Free Hearts of Stone by Mark Timlin Page B

At eight-thirty Seeley and Hughes arrived. They came straight over to me.
    â€˜Can we have a table?’ asked Hughes.
    I looked through. One couple was just leaving and there was no one else waiting. ‘Sure,’ I said. ‘No problem. Want a drink?’
    â€˜Two Pina Coladas,’ said Seeley. I knew it. I knew eventually they’d have to have Pina Coladas.
    â€˜I’ll bring them through.’
    â€˜Take a break. Join us,’ said Hughes.
    â€˜It’s a bit busy right now.’
    â€˜Join us,’ said Hughes, and his tone was almost menacing. ‘We need to talk.’
    I didn’t like the sound of that one bit. ‘I’ll see what I can do,’ I said. ‘Go through and sit down. I won’t be a minute.’
    I checked with the barmaid as I made their drinks. ‘Can you manage on your own for a minute?’ I asked.
    â€˜I’ll cope,’ she said.
    I took the drinks through to their table.
    â€˜Sit down, Nick,’ invited Hughes.
    â€˜I haven’t got much time.’
    â€˜You’ve got time for this. I’ve been hearing some funny things about you.’
    That sounded ominous. ‘Such as?’ I said, pulling out a chair.
    â€˜Such as you used to be a copper.’
    â€˜Is that all? I suppose Kylie told you.’
    â€˜Yes. She told me last night after you’d gone. She thought I’d know.’
    I shrugged. ‘It’s no secret. Did she also tell you I was busted out of the force?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜And it’s true. Years ago. That’s all finished with now. What’s the problem?’
    â€˜Once a copper…’ said Hughes.
    â€˜You reckon. I’ve got news for you.’
    â€˜What did you get busted for, Nick?’ asked Hughes. As if he didn’t know.
    â€˜Didn’t Kylie tell you that, too?’
    â€˜ You tell us,’ he said.
    â€˜For stealing from the evidence lock-up.’
    â€˜What kind of evidence?’
    â€˜Evidence from a drugs bust. Cocaine.’
    â€˜How much?’
    â€˜Enough.’
    â€˜And?’
    â€˜And what?’
    Hughes looked at Seeley. ‘What did you do with it?’
    â€˜I used some. I sold the rest.’
    â€˜And you got captured?’
    I nodded.
    â€˜Didn’t they prosecute?’
    I had to laugh, though it wasn’t funny. ‘No,’ I said. ‘They didn’t need the publicity. It was all hushed up. They let me resign, and I lost my pension.’
    â€˜Who did you sell the drugs to?’ asked Seeley.
    â€˜A contact.’
    â€˜Who?’
    â€˜Do leave off.’
    â€˜Nick, listen. Be reasonable. You saw what we had last night?’
    â€˜So?’
    â€˜It was part of our stock.’
    I looked around the restaurant. ‘Do you think this is the right place to talk about stuff like that?’
    â€˜Where better?’ asked Seeley. ‘It’s noisy. No one’s listening.’
    â€˜I still don’t know what it’s got to do with me. Your business is your business. I just want a quiet life.’
    â€˜Nick,’ said Seeley. ‘We know you didn’t get that motor you’re driving by serving beer in this dump. You’ve obviously got a pedigree.’ From him I suppose that was a compliment. ‘We buy and sell. Now, if you know a buyer…’ He left the sentence unfinished.
    â€˜Yeah.’
    â€˜You could do yourself a bit of good. Do us all a bit of good. So, what’s his name?’
    I pretended to think about it for a minute. ‘Brady,’ I said.
    â€˜Where’s he based?’ asked Hughes.
    â€˜Kennington.’
    â€˜Shifts a lot, does he?’
    â€˜He has his moments.’
    â€˜Could we make a meet?’
    â€˜I don’t know.’
    â€˜But you could ask.’
    â€˜Sure.’
    â€˜And Nick.’
    â€˜Yeah.’
    â€˜It had better be kosher, or you’re dead.’
    â€˜It’s kosher.