The carry-out arrived. I paid the delivery guy and laid the tinfoil boxes out on the table. Amy put on the Manics. ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’, she said, ‘I just love this old stuff.’
Had no answer for that.
‘We need plates, Gus, and cutlery.’
‘Sure, I’ll get some.’
I called out to Hod and he came in, hair wet, reeking of Obsession, Ted Baker shirt open but for a couple of buttons.
He grabbed me. ‘Christ, Gus…’ he whispered, ‘who the fuck is that?’
‘Oh aye, Hod, this is… er, Pepsi… Pepsi, Hod.’
Amy tucked into some chicken jalfrezi, mouth full, she gave a wave.
‘Christ,’ said Hod again. ‘I’ll take the Pepsi challenge any day!’
I slunk off to the kitchen, to grab myself another Stella. Had been knocking them back and now began to feel like mixing in something a bit harder. For some reason, gin called. I never touch the mother’s ruin, but my mood told me it would fit. You sit behind a bar, staring at those optics for long enough periods of your life, sooner or later, labels you’ve never even tried start to call you.
I went back to find Hod and Amy deep in conversation.
‘Gus, Gus, this is out of order!’ said Hod.
‘What is?’
‘Billy Boy. Pepsi’s been telling me you’re going after his killer.’
‘Oh, has she now?’
‘I never knew him very well, in fact, when I did meet him I thought he was a bit of a septic tank to tell the truth, but his father’s brand new. God, old Col must be in bits.’
I took a plate, spooned on some rice. ‘He’s none too good.’
‘Pepsi says you’ve narrowed it down to this Zalinskas guy.’
I dropped the spoon in the tinfoil box. ‘Just hang on a minute. I’ve narrowed down bugger all, and I wouldn’t be taking anything she says as gospel, her real name’s Amy for a start.’
‘Yeah but,’ said Amy, ‘we’re getting close.’
‘Amy, is it? I like that,’ said Hod. ‘I say we go all out tonight — screw hitting the town. I know where Zalinskas has a casino on George Street. We could-’
‘No way!’
‘Hang on, Gus,’ said Hod. ‘I’m only saying we could go and have a word, try pushing his buttons.’
I put down my plate, cutlery; threw myself back in the chair. ‘Am I hearing right? Have you two completely lost it? The man’s a gangster. I saw him doing the full Don Corleone bit on the news tonight. It’s a non-starter. I mean, thanks, both of you, for the suggestions. But, no. No way. Outta the question.’
‘Looks like it’s you and me then, Pepsi, er… Amy,’ said Hod.
They high-fived.
I stood up. ‘He’d have my nuts in a cocktail shaker if I even set foot in one of his places, and as for anyone with me…’
‘Well, if you’re chicken, Gus,’ said Hod, grinning at Amy.
‘This is no joke, you know. Hello, read my lips, the man’s a gangster!’
Hod walked round the table, put his hand on my shoulder. ‘Okay, we’ll be careful. Just a look about the joint, a few sneaky wee enquiries. Test the water so to speak. You never know, we might hit pay dirt.’
‘You’ll get put in the dirt.’
‘Gus, look, I’ve been to this casino a million times, I’m a kent face. No one’s gonna say boo to me turning up, I’ll sign you and herself in as a couple and we’ll play it cool.’
I saw they were set on it. I couldn’t let them take a chance like this on their own. Sooner or later I’d have to confront Benny the Bullfrog, maybe sooner was better than later in the circumstances.
‘Okay,’ I said. For the first time, I wished I’d taken Mac’s shooter.
They both cheered. Hod shook his fist in the air. Amy danced, made a mixing-bowl motion.
‘But, we do this my way,’ I said.
‘Absolutely,’ said Hod.
‘I mean it. You go in there looking for a pagger, Hod we’re all coming out like this…’ I picked up a piece of pakora, dripping in red sauce and dropped it on the table.
They watched my face.
‘I’m not joking,’ I said. ‘You especially, Amy… there’ll be no going back to the Pleasure Garden after Benny’s lot see you with me. You’ll be marked.’
Nods. Sighs.
‘Okay then, let’s do this,’ I said.
‘Suicide is Painless’ began to play.
Not a bad option, I thought.