Bad Music 25
you want it darker
Ill Will Armstrong’s normally ruddy face was pale, his raspy voice almost a whisper. ‘I can’t let my boy rest until we put some people in the ground. You know that, don’t you?’
Dominic nodded. ‘I do.’
‘What we did in the past, this has got to be more than that.’
‘I know.’
‘They’ll come after your boy too, Dominic. They won’t leave him alive. He injured them when him and Wull stole the cocaine, and he’s a witness to the murder.’
Dominic said nothing for a while, stared at the beer bottle in front of him in the table. Then he looked up at his old friend. ‘I’m going to arrange something.’
‘You were always the planner, Dominic. You always had the cooler head. Me, well,’ he smiled, it was not a happy smile, ‘back then, I just liked causing damage.’
It was Dominic’s turn to smile, just a little. ‘You were good at it, Will.’
‘Still am.’
Dominic nodded, thoughtful. ‘Keep Friday free. You and your boys.’
‘That quick?’
‘If we leave it over the weekend, the polis will start to find their feet.’
‘They couldn’t find a fart in a beer bottle,’ Will said. Outside, a car horn blew. He picked up his beer and emptied it. Placed the bottle carefully on the table, making not a sound. He looked at Dominic, his bloodshot eyes giving him the appearance of an old bulldog ‘That’s my lad Callum outside, you met him at the Alum House. He’s waiting; told him to give me a half hour.’ He went to rise then said, ‘You want my to have the boat on standby, and the chicken wire?’
Dominic nodded.
‘Right.’ Will seemed satisfied. ‘I’ll see myself out.’
‘Will.’
‘What?’
‘I need some burners.’
An hour later Dominic was sitting in the park, on his favourite bench. It was dark now, and cold, and he was wrapped in an old parka that didn’t quite protect him against the wind. He’d left Chess behind, too much risk of losing him in the darkness, if he got the scent of a rabbit or a rat. He saw the lights of a car pull up beside the railings and he waited, watched as a woman climbed out, and walked to the gates. She walked into the park, through the darkness towards him, unafraid, and that told him something about her. She sat down on the bench beside him.
‘I didn’t recognise the number,’ she said.
‘Your friends took mine when you raided my house.’
She said nothing.
He said, ‘I’m going to find the dope, and I’m going to tell you where it is. You’ll get a text, from me, with a location.’
‘Why should I trust you?’
‘I haven’t ever lied to you. All I want out of this absolute fuck-up of a situation is that my son does not join his friend in the morgue. You’ll get your dope and whoever is carrying it.’
‘When?’
‘Friday, most likely.’
‘Thankyou. I can’t promise we’ll go easy on your son,’ she said.
‘I know.’
‘So, Friday.’
It was Dominic’s turn to stay quiet.
‘What happened between us,’ she said. ‘As lovely as it was,’ and she gave a soft laugh, ‘It might hinder my career prospects if word got out.’
‘I won’t tell anyone,’ he said. ‘Not ever. But if, after this is all over, you want to make it something more permanent, you know where I am. I won’t push you, but you know how I feel.’
Her hand touched his in the darkness. ‘Friday,’ she said.
‘Yes.’
She stood. Walked off towards the gate without saying any more. He watched her climb into her Mini, start the engine and drive away. She didn’t look for him in the darkness. He waited a little while longer, staring into the night, seeing the faint grey shapes of clouds being pushed across the black sky.
A figure emerged from the deeper dark of the trees. It walked over towards him and sat down. ‘You like that girl, Dominic?’
‘Not particularly.’
‘You’re playing her?’
‘Yes.’
A hand rested on his shoulder; fraternal, warm. ‘Good to see you, my friend.’
‘Remy,’ Dominic said.
‘So, like you told the police lady, Friday,’ Remy said.
‘Yes.’
‘I scoped out the site out this morning.’
‘What do you think.’
Dominic could almost hear his friend smile. ‘Ingress. Murder-spree. Egress. Burn the place down. Simple, and very doable.’ There was a beat, then he added, ‘There are other elements?’
‘Yes.’
‘Afterwards, you will be in the frame. She will know you played her.’
‘I’ve got it covered.’
‘You always were the strategist.’
‘And you always helped me make it work,’ Dominic said.
‘We’re brothers-in-arms. Dominic. Always. I owe you my life.’ Remy stared into the sky. ‘This country is so grey. Sometimes there is sunlight, but not often. And at night, the sky is black, but the clouds are still there, I can see them.’ He looked across at his friend, his voice softened a little. ‘Katie would want you to do this. To save her son.’
‘Timing is crucial,’ Dominic said, steering the conversation away from Katie.
‘Timing. Like music,’ Remy said. ‘Like the music we used to play. The bad music. And you leading the band.’ He said, ‘I think you worry about embracing the darkness, Dominic, but don’t. It embraces you. It always loved you best.’
There was a long silence and both men sat with their own thoughts. The wind picked up a little, the clouds grew faint against the deep black of the sky. Finally, Remy said, ‘Friday.’ He stood and walked silently into the night, leaving Dominic sitting alone on his favourite bench.
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