The man keeps walking down the street. Looking behind him all the time. Watching the guy pick up the stuff he dropped and scurry off down the street. So this was the guy Fairly was meeting. They’re not usually complete saps. Fairly’s just about the best counterfeiter in the business. His clientele usually know how to carry themselves without drawing attention. Without drawing suspicion. Not this one. Must be new at this. Better not scare him. Marty’s walking away until he’s sure Fairly’s client can’t see him any more. Now he’s stopping, turning and walking back the way he came. That extra little walk down the street was a favour for Fairly. Don’t scare his clients. Don’t give him anything to complain about. Fairly is useful. Very useful, sometimes. His passports work like a charm. Best you can get, other than the real thing.
In the door and up the stairs. It’s his office above the gadget shop. Doesn’t use it a lot, but he needs it. He lends people money. Short-term loans, long-term customers. It continues to amaze and amuse, how stupid people can be. And Marty just keeps taking advantage. Because Marty’s smart like that. He sees people’s weaknesses, and he makes money from it. Cash and women. Those are the two that make the most money. Marty’s involved in all sorts of other things, but those two are golden. The moneylending is harder. It’s a bitch, truth be known. See, there’s always more women. Some of them let you down. Some go work for someone else, but there’s always more. The moneylending? Jesus, that’s shark-infested waters. Brutal. As bad as it gets. Some of the biggest thugs are lurking in this part of the industry. Marty wouldn’t be involved at all if he didn’t have Jamieson’s protection. And he’s in danger of throwing that away.
Fairly’s still in the office, looking all gormless as usual. Smart guy, but he doesn’t get involved in the brutal side of things. He doesn’t live it, like Marty. Shit, nobody lives it like Marty, Marty’s thinking to himself.
‘Was that your guy I saw stumbling out of here a couple of minutes ago?’ Marty’s asking. Making polite conversation. He wants Fairly out of here. Got a couple of his guys coming round with money they’ve collected this morning. Tough guys. Better Fairly doesn’t see them.
‘Yep, that was him.’
‘Didn’t seem like one of your usual. Looked nervous as hell to me.’
Fairly’s shrugging. People like Marty think it makes them seem tough if they pretend they never get nervous. That’s bullshit. Marty’s probably shitting himself right now. Word going around is that Marty and his brother are in Jamieson’s bad books. Throwing private parties at the brother’s nightclub, not cutting Jamieson in on his share. Stupid, greedy bastard. Yet he thinks he’s the tough one. Huh!
‘Things are changing,’ Fairly’s saying as he gets up from his seat. ‘Especially in the car trade. Opening up. He’s a new one. William MacLean, got a garage on the east side.’
There’s a pause. Fairly’s starting to head for the door, about to say goodbye. Marty’s standing in the middle of the room, his brain trying to find a gear that lets it move forward. Still trying. There it is.
‘You say William MacLean?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘Got a garage in the east?’
‘That’s what I said.’
Marty’s holding up a hand. Telling Fairly to stop while he thinks. Fairly’s sighing, but he’s doing as he’s told. Marty pays well. He’s a little shit, but if Barry was prone to judging people, he wouldn’t be in this business.
‘You have a copy of the stuff you did for him?’ Marty’s asking.
Fairly’s looking at Marty with a frown now. You don’t stick your nose into someone else’s business. Even Marty has to know something as simple as that.
Fairly’s turning to walk for the door. Marty’s darting in front of him. Blocking the way out, but with his hands up, pleadingly.
‘Look, Barry. This is important. That William MacLean–there might be more to this. Trust me. I might be about to do you the biggest fucking favour anyone ever did you. No word of a lie. Let me see a copy. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. Who cares? If I’m right, I’ll be saving your bacon here, mate. Saving it.’
That wheedling tone. Fairly would love to tell him to shove it, but he can’t. Self-preservation. He’s going back across to the table, unbuttoning the pocket on his jacket. Taking out the rough copy he made. That he always makes. Because you never know.
Marty’s standing over the table, looking down at the picture. Puffing out his cheeks.
‘Well?’ Fairly’s asking. Annoyed, impatient.
‘This is…’ Marty’s lost for words. He wants to say that this is a brilliant opportunity. That this could get him right back into Peter Jamieson’s good books. But that’s not what he’s going to say to Fairly. ‘This is important. Listen to me, Barry, yeah? Listen. Right. I need to keep this. Just for a wee while. Go home, I’ll call you. I need to set up a meeting. You’ll need to be there. This is important. I’m not kidding you here.’
Fairly’s left the office. Marty’s sitting at the desk, looking at the copy of the passport in front of him. He knows the face. Not a recent photo, but he knows the face. How to profit most. Go for the long-term. That’s always the answer. Especially when you’re hanging on, like Marty is. This could solve a lot of problems. He’s picking up the phone. Calling Young. No answer. Shit! Probably ignoring him. They’re still pissed off. Fine, be like that. There’s another way. Calling Kevin Currie. Explaining a little, holding back enough. He needs to have something to take to the meeting with him. Marty knows how to play these games. Currie doesn’t like it. He wants everything. Sure he does. He wants to be able to pass on all the information himself. Gain more of the credit for it. Marty’s pissed off that he’s having to go through Currie anyway. Currie’s a senior man with Young and Jamieson. Makes them a lot of money with booze and fags. They trust him. Shouldn’t be this way. Young should just answer his damn phone.
Two big bastards have just come into the office. Marty’s gesturing at them to get out. He’s still on the phone to Currie. Going to try Young again. The two thugs are going out. Not looking too impressed. Marty isn’t an easy man to work for. They’ve heard the rumours about a fallout with Jamieson as well. They’re worried. Not going to take being pushed around for much longer. Not unless they hear more positive stories about Marty’s protection. Marty’s finished with Currie. Calling Young again. Again the call ignored. Little bastard!
Marty could just go to the club. One of them is bound to be there. No. Don’t turn up without warning. They won’t like that. He has to play this one by the book. Go in there with information that’ll floor them. They won’t like the info he brings. Too smart to shoot the messenger, though. This’ll make them see how useful Marty and his connections can be.