The Silver Arrow (26 page)

  “
Good evening.  My name is John Turney and these are the news headlines in Scotland tonight.

  Law Lords in Edinburgh today sensationally agreed to grant, twenty-year-old Robert Connor, one of Scotland’s most notorious convicted killers, leave to appeal against his life sentence for the abduction and murder of Stirlingshire schoolgirl, Ann Brown.  It was on the 9
th
of November 1972 that fourteen-year-old Ann Brown and her friend, Margaret Dunn waved goodbye to each other after locking up the local newsagent shop in the village of Cambusbarron where both girls worked part-time. Whilst Margaret Dunn arrived home safely, Ann Brown hasn’t been seen or heard from since that fateful night almost two years ago.  Mr Silas Abraham, Connor’s solicitor, maintains that his client is innocent and claims that Britain’s Secret Intelligence Services and Special Branch, in particular, have an interest with regards to being in a position to provide new evidence that could prove his clients innocence.  Mr Silas again repeated his belief that his client, Robert Connor, wasn’t the person who abducted Ann Brown.
A date for when the appeal will be heard is not expected to be set for some time.  This is not the first time that Robert Connor has appealed to…

  Crime figures have risen dramatically in Glasgow since this time last year.  Top of the list is housebreaking with a 23% increase, closely followed by car theft at 21% and breach of the peace on 19%.  Other increases include assault and robbery.  Murder statistics have stayed static, although the city still has a higher murder rate per capita than any other country in Western Europe.  There are no statistics available for domestic abuse…

  Train drivers called an unofficial walkout across Scotland for tomorrow, which is bound to cause misery for Scotland’s hard-pressed users of public transport, after unions and management failed to come up with an agreement on overtime terms and conditions.  British Rail boss in Scotland, Mr Peter…

  One youth was stabbed and another had to have fourteen stitches inserted in a head wound after a fight broke out between rival gangs in…”

Chapter Thirty Four

  “Impossible!”

  “Well, wan ae yer Gruesome Twosome pals, Dave McGovern, fae across in Possil said that The Stalker is aboot shiting oot kittens, so he is,” Wan-bob said, enjoying the grief oan show, sitting opposite him.

  “Ah bloody well goat a copy ae the lassie’s timesheet.  It wis there in black and white, so it wis.  There’s no way we fucked up,” Charlie Hastie growled, shaking his heid as he bit intae his bacon roll.

  “We?  Ye mean you, ya dumpling, ye.”

  “Ah didnae mean we…as in us.  Ah meant Spotty Hector and Chick Shand.  The source wis unimpeachable…and expensive…the glaikit basturts.  Wait until Ah get ma hauns oan the cunt that passed oan that material.”

  “It gets worse.”

  “Worse?  How much worse?”

  “The nurse in question?  She’s known, so she is.”

  “By who?”

  “Us.”

  “Who is she?”

  “Senga Jackson.”

  “Ann Jackson’s daughter,” they baith chorused in unison.

  “Fuck!” Charlie Hastie cursed, nibbling intae the side ae wan ae his fingernails, then using the ragged curved shard ae nail as a toothpick tae unhook a bit ae bacon fat stuck between two ae his bottom front teeth.

  “That’s bloody disgusting…dae ye know that?”

  “It works,” Charlie replied chuckling, sucking the morsel fae the nail.

  “So…”

  “Shit!”

  “Whit?”

  “Johnboy Taylor…Helen Taylor’s boy.”

  “Whit aboot him?”

  “She’s engaged tae him, even though he’s in the clink.  The Carpet Blagger telt me when Ah wis roond there recently.  Ye don’t think they’re in there somewhere, dae ye?”

  “Who?  The Mankys?  Naw, Ah doubt it…mind you, it’s a bit ae a co-incidence, if ye think aboot it though,” Wan-bob murmured.

  “If they knew aboot it, she surely widnae be gaun tae the bizzies, noo wid she?  They’d soon put a stoap tae that wan, so they wid.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Christ, this is aw we need,” Charlie growled, lifting up another roll, this time wae two link sausages hinging oot ae either end ae it, acting as a conduit fur the lard tae drip aff ae them oan tae the Formica-topped table.

  “Where ur we wae this Harding Lennox carry-oan then?”

  “Spotty Hector and Chick Shand ur tracking his movements every time he crosses the Clyde.  They’ve put the word oot tae aw the spotters fae the toon centre, right oot tae beyond Partick.  If that prick so much as tries tae make a pick-up, his arse will be roasted, so it will.  So far, there’s been nothing.”

  “And we’ve nae idea who’s supplying him?”

  “There hisnae been a cheep fae anywan.  Ah widnae worry…we’ll nip the basturts soon enough.  Hopefully, wae a big stash ae coke oan them as well,” Charlie replied, smiling, sinking his teeth intae his roll.

  “The Big Man wants it nipped in the bud, as soon as.  He’s threatening tae come hame tae deal wae it himsel, if we don’t get oor fingers oot ae oor arses.  So, tell that pair tae get their skates oan.  Time is marching oan, so it is,” Wan-bob said, signalling tae the wee waitress behind the coonter that a fresh pot ae tea wis required.

  “And the nurse?”

  “Well, whit dae you think?  Get it done quickly and quietly though.  Ah’ve enough oan ma plate tae be worrying aboot that as well.”

  “Is there no two ae them up in that flat?”

  “Aye, nice lassies, bit it’s only the wan we want.  There’s nae point in gaun overboard, is there?” Wan-bob continued, smiling politely at the young lassie, as she laid doon a hot teapot and popped the haun knitted tea cosy fae the cauld empty wan oan tae it, before taking the empty wan away.

  “We kin find oot whit shifts they’re baith working.  The ideal wid be fur the wan we don’t want tae be oan the nightshift, leaving the other wan at hame alane.  Ah’ll get a set ae keys fae Ali or Mohamed.  We kin make it look like she’s packed her stuff and fucked aff wae some boyfriend oan the side, when we lock up the flat behind us.”

  “Ah thought she wis hitched tae young Johnboy Taylor?”

  “She is, which is aw the mair reason fur her tae fuck aff if she’s been cheating oan him while he’s in the jail.  The suspicion will fall oan the other Mankys if her disappearance causes any ripples.  Everywan knows fine well that they’d react if they thought wan ae them wis being messed aboot behind their backs.”

  “Aye, that wid work.  Who’ve ye goat in mind?”

  “We’ll stick wae Spotty and Chic.  They’re awready oan the street chasing up oan the rat line that Harding’s operating behind oor backs.  There’s nae point in pulling somewan away fae where they’re awready needed.”

  “Noo, listen up, Charlie…this is important.  Harding is the tap priority here.  The Big Man wants this done and dusted and oot ae the road.  He thinks there’s a good chance that this kin get oot ae haun if it isnae nipped in the bud,” Wan-bob warned, pouring them a fresh cup ae tea.

  “Look, don’t worry…we’ll nip Harding wance he crosses the Clyde.  Whether he comes across wan ae the bridges or the ferry further alang at Water Row, we’ll be oan tae him.  Ah’ve telt ye, hauf the toon is looking oot fur him.”

  “
Good evening.  My name is John Turney and these are the news headlines in Scotland tonight.

  Residents and shopkeepers living and operating around Scotstoun Showground in Danes Drive are demanding that more police be deployed on the beat after a series of burglaries and shop break-ins have left the community in despair and scared to leave their homes unattended.  Jack Bingham, a local resident whose house has been broken into twice in the last three months has demanded the return of the birch…

  Dog-nappers are believed to be operating in the Bearsden area of Glasgow after two Great Danes named Pippa and Jolly were snatched from their owner’s garden in Westbourne Drive.  In a similar case on nearby Stirling Drive, distraught owner, Persil Broughton, has offered a fifty-pound reward for information leading to the return of Barony, her seven-year-old Rottweiler.  Police in the area have asked residents to be on the lookout…

A number of trials at Glasgow Sheriff Court had to be postponed at short notice today due to a number of prosecuting and defence solicitors being brought down by flu…

  Beatle mania will be returning to Glasgow on the 21
st
October as fans celebrate the anniversary of the fab four playing live at the Odeon in Glasgow’s Renfield Street a decade ago. The Odeon will be showing some of their greatest films, such as A Hard Day Night, Help and Yellow Submarine.  In the foyer, a Beatles tribute band, The Moptops, will be welcoming cinema goers with all the hits from that period…

  A pretty female store detective who was punched and kicked and left with a black eye after attempting to apprehend a shoplifter in The Argyle Arcade yesterday has branded her six-foot-tall male attacker a coward…

  A man who obscenely flashed at two young girls whilst they were out guising for Halloween in Mentieth Avenue, Bishopbriggs, was fined ten pounds at Dumbarton District Court today…

  John Casey, a twenty-eight-year-old bricklayer was fined twenty pounds at Central District Court after being found guilty of attacking his wife and three daughters after a night out in Glasgow city centre to celebrate his wife’s fortieth birthday…”

Chapter Thirty Five

  “Look, will ye dae it?” Jake asked.

  “Bit…”

  “Look, no ifs or butts.  It’s either an aye or a naw.”

“Ah jist don’t feel comfortable.  Ah thought ye telt me that ye wurnae in tow wae any ae that crowd any mair?” Michelle girned doubtfully.

  “Look, Ah’m a businessman.  Ah hiv tae deal wae people Ah don’t necessarily run aboot wae.  It’s no as if Ah’m asking ye tae shag him…seeing as he’s awready been there before, am Ah?” Jake retorted, starting tae get irritated.

  “Oh, fuck you, Jake McAlpine!” she shouted, hitting him across the face wae her pillow before slipping oot ae bed and heiding fur the bathroom.

  “Ah’m sorry, Ah didnae mean it that way,” he shouted, laughing, as her bare arse disappeared alang the lobby.

  Time wis marching oan, he reminded himsel, grabbing Michelle’s assault weapon and tucking it behind his heid oan tap ae the two pillows awready there.  Kim Sui wis running at a hunner miles an hour tae get the show ready.  The TV and radio people wur never aff the phone, wanting tae come and dae some pre-recorded interviews.  Kim Sui’s sister, Bo, wis daeing a brilliant job ae talking up the show wae aw her foreign contacts.  Magazines fae aw o’er Europe wur wanting tae dae a spread and Simon hid The Mankys running aboot like men possessed, trying tae get everything tied up before Tony and the others goat liberated.  It hid been four days since Simon hid goat huckled by The Stalker, up in Springburn.  He’d been kept in the cells fur aboot an hour before him and Swansea hid been unceremoniously slung oot ae the station oan tae their arses in the rain and telt no tae come back by Bumper and Happy Harry, bit no before Swansea hid let The Stalker clock the timesheet wae Senga’s name oan it.  Swansea hid gone up in everywan’s estimation efter that, although he’d claimed innocence oan his part.  Simon hid jist come aff the blower, phoning fae The City Café, up oan Castle Street, where he wis tucking in tae his breakfast, efter tailing Senga up tae her work at the hospital.  He’d telt Jake that he wis jist waiting oan Ben tae arrive, who’d been daeing the same wae her flatmate up at Stobhill.  It hid been a piece ae piss, tailing the lassies withoot them knowing it.  The hard part wis keeping well back, bit still being able tae keep tabs oan the buses they wur travelling oan, while continually looking oot fur Wan-bob Broon’s gorillas.  Simon hid informed him that he’d jist come aff the phone tae Peter.  It wis ‘game oan.’  That pair ae pricks, Spotty Hector and Chic Shand, wur oan the move.  Baby Huey hid turned up, in person, at Simon’s door at five o’clock, jist o’er two hours earlier.  Baby’d telt Simon that Charlie Hastie hid set the wheels in motion the day before, efter haunin o’er the job tae Spotty and Chic tae take care ae Senga.  The good news…if ye could call it that…hid been that they wur leaving Lizzie Mathieson oot ae the picture, at least fur the time being.  Simon said Baby wis aboot shitting a brick and hidnae hung aboot wance he’d passed the info oan.  Before disappearing, he’d said that he wisnae too sure how they planned tae take her, bit he thought that seeing as they wur a pair ae psycho perverts, they’d probably nab her and bundle her aff somewhere deserted tae hiv a bit ae fun wae her before getting shot ae her at their leisure.  It hid taken Simon aw his strength no tae attack Baby, when Baby’d jist shrugged his shoulders wae embarrassment, in response tae Simon’s challenge oan where his self-respect and decency wis, working fur basturts like them.  Whit hid made it even worse as far as Simon hid been concerned, wis the fact that Baby hid known Senga since she wis a wean.  Everywan wis noo under strict instructions tae make sure Senga wisnae nabbed between her flat and her work or if she wis oot and aboot in the toon.  Wae that flatmate ae hers noo oot ae the picture, it wid make protecting Senga that much easier.  Jake wis tae team up wae Simon during the daytime and keep tabs oan Senga’s movements when she ventured oot intae the toon centre tae dae some shopping or tae catch up wae Kim Sui.  Senga hivving dumped Dr Gory, that ex-boyfriend ae hers, hid made tailing her in the crowded toon centre easier as well.  So far, since getting back in tow wae Johnboy, she hidnae been oot in the toon centre at nights.  Wan ae The Two Johns fae Roystonhill, Wee Parky, hid also drapped by Carpet Capers the day before tae tell Simon that Spotty Hector and Chic Shand hidnae been working in Greasy Jake’s fur a couple ae weeks during the daytime and seemed tae be spending maist ae their time flitting alang the Broomielaw and oot as far as Partick.  Efter Wee Parky hid disappeared, The Mankys hid speculated as tae whether Wan-bob and Charlie Hastie hid cottoned oan tae the fact that Kim Sui’s cousin, Wee Pie and a McGregor Clan strongman, by the name ae Harding Lennox, hid set themsels up in partnership by importing cocaine via a Chinese cook oan wan ae the scrap boats that shuttled between the Clyde, Antwerp and Holland oan a weekly basis.  Wee Pie sure liked tae dice wae death and couldnae be trusted as far as he could be flung.  Tony, Snappy and Pat wur each serving three years doon in Dumfries because ae the sleekit wee basturt.  Harding Lennox wis a well-known and well-feared killer in the city by those who knew whit the score wis.  Wan-bob hid repeatedly warned The Mankys tae stay well away fae the south ae the river and in particular, tae avoid any ae The McGregors or their associates at aw costs.  The Mankys hid never hid any desire or ambition tae spread their wings southwards.  It took them aw their time tae manage whit they wur efter in the north ae the city without wanting tae fly elsewhere.  Although they’d never hid any dealings or associations wae anywan south ae the river, Charlie Hastie wis always good fur pointing oot a few ae the well-known wans that occasionally ventured intae the toon centre wae their wives or families fur a celebratory birthday meal.  By aw accounts, Harding Lennox wis the top killer in The McGregor Clan.  Tae look at him, it widnae be hard tae believe that.  He wis tall, muscle-bound, permanently suntanned and carried himsel wae a confidence that meant crowds parted instinctively a few paces before he reached them.

  “Noo, listen up…when that pair ae basturts decide tae make their move, we need tae nip them in the bud, withoot Senga being aware ae whit’s gaun oan.  We cannae hiv any witnesses either,” Simon kept repeating.  “We’ll also need tae be visible efter we deal wae them, tae ensure any comeback won’t be directed towards us.  That also means we cannae carry anything oan us efterwards.”

  “Ur you trying tae tell us that efter we take oot two ae The Big Man’s bears, we’ve jist tae wander aboot withoot any weapons tae protect oorsels, Simon?” Ben hid growled, looking at Simon as if he wis saft in the heid.

  “Wan-bob and Charlie Hastie will be oan tae us as quick as shite aff ae a shovel, Ben.  We need tae be seen, gaun aboot oor daily business, as if we’ve nothing tae hide.  You walking aboot, armed tae the teeth, is jist as good as saying it wis us.  Ah’m telling ye, this is gonnae be too close fur comfort, so it is.  If any wan ae us fuck this up, we’re aw as good as deid.”

  “Aye, thanks tae you, Simon, ya bloody simpleton, ye.  There wid’ve been a much easier way tae deal wae this rather than starting World War Three wae aw this James Bond theme-tune shite ye’ve goat us dancing tae,” Ben hid continued.

  “Look, if you or anywan else here wants tae take o’er, then that’s fine by me.  Ah’m sick ae aw youse whining basturts, sitting back oan yer arse holes and watching me running aboot like a blue-arsed fly, while aw youse kin dae is whine like fucking hyenas,” Simon hid shot back, daring anywan tae challenge him.

  It hid actually been quite funny, Jake remembered, finding it difficult no tae smile.  Ben certainly knew how tae wind Simon up like nowan else, apart fae Snappy maybe.

  “Whit, haun o’er the mess tae us that ye’ve goat us aw in?  Aye, that’ll be the day.  Ah cannae wait tae see ye hivving tae explain aw this tae Tony when he gets oot…if we’re aw still alive, that is.  And another thing, ya stingy prick, ye, where the fuck’s ma dosh?” Ben hid demanded.

  Everywan hid laughed when Simon hid been forced tae haun o’er twenty quid tae Ben efter losing the bet that The Stalker widnae clap him in irons within two minutes ae him entering the cop-shoap up in Springburn.  Jake hid tae admit though, wance Simon goat gaun, there wis nae stoapping him.  He could see why Tony hid left him in charge.

  “Look, Ah’m sorry Ah said whit Ah said.  Ah wis only trying tae wind ye up,” he said tae Michelle, efter she arrived back.

  “And Ah’ll hiv that,” she demanded, grabbing her pillow back fae behind his heid.

  “Look, aw ye need tae dae is write yer statement doon before ye go up there.  Graham will ask ye a few wee questions and that’ll be that.  Ye’ll be oot the door in five minutes flat, so ye will,” he said soothingly.

  “Bit why?”

  “Because Ah asked ye tae, that’s why.”

  “Look, Ah want tae know the truth.  Why the hell dae Ah hiv tae go tae a lawyer and tell him who Ah wis wae and whit Ah wis daeing oan the night ae ma eighteenth birthday?”

  “Because, as Ah’ve awready telt ye, Johnboy is trying tae get an appeal oan the go and he his tae account fur his movements.”

  “Bit, Ah thought the bank job wis during the day three months earlier?  Why dis he need tae account fur whit he did that night?”

  “Look, Michelle, ye’re either gonnae dae this or ye’re no.  It’s nae skin aff ae anywan’s nose and will only take fifteen minutes oot ae yer day.”

  “Ah cannae.”

  “Ye kin.”

  “Ma da.”

  “Whit aboot him?”

  “He’ll find oot.”

  “How will he find oot, fur Christ’s sake?  Aw ye’re daeing is filling in a movement calendar ae whit Johnboy wis daeing the night he goat lifted.”

  “Ah’ll hiv tae go up tae court and explain it.  Getting caught in be…er…Johnboy’s flat by ma da, while he wis oan duty, nearly killed him and split the family, so it did.  He wis ashamed tae turn up fur work fur a month efter that.  Ah cannae put him through that again.  Christ, if he thought fur wan minute Ah wis sitting here in the bare buff wae you, he’d probably go hame and top himsel, so he wid.”

  “Really?” Jake asked, his face brightening up in tae a smile.

  “Look, he’s no as bad as ye think he is.  He’s a polisman…that’s whit they dae.”

  “Naw, they get paid tae arrest the bad guys, no plant evidence oan the innocent because they happen tae suspect them ae being up tae nae good.  Ah probably know that da ae yers a lot better than maist ae his ain family, including you.”

  “Jake, Ah cannae.  Ah jist cannae be seen tae be getting involved in any ae this,” she pleaded, waving her erm aboot the bedroom.

  “Ae whit?  This is aw legit, so it is.  Ah telt ye, Ah’m a bona fide honest businessman.  Ah hivnae time tae be running aboot, getting up tae no good these days…Ah’ve goat too much tae lose.”

  “Ah thought ye telt me that ye wurnae in contact wae that Senga Jackson wan?  She’s never oot ae the shoap.”

  “Senga Jackson is a good pal ae Kim Sui’s.”

  “Hiv ye ever went oot wae her?”

  “Michelle, that’s it.  Nae mair ae that coke fur you.  Christ, whit kind ae question is that, eh?”

  “Ye should see the dirty looks Ah get fae her when Ah walk intae the shoap and she’s staunin there wae Kim Sui.  She disnae take me oan or even acknowledge ma presence.  Who the hell dis she think she is, eh?”

  “Ah’m telling ye, it’s yer paranoia speaking.  Senga Jackson widnae hiv a bad thought towards you, nor anywan else.  She’s a nurse, fur Christ’s sake.”

  “So ye’re defending her then?”

  “Ah’m stating a fact.  She’s in touch wae Johnboy.  They get oan fine thegither.  She keeps him happy by sending him letters…”

  “And visiting him?”

  “…and his started tae visit him.  Whit’s wrang wae that?”

  “So, tell me whit’s so important aboot me gieing a statement tae this lawyer?  There must be something mair tae it than ye’re letting oan.”

  “Right, Ah’m gonnae explain this jist wan mair time and that’s the end ae it.  Johnboy’s putting in fur an appeal against his conviction.  We think he’s goat a good case…”

  “We?” she interrupted.

  “Er…me and some ae his auld pals.  Noo, despite the quality evidence proving him innocent, the bizzies ur gonnae work their baws aff tae discredit that by using every dirty trick in the book…so we…his best pals…need tae help him oot and establish his movements oan a particular night that jist happened tae be yer birthday.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Ah said so, that’s why.”

  “Naw, whit Ah’m asking is…why?”

  “Ah’ve jist telt ye.”

  “So, whit happened either before or efter he wis wae me that’s so important?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Tell me?” she pleaded, exasperated.

  “There’s a lot ae things happened.  It’s Glesga.  A hunner and wan things could’ve happened that the bizzies wid want tae shove Johnboy’s way.  Whit we’re trying tae dae is make sure he’s covered.  At the end ae the day, it probably disnae matter whit Johnboy says…they’ll still try and make negative shite stick tae him tae undermine his case.  The bizzies…people like yer da…ur masters when it comes tae innuendo, so they ur.  That’s why we need totally unimpeachable evidence tae stoap that fae happening.”

  “And him being in bed wae a polisman’s daughter when he wis arrested?”

  “Totally unimpeachable.  In fact, next tae being caught in bed wae a judge’s daughter, ye couldnae get any better,” he replied smiling, as he stroked her thigh.