’t so alone.
Georgio went back to his letter, only looking up when he saw Timmy come into the room with Sadie’s tea. The expression on Timmy’s face was one of suppressed hatred, and for a second Georgio hoped that he was going to do something to Lewis. Blades were plentiful in here, as were home-made one-shot guns.
If Timmy was upset enough, he might just take Lewis out of the baulgame.
It was a thought that stayed with Georgio through the evening.
‘Hello, Paddy.’
Paddy turned in shock on hearing the voice.
‘Hello, Maeve. What brings you to this neck of the woods?’
Maeve smiled slowly. ‘What do you think brought me here?’ She picked up a dirty donkey jacket and dropped it on to the floor before sitting on the chair. ‘How the hell you ever make rhyme or reason of these sites I don’t know. Me poor boots are ruined.’
Paddy sat behind the small desk in the Portakabin. Wiping a hand across his face, he waited for Maeve to speak again.
‘What’s the matter, Paddy - cat got your tongue? I asked you a question.’
He felt uncomfortable. Maeve Brunos was well-known to him. He had eaten in her kitchen, and in her restaurant. He had known her anjl Pa for a good deal of his life. He respected them, cared for them, and, most importantly, he worked for their son.
‘I don’t know what brought you here, Maeve. Thinking of branching out into the building trade, are you?’
She pushed up her bosom, an unconscious gesture reminiscent of Old Mother Riley.
‘What’s going on with Donna, with Georgio, and with all the businesses?’ She stressed the ‘all’.
Paddy’s face was blank. ‘In what way? Donna was overseeing everything as you know …’
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them Maeve butted in, her voice impatient, ‘You’re not a stupid person, Paddy, and neither am I. Nuala told me that you are now the main runner for the businesses. Fair enough. Now I also find out that Davey and that eejit of a wife of his are running the car lot. Dolly informs me that Donna is out morning, noon and night, here, there and everywhere. So I ask you again - and I’m rapidly losing the little patience I’ve got, mind - what is going on?’
That’s another question, Maeve …’
‘Oh, for God’s sakes, stop playing around, Paddy! I’m not in the mood. There’s my Stephen walking round with a face like a madman’s arse. Donna is out annoying the life out of him. Dolly is telling me things, but not all she knows. You’re looking at me as if I’ve just grown another head, and to top it all Donna’s on her way up to Scotland for the weekend. Now I ask you one last time before I rip out the few remaining hairs on your head: what is going on?’
Paddy picked up his hip flask and took a deep swig.
‘Nothing’s going on, Maeve.’
She shook her head sadly. ‘I always liked you, Paddy, you are a good Corkman. I remember you when you came over and started work with my Georgio. I visited your wife in hospital, I attended her death and her burial. I babysat your children. I reminisced about the old country with you. And now you have the gall to sit there and try to pull the wool over my eyes!
‘Pa is convinced something’s afoot, and so am I. Stephen is like a loony, he’s convinced that something’s going down that he doesn’t know about, and for once I think he’s right. If you don’t stop rawmaishing now, Paddy, and tell me what’s up, I’ll go and ask Georgio myself.’
Paddy took another long swig from the hip flask, the Jameson’s burning into his stomach.
‘I can’t tell you, Maeve. The fewer people in the know the better. I’m not going to insult you by pretending there’s nothing going on. Just be content when I tell you I can’t discuss it.’
Paddy’s heart sank as he saw Maeve’s mouth settle into a hard thin line.
‘Right then. If that’s what you say, I’ll go to Georgio himself. Stephen can come with me. In fact, I think I’ll get Stephen to make some enquiries …’
Paddy interrupted her.
The further Stephen is from all this, the better, Maeve. Don’t let on to him about anything. That is one thing Georgio is adamant about. He doesn’t want him involved at all.’
Maeve’s eyes narrowed to slits. ‘Why? His own flesh and Blood. Is it dangerous?’
‘Could be.’ Paddy’s voice was clipped, low.
‘But not too dangerous for Donna, I take it. Where is she going this weekend?’
To Scotland.’
Maeve shifted in her seat in agitation. ‘Don’t get flippant with me, Paddy Donovon. I mean, where in Scotland and to see whom?’
Paddy held out his hands in a gesture of helplessness. ‘You know as much about that as I do. Even I’m not privileged to share that information. All I do know is, she’s going up there for Georgio. I think it’s probably something to do with one of the businesses.’
Maeve nodded her head slowly. ‘And which sort of business would that be? Legal or illegal?’
Paddy shifted uncomfortably in his chair. ‘Come on, Maeve, would you give a man a break?’
‘No, Paddy, I won’t. Is something happening that could put Donna in any kind of danger?’
tl don’t know, Maeve. I know nothing.’
fMaeve stood up abruptly. ‘Well, thanks for nothing. I think I will have to ask me son, won’t I?’
‘You do that, Maeve.’ Paddy exhaled loudly.
She stared into Paddy’s face, her intense gaze unnerving him.
‘Pa will be told about this conversation, Paddy. I can promise you that much. I think me and him have a right to know what’s going on around us. Georgio is my son. He may be your friend, but he’s my son. I birthed him, fed him and nurtured him. I have a right to know what he’s up to.’
Paddy watched her walk from the small office, her back ramrod Straight and practically bristling with indignation.
He finished the whisky in the flask and sighed. Sod Maeve. He had better get in contact with Georgio. Once Pa was involved there would be murders. As amiable as Pa Brunos could be, you had to get up very early in the morning to get one over on him.
Very early indeed.
Maeve slipped into the car beside Mario.
‘Nothing. He told me nothing, but there’s something going on all right.’
‘So what are you going to do?’
Maeve shrugged and started up her Lada, enjoying as always the scrunch of the gears.
‘What do you think, child? I’m going to talk it over with your father.’
She pulled out on to the road, her erratic driving causing panic amongst oncoming vehicles. Maeve ignored them and spoke again.
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them ‘It’s funny you know, Mario, but Paddy told me that Stephen should not be told anything.’
Mario nodded. ‘I think Paddy is right. I don’t trust Stephen as far as I can throw him. Never did. Neither did Georgio, not with important things. Remember that, Mum.’
Maeve skirted a corner, scraping the kerb with her wheel. ‘What a life! My son’s locked up till time immemorial, and now I find out that my children don’t trust one another. Well, you know what they say, don’t you? You live and learn.’
Mario grinned. ‘We trust one another, Mum; it’s just that none of us really trusts Stephen.’
Maeve shook her head. ‘It’s a terrible thing to say, I know, but I don’t entirely trust him myself. Even as a child, he had a way with him. Oh, you wouldn’t understand.’
Mario put his hand gently on to his mother’s arm. ‘I understand more than you think, Mum.’
Maeve sighed. Smiling gently to herself, she said, ‘I suppose you do, Mario, I suppose you do.’
They drove home to Canning Town in silence.
It was late evening when Alan and Donna pulled into a Bed & Breakfast outside Edinburgh. Taking their bags from the boot, Alan rang the doorbell of the tall four-storey house. It was answered by a small dark-haired woman in her thirties.
‘Can I help you?’
‘We need two rooms for the night, please. Breakfast in the morning and maybe a sandwich now to be going on with.’
Alan’s voice was different, more cultured, and Donna stood in the shadows of the long drive, watching him in surprise.
‘I can manage that much, laddie. Away in.’
The woman opened the door wider and Alan entered. Donna followed him slowly. They had hardly spoken for nearly six hours, stopping once at motorway services to eat what passed for shepherd’s pie and tasted like shepherd’s socks.
The woman showed them into a sitting room containing a small sofa, two occasional tables, and a portable TV. .The walls were painted oatmeal colour, and along one of them stood a metal holder, full of different pamphlets about Scotland and the highlands. It smelt of Mr Sheen and stale food.
‘Sit down and I’ll bring you in a pot of tea and something to eat. I have a wee bit of bannock outside, could you fit that in, maybe?’
Alan smiled. ‘Anything. We’re starving. What a lovely place you have here.’
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The small woman glowed with happiness at the compliment and bustled put of the room. This is hardly what I expected, I must say.’ Donna’s voice felt rusty through lack of use and nervousness. Since the argument earlier on there had been a tension between them that she knew would now be hard to break down.
Alan shrugged. ‘We don’t want to attract any kind of attention. This will do for what we want. It’s clean and out of the way. I hope the tea’s all right, I could murder a cup right now.’
Donna opened her bag and took out her cigarettes. Alan watched her light one, amazed that she could perform the act with such natural grace.
‘You’ll be glad of a bath, girl. We both will.’ Donna nodded.
‘What do you think of Scotland then?’
Donna enjoyed Alan’s discomfort. He wanted to talk now, did he? Shi shrugged nonchalantly, fit’s all right from what I’ve seen of it.’
The woman bustled in with a small trolley laden down with sandwiches, cakes, buns, tea and a large bottle of Grant’s whisky. ‘What a sight for sore eyes, Mrs …’
‘Mrs Maclntyre. But you can call me Emma. When you’ve had your fill I’ll show you to your rooms. It’s twenty-two pounds a head, payable in advance, and that includes a full Scottish breakfast.’
She laughed as she spoke. That’s eggs and bacon, by the way with porridge to start.’
Donna looked at the tantalising array of food and smiled wanly. This looks absolutely lovely.’ Emma nodded as if acknowledging a great truth. ‘I do all my own baking. That fruit cake was fresh made this morning, as was the bread and bannock. The sandwiches are beef Aberdeen Angus of course! I also made you a few ham and tomato. I like to see my guests eat well. Now if you need anything else, I’ll be through in the bar. It’s open till two-thirty in the morning if you fancy a bit of company. My husband will be glad to meet you both.’
Donna smiled at the woman. Thanks, we might take you up on that. What do we owe you for all this?’ ‘We’ll sort that out later. Eat up now.’ When Emma had left the room, Alan grinned. ‘Bit of all right this, ain’t it?’ He picked up a thick boiled ham sandwich. The mum used to boil her own bacon. Beats that shop bought crap into a cocked hat.’
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them He poured out two large measures of whisky.
‘Get your laughing gear around that, Donna. It’ll help you sleep.’
She took the whisky and sipped it, while Alan, a sandwich stuck in his mouth, poured them both hot tea.
‘I feel so tired, I don’t think I’ll need anything to help me sleep.’
‘You’re not nervous then?’ His voice was low.
‘No, I’m not, actually, and I don’t want to go into all that again, if you don’t mind. I think you made yourself clear earlier on today.’
Alan swallowed the last of the sandwich.
‘You didn’t do too bad yourself. You certainly put me in me place.’
Donna picked up a beef sandwich. ‘Well, at least some good came out of it then.’ She bit into the smooth creaminess of real butter and thick beef. This is lovely!’
They ate in greedy silence for a while.
‘I never meant to hurt you today, Donna. It’s just, I’m worried about you, that’s all.’
She sipped her tea. ‘Well, don’t be. I can take care of myself.’
‘If you insist then. But I wonder what your old man’s playing at? I wouldn’t ask of my wife what he’s asking of you.’ His voice was low, serious.
‘Maybe you and your wife didn’t have the same kind of relationship. Georgio and I are very close. Even with all that’s happened to him, and all I’ve found out, I still love him. In fact, I think I love him more if that’s possible.’
Alan tossed back his whisky. ‘That’s what surprises me. Doesn’t it bother you - all you’ve found out?’
She shook her head firmly. ‘Nothing I could find out about Georgio after this could really bother me.’
Alan picked up another sandwich. ‘Are you sure about that?’
Donna slammed the cup back into its saucer. ‘Yes, I am sure of that. Are you going to start all this again? I mean, what is it with you? You tear into me today because of what I’m doing. Now you try and make snide remarks about my husband - your so-called friend. If you have anything to say, Alan Cox, I wish you’d just.open your big mouth and get it over with. I’m fed up with playing games! Christ knows I played enough of them with my husband to last me a lifetime.’ She was near to tears and she knew it.