Killing with Confetti

14

The DCC was a busy man with responsibilities ranging beyond the city of Bath. Peter Diamond had to wait ten days before getting to see him, but that was a useful interval giving him the chance to get the bizarre assignment in perspective. He’d concluded after much reflection that there was no wriggling out. He was the only possible choice. George Brace needed someone senior, responsible and experienced in undercover work. He couldn’t ask anyone of lower rank. That was how the cookie had crumbled.

Diamond wasn’t without sympathy for George. When family life gets entangled with the job, you need all the help you can get. George hadn’t made any mystery of it. His situation was dire and not just on the day of the wedding, but for the rest of his career — if he had one. At least he’d realised what a favour he was asking. He’d had the decency to get on first-name terms from the start. Diamond approved of that.

The two met in the staff car park, but not by accident. Diamond had been waiting in his car, knowing George was due in about eleven. He got out as the black Volvo drove into the reserved space marked DCC.

Brace lowered the window. ‘Peter — a man I planned to see today.’

‘And here I am.’

‘You’re free right now?’

‘If you are, George.’

‘Well, why not? Why don’t we do this somewhere else? You look like a man who knows a good pub.’

Good call, Diamond thought. ‘Personally, I like the Folly. They do real ale and there’s a nice garden.’

‘The Folly, did you say? Sums up my situation. Hop in the car and tell me the way.’

They could have walked there, it was so near, but Brace looked like a man who drove everywhere.

In sunshine on the patio, with tankards of Old Thumper on the table and the Folly brook babbling somewhere in a wooded area across the lawn, Diamond felt he could get a taste for policing at executive level. Better than sitting in front of a screen in Concorde House, for sure.

‘How are the preparations going?’ he asked.

‘For the wedding? You’ll need to ask my future daughter-in-law. She’s running the show. I don’t say that unkindly. Caroline is better at organising than anyone in my family. She’s learned to fend for herself, I suppose, with her father being in the slammer most of her life.’

‘He’s an organiser, too, in his own way.’

‘Yes, but I doubt if organised crime takes in floral arrangements and bridesmaids’ dresses. Cheers, Peter.’

They sampled the Old Thumper and agreed that it was good.

‘I prefer sitting outside,’ Brace said. ‘One can talk without being overheard.’

‘That’s true.’ They were the only drinkers out there.

‘And I can smoke.’ He produced a pipe and a pouch of tobacco, an unusual sight in 2018. ‘Calms the nerves.’ He went through the performance of lighting up. ‘You must meet Caroline.’

‘Really? I thought I was going undercover.’

‘The bride needs to know who you are and so does her father.’

Diamond almost threw up the ale he’d just swallowed. ‘Him, too?’

‘Absolutely. Best if he knows why you’re there. Don’t want any misunderstandings, do we?’ He puffed out smoke.

‘I guess not.’

‘It may discourage him from bringing in some heavies of his own.’

‘I’m the official heavy, am I?’

Brace’s smile was slow in coming and far from convincing. ‘Nothing personal. I can arrange for you to meet Irving after he’s released from Horfield.’

Diamond was making more rapid adjustments than a Hong Kong tailor. ‘That’ll be good.’

‘You’ll want to know precisely who is coming.’

‘Georgina suggested I ask you for pictures of your family members.’ He was about to add, ‘So I don’t shoot them,’ but Brace wasn’t fully in tune with his humour.

‘Sensible. I’ll see that you get them. Caroline will supply pictures of her friends and so will Ben. That generation are forever snapping away with their phones.’ Brace tore open a bag of crisps and offered them. He was evidently a seasoned smoker because he’d mastered the trick of speaking with the pipe in his mouth. ‘You’re giving me confidence, Peter. I’m feeling better about this nightmare wedding already. Will you be checking the abbey ahead of the ceremony?’

‘Certainly will, George.’

‘And the Roman Baths?’

‘You bet.’

‘You know both locations pretty well?’

‘Well enough. I’m more concerned about what happens outside.’

‘Oh?’ He put the pipe on the table and reached for the beer.

‘If anyone wants to take a shot at Joe Irving, it would be easiest when he arrives at the west door with his daughter.’

Now it was George Brace who gagged on the drink. ‘You’re right. As father of the bride he’s got to be there.’

‘An open area where a hitman has escape routes. The big space in front of the abbey is a huge concern. Will there be photographs when they come out? Everyone lined up?’

‘Dear God, yes.’ He jammed the pipe back in his mouth.

‘A killer couldn’t ask for better. Pick them off as they stand there.’

Brace had gone as pale as moonlight. ‘What can we do? We can’t close the whole area to the public.’

‘If you don’t mind them being in on the act, I can get some of my CID team to mingle.’

‘Will they be armed?’

‘They’ll need to be.’

Brace sighed. ‘Guns at a wedding. It doesn’t seem right.’

‘You said you wanted me armed. You encouraged me to do a refresher at the firearms course.’

‘True.’

Brace sat back and vibrated his lips. Even here in this idyllic setting he was feeling the stress. He’d be a lot more stressed if he knew Diamond hadn’t pulled a trigger in twenty years.

‘Have you been yet?’

‘Been where, George?’

‘Black Rock. The firearms training centre.’

‘Finding the time is my problem.’ He outlined the measures he’d taken to get up to speed on Irving and his history of crime and punishment. ‘Normally I’d delegate this stuff, but it’s all down to me. I’m researching the Felix gang as well.’

‘I managed to fit in the weapons course, and so can you. It will look good on your CV.’

Diamond wasn’t going to get out of this. ‘I’ll get booked in, then. Better be sure than sorry.’

‘Perish the thought, Peter.’

With uncanny timing a bang went off somewhere behind the trees.

Brace jerked forward and slopped some of his drink on the table. ‘What’s that?’

‘Someone shooting at rabbits, I expect.’

‘Bloody Irving hasn’t been released yet and already I’m jumpy.’

‘He’ll be more jumpy than you on the day,’ Diamond said by way of reassurance.

‘Why is that?’

‘As father of the bride he has to make a speech. Isn’t that the custom?’

‘My God — I hadn’t thought of that.’ With something new to worry over, Brace raked his hand through his hair. ‘What on earth will he say?’