‘I don’t know, they were wearing balaclavas. Although I have had a few bad online reviews about my mechanic business. One woman sent her husband to get her money back. Even threatened to go to the small claims court, but I’m not telling the police that.’

Taking the crowbar off Alex, Mark pulled away the boards protecting the front door. As they walked in, Alex looked on with horror as Mark gave a low whistle. ‘Christ, Alex, they went to town on this, didn’t they? My fifty-inch television is hanging off the wall smashed to pieces.’ Treading on glass underfoot, they wandered into the kitchen.

‘The weird thing is, they kept asking where their money was.’ Puzzled by it all, Mark looked around the dark room and opened the blinds to let in some daylight. ‘That job I mentioned was only a couple of hundred quid and her car was an old banger anyway. Makes me wonder though.’ Pursing his lips together, Mark looked at Alex and shrugged. ‘Shit happens, what can I say? I must have been more pissed than I thought, or as high as a kite; it didn’t look this bad last night.’

‘Things always look worse in the cold light of day. We’ll soon get this lot cleared away though. I’m sure the builders at mine will take a few quid to put your cupboard doors back on and sort the door for now until Olivia gets her interior-designer head on.’ Alex laughed, trying to make light of the situation, although looking around, it looked like a warzone. ‘Well, he’s had his money’s worth now, that’s for sure Mark. I doubt they will come back now the police are on to it.’

‘I’ll be ready next time if they do. I know people who know people.’ Alex knew it was all bravado, but he left it at that.

Other neighbours popped their heads around the door and wandered in. ‘We’re here to help where we can,’ Emma said, raising her sweeping brush and bin liners. Mark and Alex cast a furtive glance at each other. They knew she meant well, but what the hell she was going to do with those was anyone’s business! No sooner said than done an army of neighbours were clearing what they could away and the place actually looked almost liveable again. ‘Thank God George was at yours last night with Dante, Alex. I wouldn’t want him witnessing this. Who knows what could have happened?’ Sheepishly, Mark looked at Alex. Tears were almost welling up in his eyes now the aftermath of the shock had set in.

‘Well, he was, and he didn’t. Be grateful for small mercies. Look around you. It doesn’t look too bad now all the glass has gone. All that rubbish can go in my workmen’s skip. Nip out, get a new television, even bigger than the last,’ Alex said, ‘and we’ll leave Emma to keep hoovering the same patch over and over again.’

‘Have you seen that they have been upstairs? All of the clothes have been pulled out the wardrobes. It makes you wonder if they were looking for something, doesn’t it?’

Trying to get him from that train of thought, Alex said, ‘No Mark. They weren’t looking for anything, just trying to make a mess of your house. They were hooligans with baseball bats and were probably all on drugs anyway.’ Alex watched Mark’s face closely as he seemed to accept his explanation.

Eventually, Olivia mustered up enough courage to come home and tears rolled down her face when she saw the smashed photo frame containing her wedding photo. Alex couldn’t comprehend that that was the only thing that bothered her! In true style, her parents turned up to console her and Mark nudged Alex in the ribs. ‘We’re staying with you again tonight, aren’t we? I’m not going to her mum’s,’ he emphasised through gritted teeth. The thought of spending a night with Olivia’s mum terrified him more than the men who had trashed his house!

After lunchtime, everything looked almost normal again and Olivia, Emma and Maggie decided to go shopping while the workmen set about putting their cupboards back in the kitchen. As Alex had predicted, they took the extra cash offered.

Walking up the street towards Percy’s house, Alex saw him on the front path. ‘Morning Percy. I saw you got a special takeaway last night. What was your explanation?’

Percy paled when he saw him. ‘Told them they had argued and done the business to each other.’

Frowning, Alex cocked his head to one side. ‘How did they do that, if there were three of them?’

‘Told them one shot the other two in temper, then shot himself in the head.’

Astonished, Alex stared at him. ‘And they believed that?’

‘Dunno if they believed it or not, but that’s my story and I am sticking to it.’

‘Was my name mentioned at all?’

‘I’m not stupid Alex; your name never came up. You weren’t even around, because I never saw you.’ Percy was as white as a sheet and his hand trembled as he took the roll-up cigarette from behind his ear and lit it. ‘No harm done eh, Alex mate?’

‘I am not your mate, Percy. Be warned. You might have friends in high places, but I have friends in low, low places.’ With that, Alex discarded his own cigarette on the pavement and walked away.

27 A PROPOSITION

Whilst Mark and Olivia sorted out the house, Mark had asked Alex to help him with his mechanic business. ‘Only doing easy jobs, Alex. I’ll turn away the big ones and give them to my mate. Are you up for it?’

Alex couldn’t believe his luck. This was perfect. It meant he could pop out, see Luke and do whatever was necessary to build his own bank balance up. The nights were getting lighter and he decided to tell the police about his new job. They didn’t seem too bothered as long as they knew his whereabouts. If nothing else, they felt it kept him busy and out of mischief!

Deana had offered to go to Luke’s with him on occasion, claiming it looked better if the police saw that he had his young daughter with him – they knew he wouldn’t risk her safety. He’d agreed it was a good cover, although Maggie hadn’t liked it, but once he had filled her in on Luke and his lifestyle she had appreciated him telling her. She knew he was trying to scrape as much money together for the family in case they needed it and had accepted the situation.

Each morning, as Alex went out for his first cigarette of the day in the beer garden, he looked across at the newly built bike shed. Strangely enough, people were using it, including Dante and George. The workmen had done a really nice job.

Things were looking up, and he had another thirty thousand stuffed away in the cellar. Luke and his brother had business booming and everyone liked the new stuff they were giving out. Luke had been right, people didn’t mind paying that little extra for good stuff and eventually, they wouldn’t even notice they had mixed it with herbs.

On occasion, he had noticed a spark between Luke and Deana, but decided to ignore it. He hadn’t liked it, but had swallowed it. Their lives would change soon enough, so why not let her have a little fun while she could? Who knew what their future would hold? And he liked Luke, but had warned him to never offer Deana any of his drugs.

Shocked, Luke had felt insulted by the insinuation. ‘I wouldn’t do that to you Alex, or Deana. I’m not trash. And I know you would make me wear my balls for earrings.’

Apologetically, Alex had told Luke he didn’t think he was trash, not at all. He liked him, but they drew a line under their conversation and carried on as normal.

After a long evening serving behind the bar, Phyllis and Pauline had gone. Alex told Maggie to go upstairs and chill out while he locked up and cleared away. It was midnight when he looked up at the clock and he was just about to switch the hallway light off when there was a knock at the back door. Thinking it was some customer who had left something, he opened it.

Stunned, he stood rooted to the spot and paled as he looked at the man before him. ‘Boa noite Alex.’ The man wearing an expensive dark grey suit was well groomed and wore a diamond earring. ‘Don’t bother reaching for a gun. I come in peace and am not tooled up.’ He opened his jacket. Alex could see there was no gun in the holster. Still with his jacket open, the man did a slow twirl, so Alex could see there was nothing in the back of his waist band either.

Swallowing hard, and moistening his lips, Alex spoke. ‘John, what brings you here? Stupid question I know, but why you?’

‘I want you to come out and see for yourself, or are you too chicken these days? I assure you I have no driver with me and there is no one in the shadows at either side waiting to blow your head off. I come in peace to talk to you.’

The two men stared at each other, and with his heart in his mouth, Alex knew these could be his last living moments on this earth. Nodding, he stepped into the street and closed his eyes, waiting for the rain of bullets to hit him, but nothing happened. Opening his eyes again, he saw John smiling.

‘You haven’t forgotten who you are, Alex, that’s good. Now, can we talk?’ he asked, raising one eyebrow.

Ushering him into the small sitting room, Alex offered John a chair at the dining table. ‘How did you find me. Did Pereira send you?’

‘Pour us both a whisky, and I will tell you why I am here. I am sure you’re curious, I would be…’ He trailed off. ‘But first, Maggie, put down the gun you have pointed at my head. You haven’t crept down those stairs as quietly as you might think,’ he added.

Entering the room fully, Maggie still held the gun in her hand.

‘Leave now John, or I will blow your head off. My kids are upstairs and I won’t have them seeing their father killed in his own home.’

‘It’s good to see you too. And how well you look. Playing the publican obviously suits you. Now this is man talk, so go and get us both a drink and join your kids upstairs.’ John looked at Alex sternly, waiting for him to tell Maggie to leave.

‘It’s okay Maggie, love. Do as he says and go upstairs with the kids. If he was going to kill me, he would have done it by now.’

Nervously, Maggie walked forward and put the handgun in the centre of the table between them. ‘One of you is the quickest draw. I’ll let you decide which.’ With that, she walked into the bar, brought two glasses and put the whisky bottle on the table between them. She looked at Alex, concern and fear written all over her face. John was a killer with no conscience. He and Alex had worked together on many occasions and had been close. And now it seemed they had sent his friend to murder her husband. How ironic.

Alex waved his hand in the air, dismissing her. ‘Go Maggie.’ And as a measure of good faith, he held up the gun. ‘And take this with you. Let’s not leave temptation on the table, eh?’

Once she had left, John took a sip of his whisky. ‘I have taken over from Pereira now, or rather, I am in the process of doing so.’ Although Portuguese, John had perfected his English accent and spoke almost like royalty. He was suave and sophisticated, even charming, and had been like a celebrity in their circle of friends.

‘Pereira is in no position to look for you any more. He was transferred and put into solitary confinement weeks ago. He is allowed no visitors. Possibly because he is being beaten up at every opportunity and no one wants to show his bruises off. I’ve organised that, Alex. He’s an old man with old ways and it’s time for fresh blood. It’s time for me.’ He smiled. ‘Did you hear that Ramos hung himself in his cell? He was sixty-five. He couldn’t hold his own behind bars without his heavies protecting him. There is always some young wannabee who wants to be in charge in those places.’

Shocked, Alex shook his head in surprise. ‘I haven’t been told that. So that means there are only five left, plus their families.’

‘Their families are scared shitless. What I want to know Alex, is why the police have never come knocking at my door? They must have wanted you to incriminate me too, along with Pereira.’

‘They showed me photos of you, and they know you’re not innocent John,’ Alex laughed for the first time that evening, ‘but they have no real proof or know of any bodies you have hidden. I said I knew of you, of course I did, but that I didn’t know that much about you. My reason is not just sentiment. We were street soldiers together and had each other’s backs many a time, but you were the only one that agreed Pereira was wrong about me murdering his brother. You said he deserved it after what he had done to Maggie and there should be a line drawn underneath it and a lesson to all. Pereira ignored that, but that is why your name never came up.’