Listen, Dundy, it’s been a long time since I burst into tears because a policeman didn’t like me.
Dashiell Hammett, The Maltese Falcon
Two days later, Naomi was closing for lunch when Detective Chambers, accompanied by Detective Harry McCormack, appeared at the door. A one-time Special Branch member, McCormack was a six-three pillar of brick-shit-house-hard muscle, baptised in the fire of broken-bones, strap-your-balls-on street fights in Belfast. His non-smiling face was as welcome as the Pope on the Shankill Road.
‘We waited until everyone had gone, Naomi, so as not to cause a scene.’ Chambers sounded apologetic. ‘Mister Kane’s in, I take it?’
‘What’s this about?’ Naomi demanded, eyeing the duo suspiciously. ‘Karl’s had a hard day.’
McCormack, chomping at the bit, said, ‘My heart bleeds for him. Why don’t you just get Kane, and we’ll tell him what it’s all about, girlie?’
‘Girlie?’ Naomi’s face morphed into battle mode. ‘Who the hell do you think you’re talking to? What’s your name?’
Naomi nodded with recognition. ‘Oh, now I recall. Detective McPiggy. Isn’t that what the other officers call you?’
‘Huh…?’ McCormack looked as if he had just had a dick-caught-in-zip moment.
‘For your own good, Mister, don’t ever make the mistake of patronising me again, unless you want a good kick in the–’
A hand touched Naomi’s shoulder.
‘Grrrrrrrrr. Easy, tiger,’ Karl said, making a paw with his fingers before breaking into a wide smile. ‘We don’t want the big bad detective getting tough with you, Naomi, do we now?’
‘Just let him try it!’ Naomi glared at McCormack, before walking back in and heading up the stairs.
‘You really need to hone your people skills, McCormack,’ said Karl, as soon as Naomi had left. ‘Or buy a personality for yourself over in Smithfield.’
‘We need to ask you some questions, Kane,’ Chambers said.
‘I’d invite you over to the wee café across the street for coffee, Chambers, but you’d have to leave your guard dog outside, especially one with a face longer than the Lord of the Rings trilogy.’
‘Here will do fine. It shouldn’t take long.’
‘Go ahead then. Ask all the questions you want. You mightn’t get any answers, though, and you ask them here at the door, not inside.’
‘We’re inquiring about the disappearance of one Graham Butler. Any information you may–’
‘Whoa. Hold on a sec. Why’re you asking me about that scumbag?’
Chambers pulled out a small notepad. ‘According to our information, he was last seen leaving here, two days ago. He was to return to his hotel for a meeting, but he never made it.’
‘Another one added to your long list, Kane,’ McCormack snarled. ‘Seems people who cross you either end up murdered or disappear into thin air.’
‘If you believe that, shouldn’t you be frightened?’
‘Frightened, of you? God, what I’d give to have you alone for–’
‘Detective?’ Chambers said softly, but with authority. ‘Can you go back to the car, please? I’ll finish this report.’
McCormack seemed on the verge of ignoring Chambers’ request. Then, thinking better of it, he complied, turning and stalking out the door.
Chambers waited until McCormack had left.
‘You don’t make it easy for people to like you, do you, Kane?’
‘I don’t care if people like me or not. I’m not running for election. Now, what is it you want?’
‘Is there anything you can tell me, now that Detective McCormack has left?’
‘Have you checked out the drug dealers Butler was dealing with? They should be your prime suspects.’
‘They are the prime suspects. That’s why we want to be able to eliminate you from our inquiries, so that we can focus entirely on them, and not waste time elsewhere.’
‘Off the record?’
‘Okay,’ Chambers nodded. ‘Off the record.’
‘I detested Butler. He was a cowardly thug who enjoyed beating up young girls, and using them for all sorts of depraved things, as well as–’
‘Past tense.’
‘What?’
‘You keep talking of Butler in the past tense.’
‘Do I? Wishful thinking, I suppose. Look, to be frank with you, will I lose any sleep, if something appalling has happened to the scumbag? No. Do I know where he is? No.’
Chambers stared at Karl for a few seconds before answering. ‘I just hope, for your sake, that you’re telling the truth. If you remember anything of importance, will you contact me?’
‘My birthday’s next week. How’s that for importance?’
Without answering, Chambers turned and walked towards the waiting police car with a seething McCormack sitting at the wheel.
Karl watched the car drive away, before returning inside. Naomi was sitting in the middle of the stairs, a worried look on her face.
‘So, Butler has disappeared, eh?’
‘It would seem that way.’
‘Is there anything I should be aware of?’
‘Not that I’m aware of.’
‘Cut the blarney. I’m not in the mood for it. Has this anything to do with me pressuring you about Lipstick’s safety?’
‘You pressure me? Get real.’
‘You were gone for over four hours on Monday night. Where were you?’
‘What did I tell you when you asked me that very same question, the next morning?’
‘Playing poker with your mates.’
Karl pulled his mobile from his pocket. Hit a button. Walked up the stairs to Naomi. Handed her the mobile.
‘That’s Henry McGovern’s number ringing. When he answers, ask him where I was on Monday night.’
Naomi placed the mobile to her ear. Gazing levelly at Karl, she listened to the tones beeping. Henry’s voice suddenly interrupted. ‘Karl?’
‘Oh, sorry, Henry, this is Naomi. I hit the wrong button on Karl’s mobile. Sorry for bothering you. No, everything’s fine. Thank you. Sorry again.’
Karl stared at Naomi. She stared back.
‘Seeing you didn’t ask him, I take it you believe me?’
‘Yes…sorry…’
‘Can I have my mobile back, please?’ Karl put on his hurt voice, and stuck out his hand. Naomi placed the mobile in it.
‘I’m sorry, Karl…it’s…it’s just–’
Karl kissed her full on the lips, smiled, and said, ‘Let’s make sure we put this matter to bed, once and for all.’
They walked up the remainder of the stairs, hand-in-hand.
Almost two hours later, Karl and Naomi sauntered back down the stairs, suited and booted in their gladdest of rags. Smiles plastered across their faces, they looked like two kids caught doing naughty things by teacher.
‘All that lovemaking has made me very famished, Naomi. I’m really looking forward to this meal.’
‘You’re becoming very bad, you know, the older you get,’ Naomi said, half giggling.
‘Bad in a good way, or bad in a bad way?’
Naomi purred against his neck. ‘Verrrrrry bad.’
‘Well, I want to thank you, Miss Fitzpatrick, for sharing the last couple of hours with me, and for allowing me to boldly go where no man had gone before – at least I hope they haven’t.’
‘I really don’t know what you’re talking about, Mister Kane?’
They walked out into the cool air of an unusually tranquil Belfast evening. Karl was always suspicious of peace and quiet in Belfast. It felt as if all the inhabitants were huddling in their homes, plotting something dangerous and illicit. And it always meant one thing coming sooner rather than later: trouble.
Big time trouble.