ELEVEN
‘What the hell was a double decaf soya latté anyway?’ Apart from the tasteless sugar free blueberry muffin he was currently trying to force down, Bill Fraker couldn’t think of anything (an alcohol free world aside) more pointless. Surely you drank coffee for the caffeine hit and anyway how the hell could something be double decaf? It was either decaf or normal, wasn’t it?
Fraker glanced around the coffee shop where he and Charlie Walker were having breakfast, if you could call it that. He had decided to start his new health regime this morning and that meant coming here instead of the normal greasy spoon café he usually started the day in. And looking at his muffin and Charlie’s bagel he was already missing his ‘belly buster’ fried breakfast.
Personally Fraker blamed Charlie. He was a regular here, so much so that he didn’t even have to order his double decaf frothy coffee when they had walked in. The pretty girl behind the counter just smiled and started making the monstrosity at once, pausing only to simper; ‘Mornin’ Charlie’ and go bright pink.
Charlie had confided in him that he was thinking about asking her out, ‘just think of the free coffee and cakes!’ Hmm thought Fraker, yeah and all sugar and caffeine free. Sometimes he despaired at the world.
Anyhow, to redress the balance somewhat and restore some order to the universe, Fraker had ordered a double shot Americana with milk (full fat of course). But it had been Charlie’s idea for him to try the sugarless abomination he was now picking at.
As it was only half seven both men had sat silently like zombies since they got in, neither man had spoken much since ordering, but now, thankfully Fraker could feel the caffeine buzz final start to kick in and he felt half human again. It was now that he was semi-alert that he noticed Charlie seemed to be, most unusually for him, deep in thought. He was staring intently at his latté while swilling the milky coffee around the cup, the young man frowned when said; “How is it, the foam keeps going until the bottom of the cup? Mental.”
“What are you going on about, decaf boy?
Walker pointed to his drink. “Lattés! I wonder what they put in the milk to stop it from going flat?”
This was classic Charlie Walker mused Fraker, and undoubtedly the result of no caffeine in the morning. Simple things as they say. “I bet NASA are kicking themselves they let you slip through the net, eh?” He said taking a sip of his proper coffee.
But Charlie continued, his enthusiasm undimmed. “I remember going to Italy when I was a kid, and they invented lattés. When you order one over there you get the coffee and the frothy milk in two separate jugs, and you have to mix ‘em together yourself, and it never bloody works right,” he shook his head at the mystery of it all. “Separate jugs! What’s that all about?”
“Christ, you mean Starbucks lied to us?” Fraker threw in.
Charlie was still lost in a world of frothy coffees. “And,” he said quite earnestly. “If you’re not careful you get a bloody cold one! One of those Frappés things, Yuk!” Charlie made a face and sipped his drink. Leaving Fraker to wonder how the hell the kid got himself dressed this morning.
Fraker and Charlie had been summoned to go see their boss, Mister Lyne this morning. Sally his assistant said he had some kind of babysitting job for them and had intimated that it was top priority and that Lyne had asked for Fraker personally to take the gig. Fraker tried to push her on the details but she said even she didn’t have a clue what it was all about. ‘Strictly cloak and dagger,’ she had said and he could tell from the edge in her voice that she was more than a little irritated Lyne didn’t trust her enough to let her in on it.
“Babysitting,” Fraker whispered to himself with a slight shake of the head. It was probably some old lag from Lyne’s past, they seemed to be popping up more and more these days since he’d taken over most of the West Yorkshire business when Timmy Pinkerton ‘died of natural causes’ last year. But if so, why ask for Fraker? Any of the younger men could do it just as easily.
He was musing this when Charlie’s ‘girlfriend’ came sauntering over to their table under the pretext of wiping it down. “Can I get you gentlemen anything else?”
Fraker looked up to answer but he could see she was looking at Charlie who shot her one of his winning smiles. “No thanks, Nicky, we’re fine thanks.” Charlie said and the woman breezed away again.
“Why don’t you ask ‘Nicky’ how they get the milk to stay frothy?” Fraker asked and wasn’t the least bit surprised when Walker genuinely seemed to be considering it. He decided to change the subject before the idiot actually did. “Are you going to see your Dad today?” Fraker asked, it was a sore subject but he knew Charlie hadn’t been to see his Father in hospital for a few days, as when Fraker had gone to visit the old man yesterday Charlie’s Father had commented on it.
Charlie wrinkled his nose slightly the way he always did at the mention of his Father lately. “Yeah,” he said without much conviction, “I was gonna nip in to see him a bit later, if I can get away.”
“Does he still think you’re an estate agent?”
Charlie grimaced. “Oh, don’t. I really should tell him the truth. It used to be funny, but now? Christ.” The poor kid was looking glum now so Fraker resisted the urge to tell him,‘ I told you so.’ “I wouldn’t mind,” continued Charlie. “But he worked for the boss for nigh on thirty years. They started off nicking the lead off church roofs.”
Fraker was now regretting bringing it up, Charlie had always been a chirpy little soul, even when he was a teenager collecting bottles at one of the clubs for pocket money. But since his Father’s illness he had seemed to grow up a bit, maybe more than he had wanted too. After all he was only twenty-one, and had already lost his Mother when he was younger and the thought of him and his sister, Kate losing both parents well before they got anywhere near thirty, just seemed cruel to Fraker.
There were times when he really missed that cocky little so-un-so Charlie used to be, and he was always secretly glad when that side of the young man reappeared every now and then, even if it was usually at the most inopportune moments. “He only wants what’s best for you, Charlie.” Fraker said as Charlie played with his cup frowning.
“Yeah, I know, but I’ve got to tell him the truth, as soon as he’s better,” replied Charlie.
Only because he knew Charlie so well, Fraker couldn’t resist a dig to try lighten the mood. “Maybe you should tell him now, while he’s still ill. That way he won’t be able to catch you, let alone beat the crap out of you if he does.”
And sure enough he was rewarded with a flash of the old Charlie. “True, true but I think you’re forgetting you’ve all been lying to my Dad too y’know? And I’m sure, ill or not, he could still take down the lot of us.” A broad smile cracked his face.
“Ha! Too true mate,” Fraker pushed his half eaten muffin away and drained the rest of his real coffee before getting to his feet. “Come on then sparky, drink up your magical frothy coffee and let’s get a shift on.” Charlie grabbed his coat and waved goodbye to Nicky who flushed and waved back a little too enthusiastically.
The two men stepped out into the crisp morning air. “I think we should walk, Charlie.” Optioned Fraker.
Charlie gave him a look. “That’s obscene! When we've got a perfectly good gas guzzling taxi rank over there. The sooner you get fed up with this health kick, the better for me and taxi drivers everywhere.”
“Me on a health kick? When was the last time you had a real cup of coffee, and a proper sugary Muffin in the morning?” “Besides, it’s half a mile for Christ sake, it won’t kill us.
Charlie grunted and said half under his breath but loud enough for Fraker to hear. “Well it won’t kill me Granddad.” Which earned him a solid punch on the arm. “Ow, I’ll bruise there!”
“Come on!” And Fraker set off for the town centre at a brisk pace and Charlie reluctantly followed.
All in all and despite Charlie’s reluctance, they made pretty good time negotiating the early morning throng of people making their way through the city streets ready to start another working day and made it to the Tropicana club where Mister Lyne was holding court this morning with a good ten minutes to spare. As they waited outside Lyne’s office for the official summons, Fraker took the time to glance through the random tabloid he’d picked up on the way while Charlie was busy playing with his new iphone, slave as he was to whatever the latest and greatest new gadget was.
“If that thing beeps once more, I’m smashing it,” said Fraker without looking up from his paper.
Charlie instinctively shielded his new price possession from harm. “Give over, I’m still trying to work it out.”
“Well work it out on mute you tit!” Fraker replied.
“See what caffeine does for you?”
Fraker threw down his paper and made a half-hearted grab for the phone. Which seemed to do the trick because Charlie put it in his coat pocket. “You’re just jealous because you can’t even work your own phone. And that doesn’t even have a fuckin’ camera!” Said Charlie incredulously.
“If I want to take a picture I’ll buy a fucking camera. Oddly I use my phone to make fucking phone calls!”
“Freak,” said Charlie under his breath.
“How’s that bruise on your leg?” Fraker said to Charlie after a moment.
“What bruise?”
Fraker punched Charlie hard on his thigh. “That fuckin’ bruise,” and he roared with laughter at his own immaturity.
Charlie grasped his leg cursing. “Ow! That fucking hurt!” He started rubbing it better. “I know people,” he announced. “I could have you fucking killed!” Charlie tried to say it with a straight face but failed miserably and both men laughed.
“How old are you two?” They turned to see Sally, Mister Lyne’s assistant coming out of his office looking surly, obviously she had failed to find out what the old man wanted Fraker and Charlie for and it showed. Fraker knew she practically run things around here, so wouldn’t take too kindly to being kept out of the loop.
“Morning, Sally,” said Charlie cheerfully and flashed her his smile but this vanished when he saw her face.
She looked at them both like they were naughty school children about to see the headmaster. Fraker didn’t know what it was about her but she scared the hell out of him, even though she was some twenty years his junior.
“You can go in now,” she said, her voice sub-zero. She left the door to Lyne’s office open and without giving them another look strode over to her desk and sat down, her face like thunder. Fraker and Charlie exchanged and a glance and a grimace before going through into Lyne’s office, they both knew better than to say another word.
The old man was sitting behind his large oak desk which dominated the office, he smiled warmly as they entered, he stood and ushered them inside.
“Bill, Charlie, come in lads, come in.” Lyne was dressed as ever in a Leeds United replica shirt and tracksuit bottoms, in fact Fraker could barely remember ever seeing him in a suit. He looked around the office, which Lyne had covered almost every inch of wall space with football memorabilia, so much so that whenever he came in here it felt like you were going to have a word with the manager of your team. All this and at five feet nothing he was the most unlikely looking gangster you could ever wish to meet.
“You wanted to see us, boss?” asked Fraker.
“Aye lads, sit down, eh? Can I get you a drink, coffee?”
Fraker sat opposite the old man while Charlie was busy looking at a photo of Mister Lyne posing with a football team of kids he sponsored, ‘The Hadley Harriers’ who he had played with as a youngster. His ears perked up at the mention of coffee. “Oh, coffee...”
But Fraker cut him off. “No thanks, boss, we’re good” He wasn’t starting that all over again.
“Charlie, how’s your Dad? I’ve been meaning to pop by and see him, but you know how it is.” Asked Lyne playing with a silver paper opener.
Charlie tore himself away from the photos on the wall and took a seat next to Fraker. “Oh, he’s getting a lot better, thanks Uncle Harry. Still in hospital, they’re running tests and that, y’know. But he’s doing well. I’ve been meaning to thank you, you know for the private room and everything.”
Lyne waved a dismissive bony hand at him. “Not a bit of it. He’s put a lot of years in for us, inside and out. We go way back your Dad and me as you know. I owe him a lot.”
“I know, but it really meant a lot to him, to all of us.” Charlie replied with a weak smile.
“If he needs anything else, you just let me know. And don’t worry about your Dad, it’ll take more than a bit of cancer to keep him down.”
Fraker saw Charlie wince slightly at the word ‘cancer’ everyone knew his Dad had it but no one apart from Lyne ever used the word. Fraker shifted in his seat. “He still thinks Charlie’s an estate agent,” he said trying to lighten the mood.
Lyne laughed out loud at this and clapped his hands together. Charlie rolled his eyes. “Get out,” exclaimed Lyne. “He still hasn’t told him?”
“Nope,” replied Fraker, giving Charlie a sideways glance.
Charlie’s cheeks flushed. “I am gonna tell him,” he said. “I’m just waiting until he gets better.” He was starting to pout like a child.
“I’d buy tickets to that,” said Lyne wiping the tears of laughter from his milky eyes.
“Yeah, me ‘un all,” agreed Fraker.
Lyne’s face softened seeing Charlie squirm. “He just wants what’s best for you Charlie, that’s all.”
“Yeah, so everyone keeps telling me,” said Charlie staring at his feet.
The old man looked at Charlie with genuine affection, he’d known him man and boy and had once confided in Fraker, when they were both drunk one night a couple of years ago, that he felt guilty for letting him join the firm. He felt it was a betrayal of his old friend, Charlie’s Dad. But had brightened somewhat when Fraker swore to look after him and above all keep it from Charlie's senior.
“Right,” Lyne clapped his hands again like a teacher getting the attention of the class. “Back to business, boys and the reason I’ve called you here.” He paused for a moment, his grey eyes flickering between the two men. “I’ve got two words for you. Larry McCulloch.” Then he lent back in his big chair and waited for the inevitable response.
“The Larry McCulloch?” Exclaimed Fraker in disbelief.
Lyne nodded. “Uhuh, the one and only, and now very lonely, Mister Larry McCulloch.”
“Lucky Larry McCulloch,” Fraker almost spat the words out.
Charlie looked a little perplexed. “Hang on, isn’t he dead? I heard he turned up dead.”
“Huh,” said Fraker. “We should be so lucky. Please tell me someone has finally tracked down that slippery little git.”
“No such luck I’m afraid,” continued Lyne. “He disappeared off the radar last week, apparently some of Jessie Morgan’s boys were this close...” He held his thumb and forefinger an inch apart, “to nabbing him. Now it turns out the twat is turning Queen’s evidence and that his in bed with the secret service now, so that’s why no one can find him.”
Fraker shook his head in disgust, he had only ever met Larry McCulloch once and had taken an instant dislike to the man. Larry was one of those criminals who thought he was better than everyone else, so much so that he fair radiated smugness. “More fool the government if they actually believe any of his bullshit,” he said. “You know I heard he actually did sell his Grandmother once.”
“Just who’s after him anyway?” asked Charlie.
“Huh, everyone, I think,” said Fraker. “Anyway, boss, this is southern stuff isn’t it?”
Lyne’s eyes wondered around the room as if searching for the right words, but when none were forth coming he looked back at the two men with the steadiest gaze he could muster. “I’ve been asked, well to be honest, told, to lend a hand in tracking him down. It’s hard to explain, lads but suffice it to say McCulloch has pissed off all the wrong people in a quite spectacular way this time. Whoever he was working for want him bad. Guess he knows too many things about too many powerful people. And it’s making everyone very nervous.” Lyne furrowed his brow and his eyes glazed over for a moment. “It was strange, we had a big meeting, all the big wigs were there and that hadn’t happened for years. And I’ve...” His voice faltered as he remembered and for the first time in all the years Fraker had known him he looked scared.
The old man stared off into space and Fraker wondered if he should say something, when Lyne said, “I’ve never seen everyone look so, afraid before.”
Fraker leaned forwards in his seat, “Boss? Who was he working for?”
Lyne snapped out of it. “Dunno, but whoever it was has some of the toughest men I have ever known, very, very nervous. I agreed to help out of loyalty to the other bosses, but to be honest Bill, I don’t think I had any choice in the matter.”
“Mafia, you reckon?” Whispered Charlie.
Both Lyne and Fraker laughed and the mood lightened somewhat. “Yeah,” said Fraker. “Why not?”
“What? What did I say?” Protested Charlie.
Fraker gave him a look of pity then returned to the matter in hand. “Alright, so we can say McCulloch has got some very funky enemies, nothing new there, that guy was never too particular with who he did business with. But where do me and Charlie fit in, boss?”
“They’ve sent some yank to help track him down. He’s in London at the moment, but he’s coming up north and I need you two to meet him at Leeds Bradford airport and look after him while he’s up here. Which with luck won’t be for too long, then he’s some other buggers problem.”
“Is he a hitman? Asked Charlie.
“Tut, Charlie shut up.” Scolded Fraker.
“Don’t know and don’t care,” said Lyne. “Look. Listen to me, both of you. I don’t won’t either of you getting mixed up in the finer points of why this yank is here. Your job is to look after him. We’ve got the three of you booked into a hotel in town. Do what the fella says up to a point. But if McCulloch is up here and you do manage to find the twat, leave it to the yank.” Lyne jabbed his finger at them both and added sternly. “I mean it, just walk away. It’s none of our business. I don’t want either of you getting hurt. Understand?”
The two men nodded, the point well and truly taken.
“Any idea why they might think McCulloch’s up here?”
Asked Fraker, trying to hide his growing uneasy at how things were unfolding.
“Yeah. Tommy Whitaker’s been seen up here. He’s McCulloch’s solicitor, and we know he’s been the one trying to broker the deal so McCulloch can spill his guts to Scotland Yard or whoever. Concentrate on tracking him down. Find him and he’ll know where McCulloch is being hidden.”
“Yes boss,” said Fraker.