I knew my way round the government site from my reporting days. Found the Cabinet Ministers in no time; went to their mugshots.
The page threw up a list of past achievements, education and portfolios held. All I wanted was a clear picture Nadja could identify.
I took them one by one.
‘If you see someone… anyone you might have seen with Zalinskas, sing out.’
I put up the first picture.
‘No.’
The second.
‘No.’
Third, fourth, fifth and sixth.
‘No… I do not recognise any of these faces.’
‘What about Billy? Did he mention any of these names, or anything at all related to the government.’
‘No, never… Except… well, sometimes he would make a rant at the news, but I never heard him name anyone, or single anyone out.’
I continued to scroll down the screen.
‘No,’ said Nadja. ‘No. This is all so hopeless.’
‘Keep going.’
‘No… no. Wait! Yes.’
‘This one?’
‘Yes.’
‘You know this one?’ I double-clicked on the picture, opened up a bigger shot. I definitely knew the face, it was Alisdair Cardownie, Minister for Immigration.
‘I think… but, wait, no. No, I cannot be sure. I think I may only have seen him on the television shows.’
My pulse had raced at the sight of him, to hear her change her mind like this put ice in my veins.
‘Are you kidding me?’
‘No, I am sorry. I do not think I have seen this man, other than on the television… he is on television a great deal, is he not?’
I nodded. ‘Oh, he is that.’
‘You know him?’
‘After a fashion.’
‘I do not understand, what does that mean?’
‘It means… let’s just say I’ve run into him on the odd occasion.’
‘There is the bad blood between you?’
‘He cost me my job.’
Nadja looked back at the screen. ‘This man? He doesn’t look capable.’
The sight of the smug arse-wipe turned my stomach, I closed down the laptop. This line of enquiry had got us nowhere. It was time to change tack, go to the root cause.
‘The fight between Billy and Zalinskas.’
‘What about it?’
‘That’s just it. What was it all about?’
Nadja shuffled in her seat, looked uncomfortable. ‘I do not know, entirely. Some security issue I think. I did not have any interest.’
‘Nadja, I know Benny ordered a sweep of the clubs after that row. It’s common knowledge.’
She took another one of my B amp;H, lit up. ‘I think some tapes had went missing. Benny is very particular about, how you say, running the tight ship.’
‘The tapes went missing on Billy’s watch?’
‘Yes, of course. Why else do you think they argued?’
‘Tapes of what?’
‘Just tapes. From the security cameras. Benny keeps them all in order, the tapes went missing and Billy had the hell to pay.’
‘Tapes from the casinos?’
Nadja squirmed. ‘And the houses.’
‘Houses?’
‘Where the girls work.’
‘Hah! You mean bawdy houses.’
I saw why losing some of the tapes from the knock shops wouldn’t be good for Zalinskas’ business.
I knew why the cameras were in place. They were Zalinskas’ insurance policy, or, maybe just for a rainy day. Billy had obviously got the same idea — only he’d decided to cash in Zalinskas’ chips a little bit early.
‘What else was Billy working on?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Come on — ambitious guy like Billy, he must have had umpteen irons in the fire.’
‘Nothing I tell you!’
I didn’t see Billy going too far down this track, he wasn’t building a second empire that’s for sure. But I knew if he thought of striking out on his own he’d need some kind of legit cover.
‘Motors… Billy liked his motors,’ I said, thinking out loud. ‘Did he have a workshop, garage somewhere?’
‘No. Never. He liked cars to drive, but he was not that kind of a man — you know, macho.’
‘What was he like?’
‘He liked the finer things in life.’
‘So, he liked his luxuries — clothes, scent?’
‘Yes.’
‘Did he ever bring in, say, a batch of designer gear from the Continent? Or anywhere else for that matter.’
‘Not that I know of.’
‘But say he did…’
‘He did not.’
‘Christ! Paintings then, Louis Vuitton handbags, mucky books? Where would he keep them? Where would he store them?’
‘I do not know. I really do not know. I tell you, he never had such business that I knew of.’
I was getting nowhere. I needed to know what Billy had been up to. Now, either Nadja was in the dark too, or she was holding out on me again. I wasn’t about to let her away with that for a second time.
I ran through to the bedroom, picked up the Glock. Stuffed it in my belt.
‘Right, on your feet,’ I said.
‘Why? Where are we going?’
‘Billy’s gaff. If he’s left a hint of what he’s been up to, we’ll find it.’
‘But Benny’s people have already been over it.’
‘I’m not Benny’s people.’