Raymond swapped places with Stuart and five minutes later pulled up outside the garages. Eddie got out of the van, ordered Baldwin to follow him and told the others to stay where they were.

‘I’m coming with ya; you ain’t goin’ in alone if that cunt’s got a gun in there,’ Gary said, wondering if his father had lost his senses.

‘You do as I say,’ Ed replied, glaring at his eldest son.

As Terry Baldwin opened up the garage door, Eddie immediately spotted the motorbike. ‘So, where’s the gun? And don’t you move, just tell me where it is,’ Ed said. He was already gloved up.

Terry Baldwin pointed to a stack of boxes in the left-hand corner of the garage. ‘If you move them boxes, there’s a loose slab of concrete underneath. The gun’s under there, wrapped in a shammy leather.’

Eddie had no doubt that Baldwin was telling the truth, but checked anyway, and then turned to him again. ‘I’ll do a deal with ya. You kill Jed successfully, then in return you get to keep your own life and you also owe me a favour or two.’

‘What?’ Baldwin asked. He felt as though his hearing was deceiving him.

‘You heard.’

‘But what about me ordering the hit on your brothers? I know you ain’t the type to sweep something like that under the carpet, so how do I know I can trust you not to kill me once I’ve killed Jed? It ain’t me I’m worried about, but my Anne’s been through enough already, if you know what I mean.’

Eddie stared Baldwin in the eyes, took his gloves off and held out his right hand. ‘My word is my bond. I’m Eddie Mitchell, for fuck’s sake. Anyway, what choice have you got other than to believe me?’

‘None,’ Terry Baldwin replied as he gripped Ed’s right hand.

Eddie let go of his hand and smirked. ‘Right, let’s get back to the van and we’ll drop you back at your motor. It’s getting late now, so let’s meet again in the morning to discuss the finer points. Oh, and by the way, Baldwin, if you cross me or balls things up in any way, shape or form, I will personally make sure that you die in the worst fucking way possible to mankind.’

Chapter Twenty-Six

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Refusing to discuss his apparent change of heart until the following day, Ed arranged an early-morning meet at Auntie Joanie’s gaff. Gary, Ricky and Raymond arrived before Ed and were still all dumbfounded by the events of the previous evening.

‘I reckon the old man’s going soft in his old age. I mean, how can he not kill that cunt after he had Ronny and Paulie’s throats cut?’ Gary said angrily.