Take Two

CHAPTER 88

The entry phone buzzed and Richards jumped. Every time it sounded he expected to see Carolyn on the screen, soaking wet and back to haunt him. He walked over to the unit, his heart pounding, but it was only Halpin. ‘Can I come up, boss?’ he asked.

Richards buzzed him in and fetched a bottle of brandy from his drinks cabinet. He poured himself a slug and another for Halpin. He tossed in ice cubes and had Halpin’s drink ready for him when the lift doors opened.

‘Cheers, boss,’ said Halpin, taking the glass.

‘How did it go?’

‘All good,’ said Halpin. ‘Bit messy but then guns always are. Took his wallet and his watch. The cops’ll think it was a robbery.’ He took a gulp of brandy.

‘And your alibi’s rock solid?’

‘Played poker, lost a monkey, serves me right. You?’

‘I was in the club all night. Terry, that black guy who’s pally with Carolyn, was there and Jenny was with him.’

Halpin’s eyes hardened as he looked at Richards over the top of his glass.

‘Don’t give me that look,’ said Richards.

‘What look?’

‘You know what look. We just had a few drinks.’

Halpin shrugged. ‘None of my business, boss,’ he said.

‘Actually it worked out well. We went back to her place afterwards. Well, Carolyn’s place. And I managed to get a look at her passport and driving licence.’

‘You’re serious?’

‘Damn right.’ He reached into his pocket and took out a piece of paper. He’d copied Jenny’s date of birth and address from his phone. ‘And don’t worry, Anita from the club was there as chaperone.’

Halpin took the piece of paper and looked at it. ‘Both the passport and the driving licence were Australian?’

Richards nodded. ‘Yeah, and both in the name of Jenny Hall.’

‘I don’t get the Aussie passport,’ said Halpin. ‘She was born in Britain, right?’

‘Yeah, but she married an Australian so she got citizenship.’

‘Date of birth was the same?’

‘Yeah.’

Halpin put the piece of paper into his wallet. ‘I’ll get my guy to look for a birth certificate for her and Carolyn. I’ll feel happier knowing who she really is.’

‘She’s Jenny Hall. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that,’ said Richards.

Halpin shrugged. ‘I don’t know. She seems to have come from nowhere. And she appeared the day after we killed her sister.’

‘So?’

Halpin sighed. ‘I don’t know, boss. I can’t work it out, but something doesn’t feel right.’

‘Check away then,’ said Richards, putting down his glass. ‘But she seems just fine to me.’

‘I know I’m talking out of order, boss, but can I say something?’

‘Can I stop you?’

‘Sure. Just tell me to shut my mouth and I’ll do it. But this girl, I think she’s trouble. I think you should keep away from her. As things stand, we’re in the clear. I want it to stay that way.’

‘You think I want to go to prison?’

‘Of course not. But I can see you like her, and that spells trouble.’

‘By her you mean Jenny?’

‘Jenny, Carolyn, they’re the bloody same, boss. That’s what you don’t seem to get. We killed Carolyn and you cozying up to her twin sister doesn’t change that.’

Richards nodded. ‘Okay,’ he said.

‘Okay?’ repeated Halpin.

‘Okay, now you can shut your mouth,’ said Richards. ‘You’ve said your piece but what I do or don’t do with Jenny Hall is nobody’s business but mine.’ His mobile phone rang and he continued to glare at Halpin as he took the call. ‘Yeah?’

‘Warwick? It’s Jenny.’

Richards turned his back on Halpin. ‘Hey, good to hear from you. Everything okay?’

‘Everything is fine and dandy. I’m calling to ask a favour.’

‘Anything.’

‘I’ve been asked to open a supermarket tomorrow and I could do with some moral support. And a ride.’

Richards laughed. ‘Sure. What time do you need picking up?’