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THERE WAS ABSOLUTE silence while the group processed this. It was broken by a whimper from Rosa, who said, ‘The moron thinks it’s a ransom demand.’ She sounded hysterical as she took another swig of her drink. Dorothy watched her for a moment to make sure she was not going to start freaking out and then pressed play again. They read the latest sign in growing horror:
Da persuaded Frankie to give him another chance. He’s expecting a delivery of four hundred kilos of coke this week. It’s on board a container ship called The Smoke That Thunders, which is due to dock in Drogheda. If all goes well, good relations will be re-established between us and Frankie, which is what my da wants since Frankie controls the supply of coke from the European mainland. Happy days for the Radley gang!
‘I’m a tad confused,’ Emily whispered. ‘What the hell is going on?’
Trenton disappeared from the screen to be replaced by Janie and Niall.
‘Please explain to the viewers the significance of the reference to Frankie Prince,’ Janie looked at the Irish man earnestly. Niall grinned like a cat who had just spotted a particularly tasty dollop of peanut butter, and licked his lips.
A photograph appeared on the screen behind him. It showed a middle-aged woman with jet black hair wearing a cobalt blue suit and carrying an expensive leather briefcase. She had a mobile phone pressed to her ear and was in the process of climbing into the back of a Rolls Royce while a uniformed chauffeur held the door open for her.
‘Frankie Prince,’ Niall said mockingly, ‘is a highly regarded businesswoman who owns a string of top class hotels. She has business dealings across the European continent and is known to be on friendly terms with pop stars and royalty. Her nickname is Highness.’
‘What’s the significance of Trenton Radley alluding to her in this fashion?’ Janie was wide-eyed. ‘Surely he must realise the seriousness of his accusations?’
‘I don’t understand why Trenton is levelling these accusations against Frankie Prince.’ Niall’s eyes glinted with malice. ‘It’s an appalling situation for a respectable businesswoman to find herself in. I expect her team of lawyers have been working overtime since the wee hours to remedy the situation.’
‘Do you think she’ll sue the Radleys for defamation?’ Janie enquired breathlessly.
There was an imperceptible pause before Niall replied with, ‘If Ms Prince is innocent of these accusations, I’m sure she’ll instruct her legal team to take whatever action they consider necessary to stop this attack on her character.’
‘Do you think she’s innocent of the accusations?’ Janie looked shaken.
‘I couldn’t possibly comment,’ Niall smirked slyly. ‘Although it will be interesting to see how the Radley gang fares over the next seventy-two hours. If they’ve any sense, they’ll remove their wives and children to secure locations and out of the line of fire. At least until the dust settles on this.’
‘You believe the Radley gang are in danger?’ Janie seemed surprised to hear this.
Niall’s mouth curled in contempt as he regarded the anchor woman. ‘Gangland is a dangerous place to live and work,’ he said bitingly. ‘You’ve heard the expression: Live by the sword, die by the sword. Boo’s own son has accused one of the most powerful women in Europe of being a drugs baron. There will be consequences.’
‘What do you think those consequences will be?’ the presenter looked scared.
‘In my humble opinion,’ Niall gave all the appearance of a man who had not experienced a moment of humility in twenty years, ‘a bloodbath is about to be unleashed on Dublin town, and I don’t envy anyone caught in the crossfire.’
‘Gosh. Is that where you’re heading now?’ Janie swallowed hard.
‘Oh no,’ Niall smiled like a feline again. ‘I’m off to Spain to do a feature on Frankie Prince. She’s of real interest to my editor, and he wants to devote a whole week to her. I’m looking forward to sinking my teeth into the story.’
‘Do you have some inside knowledge you haven’t shared with us?’ Janie sounded accusing.
‘I have to protect my sources,’ Niall smiled smugly. ‘I believe this story is set to run for a while, and Trenton’s rather bizarre broadcast is merely the beginning. Perhaps we should show the viewers the final chapter in this one-man show.’
Janie had no fault to find with this and once again the two reporters disappeared to be replaced by Trenton in his tracksuit. This time he was holding an even larger sign displaying eight photographs of different men. Each picture was captioned with the name and address of the man in question. The final image was of Boo Radley himself, together with his full address and a photograph of his substantial home in Finglas. The camera moved in for a close-up on all eight faces. The screen flickered and Janie sat frowning at Niall.
‘It’s almost as if somebody wants terrible things to happen to the Radley gang,’ she sounded plaintive. ‘Somebody is playing a very dangerous game. Do you concur, Niall?’
‘I absolutely concur, Janie,’ he grinned at her happily. ‘Dublin is set to become an extremely volatile place to live. I have it on good authority the Irish police commissioner has already authorised a certain amount of overtime for the coming week.’
‘Is that unusual?’ she enquired politely.
‘Cutbacks, Janie, cutbacks,’ he replied, as if this three- word explanation should suffice.
‘Trenton disappeared a week ago,’ the anchor woman frowned. ‘Why do you think it’s taken this long for something to happen? Do you think a particular event triggered this website?’
‘That’s exactly what I think,’ Niall smiled the first genuine smile of the interview. ‘I believe Trenton was initially kidnapped as a means of controlling his father. He is clearly unharmed, so it may well be the kidnappers intended to release him in due course, providing his daddy toed the line. It is my belief Boo Radley committed an act during the past twenty-four hours which overset that initial intention. This website is retaliation for whatever that was. Whoever set this whole thing up is a ruthless man or woman, Janie, and I for one would not like to be at their mercy.’
‘I’d love to know what he did,’ Janie remarked thoughtfully then recollected she was live on air. She turned to the camera and smiled, displaying a beautiful set of veneers. ‘We have to take a break now, folks, but join us later as we interview the customs officers who searched The Smoke That Thunders this morning.’
Dorothy switched off the television and thoughtfully sipped her brandy. Horace took up his glass and downed half the contents. Then he addressed Rosa with, ‘How have things been with you during the past day or so, Rosa? Experienced any unusual activity in your life?’
In response, she slipped her lean form off the stool and gestured towards her glass. ‘I’d appreciate a top-up,’ she said to Josh. ‘I need to go for another lie down. I’m exhausted.’
Josh obliging filled her glass to the midway point and after one final resentful look at Horace, she picked it up and left the room like a woman with the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders.
‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ Horace declared cheerfully, and held out his glass for a refill. ‘Remind me never to cross Keith Munroe. The chap’s remorseless when he’s in a bad mood.’
‘What’s going to happen now?’ Simone addressed the question to Horace.
In his turn, he looked at his brother and said, ‘Perhaps Damerel is in a position to answer that question better than I.’
James shrugged nonchalantly as he casually buttered a scone. ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ he said and took a bite. ‘Compliments to the chef for the delicious scones,’ he spoke through a mouthful.
‘Mummy would have something to say about you talking with your mouth full,’ his brother frowned at him.
‘Horace!’ Emily sounded irritated. ‘Never mind his table manners. What’s going to happen now? My parents are going to get wind of this website any minute and start freaking out. What am I to tell them?’
His hazel eyes rested on her warmly and he smiled reassuringly as he said, ‘I suggest you tell them it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever have to testify in court against Carlos Baxa or his associates. Furthermore, anybody who has ever been a threat to Dorothy currently hovers on the brink of extermination. Planet Earth is set to become a considerably safer place for everybody in this kitchen, assuming you all take the necessary precautions while this Frankie Prince character goes about cleaning house. And to think I was reluctant to leave Shankill.’
‘Why do you sound as if you’re enjoying yourself?’ Diane addressed him directly.
‘I’m not a violent man, Twiglet,’ his voice was full of love, which made more than one person squirm uncomfortably, ‘but I’m pleased Keith took the decision he did. Boo Radley is one of those men who will only be stopped by a bullet. While he and his gang are alive, you, your brother, and your mother will always be in danger. That’s unacceptable. If it meant keeping you safe, I’d gladly undertake to pull the trigger myself.’
‘You would?’ Diane gawked at him in shock.
‘Of course,’ he smiled crookedly. ‘I’m prepared to kill any number of bad guys in order to keep you safe. I’ve officially run out of patience with these nasty chaps who don’t even see the benefit of teaching their children basic literacy. What sort of man hands his son a gun and sends him out to murder a defenceless woman?’
‘Not quite defenceless,’ Charlie muttered drily, while Diane and Emily exchanged flabbergasted looks at the notion of Horace on a killing spree.
‘I hope this doesn’t backfire on Dottie,’ Simone was chewing on her lower lip. ‘Frankie Prince might blame her for this development and decide to come calling.’
She glared at Jive accusingly, although the men continued to eat their scones as if they had not a care in the world. She transferred her gaze to Horace and said, ‘Do you think that’s likely? Do you think Dottie might be in danger? Out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak.’
‘A week’s worth of planning has gone into this,’ he smiled reassuringly. ‘Commander Maddox would not have allowed things to progress this far unless he had reason to believe Ms Prince would leave Dorothy well and truly alone.’ He stopped speaking and twirled his brandy glass in his rough hands, admiring the way the light caught the amber liquid.
‘Could you expand a little on that statement, Nellie?’ Diane asked levelly. ‘How would one go about keeping a woman like Frankie Prince at bay?’
Horace raised his head and to his surprise found all eyes resting on his face. ‘I thought it was obvious,’ he sounded shocked. ‘Presumably the woman has a family of her own.’
‘Five kids between the ages of fifteen and thirty,’ Deco was busy examining the screen of his phone, ‘and three grandchildren under the age of six.’
‘There you have it,’ Horace looked as if it should be obvious. ‘That’s the insurance policy. Very few women would risk the lives of eight loved ones in order to take revenge on one woman who has done them very little harm.’
Charlie drew in a sharp intake of breath and went slightly pale. ‘That’s all a bit drastic,’ she leaned closer to her partner for support.
‘But necessary,’ Horace informed her in kindly accents. ‘We live in a jolly dangerous world, Charlotte. I’m sure if Ms Prince toes the party line, the threat will never be acted upon, although...’ here he trailed off and seemed to be puzzling over something.
‘What is it?’ Diane asked him through tight lips. ‘Please tell me they haven’t overlooked something and Mum’s in danger after all.’
‘It’s the drugs,’ he frowned at her. ‘If it were me, I would have made sure those drugs were off the vessel before it docked in Drogheda and returned safely to the lady in question. As a gesture of good faith.’
Josh had been following the conversation with avid interest, meaning it was Deco who solved the riddle of the cocaine. He held up his phone and shook it at the assembled group. ‘The Smoke that Thunders was searched by customs at oh nine hundred hours. Not as much as a kilo of cannabis was found on board, never mind vast quantities of coke.’
‘Excellent,’ Horace sounded deeply satisfied. ‘In that case, I believe the team have thought of everything. I’m sure Frankie will be suitably grateful her merchandise was not impounded and decide not to bother any of you.’
‘How the hell would you do that?’ Emily muttered. ‘Remove four hundred kilos of coke from a boat in the middle of the ocean?’
Horace chuckled to himself and glanced around hoping to be offered more brandy. Diane grabbed the decanter and splashed some into his glass. ‘How did they do it?’ she asked him.
He raised his eyes to hers and asked, ‘What’s the answer worth to you, Twiglet?’
Emily gasped and tried to pretend she was reading her phone.
Diane’s green eyes bored into his with a hint of anger. ‘How about I agree not to tell Jack I saw you grabbing Mum’s ass?’ she asked spitefully.
Horace reeled back as if he had been shot. ‘I would never lay hands on your mother in such an inappropriate manner,’ he cried. ‘Commander Maddox knows full well you are the only woman in this house who interests me sexually.’
‘It’s a shame you don’t know him better,’ Diane’s eyes positively glinted with malice. ‘How do you think he’ll react when I tell him you suggested a threesome between you, me and Mum?’
All the colour drained from Nelson’s face and he looked to Dorothy for her reaction. Far from keeling over in shock, she dissolved into giggles.
‘Jack would never believe such a silly story,’ she told her poor beleaguered neighbour. ‘Although it would be funny to see the expression on his face if Diane started talking about threesomes.’ Watched in horror by Nelson, she sniggered happily, clearly vastly entertained.
‘I must admit I’d love to see it,’ Charlie said slowly. ‘Would he lash out first and ask questions later, or would he be all disciplined about it like James and carefully plot Nellie’s demise?’
‘Jack would never kill Horace,’ Dorothy stated flatly. ‘He knows how fond I am of him. As usual, you’re all overstating the case.’
‘I think the boss is right,’ Deco piped up. ‘Suggesting a threesome only warrants a few slaps. It’s not like the Hairy Bear actually touched her. Did he, Boss?’
‘Never,’ Dorothy smiled impishly. ‘We’re just good friends. An intercourse-free zone exists between Horace and me.’
‘Just as well, Dottie,’ Charlie remarked cheerfully. ‘There’s been enough bloodletting.’
‘Intercourse,’ Bunny unexpectedly spoke. ‘Is that like pudding?’
‘It’s when you bang a chick,’ James informed him calmly. ‘Don’t even think about trying it yourself or Father Christmas won’t be getting anywhere near this house. I’ll personally send a tomahawk missile to shoot him and his reindeer out of the sky.’
An appalled silence greeted this and all eyes turned to Bunny for his reaction. He processed James’s comments for a few moments before slowly nodding. ‘Roger that, Captain,’ he said quietly. ‘That’s a negative on the banging.’ Then he beamed at Horace and said, ‘Santy’s bringing me the coolest train for Christmas. It’s got a cow catcher on the front. Want to see a pic?’
‘Perhaps later,’ Horace patted the other man rather apologetically on the arm and then glared around the unit. ‘There is something seriously wrong with the lot of you,’ he said accusingly. Then he started muttering under his breath.
‘Is that Italian?’ Dorothy asked curiously.
‘He’s quoting from the Divine Comedy,’ Diane informed her. ‘He likes to choose the appropriate circle of hell for those who have annoyed him. I expect I’ve been banished to Malebolge for my sins.’ She sounded positively carefree, and Emily glanced at her uneasily.
‘Di, have you read the Divine Comedy?’ Simone sounded intrigued.
This simple question seemed to knock Nelson out of his bad mood in a way that nothing else could. ‘Of course, she’s read it,’ he replied hotly. ‘Why do you think her Italian is so good?’
‘We normally speak English in these parts,’ Simone replied apologetically. ‘We’ve had few chances to admire Di’s grasp of other languages.’
‘Twiglet speaks Italian like a native,’ he informed her coldly. ‘She has a natural flare for linguistics which few possess.’
‘It’s the only thing we have in common,’ once again Diane’s eyes glinted with unholy relish, as if she enjoyed witnessing the discomfiture of her former love.
Horace’s face fell when he realised this, and he looked like a man on the verge of tears. Fortunately, before the discussion could disintegrate even further, Emily’s phone rang and she moaned loudly.
‘Dad,’ she said curtly, then slid off the stool and almost ran from the kitchen. Glad of the reprieve from Horace and his emotions, Dorothy followed suit and began to clear the last few remaining dishes off the unit.
‘Jack’s on the way,’ she told the group at large. ‘Clear the room so he can have some food in peace. He must be ravenous after all his shenanigans.’
Jive knocked back the final remnants of tea and exited the kitchen without a word. Feeling guilty for wounding Horace, yet at the same time deeply satisfied, Diane announced she was going to check on Rosa, and fled the room before he could engage her in further conversation. In unspoken agreement, Josh and Deco disappeared off to the basement to discuss the latest developments. Simone and Charlie gathered up their daughter and scampered off to enjoy a private chat. Bunny was reluctant to leave without seeing Jack.
‘I want to talk to him about the bold boy who can’t read,’ he whined. ‘The fellow is a regular dumbass moron.’
Spotting the exasperated expression on Ralph’s face, Horace interceded. ‘Time for your chess lesson, Andrew old chap,’ he announced cheerfully.
Bunny instantly began to back away with a look that spoke volumes. ‘I have to help Daddy with the jobs,’ he squeaked, and took to his heels. Ralph shot Horace a grateful look and followed his son, leaving the kitchen virtually empty. Since Dorothy and Glenda were focused yet again on food preparation, Horace thought it best to make himself scarce. He strolled over to the office and poked his head around the door. Seeing his brother within, he inserted the rest of his body and rested his back against the door.
‘Thanks for not mentioning the fact I’m a bloody appalling shot, and scarcely know one end of a gun from the other,’ he said conversationally.
‘Your secret is safe with me,’ James replied coolly. ‘Horses for courses and all that. You’re good at talking to women, that’s a gift in itself.’
‘We could use a bit more of that around here,’ Clive nodded in agreement. ‘Maybe you should have a little chat with Rosa and see if you can cheer her up. I don’t understand why the chick’s so upset. She’s been in almost constant danger for the past week. You’d think she’d be grateful those Radley losers are about to get their comeuppance. The workings of the female mind are a mystery to me.’
Horace regarded the Welshman in wonder. ‘Are you really getting married?’
Clive chuckled and to Horace’s surprise James joined in. ‘He has the woman totally hoodwinked,’ he told his brother. ‘She thinks he’s a great guy who wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’s even started attending church with her.’
‘It gives me a bit of quiet time to think,’ Clive explained. ‘And I’m always rewarded with a roast dinner afterwards, and a spot of afternoon nookie should the mood take her.’
‘That sounds very pleasant,’ Horace nodded thoughtfully. ‘Do you think Keith’s suit will prosper as well as yours, or is the chap wasting his time?’
‘That’s anybody’s guess,’ Clive shrugged. ‘His situation is not helped by the fact he’s in a relationship with an English broad called Juliet.’
‘Eh?’ Horace was not entirely certain he had heard correctly. ‘That can’t be right. He’s clearly besotted with the skinny American. One might even go as far as to say he’s unhealthily obsessed by the lady in question.’
‘Speaking of obsessions,’ James looked over his shoulder at his brother. ‘How much did the bathroom you built for Diane set you back? The tub alone must have cost you a grand.’
Before Horace could answer, there was a commotion outside the office door. Jack could clearly be heard shouting that he was hitting the shower, would be back in five for chow, and would appreciate a two-man meal. Marco was also yelling, although in a less constructive manner. Just as suddenly, quiet descended on the house as the men went about their business.
‘Does Dorothy always know when Jack is nearby?’ Horace tried to keep his voice casual.
Jive met each other’s eyes but remained silent.
‘I should have visited sooner,’ Horace sighed unhappily. ‘With friends like me, who needs the Boo Radleys of this world? Excuse me, gentlemen. I’m in urgent need of a constitutional to clear my addled brain.’
‘Don’t go far,’ James ordered.
‘Roger that, Captain,’ was the sarcastic response. Horace exited the office to collect Trotsky from the boot room before the impending invasion of Jack and Marco. As he passed through the kitchen, he heard Dorothy humming to herself as she set the island with yet more cutlery and napkins. She smiled at him as he passed, but did not pause in her work to chat.
Horace groaned to himself as he pulled on a pair of the largest wellies, a tank top that smelled of Ralph and a green Barbour jacket.
‘We’ve wandered into a positive cauldron of emotional turmoil,’ he told the dog, as he opened the door to be greeted by a cold blast of air. ‘This isn’t good news for simple chaps like you and me. Let’s hope this day doesn’t bring any further complications.’
