there’s another like this for free when he brings me more Black Daffodil. In person.’
‘You just want to find a bigger dealer than Sneezy,’ she challenged.
‘That’s right.’ Chris didn’t attempt to lie.
She walked away then turned back at the top of the stairs. ‘Want me to put the word out that this is a new shop?’
‘Yes.’ Chris tried another tack. ‘Can you arrange a meet with the supplier of Black Daffodil?’
She shook her head. ‘Only Sneezy knows who that is.’
‘Then tell Sneezy we need to see him – urgently.’
‘Sneezy’s afraid to come here after what he did to you.’ She eyed Peter warily.
‘Remind him I’m offering free goods. That gram won’t last for ever.’
‘I’ll tell him but I can’t make him come here.’ She hesitated. ‘You’re crazy, you are. Black Daffodil killed my friends. Stick to weed and Charlie. You know where you are with them.’
Chris and Peter watched her run down the stairs.
Peter drove out of the estate and took a turn that led away from the city.
‘Why the scenic route?’ Trevor asked when they left the estates behind them and drove past trees, fields bordered by hedgerows, grey stone walls and the occasional farmhouse.
‘Because I saw you looking at your watch.’ Peter swerved into a parking area screened by birch. Although there were no people in sight he parked the car as far from the picnic benches as possible. ‘After that estate a ploughed field looks remarkably clean.’ He took a pack of cigars from his pocket.
‘Bill won’t appreciate a bill from the rental company to remove the smell of tobacco from the upholstery.’ Trevor took his mobile phone from his pocket, opened the back, removed the Sim card and stowed it in the glove compartment. He extracted one of the disposable Sim cards from his wallet, placed it in his phone, closed the back and stepped outside. The air was fresh, fragrant, and cool after the suffocating heat of the concrete-walled estate. He switched on the phone and waited for it to pick up the signal before dialling Lyn’s mobile. She answered on the third ring.
‘Hello … is anyone there?’
‘It’s me.’ His voice sounded unnaturally deep and husky. ‘How are you? Both of you?’
‘Burgeoning, blooming,’ the tone of her voice changed and he visualised her moving into determinedly cheerful mode for his benefit. ‘Bending your credit card as I promised we would.’
‘Bend it all you like. Whatever you’re buying, get the best. You both deserve it.’
‘You have no idea how expensive the best is.’ He detected a slight catch in her voice.
‘You have the emergency number safe?’
‘Yes.’
‘You’ve given it to your mother?’
‘Stop worrying. I’m fine. I saw your other half’s other half last night. We went out for a meal.’
‘Is she OK?’
‘Missing her paramour almost as much as we’re missing you. Tell him she said it was good to eat in a healthy place for a change.’
‘I’ll pass on the message. Take care of yourselves. Long to see you.’
‘And me you, although it’s only been a day and a half. Remember, we both love and need you very much.’
‘Love you back.’ Trevor ended the call, took out the Sim card and cracked it between his fingers. There was a McDonald’s on the way back to the city. Peter would want to drop in there. He’d never known a man so addicted to fast food. And a bin in a public toilet was a good place to dump incriminating evidence.
He returned to the car. Peter was still in the driving seat, listening to the news on the radio. He’d opened all the windows and was thoughtfully holding his cigar outside the car. He looked quizzically at Trevor.
‘She’s fine, they both are.’ Trevor sat beside him. ‘She and Daisy went out for a meal.’ Trevor opened the glove compartment, retrieved the Sim card he had put in there and returned it to his phone. ‘Daisy commented that it was nice to eat healthily for once.’
‘Irritating
‘You just want to find a bigger dealer than Sneezy,’ she challenged.
‘That’s right.’ Chris didn’t attempt to lie.
She walked away then turned back at the top of the stairs. ‘Want me to put the word out that this is a new shop?’
‘Yes.’ Chris tried another tack. ‘Can you arrange a meet with the supplier of Black Daffodil?’
She shook her head. ‘Only Sneezy knows who that is.’
‘Then tell Sneezy we need to see him – urgently.’
‘Sneezy’s afraid to come here after what he did to you.’ She eyed Peter warily.
‘Remind him I’m offering free goods. That gram won’t last for ever.’
‘I’ll tell him but I can’t make him come here.’ She hesitated. ‘You’re crazy, you are. Black Daffodil killed my friends. Stick to weed and Charlie. You know where you are with them.’
Chris and Peter watched her run down the stairs.
Peter drove out of the estate and took a turn that led away from the city.
‘Why the scenic route?’ Trevor asked when they left the estates behind them and drove past trees, fields bordered by hedgerows, grey stone walls and the occasional farmhouse.
‘Because I saw you looking at your watch.’ Peter swerved into a parking area screened by birch. Although there were no people in sight he parked the car as far from the picnic benches as possible. ‘After that estate a ploughed field looks remarkably clean.’ He took a pack of cigars from his pocket.
‘Bill won’t appreciate a bill from the rental company to remove the smell of tobacco from the upholstery.’ Trevor took his mobile phone from his pocket, opened the back, removed the Sim card and stowed it in the glove compartment. He extracted one of the disposable Sim cards from his wallet, placed it in his phone, closed the back and stepped outside. The air was fresh, fragrant, and cool after the suffocating heat of the concrete-walled estate. He switched on the phone and waited for it to pick up the signal before dialling Lyn’s mobile. She answered on the third ring.
‘Hello … is anyone there?’
‘It’s me.’ His voice sounded unnaturally deep and husky. ‘How are you? Both of you?’
‘Burgeoning, blooming,’ the tone of her voice changed and he visualised her moving into determinedly cheerful mode for his benefit. ‘Bending your credit card as I promised we would.’
‘Bend it all you like. Whatever you’re buying, get the best. You both deserve it.’
‘You have no idea how expensive the best is.’ He detected a slight catch in her voice.
‘You have the emergency number safe?’
‘Yes.’
‘You’ve given it to your mother?’
‘Stop worrying. I’m fine. I saw your other half’s other half last night. We went out for a meal.’
‘Is she OK?’
‘Missing her paramour almost as much as we’re missing you. Tell him she said it was good to eat in a healthy place for a change.’
‘I’ll pass on the message. Take care of yourselves. Long to see you.’
‘And me you, although it’s only been a day and a half. Remember, we both love and need you very much.’
‘Love you back.’ Trevor ended the call, took out the Sim card and cracked it between his fingers. There was a McDonald’s on the way back to the city. Peter would want to drop in there. He’d never known a man so addicted to fast food. And a bin in a public toilet was a good place to dump incriminating evidence.
He returned to the car. Peter was still in the driving seat, listening to the news on the radio. He’d opened all the windows and was thoughtfully holding his cigar outside the car. He looked quizzically at Trevor.
‘She’s fine, they both are.’ Trevor sat beside him. ‘She and Daisy went out for a meal.’ Trevor opened the glove compartment, retrieved the Sim card he had put in there and returned it to his phone. ‘Daisy commented that it was nice to eat healthily for once.’
‘Irritating
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