Vixen (Inspector Brant) by Ken Bruen Read Free Book Online Page A

shouted:
    ‘Bob, I’m gonna go get us some coffees.’
    And went out the back entrance.
    He was just disappearing down the steps at the side of the station when he noticed a couple of cops watching the front of the left luggage. Angie had said they’d be there and that there’d be plenty of them.
    Ray was waiting in a taxi and Jimmy tore off the coat, put it and the bags on the seat, said:
    ‘See you later.’
    And he returned to work.
    When he got back, Bob asked:
    ‘Where’s the coffee?’
    ‘They were closed.’
    Bob said never no mind, they’d brew their own. This included adding a drop of creature comfort in the form of Highland Grouse. It improved the hell out of whatever you were drinking. The hot drinks went down so well they batched up another lot and omitted the coffee – you can have too much of a good thing. It was Friday evening and close to knocking-off time. Soon they’d wander down to the Railworkers’ Club and sink a few bitters. All in all, it was a pretty mellow way to launch the weekend. Bob was feeling very relaxed, said:
    ‘Jim, did you hear the fashion that bloody copper spoke to me?’
    ‘No, Bob, I missed that.’
    ‘Yeah, the fucker, he tried to run riot, shouting the odds about being in the Met and wouldn’t pay for the ticket.’
    Jimmy didn’t care either way and said:
    ‘But you were able for him, I’d say.’
    ‘Too bloody right, I don’t take shit from no one. What’s the big deal with the bag, do you think?’
    They looked at the bag, ‘Swag’ in white letters almost glowing. Jimmy shrugged his shoulders and Bob asked:
    ‘Swag! What’s that about? Some kind of joke, do you think?’
    ‘Gee, I don’t know, Bob.’
    The Highland Grouse was singing in old Bob and he stood, circled the bag, then bent down, said:
    ‘Let’s have a little peek; I mean, the bastards didn’t even pay so it’s not like they’re entitled to our full protection.’
    He pulled the zipper back and stared in dismay then said:
    ‘It’s empty, I could have sworn it weighed a ton, did it seem heavy to you?’
    Jimmy’s heart skipped a beat and he tried:
    ‘No, it was light as a feather.’
    Bob eyed the bottle of Grouse, laughed, said:
    ‘I better ease up, eh?’
    Jimmy felt relief flow over him, said:
    ‘Let’s have one for the road. What do you think, you being the senior man?’
    Bob liked that tone a lot and felt they could certainly risk one more. As they closed up, the watching cops noted the time and that they weren’t carrying anything.
    One said:
    ‘The only thing those guys are carrying is a feed of drink.’
    A month before, Angie had rented Jimmy a small apartment in Kennington. She’d said:
    ‘They’ll check the employees and we can’t be living together. I’ll stay with a girlfriend so they can’t connect us up.’
    Jimmy was very unhappy about being on his own but she persuaded him it was only for a short time. Once the heat died down, they’d split the money and all get back together. When Ray arrived at the Mews, he had already split the money and when he handed the cash to Angie, she said:
    ‘This seems light.’
    ‘Yeah, I’ve taken half and put it someplace safe.’
    She was surprised at his balls, asked:
    ‘Don’t you trust me?’
    ‘Sure, but if anything happened to you, at least only half would be gone. This way, we need each other.’
    She considered getting him into bed, see if he would reveal the location. Instinct told her it wouldn’t work. He was sharper than she’d figured.
    She smiled, said:
    ‘Good thinking. When they check out the staff at the left luggage, it’s possible they’ll come talk to you as Jimmy’s brother.’
    Ray cracked a Special Brew, took a deep slug, said:
    ‘The Mews is clean, I’ve sold off the hot gear. They can search all they like. Fancy a drink, to celebrate?’
    ‘Maybe later, I have to go see about my flat.’
    Ray gave her a long look, said:
    ‘You be real careful, that’s a lot of cash you’re