The Amen Cadence (15 page)

But Davey Hood wasn’t looking for Dai Young. He didn’t need to. Because when Young had run from the house, waiting in vain for the bullet in the back, he’d jumped into the 4x4 that he and two of the other lads had come in. But they were behind him somewhere now, and Young wouldn’t be carrying passengers. So he’d dived into the front seat, started the car, and pulled away fast, clipping a parked car as he drove.

His pulse rate was just starting to drop when he felt the razor-sharp knife edge, steady at his throat.

‘Next right, mate,’ the voice said, calmly. ‘We’ll be changing vehicles in a minute. Feel free to be a man and have a go, if you want. Your choice. But if you want to live, pass me the gun.’

Young hesitated, and brought it out slowly, then dropped it over his shoulder.

‘I expect your boss wants to do it personally, does he?’ asked Young.

‘I work for the Queen, mate. And she doesn’t kill anyone, even if they really piss her off, like.’

‘How would you like a hundred grand?’

‘Yeah, fine. You got it on you?’

‘No, but I could get it. In an hour or two.’

‘Sorry, mate, no can do. Pull in, behind that white van.’

Young thought about having a go before he got into the van, but something stopped him. He didn’t want to die here, on the edge of an industrial estate at two in the morning. And while there was life there was hope, right?

He expected the back of the van to be empty, but it wasn’t. Davey Hood was sitting on one of the wheel arches, and he gestured to Young to sit on the other.

‘He’s still got his knife, boss. Right hand pocket.’

‘All right, cheers, Phil.’

The doors swung closed, leaving the two men illuminated by the small overhead light.

‘Aren’t you going to take my knife?’

‘No need, mate. And you might want to use it.’

‘On you?’

‘On yourself. Thought I’d give you the option, like. I’d let you bleed out, don’t fret, if that’s what you want.’

‘So you’re not handing me over to the cops?’

‘No way. We both know that would achieve nothing. The chance of you going to jail is minimal, and even if you did, the Ferris brothers would only send someone else.’

‘It’s not the brothers you should be afraid of.’

‘Aye, I know. Tania’s a right hard nut, isn’t she?’

‘So you’ve met?’

‘We’ve spoken, aye.’

‘About me?’

‘Aye. We’re handing you over, in ten minutes time. So you’ve still got time, if you want to take me up on my earlier offer, like.’

The van was moving now, and both men reached round, bracing one hand against opposite side walls to steady themselves.

‘What would you do?’ asked Young, after a few minutes.

‘Me? I’d give it a go and take me on, like. All right, even if you do get lucky and off me, in the struggle like, the lads up front would take you out. Of course they would. But it’d be quick, and at least you’d have made your point, like. Because I doubt you’ll persuade Tania Ferris of much, do you?’

‘Maybe not, but I can try.’

‘That’s the spirit.’

It was another minute before Young spoke again.

‘So what’s the deal, between you and Tania?’

‘I turn you over, in return for certain considerations.’

‘And a fucking great big bag of gold, I expect.’

‘No, no money. Just a few favours.’

‘You don’t believe she’s going to leave Carlisle alone, do you, mate? You can’t be that fucking stupid.’

‘No, and I haven’t asked for that. I’ve just made it clear that if Tania or her brothers overstep again then it won’t just be their new lad who’ll be in our sights, it’ll be them and all.’

‘I bet she didn’t like that.’

Hood smiled. ‘Actually, she offered me a job. Your job, as it happens.’

‘And what did you say?’

‘I said I preferred the furniture shifting job.’

‘You really think she’ll let you live, knowing what you do?’

‘It’s not knowing that’s the problem for the likes of Tania Ferris, mate, it’s telling. And she knows that I never will. But she can’t say the same for you, can she? Still, you know what they say. A short life but a merry one, eh?’

‘Mine hasn’t even been that fucking merry.’

The van slowed, and stopped. The doors opened after a few seconds, and the man who’d been in Young’s 4x4 looked at Young, then Hood.

‘I won’t need to clean the van then, Davey.’

‘It seems not, no. Come on then, Dai, mustn’t keep a lady waiting, must we?’

Young recognised the road, right next to the cathedral, in the very heart of the city. It was utterly deserted, and tranquil. He glanced around for CCTV cameras and saw two, both smashed. Tania Ferris got out of the car, and nodded to Hood.

‘He’s unarmed, I take it?’

‘Knife in his pocket.’

Tania looked surprised, just for a moment, and then smiled.

‘You gave him the choice?’

‘Aye, I did.’

‘And he didn’t take it?’

‘It seems not, no.’

‘What a stupid, stupid fucker.’

Hood shrugged.

‘Just can’t get the staff these days, can you, love?’