The Devil's Home on Leave (Factory 2) (13 page)

‘Get stuffed!’ he bawled. ‘I’ve never heard of McGruder!’

‘I was told downstairs that you were having roast duckling breasts with green pepper sauce on them for dinner tonight,’ I said primly. ‘Now that’s a very rich meal, and I wouldn’t want it to go repeating on you.’

He went white. ‘You can’t interfere with a man’s food!’

‘I can interfere with anything I like,’ I said, ‘there’s always a way. Anyhow, when it comes to leaning on a villain I’m tailor-made, so don’t push me.’

‘I’m not,’ he said after a while. ‘I’m just telling you I don’t know what you’re on about.’ He took a roll-up from a tin and lit it with a trembling hand. He held it craftily, the way cons do, hiding the weed behind his hand and drawing on it in a furtive manner. I called through the peephole to the screw outside. When he came in I said indignantly: ‘Look, this man’s smoking.’

‘Yes, I see he is,’ said the screw. ‘Still, it’s not against regulations, that isn’t.’

‘It is if I think it is,’ I said. ‘If the new act goes through I’ll be able to think what I like. And I think it’s bad for this man’s health,’ I added in a concerned way. ‘I don’t think he ought to be allowed to ruin it, smoking like that – look what a bad colour he is. After all, the State’s responsible for him.’

‘Very true,’ said the screw uneasily, ‘yes.’ I could tell he was one of the ones Hawes looked after, and looked after well, so that between Hawes and me he didn’t really know what to do next.

‘Also he’s eating too much of this rich food,’ I said, ‘I’ve been checking in the kitchen. For a man leading a sedentary life like he is, that’s very bad for his health too – oh, very bad. I think you’d better come along with me when I leave, officer, and we’ll see the MO about it.’

Hawes was staring incredulously from one to other of us. ‘What are you talking about?’ he yelled. ‘What do you mean?’

‘What I mean,’ I said, ‘is that you might prove to be a valuable prosecution witness in another trial, and I wouldn’t want you to go ruining your health smoking and eating too much rich food, you might have a heart attack.’ I said to the screw: ‘OK, leave me alone with him for a few minutes more.’

When the screw had gone I said to Hawes: ‘Well?’

‘Look, for Christ’s sake, will you get off my back!’

‘That depends,’ I said. ‘Who was the man standing next to McGruder that night in the Drop? Youngish, solid, scar across his left earhole, fancy dresser, tends to be careless with a set of car keys?’

‘I don’t know a thing!’

‘Was it a man called Merrill Edwardes?’

He looked at me with anguish. ‘Even if I knew anything, I couldn’t sell a geezer!’

‘Why not?’ I said. ‘You kill people and have them killed. What’s so special about just selling someone?’

‘I don’t know anything,’ he said, turning whitish.

‘You’re getting deeper and deeper in,’ I said, ‘and the less help you give me, the more trouble you’ll get.’

He screwed his eyes up. ‘Isn’t doing bird bad enough?’

‘Duckling breasts tonight or bread and water?’

‘Look, I suppose it could of been him, I mean I don’t know if it was him.’

‘You know bloody well the two of you, you and your brother-in-law, planned to have Hadrill topped,’ I said. ‘You’ve got a motive as bright as a bunch of red roses. When I make it stick, by the way, that makes Williams an accessory before the fact – you’re coming unravelled all over the place. Now tell me the rest of it. Christ, get your bloody mouth in tune, or I’ll tune it for you – I’ll put you away for ever.’

‘Look, if there was a contract out for this geezer,’ said Hawes, ‘and I say if there was, I suppose it could have been Edwardes, this geezer you say left the keys. I say I suppose it could, that’s all.’

‘You prepared to make a statement?’

‘No.’

‘What went out of that York factory besides the money?’

‘Nothing.’

‘You’re lying. You’re guilty right, left and centre.’

‘Prove it.’

‘I’m going to, don’t worry about that. It’s how much help you’re going to give me, that’s what you need to worry about.’

‘No help, copper. These people you’re on about, they’re just names.’

‘Bread and water, then.’

‘Yeah,’ he said, ‘but at least I’ll stay alive to eat it.’

Going back across the river, the day was sweet and sharp, the sun like bursts of music. The weather that day had no flaws; only the people were flawed.

I went into the Nine Foot Drop and leaned against the bar. It was early, just after opening time. A big bloke in a striped blue and white shirt came over. He was fat and chirpy. He had thick white hair and a white Turkish-style moustache.

‘Evening, squire, what’ll it be?’

‘It’ll be a few questions,’ I said, producing my warrant card. ‘You Tony Williams?’

‘That’s right. What is this, a census poll?’

‘It’s the kind of poll that could get you in a hell of a lot of bother,’ I said, ‘so you’d best mind your manners.’

‘Bother?’ he jeered. ‘Me? Look, I’ve been running this boozer for fifteen years and I’ve never had no bother.’

‘That could all suddenly change,’ I said, ‘though if you were helpful it might just be passing clouds.’

‘I don’t know what you’re on about.’

‘I wish I had a pound for every time I’ve heard that,’ I said. I put a pound on the bar. ‘OK, serve us a pint of that Hofmeister you’ve got there.’

‘My treat.’

‘Not a chance,’ I said. ‘I always pay for my rounds.’

He brought the beer and a ring-a-ding for himself and his tone grew conciliatory. ‘Look, I know the Drop’s a tough pub,’ he said, ‘but what else do you expect in a place like Hammersmith? Anyway, I’ve never had any bother here that I couldn’t handle.’ I believed that, because as he spoke one of the hardest-looking youths I’ve ever seen came up through the cellar trap, carrying a case of beer as if it were a packet of biscuits. ‘I’ve got a good staff,’ said Williams approvingly. ‘Like nimble.’ He had, all right. Williams
picked up his drink and said: ‘Well, cheers.’

‘I’m not sure about the cheers,’ I said. I pushed my glass away. ‘Something nasty started up in here three nights back.’

‘That’s funny,’ he said. ‘There haven’t been no fights.’

‘This wasn’t a fight,’ I said, ‘it was the lead-up to a topping.’

‘Christ, when was that, then?’

‘The evening of April the thirteenth. And don’t look so innocent.’

‘You must be coming the acid,’ said Williams. He was around fifty, but he still looked hard behind all the jollity. He certainly looked as if he knew what his fists were for, also his feet. ‘What’s all this about, then?’

‘Well, it’s about this bloke who wound up in a warehouse in Rotherhithe in five plastic shopping bags,’ I said. ‘Did you ever know Jack Hadrill?’

‘Never heard of him.’

‘Look, you’re not trying hard at all on this one,’ I said. ‘You’re going to have to do a lot better. Hadrill was sitting at one of your tables here practically all evening.’

‘I don’t know everyone who comes in here,’ he said. ‘Why should I?’

‘Because it’s strange,’ I said, ‘I’ve been asking around a lot – that’s my job, isn’t it – and it seems he did come in here.’

‘Well, I think I might know who you’re talking about vaguely,’ he admitted after some thought. ‘I read about him in the linens, of course. Dreadful business.’

‘And it will be for you too,’ I said, ‘if you don’t open up on full throttle and tell me everything you know about it.’

He thought some more, then shook his heavy white head and said with his lips pursed: ‘No, that night, I honestly can’t say I noticed him, squire.’

‘Well, I’ve got a witness who did notice him,’ I said. ‘He states that Hadrill was in full view of you, and don’t ever call me squire. Now, there was also a man called Merrill Edwardes standing here
at the bar, just about where I’m standing now. I suppose you’ll be telling me next you didn’t notice him either.’

‘Oh no. I know who you mean by Merrill Edwardes.’

‘Well, we’re making a start at last,’ I said. ‘Now then, there was a bit of moody with a set of keys Edwardes left on the bar when he left. Right under your nose, my bloke says.’

‘I’m sorry, I really am. But I don’t remember about no keys.’

‘You must be one of the most unobservant governors I’ve ever met,’ I said. ‘So of course you didn’t notice who picked the keys up, either.’

‘That’s right, I didn’t.’

‘Well, I know this place is thick with villains, solid with them. After all, you’re not Pat Hawes’s brother-in-law for nothing. But even you must take some notice when a man like Billy McGruder comes into a pub.’

‘McGruder? Name means nothing to me.’

‘Well, that’s probably just as well for you,’ I said. ‘No man Billy takes an interest in ever stays healthy very long. You been visiting Pat lately?’

‘Well, if I have been,’ he said, ‘it’s only natural. It’s family.’

‘I’m getting more and more tired of you,’ I said. ‘You know a hell of a lot about all this. You do know Hadrill, or you did, you know Edwardes, and since all your best mates are hard villains it wouldn’t exactly amaze me if you turned out to know McGruder as well, anyway by sight. Did you know Hadrill was a grass, by the way? A big-time grass?’

‘No.’

‘You’re lying,’ I said. ‘You’re telling me nothing but lies, Tony; you’re white with lies, and I really hate that. I think you fixed up this meet for your brother-in-law all right, and if it turns out that you did, you realize that makes you an accessory to murder, don’t you?’

‘Look, I just don’t know what you’re talking about,’ said Williams anxiously.

‘Oh, don’t you?’ I said. ‘Look, I’ve a bloody good mind to go straight back to the Factory and get a W out for you, and by the time I’ve finished with you the charge will be what I just said it was. You’ll go down with a bang you could hear from Hammersmith to the Elephant. Now, I’ll give you one more chance. If you’re helpful with me, we might be able to kosher some of this up. I’m not promising anything, mind. I’ll also tell you another thing. I’m the sort of man, once I get started on something I never let go, and I’m into this Hadrill business hard, hard. Now then, how well do you know Edwardes?’

‘Edwardes? Hardly at all, not really.’

‘What does “really” mean?’

‘Well, he just comes in here. Like, he lives locally.’

‘You got an address for him?’

‘Christ, no, I don’t know him that well.’

‘Well, you know a lot of other funny people, starting with Pat Hawes; I’m surprised, surprised you don’t know where Edwardes lives. You seen him since the night Hadrill was topped?’

‘No.’

‘You say he comes in here regular? How regular? Tonight, for instance? Today’s Saturday. Might he come in here tonight? I want to see him badly.’

‘Well, a Saturday is often his day. Why don’t you just sit and wait for him? Excuse me, I’ve got a customer to serve.’

‘You just wait a minute,’ I said, ‘and let your staff there do the heavy toil. I haven’t finished with you yet, anywhere near.’

‘What more?’ screeched the landlord. ‘For crying out loud?’

‘Look,’ I said, ‘you’re related to a heavy criminal serving a life sentence, and I don’t know whether you ought to be really keeping a pub at all, I’m not at all sure.’

‘Christ, look, if I had an address or a phone number for Edwardes, I’d give it to you.’

‘I’m not convinced of that,’ I said. ‘I think you know most of this story from beginning to end. I also think you’re frightened,
and with people like Edwardes, Hawes and McGruder mixed up in this I’m not surprised. But at the end of the day you’re going to be just as frightened of me as you are of them.’

‘You’re not going to do me over my licence, are you?’

‘I don’t know,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘You mightn’t have form, Tony, but you have got some very bad contacts. Really naughty.’

‘I can’t help who comes into the pub!’

‘It’s not that, it’s what you say to some of them, especially in that flat of yours upstairs. I wonder. I wonder if I just oughtn’t to ring your brewers and talk to someone fairly high up there.’

‘You people abuse your powers, you do!’ Williams screamed.

‘Only if other people abuse my common sense,’ I said. ‘You tell me more about Edwardes. He a heavy spender in here?’

‘Well, he likes a drink, yes.’

‘He’s got form,’ I said, ‘did you know that? What does he do for a living, apart from crime and villainy?’

‘I don’t know! I don’t ask those sort of questions!’

‘That’s your bad luck,’ I said. ‘You should. You ought to be more careful for your own sake, especially as you’ve got Hawes as a brother-in-law. Yet for a man who doesn’t ask questions – Mr Trust-’em-all, doesn’t see things, doesn’t see people when they’re right under his nose – you seem to know a good deal all the same. But getting you to talk about them’s like trying to turn over a seized-up engine, and that gets up my nose. You sure you can’t help me with Edwardes? I’m going to find him, and if I do it without any help from you – well, I tell you again, you’ve got your licence to think of. Afterwards will be when it’s too late, Tony.’

‘Well,’ he said reluctantly, ‘I know he likes a battle. Funny kind of geezer, went to some posh school. Not for long, though. Wears glasses, but don’t think he ain’t tough on that account. It’s when he takes them off that you know you’re in bother. Tells people he’s a company director.’

‘Don’t they all,’ I said. ‘Till when was he on the firm?’

‘Firm? What firm?’

‘On the firm, the firm! The firm, for Christ’s sake!’ I shouted. ‘Don’t try and take the piss out of me – you know bloody well what firm I mean! I mean Pat and Andy Hawes –
that
firm!’

‘God, you really are riding me,’ said Williams.

‘What I’m doing,’ I said, ‘is investigating a disgusting murder, and if you can be any use to my inquiry I don’t give a fuck if I ride you to hell and back. Now, if Edwardes shows in here tonight, you point him out.’

‘What about my licence, though?’

‘I’ll think about it.’

I stayed till closing time, but Edwardes didn’t appear, so I went back to Earlsfield and made myself some powdered coffee.