The Inspector Walter Darriteau Murder Mysteries - Books 1-4 by David Carter (best finance books of all time .txt) 📕

Once over the river they turned right and followed the bank downstream towards the weir, seeking a vacant seat. They didn’t have to go far, the third bench was empty, and well away from its neighbours. Jimmy sat down and Luke followed suit.

A young woman in tight pink leisure pants came jogging by, her black and white spaniel panting alongside. She half smiled at Luke sitting on the seat, and headed down toward the old road bridge.

‘Shouldn’t be allowed,’ whispered Luke, following her taught figure with his eyes, as she trotted away, half expecting her to turn round.

She didn’t.

‘Don’t you ever think of anything else?’

Luke smirked. ‘Nope, not often, what else is there?’

‘Business, that’s what,’ said Jimmy. ‘Now pay attention!’

‘I’m all yours,’ said Luke. ‘All ears.’

Jimmy glanced about again. No one coming, no one behind them on the bank, no one on the nearside of the river, just the subdued hum of people at play in the distance, and the gentle flowing water on an ordinary sunny summer’s day in the old city, down by the river.

‘I’ve firmed up the contract,’ whispered Jimmy, through the side of his mouth.

‘Glad to hear it.’

‘Terms as discussed. 100K, all to be delivered on completion.’

‘I can live with that, so long as you can assure me that the paymaster is kosher, and that you personally will be making the payment.’

‘I can do that. Everything’s in order.’

‘Then I don’t see a problem.’

Jimmy glanced around again. He seemed uncharacteristically nervous. Maybe the big deal he was talking about was getting the better of him.

‘I’ve taken the liberty of organising a false passport for you.’

‘My, you are looking after me, Jim.’

‘I’m honouring my side of the deal, but once the deed is done, you are on your own.’

‘You are making me nervous now.’

Jimmy fished in his shirt pocket and took out a packet of cigarettes and a gold lighter.

‘Want one?’

Luke shook his head. ‘I am trying to cut down.’

Jimmy took a heavy draw on the cigarette and said, ‘Your name is Jason Mondale; you are booked on the four o’clock flight to Florida on Sunday afternoon from Manchester. You can hire a car and travel to Mexico from there.’

‘So soon?’

‘Is that a problem?’

‘Nope, just interested. So when’s the hit?’

‘Sunday, late morning.’

‘Where?’

‘Ness gardens.’

‘Where the hell’s that?’

Jimmy took another drag, and grinned and said, ‘Funnily enough, Luke, it’s in a place called Ness.’

Luke danced his head left and right and said, ‘OK, funny-funny, I deserved that, but where exactly is Ness?’

‘Up Wirral way; just before Neston and Parkgate. Maybe fifteen minutes drive, tops. Study your map, use your satnav, or whatever crap you use these days, I don’t give a toss, just make sure you know where you are going, and when you need to be there. Go and recce it out beforehand. That would seem sensible.’

‘Sounds OK to me. Is there a big do going on there, or something?’

‘Yeah, a charity bash, the main man’s presenting some prizes, and then there’s a walkabout planned, and a chance for people to have their pictures taken with him, and an autograph session after that. He’ll be signing his new book, encouraging the kiddies, all kinds of shit like that.’

‘And his autograph will be in big demand?’

‘Oh yeah, big time, lots of press, and maybe TV too, but none of that is going to happen. You understand? He’ll be gone by then. You’ll hit him the moment he first enters the car park and gets out of the car.’

‘You’ve got it all planned.’

‘That’s what I do, Luke, I plan things – and you DO things. Understand? I plan – you do!’

Luke nodded three times like a horse looking out of a stable, and said, ‘So are you going to tell me who the target is?’

‘Haven’t you guessed yet?’

‘I have absolutely no idea.’

‘The big black fucker!’

Luke shook his head, still none the wiser.

Had no idea who Jimmy was talking about.

‘Which big black fucker? There’s a lot of them about.’

‘The footballer of course, the main man, the centre forward.’

There was a brief silence.

Jimmy imagined he could see and hear Luke’s brain ticking over.

Recognition, at last.

‘The England centre forward?’

Jimmy’s turn to nod.

‘As I said, he’s made a lot of enemies. His time’s up, he’s run out of credit.’

Luke whistled through his teeth, said: ‘Good job I’m not a Liverpool City supporter.’

‘Don’t give a fuck about football, me,’ said Jimmy, dragging on the cigarette one last time, and hurling what remained of it down the bank and into the water. ‘It’s business, that’s all you need to think about. Business. Good... paying.... business.’

‘Can see now why you said there will be a lot of heat.’

‘It’ll be massive. The authorities won’t take too kindly to the England centre forward being blown away.’

‘Has anything like this ever happened before?’

Jimmy thought about that for a second.

‘Not that I can think of, not in this country anyway, maybe in Colombia, or some other filthy hole of a place, but not here.’

‘Jermaine Keating,’ said Luke slowly, ‘Jermaine Keating.’

‘That’s the fella. I don’t think you’ll whack the wrong guy this time, do you?’

Luke stifled a laugh. ‘No, Jim, not this time. So what time does this bash at Ness gardens kick off?’

‘Half past ten. I want you in the car park by ten o’clock. All the details are in here,’ and he waggled the brown packet. ‘Park the car where I’ve shown you, and when the guy arrives, and by the way, he drives a huge black Audi, blacked out windows, the works, private plate KEAT1, all the usual rubbish, you can’t miss it. He’ll probably show up with his mistress, a white bitch. Miss Birkenhead, something like that, big tits and thick as pig-shit, but don’t be sidetracked by the tight skirt.’

‘You know me, Jimmy.’

‘Yeah, that’s what worries me.’

‘You worry too much, Jimmy, that’s your trouble.’

‘If the girl gets in the way, tough tits Tallulah, but make sure you hit the target, usual thing, four hits, all in the chest. You’ll only be feet away, you won’t miss. You won’t