Ratcatcher: Chapter 48
...'Yes. When Crocker asked Sullivan what he meant, he laughed and said something about a couple of old squirrels. Does that mean anything to you?'...
And undercover man Joe Hussy seems to get the message.
Colin Dunne continues his intriguing thriller. To read earlier chapters please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/ratcatcher/
'Joe Hussy?'
'Speaking.'
'Joe, from the bottom of my heart, I must thank you ...'
His voice was a big, booming, hit-the-back-wall job. Mine was tight, harsh and rapid.
'Crocker, listen to me and listen closely. I don't have any time for you. In any other circumstances I'd happily come down there and geld you personally with a rusty spoon, but this time I can't. You're getting away with it. This time.'
'I can assure you, on my mother and father's life, it was a momentary aberration ...'
'You're the aberration, Crocker, and if you interrupt me again these letters go straight to the dirtiest Sunday newspaper I can find. You get up there at that press conference and you say what you've got to say, and you'd better make it sound bloody good. We'll give you some sort of cover, though Jesus Mary and bloody Joseph I 'd like to see you swing. And if I hear so much as you being seen within a hundred miles of a boy under the age of sixteen, or giving moral back-up to terrorists, then the collected letters of Timothy Crocker go on public show. Do you hear me, you disgusting grub?'
The line echoed my anger. For a moment I thought he'd gone. Then he spoke.
'I hear you. I'll do it.'
'You bet your fat arse you will. Now put Victoria on.'
'Hullo rat,' she said, and my soul lifted.
'He's going to sing the right song, I take it.'
'Don't worry. The press conference starts in two minutes so we've got to rush. But he'll do what you say.'
'Good.'
'Don't think I'm criticising,' she said, whispering now, 'but whatever you said to him, he went terribly ill-looking and pale.'
'I spoke from the heart. Don't let him die before he's talked. After that, he'd be doing us all a favour.'
'There's something else. The Irishman who was fixing the whole thing ...'
'Sullivan?'
'That's right, Sullivan. Crocker said he was collecting the money later today. Presumably from Kentish. But he also said they were getting an unexpected bonus.'
'A bonus?'
'Yes. When Crocker asked Sullivan what he meant, he laughed and said something about a couple of old squirrels. Does that mean anything to you?'
'Sort of,' I said. 'Sort of.'
