Chapter 26
They are all staying in Axley for a couple of days. What a relief. Steve knows where all the channels are on his TV.
They will move Vern to Rosie’s ridiculous castle once Amy has given it a proper security sweep, and that could take some while because, well, because it’s a castle.
The house is not so much ‘in’ Dorset as a significant portion ‘of’ Dorset.
Doing a full security evaluation of Steve’s two-bedroom cottage hadn’t taken Amy quite so long.
Steve has made cups of tea for Rosie and Vern. Amy is drinking a power shake made from ingredients she was able to find in Steve’s local shop. It contains bananas, some malt loaf, a lettuce, a tin of condensed milk and a scoop of Ready Brek. She seems to be enjoying it.
It is Amy and Adam’s anniversary in a few days, but she hasn’t mentioned it.
Steve always writes it in every time he has a new diary.
Has he ever had a happier day? He and Debbie both agreed it beat even their own wedding.
To see his boy so happy. To put an arm around Amy.
The toughest, most fragile girl he has ever met.
It is lovely to see Trouble again too, but, as cats like to punish you when you’ve been away, he is curled up in Amy’s lap.
Steve is having to pretend he’s fine with that.
Soon enough though, everyone will be gone, and his will be the only lap in the house.
You won’t be so cocky then, will you, Trouble, my friend?
‘You had no idea?’ Amy asks. ‘About Korbin working with Jakob Eriksson?’
‘We still don’t know he was working with him,’ says Vern. ‘With all due respect.’
‘Working for him, perhaps,’ says Steve.
‘We definitely don’t know that,’ says Vern. ‘The whole thing is muddy.’
‘So it’s a coincidence that they’re at the same airports together?’ says Amy. ‘Time after time?’
‘And in the same cities where Jakob Eriksson’s rivals were murdered?’ adds Rosie.
‘Listen,’ says Vern. ‘When you showed me the pictures, I saw what it looked like. But I can’t believe it of Korbin, that’s all I’m saying. He’s German, and if you can’t trust a German, then, I’m sorry, but the world’s upside down.’
‘Where did you think he was, by the way?’ Steve asks. ‘When he was away on these trips?’
‘Just time off,’ says Vern. ‘You have to give them four weeks’ holiday. That’s our friend the EU for you.’
‘So let’s say,’ says Steve, ‘Jakob Eriksson is looking for a hitman. Why hire one of your bodyguards? What does he gain?’
‘Two birds with one stone?’ Amy suggests. ‘Gets his hitman, and also finds a way to get more information about Vern?’
‘Why not just kill Vern?’ says Rosie. ‘That’s what I’d do. No offence, Vern.’
‘None taken,’ says Vern. ‘I can’t keep saying this. Eriksson and I are friends.’
Trouble yawns and arches his back. Steve pats his lap to attract Trouble’s attention, but Trouble turns himself ninety degrees and settles back in Amy’s lap. How long are you going to keep this up for, Trouble?
‘The night he died, Korbin had something to tell me,’ says Amy. ‘Do you think he wanted to admit to working with Eriksson?’
‘Men in freezers tell no tales,’ says Rosie.
Rosie has been unusually quiet this evening. She had a meeting after they got back from Italy and hasn’t yet said why. In some ways it’s nice to have an evening off from her. She’ll be back on form soon enough.
‘Or perhaps he confessed it to you too, Vern?’ says Amy. ‘Then you killed him in a rage?’
‘Oh, please,’ says Vern. ‘I’m not Hannibal Lecter. I’m more Paddington.’
‘Paddington doesn’t run an illegal vitamins empire,’ says Rosie. ‘Or, if he does, he’s been very good at keeping it quiet.’
‘Maybe that will be the next film,’ says Amy.
Steve sees Rosie feeling her side.
‘Tell us about Jakob Eriksson,’ says Rosie. ‘I know you don’t want to. But we need to know everything you know.’
‘I know about as much as Interpol,’ says Vern. ‘I started to hear about him maybe twenty-odd years ago. I met him once, in Vegas, and never again. We got along well, and we came to an understanding. Which I’ve always understood to be the reason I am still alive.’
‘Perhaps he’s finally coming for your money?’ suggests Rosie.
Steve gives a little laugh. ‘He hasn’t got enough money already?’
‘Who in this world has got enough money?’ says Vern.
‘Me,’ says Steve. ‘I only need enough for cat food and a couple of pints at lunchtime.’
‘Me too,’ says Amy. ‘Although for protein shakes and lip balm.’
‘I don’t have enough money,’ says Rosie.
‘You want three moats?’ asks Steve.
Rosie shrugs. ‘I just think what’s the harm? No one ever died from having too much money, and millions die from not having enough.’
‘Have you ever thought,’ says Steve, ‘that the reason so many people die from not having enough money is that some people have too much?’
‘I mean, you could just live in Russia, Stevie?’ says Rosie.
The four settle into a few moments of quiet. Steve doesn’t like all this one bit. Way too many loose ends. He looks at the haunting figure of Jakob Eriksson in the Interpol photographs. Did he kill the bodyguards? Or is Vern right? Is somebody hiding behind his name? Georgie Glazier? Tommy Griffin?
There is a knock on the door. Amy pulls her gun.
‘It’s Tony,’ says Steve, getting up. ‘Don’t shoot. Unless he comes at you. Then you can shoot.’
Trouble nuzzles himself against the muzzle of Amy’s gun. Cats really have no boundaries.
Steve walks back in with Tony Taylor, his best friend. One side of Tony’s face is badly bruised.
‘Tony, this is Vern,’ says Steve.
Vern rises and shakes Tony’s hand. ‘Sorry you got caught up in all this.’
‘Not your fault,’ says Tony. ‘This is what happens when you’re in the murder business.’
‘You’re part of the gang too?’ Vern asks as he sits again.
‘No,’ says Rosie.
‘God, yes,’ says Tony. ‘For my sins. Logistics, that sort of thing.’
‘Human shield,’ says Rosie. ‘That sort of thing.’
‘Sort of Steve’s right-hand man,’ says Tony, perching on the edge of Steve’s armchair, even though there’s a chair free. ‘Sounding board, you know. Steve’s Spider-Man and I’m … Spider-Man’s sidekick. Does Spider-Man have a sidekick?’
‘Tony is very good with directions,’ says Steve. ‘And fixing cars.’
‘Too kind,’ says Tony. ‘So, have we caught this Eriksson yet? Give me five minutes with him if you do.’
‘What will you do?’ asks Rosie. ‘Explain the history of the Bournemouth ring road?’
They played a game of ‘unlikely crush’ on the jet the other day. Amy’s had been Voldemort. Steve hadn’t quite understood the concept of ‘unlikely crush’ and had gone for Jennifer Lopez to the derision of the others. Rosie had chosen Tony Taylor.
‘Joke’s on you, Rosie,’ says Tony, giving Steve a farewell pat on the leg and finally taking his own seat. ‘Bournemouth doesn’t have a ring road.’
‘He’s got you there,’ says Steve, shaking his head at Rosie’s naivety. ‘Absolutely bang to rights.’
‘It relies on a system of interconnected A-roads,’ continues Tony. ‘You’ve got your A35 and your A3049, which perform the job of a ring road, but are they a ring road? They are not.’
As Tony is speaking, Steve sees Rosie, almost imperceptibly, wet her lips. But Amy had explained the concept of ‘kink shaming’ to him the other day, so he chooses not to draw attention to it.
‘I have another question, Vern,’ says Steve. ‘I don’t suppose you quiz?’
‘Hmm?’ says Vern.
‘Do you quiz?’ Steve repeats. ‘It’s the quiz tonight, at The Brass Monkey. We need a fifth if you’re any good on sport or Charlie XCX? Those are our two weak spots.’
Amy looks up from stroking Trouble. ‘Why aren’t you asking me?’
‘You?’ says Steve. Now Amy and Trouble are both looking at him as if he has betrayed them.
‘Your daughter-in-law,’ says Amy. ‘Remember? You don’t think I can quiz?’
‘I know you know about guns,’ says Steve. ‘And what’s that show you like?’
‘Heated Rivalry,’ says Amy.
‘And Heated Rivalry,’ says Steve. ‘But last time I asked you to quiz with us you said you’d rather drown yourself.’
‘Well, I would rather drown myself,’ says Amy. ‘But it would be nice to be asked.’
‘Okay,’ says Steve. Trouble is turning his head between the two of them as if watching a tennis match. ‘Would you like to join our quiz team tonight?’
‘No, thank you,’ says Amy.
‘Okay,’ says Steve. Phew.
‘But thank you for asking,’ says Amy.
Steve nods towards Trouble. ‘You let me know if he gets too heavy for you. I can take him.’
‘Steve,’ says Amy, ‘I can leg press over 300 kilos, I’ll be okay.’
Steve nods. ‘He looks restless, that’s all.’
‘Well, I’d love to quiz,’ says Vern. ‘If you’ll have me?’
‘Capital of Malawi?’ asks Steve.
‘Malawi City?’ guesses Vern.
Steve gives a low grunt.
‘Where are you going next?’ Tony asks.
‘Palm Springs,’ says Steve.
Tony gives a low whistle. ‘Australia.’
‘America,’ says Steve.
‘Even so,’ says Tony. ‘Is it hot?’
‘Very hot,’ says Rosie. ‘But everyone’s got a pool. And Frank Sinatra used to live there. You boys like Frank Sinatra, don’t you?’
Steve and Tony both nod. Steve is still not exactly relishing the idea, but he does have to admit that he likes Frank Sinatra.
‘I’ll hold the fort back here,’ says Tony. ‘Don’t you worry about that.’
‘After the quiz though,’ says Steve. ‘That’s in my contract.’
Steve sees Trouble stirring. Giving an apologetic look to Amy, he jumps down from her lap and walks over to Steve. Trouble knows Steve doesn’t want to go to Palm Springs. He jumps up and curls himself into Steve’s lap. Steve tries as hard as he can to make it look as if he hasn’t noticed.
‘Can I get anyone more tea?’ asks Amy. Everyone agrees that she can, so she collects up the mugs and walks into the kitchen. Trouble, who likes food even more than he likes laps, follows, so Steve does too. She might need a hand.
Steve watches from the doorway as she takes a mug from his kitchen cupboard.
It says I SURVIVED ST LUCIA. A memento of their previous case.
He wants to keep watching, because the scene reminds him so much of Debbie just pottering around the kitchen.
But it’s creepy to lurk, so he walks over to the fridge and takes out the milk for her.
‘Hey, Pops,’ she says.
‘Hey, daughter-in-law,’ he says.
Steve hears chatter in the other room as Amy flicks the kettle on.
Tony is now holding court. ‘Of course, I say it’s not a ring road, but the Stony Lane project on the A35 really improved congestion around Christchurch.’
Rosie says something in reply, Steve doesn’t catch what, but everyone laughs.
Amy tears the teabags from each other and puts them in the mugs. Warm rays of summer sun play across the kitchen. More laughs from the other room. Steve sees Amy smile.
‘What’s the smile for?’ he asks.
‘I know it’s murder that’s brought us all together,’ says Amy, as more laughs drift through to the kitchen. ‘But I was just thinking this must be what family feels like.’
Steve puts his arm around her. This wonderful woman who has known such trouble and keeps it all locked up inside.
‘Ames, this isn’t what family feels like,’ he says. ‘This is family.’