‘Not especially. Are you saying we should?’
‘You know who Jennifer Love’s dad is?’ Devlin watched Laidlaw give a slow nod. ‘Word is, Matt Mason pays his wages these days.’
‘What’s the job description?’
‘Love still knows a few people in the football world. He coaches youth teams, junior league. But those players often go on to bigger things, and through them Love meets pretty much anyone and everyone. There can be a lot of money riding on a game of football. A few bets spread across a variety of bookmakers, plus the pools, obviously.’
‘You’re saying Love talks players into chucking the odd game?’
Devlin offered a shrug. ‘Goalkeepers are the easiest route. A busy goalmouth, a fumbled catch, maybe something that makes your defenders look equally culpable. I’m not saying it’s true, but it’s what I’ve been hearing.’
‘And meantime Love’s daughter switches from one of John Rhodes’s men to one of Cam Colvin’s.’
‘Can you see her father being thrilled about that when he’s tied his wagon to Matt Mason’s horse?’
‘I can’t, no. Thanks for that, Eddie.’
‘Anything for me in return?’
‘Milligan’s being the usual bull in a china shop.’
‘Isn’t that your role?’
‘He’s pulled in Cam Colvin for a word.’
‘Stands to reason after the attack on the Gay Laddie.’
‘Much good it’ll do him.’
‘Remember me telling you I’m a sick man, Jack? This is hellish thin gruel you’re feeding me.’
‘I thought you were trying to lose weight, Eddie.’
‘I’d rather not lose my job at the same time. Newspapers don’t look good with big white gaps where the stories should be. If I don’t give my boss something soon, I might have to emigrate.’
‘I hear South Africa’s nice.’
‘Might explain why they’re taking out so many ads in the paper.’ Devlin gave Laidlaw a look. ‘But then you already know that.’
‘Because I read it religiously, Eddie. Nice to see Mr Heath’s keen on us joining the Common Market. I hear Enoch Powell was in town recently, stirring up shit.’ He saw Devlin wince. ‘You were there?’
‘Editor’s orders.’
‘Then you’re every bit as well informed as me,’ he offered by way of apology. ‘I’ll happily let you trounce me at a frame of snooker if that would help ease the discomfort.’
‘I’ve seen you play snooker, Jack. I could read Proust in the original French in less time than it takes you to pot a ball.’
‘But only be half as entertained in the process,’ Laidlaw said, raising his emptied glass in a mock toast.
23
Colvin had gathered his men in the same function room at the Coronach Hotel, Dan Tomlinson providing alcohol-free drinks only. Panda Paterson would look in vain for snacks, Colvin having instructed Tomlinson to keep catering to a minimum. Colvin sat at the head of the table, producing a freshly laundered hankie and blowing his nose before starting to speak.
‘First thing to say is, it’s good to have you back, Spanner. I trust you were treated well at Central Division.’
‘I gave them nothing because there was nothing to give,’ Thomson said.
Colvin nodded his apparent acceptance. ‘They doled me out the exact same treatment,’ he said, ‘albeit for different reasons. Seemed to think I might have sanctioned the attack on the Gay Laddie and those two punishment beatings. The word is, Rhodes’s men are giving Milligan’s team nothing, but didn’t actually see who it was that jumped them anyway.’ He paused to play with one of his gold cufflinks. ‘I can understand the impulse to do something, maybe thinking it would make a nice gift for me, tied with a ribbon and everything, but that’s not the way things work. So which one of you arseholes was it?’
The four men exchanged glances and shrugs.
‘I’m inclined to rule out Spanner, not that he was in custody at the time, but cops were probably keeping an eye on him. Mickey, Dod and Panda — ball’s in your penalty box, so to speak.’
‘Nothing to do with me,’ Ballater muttered, while his colleagues shook their heads in agreement.
‘Someone further down the ranks then,’ Colvin offered. ‘I need you to find out who. Start with the eager beavers, the ones keenest to please you. They’re going to want to be found out, thinking it’ll mean a promotion, or at the very least a peck on the cheek.’
‘Have you considered Matt Mason, boss?’ Dod Menzies asked.
‘I’ve considered everything, Dod,’ Colvin snapped back. ‘What is it about me that makes you think I wouldn’t have?’
Menzies held both palms out in a show of surrender. ‘Just saying, if anyone stands to gain from you and Rhodes squaring up to one another...’
‘Guessing games are all well and good, but it’s answers I need and you lot sitting around here on your fat arses isn’t bringing me them.’ Colvin fixed each man in turn with a look. ‘So get out there and get asking.’ As the four of them started rising to their feet, he turned his head towards Thomson. ‘Hang back a minute, Spanner,’ he ordered. ‘I want to compare notes with you about Ernie Milligan.’
Colvin dribbled some more water into his glass as the others shuffled out, Paterson intimating to Thomson that they would wait in the car. Once the door was closed, Colvin waited another half-minute before giving Spanner Thomson his full and undivided attention.
‘What about Milligan?’ Thomson asked into the silence.
‘Anything you want to tell me, Spanner? Anything you might know that I don’t?’
Thomson shook his head warily.
‘I’m talking about this morning rather than yesterday.’ Thomson’s shoulders slumped perceptibly. ‘John Rhodes,’ he said in an undertone.
‘Not very clandestine, was it? Driving down Castle Street in broad daylight. So what did he want?’
‘He thinks me getting pulled in might change things.’
‘What things?’
‘You and me, me and the others.’ Thomson jerked his head in the direction of the door.
‘And you planned on keeping this to yourself?’
‘I knew how it would look. How it does look. But John Rhodes is going to get nothing from me, that’s a promise.’
‘I’m glad to hear it, because if you ever tried crossing me, I’d go after your whole family, from long-buried ancestors to third cousins twice removed that you didn’t even know you had. Understood?’
‘Christ’s sake, Cam, how long have we known one another?’
Colvin struck the table with the flat of his hand. ‘That counts for fuck all, Spanner.’ He had bared his teeth, matching the ferocity of his tone. ‘Anyone comes for me, I drop the atomic bomb on them. Are we clear on that?’
Thomson nodded sullenly.
‘Anything else to tell me about our friend Rhodes?’
‘He was waiting around the corner from my house.’
‘He wouldn’t have wanted the neighbours seeing. Even so, his presence in your company was noted, meaning he wasn’t too bothered about keeping it quiet. He’s playing games with us, Spanner, I hope you appreciate that. I’ve known you longer than just about anyone in my life. If Rhodes can drive a wedge between us, he reckons he can do anything.’
Thomson couldn’t quite bring himself to make eye contact. ‘He told me Bobby was planning to jump ship and set up for himself. In competition, I mean.’