Just two hundred yards behind Michelle and I, was Carl’s second henchman. The one who had pulled me off Carl and laughed as I ran to try and help Michelle and Maisie. I never knew his name, but I’d seen him around Carl a few times before.
Chief Superintendent Hodgson told me she’d got them all, but she’d missed one. Now that man was following us home. He knew I’d seen him, so he just casually walked behind, waiting for me to leave Michelle and go talk to him.
There was no way I was letting Michelle out of my sight until she was safely indoors. Not after what happened eight years ago.
If this man was out on the loose, did that mean there were others? He’d only been one of the bodyguards. The bullies. He certainly wasn’t the brains behind the operation. You could tell that just by looking at him.
As soon as Michelle was indoors, I made an excuse about going back outside to get something from the car. I ran down the drive and found the man there waiting for me.
“Evening,” he said in greeting. “I’m not sure we were ever formally introduced. My name’s Dave.”
The man held out his hand as if he seriously expected me to shake it. I just stared at him in response. In the end he lowered his hand and laughed.
Dave had an American accent, although I couldn’t place what particular part of the country it came from. I shouldn’t have been surprised; Winston was American. If the dirty cop was involved in this—as I was beginning to suspect—then it only made sense that he had other Americans working with him.
“Why are you following me?” I asked. “You’d better have a damn good explanation, because I’ve already called the police. They’ll be here in minutes.”
“If the police were a problem, I’d have been arrested eight years ago along with the others.”
“Why weren’t you?”
The man shrugged. “Let’s just say I have friends in high places.”
Winston. Maybe he let Carl and Wayne take the blame, while continuing his little operation with Dave.
“Any chance you’ve turned your life around and are now helping little old ladies cross the street?”
“Only if someone’s made a bet on them making it across,” Dave replied. “I’m still working the same trade. Gotta put money on the table.”
“Your boss said something similar to me once. Now he’s locked up, largely thanks to evidence that I provided.”
“No. No, my boss is still free.”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you think? Carl, got locked up, but Carl was never my boss. He was more of a middle manager. I work directly for the big boss, and that big boss wants a word with you.”
These bloody gangs were like hydras; you chop off one head and another quickly grows in its place. It was a miracle they survived the police investigation in 2007, but if they’d been going strong since then, the group could now be very powerful indeed.
“Whoever your boss now is, he lost he right to talk to me after he ordered the attack on my friends. Two women were seriously injured, and my best friend died. Your boss doesn’t get to talk to me anymore.”
“Carl was a nasty piece of work, I admit,” Dave said. “He had a bit of a temper on him and never thought things through long term. The real boss would never have ordered that attack on those girls; you would have been given one more chance to put things right.”
“And what about Gary? Are you telling me things would have been different there? Because a boy is growing up without a father after that ‘accident.’”
“No, I admit, that was the boss’ call. Your boy went and talked to the old bill and that couldn’t be allowed to stand. My boss has a particular aversion to those who bring the law into things.”
“How strange. You’d think criminals would be all chummy with cops wouldn’t you?”
Dave smiled. The orange glow of the streetlight above him gave him a creepy look, although in the cold light of day I knew there’d be nothing sinister about him.
“The boss has a… relationship with the cops,” Dave said, and then stopped, realising he may have said too much. “Anyway, they are not a concern.”
“Why now?” I asked. “Why after all these years have you come back?”
“You’re playing for England again. There’s a good chance England will make the final, and we’re hosting the tournament. If you think the country went nuts for the one held in France, just wait until the papers talk up the chances of a World Cup win on home turf.”
“I’m not going through with it. Not again. Tell your boss to get stuffed.”
“You really don’t want me to pass on that message. My boss can make your life a living hell.”
“If he wants a fight, then he knows where I am. Trust me, I have very vivid memories of what happened eight years ago. If I so much as lay eyes on him, he’s a dead man.”
“This won’t end in a fight,” Dave said. “It will end with you being destroyed in the press. He has plenty of evidence of your involvement in the scandal. How do you think the public will react when they find out you missed that kick on purpose? You’ll be vilified. You won’t be able to leave your house.”
There was no way I could go through with this, not again, but I wasn’t getting anywhere speaking to one of his thugs.
“Where’s your boss?” I asked. “I’ll go see him and tell him in person what he can do with his threats.”
“Not yet, but soon. We’ll be in touch. Have a good evening, Oliver.”
I stood there and watched Dave until he rounded a corner and disappeared out-of-sight. I’d told Michelle I was just popping out to get something from the car, but with any luck she would be busy talking to the kids.
I ran after Dave until I could see him in the distance. I kept a decent space between us, although he didn’t turn around and look behind him anyway. We kept walking for fifteen minutes, with Dave keeping up a brisk pace the entire way, until he stopped by an American bar near the river. This area was well lit, so I hid behind a bush to avoid being caught under the glare of the streetlights.
Dave stood by the entrance but never walked in. Instead he disappeared down a side alley, and entered the building through a door that looked like it was reserved for staff.
This had to be the place. The group liked hanging out at the back of buildings open to the public; it probably helped to provide a front for all the money coming in. Eight years ago it had been a hardware store, and now it was a bar.
The fact that Winston was also American couldn’t be just a coincidence. Was he in there now? If he was then I would… what would I do? I was unarmed and going up against a gang of thugs who were likely armed and worked closely with the police.
That ruled out calling the police for help. They wouldn’t be able to go in there without a warrant anyway. I decided to call Hodgson. She had been instrumental in catching Carl and Wayne, so I knew she’d want to get Dave as well. If Winston was involved too then that would have a ripple effect throughout the entire police force. She’d want to know.
“Olly, what can I do for you?” Hodgson said as she answered the phone.
“The betting syndicate is still active,” I said, forgoing any pleasantries.
There was a long pause on the other end of the phone, and I thought I heard a click to indicate that she’d taken it off speaker.
“Why do you say that?” she asked.
“Because I had a little visit from one of the men I saw back in 2007. Apparently there is a new boss in place now. Or maybe it’s the same boss as before, I’m not sure.”
“Shit. I’m sorry Olly, I really thought I’d got them all.”
“That’s not all. I think Winston is involved.”
Hodgson paused again before responding. “That’s a serious accusation, Olly. Why do you think that?”
“The group has a connection to the police force,” I said. “The guy I spoke to tonight, Dave, admitted as much. I’m sure it’s Winston. Gary died right after making a confession to him. It also looks like they’re meeting at—”