The Dunbar Case(16)

‘Kristie’s a slag,’ Joseph said. ‘She deserved what she got.’



‘Nice,’ I said.



Hector shot his brother an angry look. ‘I wouldn’t put it quite like that but you’re right. It’s not nice. We’re not nice people, can’t afford to be.’



‘I won’t argue with that.’



Joseph growled and tried to swipe me with a backhander. The numbness in my arm had eased off. I caught his wrist, twisted and he had to fall off his chair to prevent his wrist being broken.



‘Stop it!’ Hector snarled.



The driver had come forward and looked ready to join in but he stopped when Hector spoke.



‘Back off, Rog. Let him go, Hardy. There’s no need for this. Let’s keep it civilised.’



I laughed and released Joseph’s wrist. I got to my feet and turned towards Rog. ‘I owe you one, mate. Want to have a go?’



‘No one’s having a go,’ Hector said. ‘Calm down, all of you. Let’s have a drink.’



He had a briefcase by his chair. He opened it and took out a bottle of vodka. Not my favourite but a drink just then seemed like a very good idea.



‘Find some glasses, Rog, and, Clem, you’d better go and see a doctor. Get your ribs strapped up.’



‘I could do with a drink myself, Hec,’ Clem said.



Rog rummaged in a cupboard and came up with some plastic glasses.



‘Not too elegant,’ Hector said, ‘but a drink out of your boot’s better than none at all.’



He lined five glasses up on the arm of his chair and poured them half full. ‘Just the one for you, Rog, you’ll be driving Mr Hardy back to his car.’



Rog and Clem knocked back their drinks and left the building. Hector handed me a glass. ‘Cheers.’



The three of us drank. It was good, smooth stuff. Hector poured another three generous measures. ‘We’re not going to have any more trouble here, are we, Hardy?’



‘Depends on what happens when you stop being all hospitable and tell me what message you want me to deliver and why.’



‘Fair enough. First, we don’t intend to kill Johnnie or hurt him in any way. Second, tell him that we’re willing to offer him protection and assistance when he goes for the money.’



I found myself repeating what Twizell had said to me. ‘That’s very vague.’



‘He’ll know what it means.’



‘I don’t suppose you’ll tell me what it means—just to help me be more convincing.’



‘You’re an irritating man, Hardy. A little of you goes a very long way.’



‘I’ve been told that.’



Hector nodded. ‘I’m sure it’s one of your techniques, part of your stock in trade, as it were.’



He was right there. I finished the drink and stood. ‘You’re out of your mind, Tanner. I’m leaving. If Rog comes anywhere near me I’ll put him in hospital.’



His voice had a whip-crack quality. ‘You’ll do as I say.’



‘Involve myself in a criminal conspiracy with a few wannabe gangsters like you? No chance. I’ve got a job to do and I’ll do it. Just that.’



He shook his head mock-sadly and took a mobile phone from his pocket. ‘There’s 385 grams of high grade cocaine in your motel room. One call and the cops’ll be there with the sniffer dogs. I’ve checked on you, Hardy. You’ve done time and been suspended and had your fucking licence lifted. You got it back on a technicality. You walk a fine line. I bet there’s quite a few cops who’d be happy to see you go down—again.’



He had a point. My reinstatement as a PIA came about as a result of a technicality and there were people who were unhappy about it.



‘Supposing I don’t go back to the motel?’ I said.



Hector sipped his drink. Joseph smirked. ‘There’s always your car, your house, your office, your daughter’s flat, for that matter. We’ve got a law and order government now, I’m happy to say. Might be a bit hard to convict, you might hang on to your licence if things went your way, but it wouldn’t do much for your business.’



‘What’s to stop me agreeing and then not delivering the message?’



‘We’ll get a reaction from Johnnie when you do. No question about it.’



Joseph must have thought he’d played second fiddle too long. My guess was that he’d done it from infanthood. He was wearing a nice suit as well, after all, if a bit less classy than Hector’s. ‘Stuck for words?’ he said. ‘That makes a welcome change. You’ve got no real choice, Hardy. And what’s your problem? You deliver a message, walk away and never hear from us again, right, Hec?’