Peter Corris - The Reward

Come on, Peg, I said. A name and a few details and itll be done.

Its not that easy.

Maybe not, but you havent got much option. Fact is, Ive got bigger fish to fry. This looks like a nice establishment. Youre doing well, providing an essential service. All fine by me and my colleague. Why put it at risk?

She chewed at her lip and the colour spread on her teeth, threatening to make her look clownish. I got out a tissue and handed it to her. Youre messing yourself up.

She stood and looked at herself in the mirror above the TV set. Jesus, she said. Youre turning me into a hag. She made repairs and straightened herself up. She threw out her chest and this time she was working at it. Look, whatever your name is, as you say, this is a classy place. Ive got some very talented women here. Is there some other way we can work it out?

I shook my head. I cant quite see what your problem is, Peg. But, no. No chance of anything like that.

Didnt think so. A tough bastard, like Johnno. Whats your name again?

Cliff Hardy.

She sighed and held out her glass to me. She was still working. The long, slender, tanned arm came out like an invitation. Normally, I dont drink till six, Cliff.

Me too. Normally. I made her another drink and topped up mine.

The problem is Colin, she said.

It felt like the right moment. I got the mobile from my jacket pocket and punched in the numbers. I switched it to Broadcast so Peg could hear the exchange.

This is Bob.

Cliff, Bob. Has Max talked to Sligo?

Happening now. He had a good first nine but I dont think hes going to putt so well on the back nine. See, Im picking up the language.

Have we got the name?

Yeah, Bob said. Its who you thought. Colin says Johnno got all the cream. He says Pegs a great root but not very bright. Hes still talking.

That fucking bastard! Peg threw her glass at the TV set. It bounced off and broke. He got just as much from Beckett as Johnno, maybe more.

Thanks, Bob. I cut the connection. Thatd be Sean Beckett?

Yeah, of course.

How would Sligo get more out of him?

He claimed to know who the kidnappers were, even though he didnt have a fucking clue.

The door opened and Amanda, looking agitated, took a tentative step into the room.

Its all right, Mandy, Peg said. I just lost my block for a minute. Nothing to worry about.

Amanda barely looked at the broken glass on the floor. Its not that, Peggy. Theres a woman here insisting on seeing you. I really dont know how to cope with this sort of…

The door swung wide and another woman came into the room. Unlike the other two, there was nothing sexually alluring about her. She wore jeans, boots and a sweater. No make-up. Her hair was short and straight, her eyes were big and her mouth was small.

Hullo, Andrea, I said. I ushered Amanda out quickly and shut the door.

Who the fucks this? Andrea Craig said.

I held up the mobile phone. You left a very unhappy woman behind you. Want me to give Eve a ring and tell her youre OK?

Andrea looked at Peg as if she wanted to do her serious harm. What have you been doing, you dumb bitch? Whats going wrong?

Peg shrugged, went to the bar and made herself another drink. Colins spilled the beans.

Colin? I dont believe it.

Peg had a drink, then poured in more vodka. Ask him. He seems to know everything about everybody.

Thats right, you slut. Get pissed and slide out of it. I suppose youre fucking this hard case?

I bet hed rather fuck me than you. You look like shit. At least when you were rooting Johnno you looked like a woman.

All you know about being a woman is how to open your legs.

Thats enough! I said. I know you got a phone call and came running to see Peg. I want to know why and who tipped you off.

Andrea pulled a packet of cigarettes and a lighter from her jeans pocket. Get fucked!

Peg took two steps towards her and knocked the cigarettes and lighter to the floor. The packet fell open and the cigarettes spilled out onto the wet carpet. Andrea yelped.

Nobody smokes in here, Peg said. Not you, not Colin, not the fucking Bishop of Brisbane. Youd better talk to this bloke. Hes got Colin by the balls somehow and the whole things turning to shit. Ill tell you this, Hardy. This bitch put the screws on Johnno. She claimed to have something that proved hed done some big favour for Sean Beckett.

You bet I have, Andrea said.

I said, What?

Andrea looked weary. The adrenalin that had carried her from Sydney to the Gold Coast was fading and she looked ready to drop her bundle. Why should I tell you? she muttered. You wouldnt know shit about it.

I know there was a ransom note that got suppressed.

She stared at me, fumbled for her cigarettes, remembered and twitched visibly. Yeah, well Ive got that fucking note. I need a smoke.

You can smoke all you like in a couple of minutes. Two more questions. Why did you call Peggy and visit here so much? Its clear you cant stand each other.

Ill answer that, Peg said. It was Johnnos doing. He stashed away a hell of a lot of money in an account up here. A lawyer makes periodical withdrawals and deposits it in another account. We can only draw on it jointly with both signatures,

I dont get it, I said. Why?

Because he was a sadistic bastard. This was his way of punishing both of us. Her for blackmailing him, me because I wouldnt give him the show he wanted.

Shut up, Andrea spat.

Fuck you! He might as well know it all. When he ran out of poke on account of booze and diabetes, Johnno liked to watch two women perform. It wouldve given him the thrill of a lifetime to see his wife and his mistress sucking each other. This dyke slut was more than willing but I wasnt.

Itd be a dry twat now, Andrea said. Probably got a few stitches in it to draw it closed.

This is unedifying, I said. Whats the lawyers name?

I thought you knew everything, Peg said. Looks like you dont.

Cavendish, I said. Wallace Cavendish.

Jesus, Andrea said. How the fuck did all this get out in the open? I thought it was sealed up tight. Johnno couldnt have been as fucking smart as he thought he was.

I had a sense that the women, despite their loathing for each other, might suddenly team up and put me out of the game. I was trying to think fast enough to ask the right questions while I still had them, but there were a lot of pieces to put together. Andrea moved to the bar, pulled out an ice-cube tray, twisted it and let three cubes drop in a glass. The rest fell on the floor. She poured a couple of fingers of Teachers into the glass and took a drink. She bent down and picked up a couple of cigarettes and examined them for useability.

Just then the mobile rang. I answered and forgot that I still had it on Broadcast.

Cliff, Bob announced for all to hear. I hope it worked because we cant hang around here much longer. Sligo never showed up. He called in sick. What

Peg Hawkins swore and came at me with her fingernails hooked like talons. But shed taken in too much vodka, too early in the day, too quickly. She slashed but missed, lost balance and fell heavily. Andrea laughed and kicked her in the ribs with a heavy boot.

Whos dumb now, bitch? she said. He fucking fooled you, didnt he? I knew Colind never spill his guts. She landed another kick. Peg rolled away, right into the broken glass. A long shard bit into her upper arm and the blood ran, staining the white dress. Andrea laughed again and headed for the door.

I missed a beat, still holding the squawking mobile, looking at the hard-shelled, elegant woman reduced to a weeping wreck on the soggy carpet. I cut the connection and moved out into the passage. Amanda tried to block Andreas way but the ex-policewoman had too many moves for her and Amanda ended up on the floor. But Andrea had to press a bell to open the door and that gave me time to catch her. I went through the door with a strong grip on her arm as a counter to her attempt to twist me sideways and get a well applied boot to my shins.