the cops I know. Lavish was clearly what they were aiming for, and they’d hit the target. The manager was a hawk-faced man in his thirties. I’d seen him before, in photos we’d snatched of Jack Farrell enjoying the high life at the health club. But he wasn’t smiling at me the way he smiled at Farrell. ‘This all seems a bit –’
‘Out of the usual run of things? I couldn’t agree more,’ I said. ‘But you know how it is when a cop is killed. We’re desperate to cover all the bases.’ I gave him the quick snake smilethat doesn’t get as far as my eyes. ‘I hope you’re not going to create a problem here? I do have his widow’s go-ahead, and a copy of the will where he mentions the locker by number.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘Can we at least be discreet about this?’
I looked innocent. ‘That’s why I’m here alone. I could have come mob-handed, you know.’
‘You’ve got the combination?’ he said with ill grace.
I pointed to the will. ‘Right there.’
He took me down to the locker room, an annex off the changing rooms with a bench running between two banks of locked doors. He pointed out Ben’s locker, then hung around behind me. ‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘I’ll manage by myself now.’ He wasn’t happy about it, but he took the hint.
The locker was on the floor level. It was about thirty inches by twelve and when I opened it, most of the space was taken up by a sports holdall. I pulled it out, grunting at the unexpected weight of it. I laid it on the bench and unzipped it.
If I’d had any doubts about where Stella’slogic had taken us, they died then. Ben hadn’t sold himself cheaply, that was for sure. The bag was rammed with bundles of fifty-pound notes. I had no idea how much was there, but it must have run well into six figures. ‘You bastard,’ I said.
The betrayal didn’t end there. The locker also held a couple of envelopes. One was labelled Insurance . It contained one of those life insurance policies with a big single premium and a huge payout. This one had been taken out a couple of years before and it would pay half a million pounds, all to Karen. I couldn’t believe how long this had been going on. A couple of years ago, he’d had fifty grand to blow on insurance. All the while complaining to me that he could barely afford to insure his bloody car.
I thought that was bad enough. But there was worse to come. The second envelope was addressed to Karen. I didn’t think twice. I ripped it open.
My darling Karen ,
If you’re reading this, it’s because I’m dead. I’m sorry for leaving you and the kids behind. All I ever wanted was to spend the rest of our lives together. But at least I can make sure that, even if you don’t have me, you will have enough money never to need to worry about making ends meet .
I know you must be wondering where all this cash has come from. I’m not proud of this, but a while back, Andy and I turned over a big villain up in the Midlands. The guy got blown away by one of his own sidekicks. He always kept huge amounts of cash on the premises. I suppose we should have handed it in, but only the two of us knew about it, and it seemed too good to miss. It was Andy’s idea, but I didn’t try very hard to talk him out of it. So we decided to keep our mouths shut and split it between us. I bought the insurance policy with some of the money and the rest of it is in the bag .
I know you will be tempted to do what feels like the right thing and dob me in. I beg you not to do that if Andy’s still alive. For his sake, and for the sake of the kids, keep quiet and make the most of what I’ve been able to provide. I don’t want my kids to grow up thinking I was a bad man. I’m not a bad man, Karen. I just gave in to the chance to get my hands on some real dosh. I wasn’t hurting anybody and I don’t want you to hurt Andy or the kids by coming clean now about what I did .
Karen, I’ve loved you from the day I met you. I will be looking
‘Out of the usual run of things? I couldn’t agree more,’ I said. ‘But you know how it is when a cop is killed. We’re desperate to cover all the bases.’ I gave him the quick snake smilethat doesn’t get as far as my eyes. ‘I hope you’re not going to create a problem here? I do have his widow’s go-ahead, and a copy of the will where he mentions the locker by number.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘Can we at least be discreet about this?’
I looked innocent. ‘That’s why I’m here alone. I could have come mob-handed, you know.’
‘You’ve got the combination?’ he said with ill grace.
I pointed to the will. ‘Right there.’
He took me down to the locker room, an annex off the changing rooms with a bench running between two banks of locked doors. He pointed out Ben’s locker, then hung around behind me. ‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘I’ll manage by myself now.’ He wasn’t happy about it, but he took the hint.
The locker was on the floor level. It was about thirty inches by twelve and when I opened it, most of the space was taken up by a sports holdall. I pulled it out, grunting at the unexpected weight of it. I laid it on the bench and unzipped it.
If I’d had any doubts about where Stella’slogic had taken us, they died then. Ben hadn’t sold himself cheaply, that was for sure. The bag was rammed with bundles of fifty-pound notes. I had no idea how much was there, but it must have run well into six figures. ‘You bastard,’ I said.
The betrayal didn’t end there. The locker also held a couple of envelopes. One was labelled Insurance . It contained one of those life insurance policies with a big single premium and a huge payout. This one had been taken out a couple of years before and it would pay half a million pounds, all to Karen. I couldn’t believe how long this had been going on. A couple of years ago, he’d had fifty grand to blow on insurance. All the while complaining to me that he could barely afford to insure his bloody car.
I thought that was bad enough. But there was worse to come. The second envelope was addressed to Karen. I didn’t think twice. I ripped it open.
My darling Karen ,
If you’re reading this, it’s because I’m dead. I’m sorry for leaving you and the kids behind. All I ever wanted was to spend the rest of our lives together. But at least I can make sure that, even if you don’t have me, you will have enough money never to need to worry about making ends meet .
I know you must be wondering where all this cash has come from. I’m not proud of this, but a while back, Andy and I turned over a big villain up in the Midlands. The guy got blown away by one of his own sidekicks. He always kept huge amounts of cash on the premises. I suppose we should have handed it in, but only the two of us knew about it, and it seemed too good to miss. It was Andy’s idea, but I didn’t try very hard to talk him out of it. So we decided to keep our mouths shut and split it between us. I bought the insurance policy with some of the money and the rest of it is in the bag .
I know you will be tempted to do what feels like the right thing and dob me in. I beg you not to do that if Andy’s still alive. For his sake, and for the sake of the kids, keep quiet and make the most of what I’ve been able to provide. I don’t want my kids to grow up thinking I was a bad man. I’m not a bad man, Karen. I just gave in to the chance to get my hands on some real dosh. I wasn’t hurting anybody and I don’t want you to hurt Andy or the kids by coming clean now about what I did .
Karen, I’ve loved you from the day I met you. I will be looking
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