Chapter Forty-Nine

Reggie and Lenny were in the pub waiting for an old lag who often knew more than people realised. Alan Moore kept his ear to the ground and made himself a good living by knowing things that other people might be interested in. He was a small man, with a bald head and a great thirst; he could put away ten pints and still have a reasonable conversation. That was how he gathered his information.

Lenny saw him outside and they left the pub and walked him to the car. He got into the back seat and waited for them to speak. Alan was a shrewd man, a decent bloke, who was well liked and trusted. He knew when to speak and when to keep his trap shut.

‘You heard a whisper about the Wilson brothers?’

Alan shrugged slightly. He had a feeling this was what they would be after. ‘It will cost you. I could get in serious trouble for this.’

Lenny opened his coat and threw an envelope with two grand inside it on to Alan’s lap.

Alan opened it and smiled. ‘All I know for sure is, they had an altercation with the Carter twins. I don’t know what it was about but, knowing the Carters, it was probably something to do with the old Persian rugs.’

Lenny and Reggie looked at one another and sighed.

Lenny turned back to Alan as he said, ‘That it?’

Alan nodded and left the car.

Reggie swore under his breath. ‘Fucking idiots. I knew there would be trouble along the line with them. The Carters are not exactly known for their friendly natures.’

‘It would be Kevin Wilson who would start something like this. He has too much fucking pride. Well, I think we can safely assume they are dead.’

Reggie nodded. ‘We better give Jack the bad news, eh?’

Lenny started the car and drove off. He was fuming, absolutely fuming. This was the last thing they needed.

Chapter Fifty

Jack Johnson could not believe what he was hearing. The Wilson brothers were serious earners and they were also under his protection. The Carters taking them out was like a declaration of war.

Lenny was shaking his head as Jack ranted and raved. ‘Look, we don’t know the story yet, do we? Let me and Reggie take a couple of the lads and go and have a chat with the Carters. See the lie of the land.’

Reggie nodded his agreement. ‘This could simply be over Kevin saying something untoward. You know what he can be like, Jack. It doesn’t mean the Carters are trying to muscle in on our territory. Lenny is right – we need to talk to the Carter brothers and see what’s what.’

Jack nodded, but he was still annoyed. ‘If those Carters think we will roll over, they had better have another fucking think.’