The Sudden Arrival of Violence: A Glasgow Underworld Novel 3 by Malcolm Mackay Page A

William has what people like to call an open face. He looks friendly, the sort of guy you can trust. ‘Thing is,’ Barry’s saying, ‘it’s not like I know you. Not like I know I can trust you.’
    ‘I don’t know you, either,’ William’s saying, ‘but I’m willing to risk it. I know you have a good reputation. You’ll find mine is solid. Besides, this goes well, I might need more licences and log books.’
    Greed. That’s what it’s all about. You don’t find out that you’re good at counterfeiting by accident. You find out you’re good because you give it a shot. And you give it a shot because you want easy money. The prospect of another garage coming to him is more temptation than a simple man can resist.
    ‘Well, things are changing in the car business in this city,’ Barry’s saying with a knowing nod. He heard about Shug. Heard about him trying his hand at harder work. If it succeeds, he’ll leave his humble car business behind. If it fails, he’s out of the business anyway. It’s a golden opportunity for anyone who isn’t already his counterfeiter. ‘I’ve got a bit of a backlog,’ Barry’s saying. He’s not a good liar, but you have to try, don’t you?
    ‘I don’t want this taking long,’ William’s saying. ‘An opportunity kind of fell into my lap here. I’ve been thinking about switching. Things going on, you know how it is. Changes. Anyway, I need it quick as you can do it.’
    Barry’s made a series of noises that are supposed to make it sound like he’s thinking. Make it sound as though he’s contemplating some great sacrifice. William doesn’t think someone would literally huff and puff at such a prospect, but he’s not here to argue.
    ‘I could have it by the start of next week, but it’ll cost you,’ Barry’s saying. ‘There’s a lot that I would have to put aside to help you out here.’
    William does have some previous experience of counterfeiting. No emergencies, to be sure. No rush jobs. Calum seemed to have an idea of what would happen. Said that Barry would try to screw him out of all sorts of money. Try to delay it as much as possible. That way he can charge for taking all that time, but instead work on other things.
    William’s shaking his head. Firmly, but with that open and fair expression he does so well. ‘No can do. Need it sooner than that, or I lose a job. Pointless if you take that long. I need it in twenty-four hours.’
    Barry’s not going to let this one get away. He’s guessing that MacLean is testing him here. He’s good at what he does, but one day is asking a bit much.
    ‘The licence I can have by tomorrow,’ he’s nodding. ‘Passport, maybe on Friday. I’ll need the right info from you today. I’ll need to get some info from my people at the passport office as well,’ he’s saying, trying to make himself sound terribly important. Like he has people. ‘You got a picture, preferred details?’
    ‘Got a picture,’ William’s saying, taking the photo and sheet of paper from his pocket. ‘Some details, but I want you to come up with a safe ID.’ The address is William’s own, for now. Calum will change that as soon as he finds somewhere to live. Barry’s looking at the sheet, nodding at the details. Saying nothing about the false ID. Easy for him, he has plenty in reserve. Suspicious, but he didn’t get where he is by asking questions. No good counterfeiter asks too many questions.
    ‘Going for a passport and licence for the same guy?’ Barry’s asking. ‘What about a National Insurance card?’ Looking to create a little extra work.
    ‘Nah,’ William’s saying dismissively. ‘Not needed.’ Calum might get a fake card at some point, but not yet. Only thing he’s likely to need that for is legit work, and he’s nowhere near that stage yet.
    Now William’s passing across the passport photo. This is the moment. The picture of Calum is a couple of years old, but still recognizably him. It could pass for William, if