How a Gunman Says Goodbye

Author:Malcolm Mackay [Mackay, Malcolm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Fiction
ISBN: 9780230764668
Publisher: Mantle
Published: 2013-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

26

It’s ringing. Finally, it’s ringing. Three days he’s been waiting. It feels longer. Nobody else has called him in that time. Nobody’s been round to see him. His life without his job is empty, and that’s starting to worry Frank. If they kick him out, this is what it’s going to be like. Every day until the end of his life. You see people his age who just go off a cliff. They stop working, stop socializing, and their health falls apart. He’s been thinking about that for hours. What will his life be like without his work? Empty is the first answer. Dangerous is the second. He’s moving to the phone, looking at the display. It’s the number of the club. It’ll be Young, inviting him to come round. He’s their security adviser, so there’s nothing suspicious for the neutral observer in the call. He’s nervous as he answers. He hates himself for that. Nervous about a bloody phone call.

‘Hi, Frank? It’s John here, from the club. How’ve you been keeping?’ Blandly asked, he’s not looking for an answer.

‘I’m okay. Everything okay with you?’ Equally blandly put. Going through formalities for the sake of someone who probably isn’t listening. Always nurture your old friend, paranoia.

‘Yeah, we’re all good. Listen, there’s one or two things we wanted to talk about – work stuff. Why don’t you come round to the club this afternoon, we’ll chat. Be good to see you.’ Trying to sound friendly. You never know with Young. This would be easier to judge if it was Jamieson. You could tell if he was in a depressed mood or not, but Young’s different. He’s always cold, never shows a lot of emotion.

‘Sure, I can be round this afternoon. Say two-ish?’

‘That’ll be great, see you then, Frank.’

Young didn’t sound angry, but then he wouldn’t after three days. They’ve had enough time to find out everything they’re ever going to find out. They’ll know what Calum had to say. They’ll know what the police are saying about the case. They’ll know, but they might not tell him. Put himself in their shoes. That’s what he’s been doing for three days now. If he were Peter Jamieson, he would cut Frank loose. As soon as you lose trust in the ability of a gunman, you get rid. It has to be that way. That’s what Jamieson has to do. Frank’s hoping for a reprieve that he would never think of giving himself, if he was the man in power. He would actually think less of Jamieson if he proves soft enough to brush this under the carpet. They have to get rid of him, and that’s where the big problem starts.

He becomes the man on the outside. He knows where the bodies are buried, literally and figuratively. He becomes a danger to the security of the people he used to help. Obviously he would be in as much trouble as them, if the truth ever came out. That ought to reassure them, but it won’t.

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