Кен Бруен - A Fifth of Bruen - Early Fiction of Ken Bruen

“Nothing, Danny... jez... honest... when you throw the switches, be sure you’re well away... eh?”

Danny considered a moment then decided to ride a major bluff.

“Frank, I hope you’re not contemplating playing both sides of the street. There’s plenty of motivation in that envelope to keep stump, but I noticed you never mentioned Richie. No, no, don’t start now. Let me give you a word to the wise. If I can do that to my best mate, think of what I might have in mind for a blabber-mouth. You catch my drift?”

Danny stood up and said,

“See yah, scouser.”

Frank said nothing at all.

The next week, Danny increased his exercises, checked and re-checked the merchandise, and psyched himself for the next event.

Twice he left messages on Nora’s machine, saying he’d get back to her. Then a letter arrived from her. He didn’t read it for two days, nor did he read anything else except from “The Hound of Heaven” by Frank Thompson.

And aloud,

Nora’s letter:

Danny boy ,

I don’t know what to make of you. You live behind a wall. I dunno is it grief or rage? Yet you gave me Mother’s locket. So I think you care for me. I really care for you. Am I being brazen in writing to you?

Ary, I don’t care. I want to go home to Ireland. I’m not able for this heathen place any more. I have an interview in Dublin on the 25th of May for a big hospital there. I’d say I’d get it. I’m going to make a bit of a holiday of it and not come back till the 28th of June. That’s my birthday .

I’ll put a Dublin phone number at the end where I’ll be. Here’s the big bit... will you come over and we could hire a car and go to the West. It would be lovely. I’ll leave it to you. Take the chance. The pipes are calling now .

Warmest love ,

God mind you well ,

He put the letter down, then checked again. Yea’, she’d put the phone number down. The radio had been playing, but only now did he let it filter through.

Nanci Griffith was singing, “Speed of The Sound of Loneliness.”

For the first time he allowed himself to hear a new song. It touched him. When a pilgrim had traveled halfway cross the world to ask a wise man for the answer, he’d simply said,

“It changes.”

Danny stretched and said,

“You got that right, fella.”

Brandon. May 1st.

Danny had gone to the Edgware Road and in the Lebanese shops, he’d bought them a myriad of delicacies, sweetmeats, and candies. He’d have them gift-wrapped. Now he’d piled them into the sports bag. The explosives he’d also gift-wrapped, marking them by a red ribbon. They lay to the side of the bag. Next, he took wads of large, demonstrational notes and dispersed them through the packages.

“Keep it simple,” he whispered.

Out came the leather coat, he put in the control console and felt the switch,

   One

Two

   Three

      Four...

The fifth explosive he left at the flat.

He walked to the estate, took a deep breath, and turned in. No one was around as he entered. Then a shadow behind him, he turned to see a large white man, mid 30’s, with a blond crew cut. Dressed in a plum track suit he looked like he was rarely away from lifting iron.

“Got business here?”

“I’m looking for Yusif, I’m a friend of Richie’s.”

“Let’s see the bag.”

Danny handed it over.

“What’s this?”

“Lebanese delicacies and a down payment on some business.”

“Richie... the black guy who’s chop suey?”

“That’s right.”

The man handed the bag back.

“Wait here, don’t go wandrin’ off,” and he gave a tight smile, “it is not safe.”

Danny felt rivers of perspiration roll down his sides. The man returned.

“I’m Charley, follow me.”

There were five doors on the floor. All were shabby and looked like they’d been hit with everything from boots to heads.

Danny had thought for one frozen moment about Katie. The only person who’d ever made him feel he was more than he was. Not that he’d wanted to be more, but it was a good feeling then.

“What in the world am I doing standing in a grimy hall with a bag of chocolate and explosives, trying to meet a reptile?”

He banished the thought and followed Charley.

The flat was like a set from the Arabian Nights, as conceived by Channel Four. Huge silk draperies lined the walls. There were no chairs, just large cushions and low divans. Four men were playing cards at a small table, they looked like what Richie met. Even sitting down, they looked like what Richie would have called, ‘hard cases.’ All gave Danny ‘the look.’

A fifth man was stretched on a divan. No more than 5’6”, he had sallow skin, jet black hair and protruding eyes. Like a vicious Marty Feldman. He was missing his right hand, and an empty sleeve hung by his side. He summoned Danny with his left.

“You knew Richard?”

His voice was low and cultured. Only a very faint accent was detectable.

“We were partners, but he got greedy, and alas... his ‘retirement’ has left me without a supplier.”

“You bring gifts?”

Danny took out a pile of parcels, two red-ribboned among them.

“Perhaps, you’d be kind enough to open one or two, I am indisposed.”

Danny opened three and each one he passed over.

Yusif smiled.

“You are familiar with my people?”

“Naw, just the Edgware Road.”

“But resourceful, I like that, my friend. You planned ahead. This bodes well for any... joint venture. All these gifts... solely for me.”

“Well, I thought I’d leave one at each of the other flats, as an introduction. To let your people know you have a new customer.”

“You took a grave risk, my friend, it’s a dangerous thing you’ve done.”

“I’m a dangerous man.”

Yusif gave him a long look then laughed.

“I believe you may be right... yes... what is it you wish to purchase?”

“As much dope as I can safely carry.” Yusif held up his left hand.

“Wrong... you are in error my friend, I deal in dreams. I merely supply ‘merchandise’ to fuel the dreamers. Purely a service.”

The men laughed. Danny felt his patience ebbing. He wanted to say, ‘yer slimy little fuck.’ He wasn’t sure how long he could control his temper, so he took out a pile of notes.

“I brought this as a down payment... to demonstrate my sincerity and intent.”

Yusif didn’t take the money, but let it lie on the floor. “My friend, we’ll have to check you out. Come back in one week and I’ll let you know what I can supply... and the price. Take your money, it’s a pittance.”

Danny did so, and couldn’t resist a shot.

“Don’t touch the old cash yourself, eh... don’t blame you, really, seeing’s how you fared the last time you’d yer hand in the till.”

Yusif’s face froze as he did all activity in the room. Then he lifted his left hand and clicked his fingers.

Before Danny could react, two of the men grabbed him and pinned him to the floor.

Yusif said,

“I feel we’ll be able to do business, but you’ll have to learn some respect. My own ‘infirmity’ is a daily reminder to me. I’m going to share a little of that knowledge with you. In the hills of Lebanon, we learnt a refinement of what terrorists call ‘knee-capping.’ Nothing so permanent. Indeed, our way is quite artistic. We shatter the cartilage, but not the kneecap. You won’t be crippled, but you’ll be in a great deal of pain... but mobile. You’ll be able to... what’s the English word? Hobble... yes... out of here.”