It was a plan. River couldn’t help noticing, though, that it depended on everyone else’s actions rather than anything Judd might do.
Before it could be put into play came the sound of breaking glass.
Al Hawke said, “That’s where he is?”
The taxi had left them on a garage forecourt. Avril paid in cash. The traffic had grown sclerotic, and the pavements were busy; from office to home, to bar, to restaurant, wherever. Avril didn’t actually know where people went any more. It didn’t matter. Her tracker showed that CC—or Avril’s watch—was in the building Al was pointing at, its italic, unlit sign reading nob-nobs. Clearly Nob-Nobs wasn’t somewhere the drifting public was heading.
“It looks empty. Locked up.”
“There’ll be a back door.”
Daisy said, “Perhaps CC is having an assignation.” She laid an unnatural stress on the final word, camping it up.
“To which he took my gun?” Al asked.
“He was never what you’d call a born romantic.”
Avril tucked her phone away. “Stay here, Daisy.”
Daisy opened her mouth to reply, then closed it.
“I mean it. Safer that way. And we’ll be back soon.”
Al put a hand on her shoulder briefly. “Anyone follows us in, call.”
Daisy watched as they crossed the road, and was still standing there when they disappeared down the alley.
Devon was right behind the young Dog when they reached the scene: five people, two of them one side of a broken window and three the other, one having arrived there quite recently, judging by the way he was covered in glass. He looked posed for a photograph: Don’t Try This at Home.
“You guys are so dead,” young Dog said.
Inside the toilet, the old Dog groaned.
“How is he?”
Lech knelt to check. “It’s just as I suspected,” he said. “He’s been thrown through a window.”
“. . . You think you’re funny?”
Lech shrugged. “I’m not a medic.”
Shirley looked at young Dog. “He was like that when we got here.”
“Yeah, right, and who did it to him?”
Ash said, “Don’t look at me. I was standing here? On the
“Maybe someone should call an ambulance?” Devon suggested. “I mean, I’d do it myself, but I don’t plan on getting involved.”
“I have, like, an alibi, because I was talking to my mum? She heard it happen?”
“Who is he, anyway?” Lech asked.
Devon said to the young Dog, “He’s with you?”
“My partner.”
“And you’re standing chatting while he’s getting thrown through a toilet window? I don’t fancy your chances of making the glory wall.”
“Fuck you.” Young Dog looked at Roddy. “You do this?”
Roddy was simultaneously trying to look like he could have if he’d wanted to, but hadn’t wanted to so didn’t. “Why me?”
“Because there’s just you and the dyke-looking midget this side. So yeah, I’m looking at you.” He glanced at Shirley. “Martial arts shit, was it?”
“Seriously? He breaks into a sweat opening a carton of milk.”
Devon said, “Hang on a minute. Are you Shirley Dander?”
“What’s it to you?”
“That’d be a yes.” He glanced at the damage, then back at her. “I’ve heard about you. Love your work.”
Young Dog said, “Shirley Dander?”
“Yeah, but call me ‘dyke-looking midget’ again if you want.”
He stepped back. “You’re all fucking crazy.”
“Now he gets it.”
Old Dog groaned again.
Devon said, “Someone call an ambulance.”
CC’s gun arm twitched. “What was that?”
“A window,” said Sid. “
Judd backed away, his confident sheen dulled.
River said, “Stam? Let’s call it a day.”
“He’s right, CC. Let’s go home.”
“Can’t do that, I’m afraid.”
“Yes you can. Easiest thing in the world.”
“Will one of you idiots take that
“Still not helping,” said River.
CC’s hand steadied, and he levelled the gun at Judd.
River stepped between them. “Stam? It’s over. There’s no way you’re getting away with this.”
“That was never the plan.”
“Yes, no, good. But let’s just put the gun away—”
“Please, CC. Think of the others. Avril. Daisy. Would they want this?”
“They had their moment. This is mine.”
Judd had fumbled his phone into his hand. “I have an armed response team on call, twenty-four seven.”
CC said, “And I have a gun. Can you count to three?” River reached out and CC aimed the gun at his face. “No. No. Get out of the way. Let me do this.”
Sid, steady as a rock, moved closer. “We can’t, CC.”
Judd’s voice was a squeak, a dribble. “Take his fucking
“I need the pair of you to step aside.”
His gun hand twitched again.
Behind him, someone said, “CC? Fun’s over.”
