Page 94 of We Chase Shadows

‘You have to promise us one thing though,’ says Steve. ‘However much you like to be in control of a situation, no more lies.’

Vern takes his hands from his face and looks at the three of them. He nods. ‘No more lies.’

‘No more lies,’ repeats Rosie.

Vern leans back, and the boxer shorts finally escape from his trouser leg and fall in a heap on the floor.

Vern, Rosie, Steve and Amy are all looking at them. There is a brief moment of silence.

‘They must have got tangled up in your washing,’ says Rosie, and everybody in the room nods in agreement.

Málaga, 2001

Tonight’s the night, I’m absolutely buzzing. Nervous, sure, come on, but buzzing.

No plan is foolproof, stuff goes wrong all the time, but it’s all looking good.

Note’s all written, looks legit. Like, neat, because it’s the last thing I’ll ever write, but not too neat, cos, you know, my state of mind.

The tide’s perfect at about two in the morning, so a guy I know from London, Vern, he’s picking me up at midnight and we’re going to drive over to the cove. No speeding, legit hire car. Cops won’t have a reason to stop it.

He’s parking it round the back of the villa and I’m going to hop over the wall. Just in case they’re watching the front. Midnight though, who’s paying attention?

I’ve got a lot to thank Vern for. A lot. So far he’s asked for nothing in return. But he has to know I’ll owe him? When I’m back up and running? Has to know I’ll take care of him.

Look after your friends. That’s the first rule. Kill your enemies, that’s the second rule.

I can be a mean bastard at times, I know that, but I’m a loyal mate and Vern Blackwood will find that out.

I’ll be in Algeria by daybreak, then Egypt, then God knows where. I’ve always liked to travel.

In the end I got a Swedish passport. Best passport you can get, apparently. There’s not a country in the world that doesn’t let the Swedes in. And nowhere that wants to kidnap them either. Vern sorted that for me too. Good as gold about it.

I’m not naive about the guy, don’t you worry about that.

At some point I know he’s going to call this favour in. He’s going to come to me looking for a piece of what I’ve got and, you know what, I’ll let him have it. Smart geezers don’t need to ask, and Vern Blackwood is a smart geezer. Knows an opportunity when he sees one.

Jakob Eriksson, that’s my name apparently. Might as well be English, eh? Easy to pronounce. Eriksson like the new England manager, Swedish fella, going to win us the World Cup, I guarantee you that.

I’ve been practising the accent. Not bad at it.

Yep, buzzing.

If this works right, and I won’t say it definitely will, but it should, then no one’s ever going to hear the name Connor Brooks again.

47

‘Connor Brooks?’ says Felicity Woollaston, as Steve pours her a cup of tea, and Trouble settles on her lap.

‘Connor Brooks,’ says Steve. ‘I thought you’d like to know. He’s about as Swedish as the Pope, this fella.’

Felicity smiles.

‘Hold on,’ says Steve. ‘The Pope’s not Swedish, is he?’

‘American,’ says Felicity.

‘American Pope,’ says Steve. ‘That’s right. He was in a picture round at the quiz. What can I do for you?’