Alex Gray - Sleep like the dead

Shifting from one foot to the other, the boy eyed him suspiciously.

'That your boat out there?' Brogan pointed to a large craft bobbing at anchor. `Si,' the boy answered sullenly.

'No custom today?'

The boy shook his head and nodded towards the sea. 'Too much waves. No go out today.'

'How about tomorrow?' Brogan persisted.

'No tomorrow Maybe day after,' the boy shrugged. 'You wanna book a ticket?'

Brogan grinned and sidled up to the boy. 'Maybe I want to take a private trip,' he said, slipping one hand into his pocket. 'Just me and the captain,' he continued, watching as the boy's eyes fell greedily on the bundle of folded notes he had produced. 'How about it? Where can I speak to your boss?' he whispered, lowering his sunglasses in a way that made the boy look at him more closely.

Marianne handed over the application form to the librarian, watching to see her reaction when she read the name on the piece of paper. It came, just as she had thought it would, a surprised lift of the eyebrows and a swift once-over of the red-haired woman standing on the other side of the desk. Marianne waited, unsmiling, for the card to be printed out and re-issued. If anyone were to question her…? But it was only minutes before the girl returned and handed back her renewed library card, staring at Marianne with blatant curiosity. Dropping her gaze, Marianne saw that the librarian's hands were carefully manicured, pale pink shiny polish on_perfect ovals, all the better to display the two rings, one gold, the other a single diamond that sparkled under the artificial light.

'Thanks,' Marianne mumbled, then, deliberately avoiding the girl's curious stare and pushing the card into the depths of her shoulder bag, she turned on her heel to head for the barrier that would take her into the heart of Glasgow University's library Well, she thought, letting out a sigh of relief, that was that, then. A new name and a new term ahead. Between Billy's young friend in registry and this latest twist to her life, Marianne could breathe more easily knowing that the secrets of her identity were safe.

There were more than five weeks now until the start of the session but this time she was determined to be ahead of the game. Plenty of time for all the required texts on this year's reading list. A little smile played about her mouth. She was one of the fortunate students who did not need to work at part-time bar jobs in order to fund their courses. Marianne sighed. Another couple of years, or more if she were lucky enough to make honours, then the world of work could beckon once more. A new beginning somewhere else, the States, perhaps, where a degree in psychology might be the necessary passport to a job of some kind.

Glancing behind her at the librarian who was now busy with another student, Marianne's face took on a wistful expression. She hadn't appreciated how much fun she'd had all those years ago having colleagues to gossip with, girls' nights out. The girl back there at the desk looked as though she had it all: a steady job, decent salary, nice place to work, a husband and maybe even kids… Well, times had changed and she had changed with them.

Be careful what you wish for, she told herself. It might just come true.

Brogan. B-R-O-G-A-N. That's it. Billy Brogan. How did I get your number? Well that's for me to know and you to find out, pal.' He looked back at the notebook in his hand with its list of names and telephone numbers. 'Right now I want to find our friend, okay?'

The hit man waited, listening to a rumble of voices in the background, straining to make out what language was being spoken. It was more than a minute before the man he had called made any reply. Then it was to apologise. He was busy, had a business to run.

Not convenient to talk right now.

'So when would it be convenient, mate? I think we might have something to discuss about Billy Boy,' the hit man said slowly, his voice full of steel.

'I'll call you back,' the man replied.

'No,' he said. 'That's not possible. Arrange to meet up now Give me a time and a place and I'll be there.'

There was more hesitation and a spluttering of excuses but eventually a rendezvous was suggested.

'Okay by me. Today suit you?'

Again there was some humming and hawing, until a time was fixed for the following day. 'I have meetings, many meetings. I am a very busy man, you know,' the voice on the line insisted. 'I will send someone to meet you.'

The hit man listened, hearing just a hint of anxiety, understanding that the very mention of Brogan's name held a lot of significance for the man who was listed in Brogan's notebook simply as Dhesi.

Glasgow in late August was better than he had expected. The weather was clear and sunny, the summer heat intensifying just as the school term had ushered the population of Scottish schoolchildren back indoors for a new session. The hit man grinned as he sat on a bench in the middle of the city watching the lanes of traffic circulate around George Square. It was not unpleasant sitting here watching the world go by but he did not expect to be in Glasgow for much longer. He glanced at his wristwatch. Soon he would be joined by another man, someone who could help him to recover the money he was owed; someone who had an interest, like himself, in finding Billy Brogan.

The chosen rendezvous had been easy to find and he had arrived early, wandering around the square for a while, admiring the City Chambers, a pale grey building that dominated one entire side of the square. It was impressive by anyone's standards, even someone like himself who knew nothing about architecture, its towers leading the eye upward. A pair of stone carved lions flanked the white cenotaph, a few yards from the building, reminding him of lives lost in a duty to Queen and country that he himself had once followed.

The hit man watched as a large black Daimler glided to a halt right outside the entrance to the City Chambers. From a professional point of view the security was spot on. Darkened windows hid the passenger from view and he caught only a brief glimpse of a woman's figure as she alighted from the big car and entered the main door with some lackeys in tow. He cocked his head to one side. Now, if he had been positioned up on that rooftop, belly down, rifle in his grasp, that would have been an entirely different matter. `Mr Smith?' A voice behind him broke the reverie, making the hit man stand up immediately.

'Aye, maybe,' he replied evasively. 'Who wants to know?'

A dark-skinned man who may have been Indian or Pakistani stood smiling at him then gave a small bow, one hand across his corpulent stomach. 'I come to you as an intermediary, Mr Smith.

I believe that was understood by our mutual friend?'

The hit man sniffed and threw the man a sideways glance. `So what are we waiting for?' he asked. 'I take it he's ready to begin discussions?'

'Oh, yes, sir. If you'd like to follow me, we have a car parked just along the road,' the Asian motioned with one hand, willing the other man to accompany him.

'I suppose you've got a name, pal?'

In reply his companion tapped one side of his nose, an age-old gesture that signified that it was not wise to ask too many questions.

The hit man frowned suddenly. This man's voice sounded so like the one he had spoken to on the telephone yesterday. Was he actually Dhesi? And had it all been a bit of nonsense about sending someone else?

The hit man walked just a little behind the stranger, cautious in case he had to make a sudden run for it. He touched his pocket, feeling the gun's reassuring hardness. But it wasn't something he could make use of here, in the city centre, if things suddenly went wrong.

The Mercedes was parked outside a large pub just past the square. As he was ushered into the back seat, the hit man glanced at the driver, a middle-aged white man with rolls of fat coming over his collar, clearly sweating under his smart black uniform.