The Sister(111)

Kennedy kept busy trying to keep his mind off things, demanding answers to mundane issues he’d never normally become involved in. Theresa was run ragged fetching paperwork. He chased Tanner on the Archie Brooks connection and then without waiting for an answer, switched back immediately to Lynch. ‘We have to bring him in, Tanner,’ he’d said, ‘I think he’s the ring leader of a gang responsible for umpteen major crimes.’

‘SOCA is already onto it, sir.’

‘I know, but I want to get to him first.’





When Tanner returned to his office, he thought about how jittery and hollow-eyed the chief had looked. He had himself experienced the pain of losing both his parents early on in life. No lingering on, no agonising over each new downward turn. It wasn’t good, but it was better than the slow deterioration the DCI was going through with his mother’s decline.





Chapter 96



Saturday, 31 March





Lynch was agitated. Like a boxer sent to a neutral corner with the scent of victory in his nostrils; he paced one side of the room, barely able to contain himself. Lean, wiry and deceptively strong, many opponents had badly underestimated him on the basis of size alone, finding out to their cost, that looks aren’t everything.

When he’d first started out, he had had the face of an angel. Now marred by old wounds, it bore testimony to the long hard-fought battle up through the ranks, and the scars served as a warning to those who didn’t know him that he was not a man to be messed with.

In the light of what had happened to Melissa, and after what she’d told him, he’d managed to keep calm against the odds. He needed to weed out the threat against him. One minute Billy Wharton was in custody and then he was out. Once, people could be trusted to keep their mouths shut, but not anymore. When Billy didn’t tell him about his arrest, he’d sealed his own fate. He had to get rid of him. Then he’d deal with Tony.

The doorbell rang. He strolled down the hall and opened the door. Terry Bishop stood on the step admiring the spring blooms in the front garden.

‘Nice place,’ Bishop grinned. ‘How’re you doing?’

They embraced at the door. ‘I’m okay, Tel, good to see you, thanks for coming.’ They sauntered into the lounge together, exchanging pleasantries. Released only the day before, he’d taken the rap for his boss in an assault case five years before. If he hadn’t, the gangster would have gone down for a lot longer than he did. In return, he secured a promise his family would be looked after, and he’d get a lump sum when he came out.

‘Listen, Tel, I got some work for you if you’re interested.’

‘Could be,’ Terry said. ‘I ain’t doing much else. What is it?’

‘It’s Tony, mate. He’s nicked a hundred grand off me and he’s planning to heist me on something else as well.’

Terry whistled. ‘A hundred K, how did he manage that?’

‘He got in with a girl I was close to, found out she was holding it for me.’

‘What about the girl?’

‘She’s dead.’

‘Fuckin’ hell, Dan – you killed her?’ his eyes glazed over.

‘No, it wasn’t me; someone else did, maybe Tony. I’ve had to keep the old powder dry, box a bit clever, till I know what he’s up to behind my back. It’s f*cking killing me.’ Lynch raised both clenched fists at the ceiling, his eyes blazed with suppressed rage. ‘I got a call this morning. He’s planning to meet Billy Wharton tomorrow night, to hijack a consignment going to the Hammerson gang.’

‘Tommy Hammerson? What’s he playing at?’

‘He wants to start a war, get me out of the way. I’ve been watching him all week to find out. Anyway, the caller confirmed it. Which brings me back to you.’

‘Dan, I’ve only just got out.’

‘Yeah, I know. The thing is, that hundred grand...a fair bit was earmarked for you, but don’t worry, I’ll deal with it. Let’s get him round for a little reunion   get-together.’ He paused to think, and closing his eyes, he pinched the bridge of his nose hard, his mouth twisted at the self-inflicted pain, and then he looked straight at his old friend. ‘Tell you what, Terry, you phone him. Get him round here. Whatever happens, whether I get the dough back off him or not, at the end of it you’ll still get your share, sound fair?’

‘I don’t know about all this, I’ve only just got out. How much are we talking, Danny?’ he asked.

‘Twenty-five grand,’ Lynch said.





An hour later, Tony arrived with a bottle of champagne. ‘All right, Danny,’ he said, as Lynch let him in and led him through to the lounge as he had so many times before. Tony remained oblivious to the menacing undercurrent in the atmosphere.

‘Terry! It’s good to see you. How’s life treating you on the outside?’

‘Still finding my feet, like I said on the phone I only came out yesterday—’

Lynch interrupted, ‘How much money you got on you, mate?’

‘Only about six hundred quid, why’s that?’

‘Where’s the rest of it?’

‘Eh?’ he said, looking puzzled.