Free The Day of the Gecko by Robert G. Barrett Page A

with the others. Then home to bed. Just in time for you to watch David Letterman.’ Eddie winked at Les. ‘Something like that anyway.’
    â€˜Something like that, eh?’ Les looked at the evil glint in Eddie’s eyes and shook his head. Underneath, Eddie loved all this shit.
    â€˜That’s right.’
    â€˜And what about you, fat priest from the temple.’ Les turned to George. ‘Are you in on this, too.’
    â€˜You betcha, Rambo,’ winked George. ‘I wouldn’t miss it for quids.’
    Les turned back to Eddie. ‘And who’s this explosives expert you’ve got lined up?’
    â€˜This is where you’re going to come in,’ interjected Price. ‘You’re staying at some sheila’s place, aren’t you?’
    â€˜Yeah, but...’
    â€˜Well, that’s where we’ll put him.’
    â€˜What? Ohh, you’re fuckin’ kiddin’.’
    â€˜Well, it’s better there than at your place,’ reasoned Price.
    â€˜My place!!?’ howled Norton. ‘Who said anything about him staying at my joint in the first place?’
    â€˜Well, where else did you think we were gonna put him?’ said Price. ‘The Sebel bloody Town House? This is even better. No one’ll see him round there.’
    â€˜Jesus, you cunts are good,’ protested Les. He got up to get himself another drink. ‘I’m supposed to be looking after a flat for an old friend, not holing up some IRA nutter. Or whatever he is.’
    â€˜Actually, he’s an Australian,’ said Eddie, his eyes following Norton as he got his drink and sat down again. ‘Major Garrick Lewis. Ex-Army Intelligence. Special Ops. Shadow Company. And his nickname’s The Gecko.’
    â€˜The Gecko,’ repeated Les, sourly.
    â€˜That’s him. You’ll like him, too.’
    â€˜I suppose I’ll bloody have to,’ said Les.
    â€˜You’ll pick him up at Central tomorrow,’ said Eddie. ‘He comes in on the 2.15 train from Newcastle.’
    â€˜What!!?’ Despite having the shits, Norton burst out laughing. ‘I pick him up from the 2.15 from Newcastle. What is this? Fuckin’
High Noon
or something? Give me a break, will you.’
    â€˜Look at the big sheila,’ grinned George. ‘He’s cracking up under the pressure already.’
    â€˜Anyway,’ Eddie rubbed his hands together again, ‘that’s all you need to know for the time being. I’ll fill you in on any other details when The Gecko arrives tomorrow. We’ll have a talk round Susie’s place. In the meantime, why don’t we just enjoy a nice drink? I feel like a few now.’
    â€˜Good idea,’ agreed Billy.
    Norton stared at the floor and shook his head. ‘Yeah. Why bloody not.’
    Price grinned and held up his glass. ‘Cheers, Les,’ he said. ‘Shit! It’s good to have you on the team.’
    The team drank on with great gusto till all hours, swapping jokes, laughing about old times and present ones; and despite the shit that was about to go down, it wasn’t a bad drink all round. There was no shortage of laughs in a boozy who-gives-a-stuff atmosphere. Butwhen they all sobered up in the morning, each man knew it wasn’t a picnic day at the beach they were planning and things could go wrong. Not to mention that the local constabulary frowned deeply upon people who blew up public or private property to remove bodies. Even if some of the said constabulary helped put some of the bodies there in the first place. They pulled up stumps around two, secured the club again and rang for two taxis; one to take George to Balmain, the other would drop the rest off at their various houses around the Eastern suburbs. The laughter in the second cab was a little subdued now, but they all managed to keep the bullshit going till Les got dropped off first. Have a good night’s sleep, Les. Don’t