Nish returned from the ticket office to where the cars where parked under the shadow cast by the P&O North Sea ferry: Pride of Hull. Radic was busy getting changed into the clothes that had been provided for him. Nish handed Alex the ticket and passport. ‘You’re really going to let him go?’
‘We did have a deal.’
‘No chance you could fire me like last time.’
‘Tempting, but not on this one Nish. Sorry.’
Nish sighed. ‘Worth asking.’
‘I have a feeling he still has his part to play in this. He may live for now Nish, but his punishment will come when he no longer serves a purpose.’
‘I waited this long. I guess I can wait a little longer.’
Alex walked over to Radic. ‘As agreed.’ Alex handed him the ticket and passport.
‘And what about money? You promise Radic money.’
‘Nish. Pay Mister Radic for his services would you?’
Nish smiled. ‘It would be my pleasure.’ Nish removed a black holdall from the trunk of his S8 and walked over with it. He unzipped it to reveal the contents and dropped it at Radic’s feet. Radic put his hand down and pulled out a bundle of Euro notes.
‘Wait. This is Radic’s money! You try fuck me?’ He looked annoyed.
‘One good fuck deserves another Radic. Don’t spend it all at once.’ Nish winked.
‘You fucking prick Scottish! If Radic see you again he slit your throat from ear to ear. Where Radic going anyhow?’ Alex gestured at the waiting boat. ‘You fucking joke to Radic. You might as well deliver to Smythe house with bow on neck.’
‘Our agreement was that we wouldn’t come after you. We’re all banished from that kingdom. As long as you stay on the island, you have nothing to fear from us,’ Alex replied.
‘And Smythe? What about Smythe? You think Radic safe there from him?’
‘That’s Radic’s problem,’ Nish said with a wink.
‘Fuck you! Scottish!’
‘You’ve got thirty minutes to board. Foot passenger terminal is over there.’
‘Wait! You not even give Radic car? Shit. At least give Audi. You got three. You spare one to Radic so he not walk in like fucking refugee peasant.’
‘Well that’s what you are now Radic, get used to it,’ Nish said rubbing the salts of reality into Radic’s wounded ego.
‘I suggest you take up a more low profile line of work. Then you’ll avoid coming to the attention of our friends in The Red Castle, or Smythe. Good luck in your endeavours,’ Alex said returning towards his car.
‘You guys are fucking bandits.’
‘Our deal is concluded. Goodbye Mister Radic. We won’t meet again.’ Alex looked at Nish. ‘Make sure he gets on that boat.’
‘My pleasure. Come on Radic, pick up your bag of funny money.’ Radic reluctantly zipped up the bag and picked it up. Nish and two of his men escorted him to the foot passenger terminal of the embarkation lounge. Alex returned to his car. He picked up the front car phone handset and punched in a number. The phone rang for a while before answering. ‘I missed that voice.’ Alex smiled.
‘It missed you. Where are you?’ Zara replied.
‘Just throwing some trash into the sea.’
‘How did it go? I see on the news a certain war criminal’s Serbian friends made a daring swoop to release him. You heard about that?’
‘I heard it was successful. Who knows where he’ll turn up next. Be home from that business trip soon. I’ve bought you something as a souvenir.’
‘Anything nice?’
‘I guess it will be a surprise, won’t it?’
‘Any problems on your business trip?’
‘One or two. We’ll talk about it over dinner.’
‘You’ll be home tonight?’
‘I will.’
‘I better start cooking then.’
‘You’re going to cook? Are you sure? Didn’t end well last time.’
‘I took classes.’
‘I’ll see you soon. Kiss you.’
‘Kiss you too.’
Alex put the phone down. Nish returned some thirty minutes later and got in the front of the car. They watched as the port crew cast off the lines from the large ferry.
‘Zara’s cooking dinner.’
‘We just escaped one burning building, let’s hope we don’t walk right into another.’
Alex smiled. ‘I almost feel sorry for Radic. Nothing but what he’s stood up in and a bag full of bent Euros. Quite the fall from grace.’
‘I’m sure he’ll get over it. He’s like a cockroach. They seem to thrive in shit. Do you think Smythe will get him?’
‘Who knows. We’ve covered our tracks as best we can. No doubt the Dutch police will report the explosion of a cache of weapons at Rotterdam docks. Smythe’s connections will put the pieces together and assume Radic fucked us. Buy us a little time at least.’
‘Why didn’t you finish him?’ Nish asked.
‘You know why.’ They watched as the boat pulled out of her berth before making her way down the channel towards the North Sea. Alex’s men returned to the car. He lowered the window. ‘We sure he’s gone?’ They nodded and got back in the second car.
‘Probably drowning his sorrows in the bar,’ Nish said.
Alex checked his watch. Jet’s en-route to Schiphol. You want to pop in and see your Latvian twins before we fly?’
‘No. I’m saving them for when we’re done. Besides, after today I don’t have the fucking energy. Wake me up when we get to the airport.’ Nish reclined the seat a little and settled into a nap. Alex put the car in gear drove around the car park to the exit then led the convoy out onto the AutoRoute in the direction of Amsterdam.