Read Online Jack Carter's Law by Ted Lewis - Free Book Online Page B

fortnight. Maybe longer. Why, has she—”
    I cut him off short. “She hasn’t been in touch with you?” I say. “Tried to phone you or anything?”
    “No, not that I know of. I mean, I move about a bit, you know, she might have tried to, but—”
    “But you might be wanting to get in touch with her after tonight, eh, Charlie?”
    It takes Charlie a minute or so to tumble.
    “Oh, see what you mean,” he says, trying to accept the baldness of my statement as if it’s some kind of affectionate joke. “Well, you know, Jean’s always been very good to her old brother, never sees me short, like. You know, I get things wholesale for her and she sees me all right, understand. I mean, after tonight I’ll perhaps be getting in touch because she owes me for one or two bits and pieces. Didn’t intend dropping so much in the game, know what I mean?”
    “So what’ll you do? Go round the flat and see or meet her or what?”
    “Well, it’s not always too convenient to go straight round, just like that. I mean, Jimmy works hard and he likes a bit of peace and quiet during the day, and evenings they’re out mostly . . . ”
    “You’d just phone her up, then? Find out where she’s going to be.”
    “Something like that, yes.”
    “Pity,” I tell him. “Because, like, the next time you phone I shouldn’t hang on too long waiting for a reply.”
    Charlie looks at me, not daring to ask.
    “Nothing like that,” I tell him. “Just that her Jimmy’s been pulled by Old Bill. And since they pulled him, Jean and the kids have dropped out as well. We just had a sort of vague idea you might be able to put us in the picture. Let us know where Jean is so we can find out what’s going on. You see, Charlie, we really need to find out what’s going on.”
    Charlie stares at me as if he hasn’t believed a word I’ve said to him.
    “Jimmy?” he says. “They’ve picked up Jimmy? But they wouldn’t. He’s like you. They wouldn’t pick up Jimmy.”
    “They have done. And it’ll be me and Con and Gerald and Les filing in one after the other if we don’t find Jimmy.”
    “But Jimmy’d never grass. Jesus, everybody knows he’d never do that.”
    I don’t answer him.
    “Jack? He wouldn’t, would he?”
    “He probably already has done.”
    Charlie tries to find his cigarettes, so to save time I give him one of mine and light it for him. He takes a few drags and then manages to put words to what he’s been thinking about.
    “If you find Jimmy, what’ll happen?”
    “Depends on Jimmy. If our information’s wrong, we’ll give him all the help we can, the way Gerald and Les help everybody they do business with. So let’s hope our information’s wrong, eh, Charlie?”
    Charlie takes a pull at his whisky.
    “I couldn’t do it even if I knew how, Jack,” he says. “Not to my own brother-in-law. Not to Jean’s husband.”
    “Jimmy hates your fucking guts, Charlie. He’s the reason Jean doesn’t drop you as much as she used to. That’s why you never go round their place and get to see your nephew and your niece. So don’t shoot the shit. If Jimmy can put you in this one he will.”
    “Jean’d never let him. She’d never let him do that to me.”
    “Jean does as she’s bleeding well told. Especially to keep Jimmy off a twenty-five stretch.”
    “Jack, listen. If they’re not at home, how will I know where they are? They could be bleeding anywhere.”
    “Tell me something I don’t know, Charlie.”
    Charlie shakes his head. “Leave me out, Jack. You know I can’t help.”
    “Your old mother might, though. I mean it’s just possible your sister might get in touch with her dear old mum so’s she won’t have to do any unnecessary worrying.”
    “Christ, you wouldn’t involve her, would you?” Charlie says.
    I don’t answer his question but instead I say to him, “Look, Charlie, I want to stop pissing about. I really do. So I’m going to put alternatives to you as clearly as I possibly can,