‘It matters to me. Someone hits me and someone else bends my arm, I like to know who they are before I get even. I’m funny that way.’
There was an amused snort from the arm bender. I leaned forward; he reached to pull me back and I slammed my elbow as hard as I could into his ribs. He gave a gasp, coughed and fought for breath.
‘I had to make an exception in his case.’
Tanner took a small pistol from his pocket and pressed it against my knee. ‘Settle down. You all right, Clem?’
‘Let me ...’
‘No. Maybe later. We’ll see how it goes.’
The driver said, ‘What’s going on?’
‘Nothing,’ Tanner said.
‘What’s wrong with Clem?’
Clem was gasping as he breathed.
‘I think he’s got a broken rib,’ I said. ‘Maybe two if I did it right. I’m not sure.’
‘Fuck you,’ Clem gasped.
‘It’s okay,’ I said, ‘I’ve had a few. They hurt for a while but they get better.’
‘Shut up, Hardy,’ Tanner snapped.
I did. Part of my chatter was nerves and it was important to get that under control. We were back close to the town now, moving through suburbs and then into an area of shops and light industry. The van turned and went up a lane. It stopped at the back of what looked like a small warehouse. The lane dead-ended a little further on and there were no obvious signs of activity.
‘Out,’ Tanner said. ‘Any trouble from you, Hardy, and you’ll be sorry.’
I nodded in keeping with my stoical decision and took in everything I could see. The thing to do in these situations is to know the ground, spot weapons and, if possible, play some of the people who have you off against each other.
Again, I was in a confined space with three men who had no love for me. One disabled, but one with a gun. No time for heroics. The driver opened a door at the back of the building and Tanner shepherded me in with Clem, wheezing, bringing up the rear.
Boxes stacked high around the walls, windows too dirty to allow in much light, fluorescent tubes glowing. The place had a concrete floor with red paint worn mostly away by feet and time. The man sitting in one of a set of three deckchairs could only have been Tanner’s brother—similar hard lines to his body and face, similar suit. A couple of years older, perhaps, and more controlled.
Joseph grunted something unpleasant I didn’t catch and slumped into one of the chairs. The older, more composed brother gestured for me to sit. He waved away Clem and the driver.
‘Hector Tanner,’ brother two said. ‘You’ve met my brother Joseph.’
‘I’ve had that pleasure.’
‘He’s a smartarse, Hec. I don’t reckon you could believe a word he says.’
Hector looked across to where Clem was crouched, holding his side. ‘What’s wrong with Clem?’
‘Hardy cracked one of his ribs.’
‘I told you to be courteous.’
‘He’s a smartarse who thinks he’s a tough guy.’
‘Not really,’ I said. ‘It’s just that Clem was underexperienced at this sort of work.’
Hector smiled. ‘I’m not.’
I shrugged. ‘We’ll see.’
‘Have you any idea why we’ve brought you here?’
I shook my head. ‘You’re not doing so well, Hec. I’m not playing that game. You talk to me to start with, not the other way around. If you’ve got something to say to me, say it.’
‘You’ve been to see Johnnie Twizell.’
‘Have I?’
‘What about?’
I shook my head.
Joseph shifted in his chair. ‘We can make him answer.’
‘Doesn’t matter,’ Hector said, then turned to me: ‘I expect you’ll be seeing him again.’
‘I expect I will.’
‘I want you to deliver a message to him.’
‘Come on,’ I said. ‘You know so much you’ve obviously got connections inside the gaol. You can get a message to him any time you like.’
Hector unbuttoned his jacket and relaxed. Good technique to ease the tension. He was right, he knew what he was doing. Joseph was still tightly strung. ‘No,’ he said, ‘he wouldn’t believe a message coming from us through our normal channels.’
‘I can understand that. I suppose Jobe Tanner’s your father. He threatened to kill Twizell.’
‘Well, that’s part of it,’ Hector said. ‘Dad was upset because of what Johnnie did to Kristie, but we don’t feel that way.’