Free Smokeheads by Doug Johnstone Page B

that’s how much of a risk-taker you are. I bet you’ve still got those two Viagras I gave you.’
    Adam looked at Molly. ‘I didn’t want them, he put them in my pocket and …’ He turned back to Roddy. ‘Anyway, that’s got nothing to do with anything. This is business we’re talking about.’
    ‘It’s all part of life’s rich tapestry,’ said Roddy. ‘Loser in love, loser in life.’
    Adam was exasperated. ‘Look, at least consider it,’ he said, picking up the paperwork and thrusting it at Roddy. ‘Take a look at the numbers and the plans, and if you don’t like it, then fair enough.’
    ‘I don’t need to, I’m not investing.’ Roddy walked towards the door, kicking up dirt.
    ‘Fuck’s sake,’ said Adam, grabbing his coat. ‘If you were a friend, you’d at least consider it.’
    Roddy turned sharply, grabbed Adam and shoved him against a wall, pinning him. ‘If you were a friend, you wouldn’t ask me to pish away a million quid of my own money on a no-hope fucking joke of a scheme.’
    He released Adam in a cloud of masonry dust and turned. ‘Right, I’m getting in the car and driving away from this shitheap. If you lot want a lift back to civilisation, I suggest you’re in the car in two minutes.’
    He swept out of the stillroom, leaving Adam scrambling around picking up the plans that had scattered on the filthy floor.
    ‘Fucking hell,’ he said.
    The others helped him collect up the paperwork.
    ‘I guess that didn’t go according to plan,’ said Ethan quietly as he and Luke headed towards the door.
    Molly put an arm round Adam and led him out of the stillroom.
    ‘Don’t give up just yet,’ she said.

16
     
     
    Bad feeling hung in the car. Roddy pushed buttons on the stereo.
    ‘Fucking cheap shite,’ he growled. ‘Piece of crap bollocks.’
    He got out a hipflask, took a swig and passed it to Luke, sitting impassively next to him. Ethan was wedged between Molly and a forlorn Adam in the back. The Oa sped past outside, a rough blur of greens and browns. Behind them, heavy clouds were roiling over the ocean.
    ‘I know what you’re all thinking,’ Roddy shouted. ‘I’m the bad guy here. Well, fuck that. We’re talking about over a million fucking quid. If it’s such a great idea, why doesn’t one of you invest in his little plan, eh? See how you like it?’
    He drove one-handed, reaching into a pocket for his coke case. He flipped it out, tapped a line onto his steering hand and snorted. The car swerved round a bend too fast then he regained control.
    ‘Easy, man,’ said Luke, passing the hipflask into the back. Ethan and Molly passed. Adam took it and stared at Roddy.
    ‘You think I can’t see you glaring at me?’ said Roddy into the rear-view mirror. ‘The silent treatment is schoolboy stuff, give it a fucking rest.’
    ‘Why don’t you give it a rest,’ said Adam quietly.
    ‘What?’
    ‘You haven’t shut up since we got to Islay. You’re a big coked-up bullshit machine, running on the sound of your own voice.’
    ‘Fuck you, dipshit.’
    ‘I think we all need to calm down,’ said Ethan. ‘Why don’t we just pretend this little outing never happened, OK?’
    ‘It’s not as simple as that,’ said Adam, taking a big swig from the flask.
    ‘Guess what you’re drinking,’ said Roddy, laughing.
    ‘Go to hell,’ Adam snarled.
    ‘Go on, you know you want to.’
    Furious as he was, Adam still couldn’t resist the challenge. He took a sniff then a sip. Hard to taste straight from the flask, pewter and polish contaminating the palate, but he got a massive raw boot of peat, at least 40 ppm, followed by green apples and mint, then syrup and raisins. It was impressive. Young and a bit showy, but huge body. He’d never tasted it before, but the gimmicky flavours suggested the one distillery where they were always dicking around with new expressions.
    ‘Bruichladdich,’ he said.
    ‘Go on.’
    ‘Peaty, but not enough to be the Octomore,’ he said.