Take Two

CHAPTER 60

Richards fell asleep on the sofa in front of the television. He slept fitfully, plagued by dreams of Carolyn and the chest filling with water. His mobile rang at two o’clock in the afternoon and he retrieved it from the floor. It was Halpin. ‘You okay, boss?’ he asked.

‘Fine and dandy,’ said Richards, ‘considering all the booze I put away last night. The boat’s back at St Katherine’s Dock?’

‘All good,’ said Halpin. ‘And Parker’s squared away.’

Richards took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Every time he thought of sea water pouring into the trunk he felt as if he was about to throw up.

‘You going to the club tonight, boss?’

‘I’m not sure. It’s Sunday, it’ll be a quiet night.’

‘There’s something I need to talk to you about, boss.’

‘I’m all ears.’

Face to face, boss. It can wait until this evening.’

‘This evening?’

‘The Mint, boss. You’re seeing him at nine tonight, remember? I’ll pick you up at eight.’

Richards ran a hand through his hair. He’d forgotten all about his meeting with The Mint. He was supposed to see him at the Mayfair Bar in the West End to discuss the deals he was putting together. As usual The Mint was reluctant to say anything over the phone and on Monday he was leaving for Spain.

Richards ended the call. He went to the kitchen and looked in his fridge but there was nothing he wanted to eat. He called up a local Indian that did decent takeaways and an hour later he tucked into a chicken tikka masala and a lamb biryani. The food helped to get rid of his headache. He opened a bottle of Cristal and polished off half of it.

The more he drank the less he thought about Carolyn. He finished the bottle and watched football on Sky Sports until he fell asleep.