Monkey Wrench (29 page)

‘What you got there?' he said.

‘Dunno,' I said. ‘Looks like a dead puppy.'

I buttoned my jacket so he wouldn't see I had a live one under my jumper.

‘Oh,' he said. ‘Well, never mind that. There's been an attack on one of the hospital patients. Those ladies over there say you might have seen something.'

I looked over, at last. But I couldn't see Stoat. There was a bunch of white coats and nurses and blankets and stuff. But thank gawd I couldn't see Stoat.

‘You must've seen something,' the guard said.

‘Not me,' I said.

‘The ladies said a young hooligan threw a petrol bomb,' the guard said. ‘You couldn't have missed that.'

‘I heard a bit of an explosion,' I said. ‘And I ducked. But I never saw nothing.'

‘Nothing?'

‘Well,' I said, 'cos I had an idea. ‘I saw three lads running away.'

‘Three?' he said. ‘What were they like?'

‘Oh you know,' I said, ‘kids. Scruffy. Just kids.'

‘Okay,' he said, all official. ‘You'd better wait till the police arrive. They're going to want to hear your description of the three boys.'

‘All right,' I said. But I was having a hard job not laughing, because he believed me, and 'cos Queenie's little pup was nosing round my belly-button.

But as soon as the guard turned his back I walked away. I walked to the river and along the Embankment, back towards home. You think I should've stopped around to answer questions? You're barmy. Tell more lies for monkey face and Justin? Where's the
satisfaction? I done my bit. It was the same old story – me doing Crystal's dirty work. If there was any satisfaction up for grabs, she grabbed it. As usual. She thought she'd fried the bastard who killed Dawn. Stupid monkey. She thought she'd had her eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. Well, let her. I wasn't going to tell her different. At least it got her off my back. I was going home.

I wasn't following Justin and Crystal. No. When they ran away hand-in-hand they ran to the station. To Waterloo, where I first met Crystal, and Justin met the rich man the day he came to London.

I walked along in the wind with Queenie's pup tucked up under my ribs. And my heart went dum-dum-dum. And his little heart went dit-dit-dit-dit.

And I thought, I'll call you Milo. I'll call you Milo after the greatest fuckin' wrestler of all time – Milo of Croton who won the Greek Olympics five times straight.

‘You better grow up big and strong,' I told the pup. ‘Because this ain't a world to be small and weak in, believe me.'

But the pup just squirmed and tickled my belly.

‘You hear me, Milo?' I said. ‘Big and strong, or Ramses will eat you up.'

I knew I'd have to keep the pup under my sweater for a long time. I'd spoken for true. Because Ramses
would
eat Milo alive if I didn't watch out for him.

But Milo would grow up big and strong. He had all the makings – a German shepherd for a mum and something huge and bull-nosed for a dad. All he had to do was learn how to fight and learn mental discipline. Like me. I learned all that, so I could teach him.

And then I thought about how much I know. And it's a lot. I know lots and lots of things. And I'm fucked if I'll let a bolly-whacker like Mr Deeds or California Carl take it all away. I was born to fight – so I'll bleeding well fight. There's more than one promoter in the world, isn't there? Somewhere out there, there's a promoter, and he'll be
honoured
to have the London Lassassin fight on his bill. Honoured.

‘You and me,' I said to little Milo. ‘Born to fight. The bastards won't know what bit them.'

If an ancient Greek could win the Olympics five times, what couldn't I do? Eh? Tell me that!

Liza Cody grew up in London. She studied painting at the City and Guilds of London Art School and the Royal Academy School. She has worked as a painter, furniture-maker, photographer and graphic designer. Her first novel,
Dupe
, won the John Creasey Award for the best first crime novel of 1980 and was nominated for an Edgar Award in the USA.
Under Contract
was shortlisted for the Gold Dagger Award, and in 1992 she won the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger Award for
Bucket Nut
, her first Eva Wylie novel. Liza Cody now lives in Somerset.

Rift

Anna Lee Novels

Dupe
Bad Company
Headcase
Under Contract
Stalker
Backhand

Eva Wylie Novels

Bucket Nut
Musclebound

This electronic edition published in 2012 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

First published by Chatto & Windus Ltd in 1994

Copyright © Liza Cody 1994

The moral right of the author has been asserted

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You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages

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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 9781408837306

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