Free The Papers of Tony Veitch by William McIlvanney Page B

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    â€˜Who do they think they are? Where do they live? Whoever killed Paddy Collins I’m going to find. There won’t be enough of him left to make up a tin of Kennomeat.’
    It was spoken quietly. Since he felt no doubts, the statement needed no force to assert itself. It occurred as evenly as breathing.
    â€˜He was never able to tell me what happened. But somebody knows. Do you know anything, Hook?’
    â€˜Wait a minute,’ John Rhodes said. ‘How wid he know anything?’
    â€˜I’m asking him, John. I don’t want one of these fucking conversations by post.’ The pitch of his voice hadn’t changed. Only the swear-word was like an abstract signal of a quickening mood. ‘His mouth’s here. Let it answer.’
    â€˜Aye, maybe,’ John said. ‘It depends whit the question means.’
    â€˜John. What you do to Panda’s your affair. He’s not one of mine. He just happens to be with me. But don’t try to piss me about where I live. Somebody killed my brother-in-law. I didn’t choose him but that’s what he was. They’re going to have to join him. I’m asking a straight question. All it means is what it says. Does Hook get to answer?’
    Macey felt the axis of the room tilt delicately in favour of Cam. He watched John Rhodes judge whether he was letting too much happen, smile easily and nod to Hook.
    â€˜But how wid Ah know anything, Cam?’
    Cam was watching Hook. ‘Tell him,’ he said to Panda.
    â€˜Well, Ah’m livin’ quiet these days. But Ah do all right.’ He couldn’t resist tentatively trying to reinstate himself in their eyes a little, let them know he didn’t get his mouth punched every day. ‘We’ve got a few things goin’ for us.’
    â€˜You’re not on This is Your Life ,’ Cam said. ‘Tell him about Paddy.’
    â€˜Well, Ah’ve kept in touch with Paddy back and forward. Paddy was a friend of mine.’
    He seemed to be offering loyalty as a compensatory quality.
    â€˜Ye shouldny talk ill o’ the dead,’ John Rhodes said.
    Panda was like a banana republic threatened by two contending major powers who don’t want direct conflict. He felt the pressure, began to speak in a deliberately neutral voice.
    â€˜Last time Ah spoke to him, he was very chirpy. Reckoned he had money comin’. Somebody owed him. It was somebody he met in the Crib.’
    The others waited but that was all Panda had to say. He sat like someone who can’t remember the punch-line.
    â€˜That’s it?’ John Rhodes said.
    â€˜Not quite,’ Cam said. ‘Mickey.’
    Macey was interested in Mickey Ballater’s presence. Panda was a scavenger off other people’s reputations. It was easy to see why he was here. But Mickey Ballater was different. Macey was wondering about him.
    â€˜Ah’m up here to see Paddy,’ Mickey said. ‘By the time Ah get up, he’s in the Vicky. There was somebody he talked about up here. Wis going to introduce me. Seemed a right oddity. Fella called Tony Veitch.’
    Cam was still watching Hook.
    â€˜That’s the only two things Ah’ve got to go on,’ Cam said. ‘The Crib and somebody called Tony Veitch. Hook?’
    â€˜Ah’m sorry, Cam. Ah’d help ye if Ah could.’
    â€˜A minder should mind. It’s your job to know everybody.’
    â€˜How can ye do that, Cam? Come on. A place like the Crib has a name, gets tourists. What counts is they should know me. Know Ah’m around.’
    â€˜I want this Tony Veitch. It seems to me it might be the same one he met in the Crib. Hook, you were still friendly enough with Paddy, were you? There was that bit of bother.’
    â€˜Years ago, Cam. A daft fall-out over a wumman. We laughed about it after. He musta told ye.’
    â€˜I probably wasn’t listening. Women. The bastard. Anyway . . .’
    A stranger had