“Means to an end. I’m still fighting the good fight, River. It’s just, I have to fight a lot of bad ones too, to pay the bills. We’re not all on the government tit.”
He moved a step closer saying this.
River sighed, and pulled out the gun Lamb had given him.
Frank did his best to look shocked. “Seriously?”
“Whatever you’re holding, take it out very carefully and toss it over the edge.”
“There are seals down there. You want to give them a loaded weapon?”
“If it makes you feel better, leave the safety on.”
Frank grinned again, wider than before. Then he unzipped his parka a notch, and slipped a hand inside.
He let it stay there longer than River was comfortable with.
“Frank,” he said, “let’s be clear about something. If I have to shoot you dead, I’m willing to do that.”
“We need to talk about your boundaries, son.” But he withdrew the hand, and with it what looked to River like a Glock, a match to his own. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Frank lofted the gun to his left, and it disappeared over the cliff edge. River didn’t hear a splash, but hadn’t expected to.
It was a long way down.
Frank said, “Your mother’s looking well, by the way.”
“Leave her out of this.”
“That’s the trouble with this family. Lack of communication. Never did tell you I was sorry about the old man, did I?”
“You’re not.”
“Yeah, that’s the reason I didn’t tell you. You talk to me about principles? One day you should take a long hard look at what your grandpa got up to. That’ll complete your education in a hurry.”
He came another step closer.
“Near enough,” said River.
“You planning on shooting me?”
“I haven’t ruled it out.”
“So that’s your back-up. What’s plan A look like?”
“You come back with me to London.”
“What, to ‘answer charges’?”
River said, “Last time you showed up, I lost a colleague.”
“I know about your colleagues, son. You should be thanking me.”
“Stop calling me that.”
Frank shrugged. “I can stop. Doesn’t alter the facts, River—and by the way, ‘River’? I just want you to know I had nothing to do with that. I’d have called you Jack, or Steve. But anyway, River? We’re getting to the point where we have to make choices. Because I’m not going back to London with you, and I’m not gonna let you shoot me. So, you know. Crunch time.”
“How many people do you have?”
“You think I’m gonna tell you that?”
River fired. The bullet churned snow an inch from Frank Harkness’s foot: to tell the truth, River hadn’t been sure he’d miss. But at this stage in his growth and personal development, he wasn’t bothered if he shot a few of his father’s toes off.
“Jesus Christ!”
But he sounded impressed.
River said, “How many?”
“Three,” said Frank. “Happy now?”
“Where?”
“Two down by the estuary and one right behind you.”
River fired again.
“Will you stop doing that?”
Truth was, he wasn’t sure. Now he’d started shooting at his father’s feet, the temptation was to move up to his knees.
Frank said, “I have three guys. You already know that, I’m sure. And none of them will walk up to you with open arms, like I just did. Now, can I ask you something? How much is the rent on that shitty flat you’re in? On the shitty side of London?”
“What?”
“Simple question, son. You’re busting your nut for a job that’s given up on you. You earn fuck-all and you’re going nowhere. I told you that a year ago, and you’re still at it, doing the scut-work and living off crumbs. I’m surprised your mother hasn’t had words with you, tell the truth.”
River said, “And yet, I’m the one pointing the gun.”
“Ah, shit, the only reason Lamb’s let you off the leash is ’cause he wants a piece of me, right? Otherwise you’d be back in your kennel, filling out forms, and going home to a fucking hovel. You’re never going back to the Park, River. Has that penny not dropped? You’re never going back, and you’re always going to be earning shit money doing brain-numbing work. Unless you open your eyes and start grabbing some opportunities.”
“What, like hunting down children?”
“I won’t lie to you. Some jobs stink worse than others. But you want to make the world a safer place, right? Because you’re not doing that in Slough House. All that’s for is keeping a few idiots off the streets. And you’re better than that, we both know it.”
River said, “You’re offering me a job? Are you out of your fucking mind? The reason I’m here is to keep you from doing what you’ve been paid to do. To murder a kid, remember?”
“One job out of many. Couple months back, I got to take some really bad actors off the board, and I mean
“Okay, great. Let’s find him and shoot him in the head.”
“Come on. I’d never make you do anything you’re not comfortable with. And besides, all this, it’s a means to an end, son. All I’m after is some stake money. Get back to my real job.”
“Which is making the world a safer place.”
