Frankie edged back. The guy was a nutter. He wasn’t a full deck. He’d already leathered him, and he wasn’t taking any chances on rubbing him up the wrong way again.

‘So, is it sorted then?’ Kevin had a hungry look in his eyes. ‘We’ll be sitting pretty soon enough. Fucking result that, thanks to you, we get the police to do our dirty work. Once you’ve delivered Mr Big to them, they won’t give a shit about who’s running this patch. I’ll get one of my mates to set up a supply line and we’ll be laughing. All you have to do is play your part. You sure he suspects nothing? Are you still on for the drop?’

‘Yes, I’m going there soon.’

‘Make sure you do. Once this prick is out of the picture, we can box it off together. Like I said, Frankie, this stays between me and you. Hand over the cash and make sure them muppets of yours are doing what they should be instead of fucking standing about talking. There’s a new sheriff in town and I won’t have any pricks taking the piss. I’m the man now.’

Kevin went to slap Frankie on the shoulder and the kid flinched.

Kevin laughed. ‘Jumpy, ain’t you?’

‘You said we could start again with a blank sheet.’ All of Frankie’s tough guy act had faded when faced with a man who’d been there, seen it and done it.

‘And, we can. Just go and meet the man and let’s get him out of the picture for good. This is my patch now, do you hear me, mine?’

Frankie nodded his head, wanted to keep him onside. ‘Yeah, I’ve told the lads that they need to be on the ball too. Any fuck-ups and they pay, they know the script.’

Kevin kept his voice low. ‘If my boy finds out about any of this, I’ll put you in a body bag. This is a cushy little number here and if you use your head you can earn a right few quid too. Under new management, tell them.’

Frankie flinched as Kevin clapped his hand on his shoulder. ‘Give us the cash then. I’ll collect the rest of it tomorrow, just keep it safe and don’t let any of it go walkabouts. If the count’s low, you’re responsible for it, no excuses.’

Kevin enjoyed the look of fear in Frankie’s eyes. A leopard never changes its spots and Kevin knew where there was fear, there was opportunity for a man like him.

Chapter Thirty-Two