Free Faceless by Martina Cole

one of our biggest money sp inners and I have a batch of fridges to go there in the next few days.’
    He shook his head sagely.
    ‘Amazing, really. All our old crap is recycled out there. Makes you think, don’t it? In a few months that scrap will be up and running again and people will be buying it hand over fist. All the shit we dump, they love. There’s money in rubbish, love. Big money.’
    Marie smiled.
    ‘It’s certainly been an eye opener for me.’
    She was always polite to him. He liked that about her. She called people ‘sir’ when they called, and she had a deep sexy voice that sounded great over the phone. Two men he had dealt with for years wanted to know where the hell he had found her and were convinced he was shagging her. He let them think it. He wasn’t about to lose her to more money.
    The strange thing was, where her past should hinder her, in his game it was a help. Everyone he dealt with had had their collar felt or had done real time so she was just like one of the lads. Except for those great big tits, of course, but he wasn’t looking at them now as often as he had been and felt that was an advance in itself.
    ‘I’m putting your money up from next month, Marie. Seven-fifty an hour. You’ve earned it, love.’
    She just smiled and looked at him.
    ‘Thank you. I really need to get myself sorted. I might be able to get a flat in another few months if I start saving.’
    He cleared his throat noisily. When she talked about what she might be able to do it always made him feel bad. He couldn’t for the life of him imagine what it must be like to have to watch yourself twenty-four hours a day. It had occurred to him that her presence might lead to Old Bill poking about, but he didn’t have so much as a parking ticket outstanding so that wasn’t a real worry. He knew that any checks on her would have been done by now and the fact that he had heard nothing spoke volumes. Anyway he enjoyed sailing close to the wind, it was in his nature.
    The mate rents out places. I’ll see what I can do, OK?’
    She was saved from answering by the door opening. A short copper-blonde woman came bursting into the confined space.
    ‘Hello, love, all right?’
    She smiled at Marie in a friendly fashion, all Elizabeth Arden and expensive perfume.
    52
     
    ‘You must be the new girl. I’m Beverley - you can call me Bev. I’ll be on the phone a lot so it’s best we’re mates, eh?’
    She laughed loudly and Marie saw that for the first time her boss was not his usual jovial self.
    ‘If he shakes your hand count your bleeding fingers and check your rings, right? He’s about as trustworthy as a fucking starving yeti.’
    Bev turned on her ex-husband then.
    ‘Where’s me money? The kids’ school fees are due and that bleeding nun is giving me grief.’
    He grinned good-naturedly.
    ‘Oh Beverley, light of my life. Been to evening classes again, have we? How to make the best of a limited personality?’
    Beverley laughed.
    ‘One thing I will give you, Al, you are a crack. Now, money or your nuts ripped off. It’s your choice, sweetie.’
    Alan shook his head and tried not to laugh.
    ‘Cheque book it is then.’
    ‘You know it makes sense.’ She turned to Marie. ‘How do you stand it here with him? Miserable fucker he is. Mind you, it smells better. Still bring your little tarts here of a night, do you, Al? He keeps the slag population in leggings and home perms, don’t you, darling?’
    Alan ignored her and Marie watched, fascinated by a woman with so much confidence she didn’t care what she said or who she said it to.
    ‘Christ, but he has had some rough ones! Don’t let him sweet talk you, my love. He’d shag a fence in the right light.’
    ‘All right, Beverley, give it a rest now. Remember what the judge said.’
    She took the cheque.
    ‘He said if I didn’t keep quiet he would have me removed from court. But that was when you was up for trying to get out of your maintenance payments,