Take Two

CHAPTER 64

Richards shared a bottle of Cristal with The Mint as they sat in a window seat surveying the models, footballers wives and minor television stars who made up the female clientele of The Mayfair. There were some stunning women decked out in all their finery, but all Richards could think about was Carolyn and her watery death.

A couple of times The Mint had asked him if there was something wrong but Richards had forced a smile and said everything was fine. Halpin sat with them, nursing a tonic and water. The reason for the meeting was simple enough. The Mint was brokering a major cannabis shipment for an Irish consortium and they had come up four hundred grand short. If Richards was interested, The Mint could get him in. The downside was Richards would only have enough for two runs which would make it slightly riskier.

‘But it’s a good ‘un, Warwick,’ The Mint had said, patting his leg. ‘We’re talking about a training yacht that has been completely rebuilt, they could put a team of dogs on it and they’d come up with nothing. They could drill a hundred holes and come up empty. And most of the crew are kids from broken families. It’s the closest thing I’ve seen to a sure thing for a long time.’

Richards had agreed and they’d sealed the deal with a second bottle of Cristal.

They had left the bar at eleven. Halpin left first to collect the car, then called Richards once he was outside. Richards hugged The Mint, blew kisses at the two Eurasian girls who were sitting either side of him, and headed outside. There were two photographers standing on the pavement but they paid no attention to him as he climbed into the Lexus. It had finally stopped raining but the roads and pavements were still soaking wet.

Richards lit a cigar and they drove in silence for a while. ‘Let’s swing by her house, Mick,’ said Richards eventually.

‘Her house?’

‘In Notting Hill Gate.’

‘Castle’s house? Are you serious?’

‘I just want to know for sure.’

‘Boss, what if the cops are there? What if she’s been reported missing and we turn up? The cops aren’t stupid.’

Richards turned and looked at Halpin. ‘Are you going to second guess every decision I make, is that what’s going to happen? Because I’m not standing for that.’

‘I’m just telling you what I think, boss.’

‘Yeah? Well, if I want to know what you think I’ll fucking well ask you. Until then you keep your mouth shut, okay?’

Halpin nodded. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘But do me a favour and put the address into the SatNav will you? I don’t know my way around that part of London. It’s out of my price range.’