Page 31 of Four of Hearts

Harry heard an undertone in what Dave was saying. There was a story behind this, wasn’t there, he thought? Now was not the time to go asking what it was, though. That would be for another day, and perhaps another pub.

Harry’s phone buzzed again. He looked to see that a message had appeared from a number he recognised. It was the one that had been left on the digital voice recorder, the one he’d called to arrange the meeting over in Reeth that morning. He opened the message, saw a link, clicked it.

‘What does it say, Harry?’ Ben asked. ‘Is Liz okay? What’s going on?’

‘He’s shared his location,’ Harry said, placing his phone on the table so that everyone could see the map on the screen, and the little marker now slowly moving across it.

‘Where are they?’ Matt asked, leaning over. ‘And who is this ‘he’, that you’re talking about?’

‘Long story,’ Harry said. ‘Let’s just say that the criminal side of the family didn’t just include the bastard Ben and I were unlucky enough to have as a father.’

Harry saw Ben’s eyes go wide at this revelation. Harry ignored it and focused on the phone. ‘He wants me to follow them.’

‘Then we’re all going,’ said Matt.

Harry did his best to stare Matt down, but Matt wasn’t shifting.

‘Gordy was told to tell me to not get anyone else involved,’ Harry said. ‘It’s me this is about, Matt, just me. Not you. And not anyone else here, either. I won’t put anyone else at risk. Plus, we’ve all had a skinful, haven’t we? We’ll be a liability if we all go rushing off together like some group of pissed up vigilantes.’

Matt shook his head, clearly disappointed by what Harry had just said.

‘Have you not been listening?’ he said. ‘Have you not been taking notice of anything about this evening?’

‘To what?’

Matt swept an arm around at everyone else in the group.

‘After three, everyone! One, two three!’

As one, they all roared, ‘Protect the King!’

Harry almost smiled.

‘This is serious, Matt,’ he said. ‘These are dangerous people. This isn’t a game.’

‘No, you’re right, it isn’t,’ Matt agreed. ‘Which makes you wonder why they decided to play, doesn’t it?’

Harry was confused by that response, even more so when Matt turned away from him and called everyone round to look at the map on the phone screen.

‘They’ve just left Grinton, and they’re now heading out on Whipperdale,’ he said. ‘We need to move fast if we’re to do anything at all. Can’t call the police, so we won’t. Any ideas? We need a road block. Both ends. Trap them. One before they reach the main road, the other so they’re stuck if they turn around.’

‘I can help with that,’ said Dave, before anyone had a chance to say anything themselves. He was already scrolling through the contacts on his phone.

‘No!’ said Harry. ‘No one’s going anywhere, or doing anything, or helping with anything, and there will absolutely notbe any road blocks! The only person dealing with this is me. That’s all there is to it. Just me. No police. No any of you. Is that understood?’

Dave, it was clear to Harry, wasn’t listening, or if he was, he was making it very obvious that he didn’t understand at all.

‘Now then, Smithy, how goes it?’ he said to the person he’d just called. ‘What? Yes, still got the goats. You still throwing lads out of planes for a living? Excellent news. Why the call? Well, I was wondering if you’d mind doing me a favour? Might be a bit of a laugh if you and a few of your pals are up for it. Can even class it as training if you want.’

Harry tried to grab Dave’s phone, but Dave was too quick for him, helped by the fact that he was sober. As Harry tried to follow him, the rest of the group got in his way, and held him back.

‘You don’t understand!’ Harry roared. ‘You can’t get involved! This is dangerous! It needs to be me and only me!’

Dave turned around. Beamed.

‘Well, that’s that all sorted,’ he said. ‘Smithy’s on it. Shall we get gone?’

THIRTEEN