Cold Reckoning by Russ Thomas

Author:Russ Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2022-05-12T00:00:00+00:00

day four

The ICER recordings #Supplementary1

(Archivists’ note: This call was recorded on a different phone line, presumably by mistake. We have filed it here, chronologically, in the event it may contain information pertinent to the case [04/05/18])

Call placed: 18:34 Thursday 8th Mar 2018

Duration: 2 minutes 27 seconds

Partial Transcript:

Robert  Hello?

ICER  Robbie? It’s Dad.

Robert  Oh. Right. Hi.

ICER  How’s everything?

Robert  Everything’s great. Couldn’t be better.

(Recording is silent for 4 seconds)

ICER  So you’ve got a new number then?

Robert  Yeah. Six months ago. (pause 1 second) How did you get it?

ICER  I… I spoke to your mother.

Robert  Fucking hell! That’s a turn up.

ICER  Robert!

Robert  Come on, Dad. Bit late to be lecturing me on my language, isn’t it? So, was there a reason for this call or…?

ICER  I just… I wanted to…

(recording is silent for 3 seconds)

Look, I might have to go away for a while.

Robert  Is that supposed to be news?

ICER  I’m not sure when I’m likely to be back.

Robert  Okay, well, it’s been real. Thanks for the update—

ICER  Robbie, please. It’s work.

Robert  Yeah. It always is, isn’t it? What is it you do again? ’Cos you’ve never really told us, have you? Something to do with finance, that was the line, wasn’t it? I used to think it was MI5 but even the security services would let you say something to your family. Or they’d at least come up with a better cover story.

ICER  Rob—

Robert  Lucy had a theory. She reckoned you had another family somewhere, maybe more than one. I think she still thinks that, to be honest.

ICER  It’s just work.

Robert  Maybe she’s right. Anyway, we’re all pretty much past caring at this point. Truth is, you don’t give a shit, so why should we?

ICER  If you’re not even going to be civil I guess there’s not much more to be said. I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be able to make the wedding and I wanted to wish—

Robert  Jesus Christ, are you serious! Dad, you’re not invited to the wedding.

ICER  Robert, you might hate me but we’re still family. Look, I wanted to give you something. How much do you need for—?

Robert  (laughs) You really believe that, don’t you? That stuff about family? Dad, we don’t want your money. Me and Suzie’s dad have got it covered and when the baby gets here… well, we’ll cope. I don’t want your money. I never have.

ICER  Please, son. Let me help. All of this… the work… everything… it’s all been for you. For your new family. My grandkid.

Robert  You’ve already got family you make no effort to see. Why should it be any different with my kids?

ICER  Robbie, don’t… Look, I’m retiring. I want things to be different…

Robert  You said you were going away.

(recording is silent for 4 seconds)

Goodbye, Dad. Thanks for everything but I’ll take it from here.

ICER  Robbie! Robert—

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