The Tale of the Wolf (The Kenino Wolf Series) (36 page)

‘
I've been trying to retrieve your list.’ He panicked.

She just stared.

‘
He stole your diamonds.’ He pointed at me.

‘
Bollocks!’ I said and smashed a right uppercut into his chin, toppling him over. He slumped to the floor. ‘That's for calling Tabs stupid.’ I smiled down at him and then at Tabs. You have to defend the honour of your woman. He was just about to get back into it with me, when Magenta said:

‘
Stop, Nikita. I know everything and if you lie any more you can talk to Mr Johnson.’ One of the burly guys smiled and cocked a semi-automatic. Colin lowered his eyes. I smiled at his plight.

‘
Now, where is my list?’ I looked at Jeremiah. He signalled it was okay.

‘
I’ve got it.’ I said pulling the drive from my pocket and handing it to her.

‘
Such a small thing, and yet so troublesome.’ She looked at Jeremiah.

‘
Indeed,’ he smiled back. ‘But now it’s back where it belongs.’ She grinned back at him. They were having a thing. I knew it instantly. My cousin Jeremiah was in the
very
good books of Magenta Devine.

‘
Now you must be Kenino Wolf,’ she said, addressing me. She was late thirties and exuded power and elegance. The smile that had appeared when she was addressing Jeremiah disappeared the instant she looked at me. I got stony face. ‘You’re the one that stole my diamonds.’

‘
But not all of them. He stole most of them and tried to blame it on us,’ I responded.

‘
Yes, I am aware of that,’ she looked at Colin,
who winced on the floor.

‘
We only stole three million in stones,’ I said chancing my arm.

Her head flicked back on to me.

‘
You stole four million.’

‘
Three and half.’

She raised her sunglasses and looked me up and down, not a drop of emotion in her face.

‘
Are you trying to negotiate?’ I couldn’t tell whether she was amused or offended.

‘
A little bit,’ I replied, as meekly as possible.

She started laughing. ‘You may keep three stones for your trouble, and if you don’t like it you can negotiate with Mr Johnson.’ Mr Johnson looked at me and turned the semi on to me.

‘
Deal!’ I said.

‘
I thought so. He’s undoubtedly related to you, Jeremiah.’ I’m not sure whether it was a compliment or not, but they both smiled and no one shot me, so I didn’t ask.

‘
I think it’s time to leave. Mr Smith … assist Nikita and bring his slack jawed monkey,’ she indicated Frazer. The second brute picked up Colin, and beckoned a terrified Frazer. ‘Mr Johnson, accompany Mr Wolf to retrieve my property. Come, Jeremiah. Enough time's been wasted already.’ She took Jeremiah’s hand and Mr Smith dragged out Nikita and Frazer.

‘
Kenino.’

‘
Yes, Cus?’

‘
Give them back. None of your nonsense!’ Jeremiah shouted over his shoulder.

‘
Yes, Cus.’

‘
I’ll be seeing you, Kenino.’ He walked out of there like the cat that had got the cream; which in essence he was.

‘
You got a shovel?’ I said to Mr Johnson, once they'd left. He looked at me blankly. ‘That’ll be a no then
.’

Milkie walked over towards me.

‘
I just want to thank you again,’ he said shaking my hand.

‘
No probs. Cheers for not saying I had the drive.’

‘
You’re the Deliverer, it was never going to happen.’

‘
What are you going to do with them?’ I signalled the Jonesians.

‘
I think they’re going to stay with us.’

‘
Really?’

‘
I think so.’

‘
Looks like you're the leader that's going to usher in a new dawn.’

‘
Then that would mean you're the Prophet.’ He smiled.

‘
Wolfy is the Prophet,’ Curtis proclaimed with enthusiasm.

‘
Tom Jones is God.’ I responded with equal verve.

I saw Bosley walking towards the door.

‘
Where you going Bosley?’ I asked.

‘
Back to work, this case is finished.’

‘
But you said you resigned from the police.’

‘
I lied. I only said I resigned so I could find out about the diamonds. I knew you wouldn’t say anything if I told you that I was undercover. Luckily for you Mr Wolf the owner doesn’t appear to want to press charges.’

‘
Bosley after all we’ve been through you were still trying to arrest me?’

‘
You’re a criminal, that’s what I do. See you in the City, Mr Wolf.’ And with that he walked out.

Ah well, some thing’s never change.

C’est la vie.