‘Dunno. I might. Depends on how good a show he puts up for me. He shows the right respect, and takes his punishment in the right manner, I might let it go.’

Joe missed the two men exchanging glances. Lost in his own thoughts of just how hard he was going to punish Mickey Bale.

‘As your lawyer…’

Joe turned a baleful stare on Richard.

‘What? You’re not going to try talking me out of this? Because if you are then you’re a bigger prick than I thought you were. Consiglieri? You don’t even qualify as cannelloni.’

‘No. But as your lawyer, I need to have no knowledge at all of any criminal act, if possible.’

Joe smirked. ‘Like you ain’t known all about everything I’ve done over the last ten years. I wonder what ever made me take a gutless twat like you on in the first place.’

The answer to that question being clear enough to Eddie. Richard having impressed the shit out of Joe, in his early days with the firm. The mistake having been to expand his responsibilities from the legit business contracts with which he was so clever. Involving him in the questionable side of Joe’s empire. Slowly but surely dragging him down into the moral cesspit that Eddie had been enduring for over twenty years. Richard went quiet. Avoiding Joe’s angry stare. And for a moment Eddie wondered if the poor bastard was going to get on the properly wrong side of their boss. And then Joe, in one of his typical mood swings, hooked a thumb at the door.

‘Go on. Do one. Now, before I change my mind. You’re not cut out for this, are you?’

Richard didn’t need telling twice. Bolting for the door past an amused Rocco. Who, Eddie noted, was still carrying Lewis’s .45 auto. Those were some shoes to fill though, he mused. And having the big man’s shooter didn’t make Rocco a fit replacement. Not in Eddie’s opinion.

‘I’ll go and make sure he knows to keep his mouth shut.’

Joe nodded at the suggestion. ‘Good man, Eddie. Although I can’t see him ever turning Queen’s on us, can you?’

Eddie shook his head. Being of the firm opinion that Richard wasn’t that sort of geezer. Not brave enough, for one thing. Only too well aware of the bestial ferocity Joe would visit on him and those he loved, were he ever to rat on the family. And too much addicted to the good life, for another. If he lost the money that came with Joe’s service he had a long way to fall, financially. And a lot to lose on the way.

‘Nah. He’ll keep his mouth shut. I’ll just go and make sure he knows what’ll happen if he don’t.’

48