The Strife of Riley by De-ann Black

Author:De-ann Black
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 1970-01-13T16:00:00+00:00

The Strife of Riley

Chapter Twelve

The Poison Code

The night had a brittle quality to it. The streets in the centre of Glasgow sparkled with a thin layer of frost that seemed to drain the last of the vibrant colour out of the city. Everything was cast in a cold blue glow.

McAra parked his car near Sauchiehall Street and walked briskly to the restaurant, rubbing his hands together for warmth as the air chilled him to the bone. Jamesie peered nervously out the window of the restaurant. It was almost six o'clock. McAra had cut it neat.

Jamesie took McAra's coat as soon as he walked in, folded it over his arm and showed McAra to his table. Waiters were busy arranging cutlery and settings for a pre?booked party, and two guests who'd arrived early for the party enjoyed a drink in the corner.

'Do you think I would suit a coat like this?' Jamesie said, admiring McAra's long, dark overcoat.

'I'm sure you would,' McAra said, wondering if the chef was fishing to try it on.

'I'm not going to put it on. I wouldn't want to muck it up. It's just that every winter I think to myself I should get a snazzy coat, like one of those businessmen's coats, a money coat.'

'Try it on if you want to,' McAra said.

Jamesie took his chefs hat off, put the coat on and looked at his reflection in the window. 'Very posh. Posh but practical.'

'They're quite expensive but last for years,' McAra said. Jamesie had another look at his reflection and then took the coat off, carefully folding it over his arm again. 'I'll maybe treat myself. Great for cold nights like this. The dark ones like yours are nice but I fancy a lighter colour, like Strang's coat ? a caramel colour but that wouldn't suit a gingernut like you.'

McAra smiled to himself. He knew no offence was intended.

'I've got a good eye for colour,' Jamesie said. 'See that painting over there ? that's one of mine.'

McAra looked at the painting hanging on the main wall of the restaurant, a stylishly colourful depiction of

Glasgow nightlife. 'You're an artist?'

'I dabble. I'm self taught.'

'It's excellent.'

'I started painting when I worked at the nightclubs. I used to draw the different faces I saw and the colours of the fashions and the drinks.'

'You could make a living out of it.'

'Quite a few of the pubs and nightclubs have got one of my paintings. I still get the odd commission, especially when somewhere new opens up. I'm working on a painting for the new casino.' He indicated towards the restaurant painting. 'That one there was supposed to be for the casino but I brought it in to cover up the scorch marks from the fire.'

McAra looked around. 'I thought the restaurant would be closed for a while due to the damage.'

'Nah, it'll take more than a fire and a fight to close us down. There was a wee bit of smoke damage but that got repapered, and a new carpet's been laid.

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