“That’s a girl.” He smiles.
My stomach flips as I realize there’s a chance here for Mark and me. I could ask a favor in return. But should I? Is that a good idea?
“Eddie?” I lower my voice, lean in. Just in case someone’s listening, just in case. “If I help you, will you help me? I don’t know anybody else who can help me with this.” My voice sounds different, to my ears, more serious but thinner than usual. Needy.
His eyes narrow. He studies me. I’m a pretty readable mark. What possible threat could I ever be? He sees that, then shows that glint of a smile.
“What is it?”
“Well, okay, long story short…I have some gemstones that I…found. Okay, that sounds…I can’t sell them. They’re illegal. So there it is. And I need tosell them…off the record. Do you know someone, maybe who could…” My whisper trails off. Turns out it’s not just former gang leaders who find favors hard to ask for.
He’s grinning at me now.
“You naughty girl. It’s always the quiet ones, ain’t it! I tell you what, it’s fucking hard to surprise me, love, but I didn’t see that one coming. Sounds like a quality problem you’ve got there, Erin, sweetheart. How many stones we talking and what kind?” Eddie’s enjoying himself. He’s back in the game.
“Around two hundred, diamonds, all cut, all flawless, all two carat.” I keep my voice low but I know from his demeanor that there’s no one listening.
“Fucking hell! Where the fuck did you get those?”His voice echoes out of the archway and down the corridor. I really hope no one’s there or I’m so fucked.
He’s looking at me differently now. He’s impressed. A million is a million. But then again a million’s not what it used to be.
“Ha!” He laughs. “I’m not usually wrong about people. But every day’s a school day, aye? Very nice. Yes, Erin, sweetheart, I can help you out with your little problem. Got a numbered account?”
I nod.
He laughs again, delighted.
“Of course you fucking ’ave. Brilliant. You’re a find, Erin, sweetheart, you’re a bloody find. Right, you’ll get a call next week. Do what he tells you. He’ll sort you out; I’ll have a word. All right?” He’s beaming at me. I’m glad it’s gone this way, but it is all slightly disconcerting. And all so easy. I’m not really sure how it happened.
And now there’s my end of the deal to keep.
“I can pop around to visit your daughter next week. I’ll call Charlotte this afternoon, arrange a meeting.” I know she’ll accept. I haven’t told Eddie but we’ve already spoken briefly. She seems nice.
“You got her number? Address?” His bravado is gone. He sounds like an old man again, scared and hopeful.
“Yes, I got it from your info. I’ll have a proper chat with her.”
Suddenly another thought occurs. It’s so simple but I think it’ll do the job nicely.
“Eddie, here’s a thought. Why don’t I turn the camera back on and you can record a message for Lottie? I’ll edit it off the rest of the interview and she can watch itwhen I meet with her. I think that would make a big difference. Hearing it directly from you. I know it would to me. If it was my father, you know?” It’s worth a shot. He’ll say it better than I would, that’s for sure.
He thinks, drumming his fingers lightly on the table. Then he nods.
“Yeah, you’re right, let’s do that.” He’s nervous. Bless him, he’s actually nervous.
“Okay. I’m going to turn the camera back on now, Eddie. Is that all right?”
He nods, sorts his sweatshirt out, sits up, leans in.
I stop, my finger poised over the record button. “Eddie, can I just check one last thing? You haven’t been leaving messages on my home phone, have you?”
“No, love. Not me.”
Well, that solves that.
“Oh, okay. Never mind. Right, ready when you are, Eddie.”
I turn the camera on.
