I wondered how much money was at stake. A lot, if this operation was a regular thing. If Alex knew what I knew, it could be the reason Derek killed him. Hancock couldn’t afford to risk his business empire. Brennan had his career to lose. So, if Derek was the bullet, who’d been the trigger man?
Steve pulled into the hotel’s car park.
‘Everybody knows their cover stories?’ I asked.
‘You realize how dangerous this is going to be if Derek goes for this?’ Steve said.
‘I do.’
‘Then we just get in there and do it before I lose my bottle,’ Dylan said.
‘Then let’s do it. We have a job to do.’
The banquet was being held in the hotel’s ballroom and we followed the signs to it. It was a big room that contained a stage, thirty or so circular round tables, dance floor and a bar. A banner hung above the stage announcing, ‘Congratulations on another great year of racing.’
We’d arrived early, but the room was already bustling with people. I recognized not only drivers and mechanics, but their wives and girlfriends. Circuit officials, timekeepers, scrutineers and marshals were also in attendance. It was fun to see these people decked out in suits and evening dresses. You won’t see anyone in their Sunday best on race days. I never thought they could clean up so well.
Some had taken to the dance floor where a DJ provided suitable mood music and commentary from his setup. Some had taken their seats, but most were clustered around the bar set up in the far corner.
Myles was on the stage arranging the trophies with his wife, Eva, when he spotted me. He jumped down, cut across the room and snagged my arm. ‘OK, I have you and your guests at table four in the front. I need you close for announcements.’
He didn’t give me a chance to answer before rushing off to bend someone else’s ear.
‘I don’t see Derek around, so let’s mingle,’ I said, ‘and spread the word.’
I set my sights on the bar and cut across the dance floor. Dylan took a lazy route to the bar, while Steve headed towards the tables to hit up people there. I scanned the faces for someone to home in on, but I checked for the enemy too. I didn’t see Derek or any of his friends, making it the perfect time to get the word out.
I wasn’t planning to confront Derek directly. Instead, I thought I’d take a page out of his book and let the community do it for me. The viral effect worked well for him when he wanted to spread gossip and incite rumour, so it should do the same for me.
I spotted Paul standing at the bar and I worked my way over to him. He looked pretty good compared to the last time I’d seen him. The swelling had gone down and his bruising had faded to a sickly yellow-green, which the muted ballroom lighting hid well. The barman placed an open bottle of Guinness and a brandy in front of him and he handed over cash.
‘Hey, Paul. How are you doing?’
Paul told the barman to keep the change and walked away without acknowledging me. I guessed he’d be somebody else who wouldn’t be sending me a card this Christmas.
I asked the barman for a lager that I didn’t want and watched Paul walk over to Chris. Chris took the brandy and listened to Paul before cutting me a nasty look and ushering him away. I wouldn’t be receiving the friendly service I was used to getting from Chicane’s anymore.
Graham Linden moved in next to me. Graham was the perfect person to get a rumour going. He’d been oh so eager when Derek wanted everyone to know about his intention to kill Alex. I expected him to show me the same level of affection he’d showed me at Stowe Park when Derek appeared, but he was the first person to show any signs of being pleased to see me. He patted me on the back.
‘Good to see ya, Aidy,’ he said and ordered a round of drinks.
‘You seem happy.’
‘I am. Got a new sponsor today, so I’m back in business for the new season.’
‘Very nice.’
The barman lined up Graham’s drinks and I helped him carry them through the crowd.
‘I’ve got some news,’ I said, more than a little conspiratorially, but Graham failed to pick up on my tone. He seemed to be riding a beer haze.
‘Really? Good for you.’
‘I’ve got a tape of the race.’ I didn’t have to say which one.
The remark caught him off guard and he pulled up short. ‘What?’
People slid past us, not listening, just in a hurry to get to the bar.
‘I put the word out that I was after a recording of Alex’s crash and some spectator sold me the tape. It cost me fifty quid, but I don’t care. I’ve got the tape. I know what happened.’
It was all lies, of course. There was no spectator with a recording. I just needed word to get back to Derek. Being the bull that he was, he’d come charging for me without thinking and I wanted that. I needed him to incriminate himself. Once he did that, the wall of silence he, Brennan and Hancock had put up would come crashing down.
‘If you want to talk about what you saw, Graham, I want to listen. It’s OK. Nothing will happen to you when I take the tape to the police next week.’
Graham went white. ‘I don’t want anything to do with it. Give me those.’ He snatched the drinks from my hands, slopping some of the contents on the floor. ‘I told you before I didn’t see anything and I’m not saying anything.’
That wasn’t completely true. Graham wouldn’t say anything to me, but he would to everyone else. He wouldn’t be able to help himself. He’d tell others and it would get back to Derek. I watched him scurry off in the direction of his wife and presumably, his new sponsor.
I also managed to slip the videotape story to a marshal before Derek arrived. Derek walked through the doorway with his wife, his usual trackside cronies, Morgan and Strickland, and Vic Hancock. I expected Hancock to be a little subtler than that. But maybe he didn’t have to be anymore.
‘Now the party can really start,’ he called out and got a rumble of cheers and applause.
I caught Dylan’s eye and we regrouped with Steve. ‘How’d you do?’
‘OK,’ Dylan said. ‘I told the Hansen brothers.’
‘I told a couple of mechanics,’ Steve said.
‘I got to Graham and a marshal. Hopefully, that’s enough for now,’ I said. ‘Let’s not be so blatant now that Derek’s here.’
A couple of minutes later, Myles climbed onto the stage, grabbed the microphone and told everyone to find a seat.
We worked our way across the room to table four. Name cards marked where we’d be sitting. We were sharing the table with Vic Hancock, the Fannings, and Alison and her dad. Myles had seated me between Steve and Alison.
The Fannings arrived with Alison and her dad. All of them looked somewhat sad, but they were also smiling. The mixed emotions made sense. This was a proud, yet melancholy moment for them all. We shook hands, Mrs Fanning and Alison hugged me and we all sat down.
Alison looked stunning in her cocktail dress. She’d put her hair up, which revealed a slender neck and highlighted the elegance of her face. I noticed she still wore her engagement ring and I felt guilty for admiring her.
She looked at me and smiled. I felt her warmth, but Hancock ruined the moment with his arrival. He went around the table pumping everyone’s hand. ‘Nobody has to put their hand in their pocket tonight. This is a special night and Hancock Salvage is picking up the bill. OK?’
Hancock wasn’t afraid of splashing cash around like it didn’t matter, but in his case it didn’t.
Myles remained on stage waiting until everyone had found their seats. ‘We’ve got a lot to get through tonight and we will. I just want everyone to relax and enjoy the proceedings. We’ll start with dinner and over dessert we’ll make the presentations. So enjoy.’