CHAPTER 30

Waking early was something Tolly usually managed to avoid. Today though the sun was just forcing its way through the curtains when he looked at his Rolex at just before six. Way too early. He rolled over but his mind was buzzing and that set him stewing over yesterday’s conversation. A three-way split. Why? He had no real objection to Dexter joining them. Why not? He really liked the guy and one thing he was sure of, there would be more than enough to go around. Not to mention he and Cap would keep the cash. It was just that he had not really been consulted and that did bother him. Cap called the shots and he was happy with that. On major things though he had always been consulted. Not this time though.

  He threw off the covers. Way too early. No way there’s more sleeping to be done now. Disappearing into the bathroom he splashed water about, shaved and rubbed his hair with his wet hands and combed it flat. Half smiled in the mirror and stomped back to the bedroom where he threw on his clothes, left off his jacket and wandered downstairs. Filled the kettle and slammed it onto the gas stove maybe a bit too hard as the gas rings rattled. Grabbed the teapot and took off the lid. The battery in the glow lighter was dead so he flicked a match and stood back a bit until the gas boomed. Stuck the whistle on the kettle and waited. Too early. Cap needs to get up. Saw the kettle begin to vibrate then the whistle started low and quickly gathered pace to a full screech. Covering his ears he let it roll on until the kitchen door banged open. 

“Testing your ears?” said Cap tearing into the kitchen wearing boxers and a T-shirt and pulled off the whistle. “You look like you did in that foxhole one time all curled up waiting for our turn.” 

“Testing your reactions making sure you’re still up to it.” growled Tolly. 

“And?” 

“Bit slow down the stairs. I’ve seen you move quicker than that.” 

“I see the lid’s found its way off the teapot and is that the tea caddy?... You making tea?” 

Tolly raised his eyebrows and stared at Cap. “Are you going to apologise?” he mumbled. 

“I’m sorry. Is that what you want to hear?” 

“Do you know what for?” 

“Not asking your opinion about Dexter.” 

“Very good… I’ll make tea,” and he spooned in three teaspoons of leaves and poured in the water. “Tell me why and I’ll make toast.” 

“I’ve my reasons and just for now I’d sooner keep them to myself. If you don’t mind, of course.” 

“Why give him a third?” 

“Then there’d be no arguments, would there?” 

“Well, that didn’t work, did it?” 

“Are we arguing?” 

“You know we are. It’s how we do it.” 

“Okay. I’m really sorry and I mean it… You know I meant no arguments from Dexter about the split, don’t you? It could be important.” 

“Why?” 

“Now, that falls well within the keep it to myself bit… The whistling kind of indicated you were cross. Still feel that way?” 

“Not so much… What do you want on your toast?” 

“Marmalade. The chunky one please and two bits.” 

“He told me her name was not Dee Dubonnet.” 

“I would hope not. Dubonnet’s just so tacky.” 

“She said it was Donovan. Isn’t that… “ 

“It is… now, like I said all in good time and that’s not at the moment. If you can handle it, trust me on this please.”  

Tolly looked hard into Cap’s eyes, held the stare for the briefest of moments but that was enough. This was one man he had definitely good reason to trust. He had kept him alive for the best part of five years. “Two slices is good for me as well and the thick cut stuff and loads of butter. Both of us, eh Cap? mates to the end… Did I ever tell you I love you?” 

“Loads of times, especially when the shells were falling. Then it was full of sarcasm.” 

“And now?” 

“All I’ll say is you do like a touch of sarcasm in your life, don’t you?” and laughed knowing this particular iceberg had been broken.  

 

Jimmy had left the Bay View before the first clacker had finished paying Gloria and drove straight to Bexhill. Parked in the station car park where he could watch the station exit. He only had to wait ten minutes before the Bentley brothers appeared. Hearing the toot of Jimmy’s horn they sauntered across the car park as Jimmy got out of his van. 

“What’s the story then, Jimmy?” said the tallest. 

“We were going to warn off a fella. You know, the usual couple of stiff reminders of how things are and how they’re gonna be from now on. But… now I’ve a different plan. I’m giving him a proposal. He could get a bit… boisterous, so your job is to make sure he behaves himself. Here’s his address. He’ll probably leave with a girl. Follow him and we’ll all meet up hopefully around here. And no rough stuff unless I say. You understand that?” and Jimmy stared into a pair of very disappointed eyes. 

“What, not even a small slap?” 

“No slap unless I say. If you slap him there’s no fifty quid. Get him to me safely and there’s an extra tenner each in compensation and I’ll buy lunch.” 

“Fair do’s,” he said, looked at his brother who just shrugged and they both strolled off in the direction of Dexter’s lodgings. 

 

Dexter glanced behind as the fella caught up. He slowly moved towards the taller man. Then stopped. Took a step to the side until he had them both in his sights. Swept his gaze up and down both. Both tough, no doubt about that. Both with that no nonsense sort of face. One with a bashed in nose. The smaller one hanging back a fraction. The taller one on the front foot. There was always a dominant one. Take him out first. Same as the fellas at the pub. He picked the taller one. Guessed the man would hit low so set up with a high guard ready to drop it down. The first shot: make it count. He opened his hand. Palm to the nose would do. Bust that and he would stall for sure. The other: two steps behind the game. Slam a shin shot then take out his throat.  

But before anything happened Jimmy said, “No need for that, Dexter. My two Bobs will take more than you’re thinking of to see them off, eh fellas?” The grins were near toothless and doubt slipped into Dexter’s mind. 

He let the tension slide, “What do you want, Jimmy?” 

“A chat is all. Around the corner out of sight.” He saw Dexter tense again, and said, “Don’t worry. The Bobs will stay here. Just you and me. They’re just a demonstration of what could be, that’s all. Cooperate and there’s no need for them to get all riled up.”  

Without waiting for a reply Jimmy walked around the corner of the car park to lean up against the wall maybe fifty feet away from the road. 

Dexter followed and stood back a few feet, “Let’s have it then, Jimmy,” he said. 

Jimmy pulled out a pack of Capstan full strength, flicked the lid, drew a couple up a bit and offered the pack to Dexter. 

“No thanks,” Dexter said.  

Jimmy tugged one out, pushed the rest back, lit it and drew in real deep. Blew the smoke kind of out of the side of his mouth keeping it away from Dexter. With the cigarette stuck on his bottom lip, he said, “I’ve a proposition for you. One that will sort out all of your problems.” 

“And what do you know about my problems?” 

“Everything, of course. That boarding house, Gloria Dubonnet, she’s one of my best customers. An outlet for a very lucrative trade and I want to keep it that way and you can help.” 

“How’s that?” replied Dexter moving closer to Jimmy. 

“Not too close, Dexter old boy. Remember my Bobs… Right, the first thing. You and Dee are creating a situation that affects my trade. Dee and her mother… Well, you can guess, can’t you? and the worst of it is that Dee looks like she could be getting the upper hand and that would definitely be bad for trade.” 

“So, why should I care about that?” 

“Because if you want to run off with the little sweetness, you’ll need to have her mother’s cooperation otherwise there will be all kinds of nasty retribution. But you already know that, don’t you. If Dee leaves with you without the cash, you stole, you’ll struggle. But you already know that as well.” 

“We’ll manage.” 

“Sure, you will but there’s a way that’ll make it easy. Easy for both of us. I’ll be able to control Gloria and you’ll get Dee with no strings and a good income.” 

“Go on,” said Dexter, feigning some interest.  

“Give me the beezer full of cash.” 

“What about Gloria?” 

“She would never need to know. You could just say the person who’s got it decided not to give it to you after all. The hotel across the street from the Bay View, The Paradise, is for sale. I’ll buy it with the cash and persuade Gloria to let Dee run it. You would join her. Both of you would make a very nice income. I’ll even give both of you a share… What do you think?” 

Dexter thought, This all sounds very neat. Jimmy Raynott, why would I trust him? This is all about him getting another outlet for his thievery. But he said, “Why should I trust you?” 

“You don’t need to,” replied Jimmy. “Once the place is bought and you’re both working there how it’s run will be up to you. My return is from my merchandise and that would be the only condition. Oh, and I’ll get a share of the profits, of course, and that will be your guarantee. If it don’t make money, I don’t earn money so I’ll be doing all I can to help you.” 

Dexter pretended to think for a couple of moments, “The money,” he eventually said, “How can we be sure you’ll buy the hotel with it and not just do a runner?” 

“A good question. All you gotta do is show it to me. Open up the case and let me see it. Then hand it over when the hotel deal is finalised. Is that good enough? I know you won’t leg it with the cash, Dee won’t let you, she's too worried about Derek if Gloria is not pacified.” 

“That sounds fair enough. Okay, so, you said about a share. How much?” 

“Ten percent each.” 

“Not worth it. I’d sooner take my chances in the big wide world. Twenty-five each would do it.” 

“Can’t be done, Dexter old boy. That would make us equal. Twenty each.” 

“Let’s make it down the middle. Twenty-two and a half each. That’ll still give you overall control. Anything less won’t work for me.” 

“You’re a tough fella to deal with, aren’t you... Okay that’s a deal.” 

“You understand I’ll have to run it by Dee though,” said Dexter. 

“Of course. Tell you what, I’ll make enquiries about the hotel then we can have another chat on… When will you get the cash?” 

“Wednesday,” he lied. 

“Okay, on Wednesday. That’s good, it’ll give you time to speak to Dee as well. It should not be too hard to convince her. Right, now I don’t have to let my two Bobs off the leash, I'll take them to the pub for a few beers. They were so looking forward to a bit of exercise. Oh well, there’s always another time… You had best bear that in mind in case you start to have second thoughts… See you Wednesday.” Jimmy patted Dexter on the back and he heard him say something to the Bobs as he went around the corner.