Barber Shop Ink - Book 3: Riverworth Page 5

  I grumbled to myself as I got out of bed and went in search of coffee and the amazing breakfast pastries I knew would be in the house somewhere.

  I trudged into the kitchen, Sam and Kelly broke out into a loud round of applause that included cheers and wolf whistles.

  “Nicely done, love,” Sam said with a huge smile on his face.

  “Honey, Sam and I have discussed things. If you don’t want him, we are prepared to adopt that fine, hunky hunk of a man of yours.”

  “Is that right?” I rolled my eyes.

  “Definitely. You know for humanitarian reasons,” Kelly added. “A creature that fine would not survive on his own in the wild. A specimen that magnificent needs protecting. It would be a burden, but it would be one we would be willing to bare because that’s how much we love you.”

  “How noble of you,” I laughed filling a mug full of coffee.

  “Very philanthropic, I thought,” added Sam.

  “Babe, do you think we could just get him to lift and carry things all day?” Kelly asked Sam.

  “Only if we can get him to do it shirtless, in the woods. You know so he can maintain his strength and get a healthy dose of vitamin D,” Sam replied in his heavy Scottish brogue.

  “For health reasons,” Kelly agreed.

  “I bet our young Jupiter here gets a healthy dose of ‘Vitamin D’ from that man on the daily,” Sam replied making Kelly choke on his custard apple bagel.

  “Are you two done?” I asked trying to sound annoyed, taking a bite of apricot Danish to hide my smile.

  “Honey we just want you to know little Memphis Blue will be taken care of is all. So that if you meet a grizzly, fiery explosive end that Bruce Willis would be proud of. You can go meet your maker with the knowledge that that sexy boy of yours will be well looked after.”

  “Why do you think - A. if there are any deaths I will be one of them? And B. That my death would be grizzly, fiery and explosive?”

  “Umm, because A. it makes the story sound better and B. it’s you. So, why wouldn’t it be grizzly, fiery and explosive? Besides, we know that you would take as many bad guys with you as you could. Let’s face it there will be no boring death for you my love, that’s just not your style.”

  “That is why you are my favourite cousin,” I said winking at him.

  “You better not let Jaxon hear you say that,” he laughed.

  “From my dad’s side,” I added. “But I’m sorry, boys Memphis is all mine, you can’t have him.”

  “What if we just borrowed him for a little while?” Sam asked looking hopeful.

  “Annnyway!” I said changing the subject. “What are you two doing here I thought you were in Greece or Italy or something?”

  “We were, but when you called to say you would be here. We came home so we could see you,” Kelly said coming around the counter to give me a hug. “It has been too long Jupiter my love.”

  It had been. I had been almost six years since I last saw Kelly and Sam. The last time was when I had made my decision to get out and leave Uncle Charlie. They hadn’t seen me after.

  “How long are you here for?” Kelly asked.

  I explained what happened with Vex and Memphis’s Pops, his beating and how I had to use my Morningstar skills to save him. I explained that Vex and his lies had led me to where I was now.

  Over the next few hours, I filled them in on everything that had happened in my life over the last six years. I told them about Memphis, his proposal and our wedding plans. I hand delivered their wedding invitation I planned on posting but now didn’t need to.

  “Congratulations Love,” Sam said hugging me.

  “Where’s the ring show me, show me!” Kelly said clapping his hands excitedly.

  He was so funny out in the world Kelly was a very manly man but around me he was super camp. Not because he was ashamed of who he was or anything he just loved playing it up with me. At first Sam would ask Kelly why he was acting different, but then he realised that we were just playing. It’s like how sometimes I like to dress all girly and take hours doing my hair and makeup and others I’m happy with just a pair of cut offs, a tank some flipflops and chucking my hair up in a messy bun. Kelly knows who he is, but it’s fun to play.

  “I left it at home with Memphis for safe keeping. I didn’t want anything to happen to it while I was, you know…” I trailed off.

  “Being all Laura Crofty,” Sam supplied.

  “Alice from Resident Evil,” Kelly said.

  “A combination of both,” Sam said tilting his head thinking more on it. “Except you don’t have Laura’s mansion or a butler.”

  “OR Gerard Butler,” Kelly added referencing the character of Terry Sheridan that Gerard played in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.

  “As pretty as Memphis is, honey he is no Gerard Butler,” Sam said with sympathy as if Memphis was a grotesque bridge troll.

  “Jupe honey, do me a favour please,” Kelly said changing the topic, or so I thought.

  “Anything,” I replied

  “If you’re planning on blowing up London could you please make sure that Gerard is available to save the day?”

  “Oooh good call Babes,” Sam agreed. “I love London Has Fallen Gerard can guard my body any day.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” I laughed, “any other requests?”

  This set the boys off into an hour-long conversation about which movie character or celebrity would be good to have around in a fight. Which lead to which movie character or celebrity you would attach yourself to for the Zombie Apocalypse.

  These boys were ridiculous, but I love them. This was just what I needed, a silly conversation that had nothing to do with the Mob, gangsters, loan sharks and money owed. I would allow myself one day to veg-out get over my jetlag, and then I would be all business.

  I spent the day hanging out with the boys, napping and relaxing watching movies.

  We had an 80’s ‘Kids Movie’ marathon. The Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Legend a finishing with Willow.

  “I don’t know why these movies are classified as kid’s movies,” Sam said as the credits rolled on Willow. “They’re not really child appropriate at all are they?”

  “The Labyrinth they have a baby being kidnapped by a tights-wearing very adult David Bowie. Who then falls in love with the teenage Sarah, who he tries to convince to live with him,” Kelly said.

  “Love David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly is amazing, and Jim Henson is the lord of puppetry,” Sam added.

  “The Dark Crystal is just super creepy, but I love it so much and again Jim Henson is just a visionary” Kelly replied.

  “Legend, a super young Tom Cruise, trying to save the world while Mia Sara is going around killing unicorns,” Sam quipped.

  “Who is she again?” I asked

  “The chick that played Slone in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” Kelly supplied. “But who kills unicorns? I mean really,” he added in disgust.

  “I know right, but Tim Curry was outstanding as the Darkness,” Kelly and I nodding our agreement to Sam’s assessment.

  “Then there’s Willow, that basically gives a big thumb’s up to bullying, name calling and picking on the little guy. Parental child abuse both emotional and physical are A-Okay. Not to mention substance abuse and pressuring someone until they love you,” Sam said ticking the movie's faults off on his fingers.

  “Yeah but, Val Kilmer,” Kelly said as if that was the only argument needed.

  “Yeah, but they were all from a different time when political correctness didn’t rule the world. I mean Casablanca by today’s standards is sexist and racist as fuck. You have both made valid points, but these movies also teach loyalty, strength and sticking up for what you believe in. That hero’s come in all shapes and sizes and that you don’t have to be the big tough manly-man to save the day. Often, it’s the girl that is the hero,” I commented.

  “Yes, all that but, most importantly these movies have David Bowie, Tom Cruise and Val K
ilmer,” Kelly countered, Sam and I nod in agreement. “Things in the 80’s were just so much simpler.” To which Kelly added, “Your Honour I rest my case.”

  The boys wanted to go out to dinner, but I declined.

  “Thank you for asking, but I think the less time I’m out in public, the better. I don’t want to tip anyone off that I’m here.”

  The boys decided they would go to their favourite restaurant and bring home takeaway. We could go to the rooftop garden and eat under the stars watching the world go by. I tidied up showered and put a bottle of wine on ice while the boys were out. I really wanted to have another nap but kept myself busy, so I would sleep through the night. Jet-lag was a bitch.

  The meeting with Georgiou was set for five days from now. I would use that time to my advantage, planning for what was to come. I planned for every contingency good, bad and the worst-case scenario. I wanted to prepare and make sure that no matter what the situation I had a way out.

  As much as I loved and respected Georgiou, I wouldn’t underestimate him. He could be ruthless, vicious and violent when he wanted to be. I had witnessed that side of him and never wanted to be on the receiving end of Don Marino’s wrath. I wasn’t kidding when I told Memphis that he would hesitate to kill me if it was the right business decision.

  Dinner was amazing, so tasty. The wine was delicious but between travelling, the wine and keeping myself awake by nine PM I was exhausted. I said goodnight to Sam and Kelly dragging myself back down the stairs and headed to bed.

  Chapter 8 Hedge

  The next morning it was time to prepare for the worst. I finished my coffee and packed my bag full of everything I would need for my day of scouting. I had several changes of clothing I could switch out with minimal fuss, hats, beanies scarfs and wraps.

  I dressed in tights, a crop top, covered up with a flannelette shirt and black chucks on my feet. This would make my outfit changes easier and would help with blending in. I covered my mahogany hair with a dirty blond shoulder-length wig; there was nothing remarkable about this wig. It was boring, full of split ends, the colour was uneven, dark roots were showing, it looked like I needed a good colour and cut. It was perfect, I would attract attention because of my hair, and that was the point.

  When I stepped out the door of my flat onto the streets of London, I needed to blend in as fast as possible. I needed to be forgettable, a ghost. I needed to move around London without notice. I wanted to get done what I had to and be back in my flat without being followed and God willing, without having to neutralise a threat.

  I spent the day traveling around London and its boroughs, looking like a backpacker touring the city checking out the sites. I was mapping several escape routes, vantage points and accessible but hidden places to stash weapons.

  Late in the afternoon, I sat in the park across the road from the pub Brian had owned, eating a doughnut and warming my hands with a hot chocolate.

  When Brian was alive Uncle Charlie would use the basement of the pub for meetings requiring neutral territory and it is where Uncle Charlie had made arrangements for the meeting with Georgiou to take place.

  The pub looked like it hadn’t changed at all. The upcoming meeting with Georgiou would be in the same room that Uncle Charlie had always used. I was both glad and saddened by this. I was glad that the tradition of Brian’s pub being neutral territory would continue, but I was also sad and a little sickened that Brian and Stella had to pay the price for a misunderstanding. In a way, it felt like a slap in the face that their pub was being used for this meeting.

  I was sitting cross-legged on the park bench absorbing the sun and letting the happy memories of Brian and Stella comfort me.

  The hair of the dirty blonde wig was now in two plaits sitting over my shoulders and covered by a knitted slouch beanie. I was wearing an oversized men’s button-up shirt a chunky woollen scarf, and denim jacket. Giant oversized glasses that hid my eyes, so you couldn’t tell where I was looking. They were great for spying. I looked like any other college student hanging out in the park between classes.

  The park was littered with office workers having a late lunch. Mothers with kids playing on the swings, couples laying in the sun and the odd student reading heavy looking textbooks. I sat in the park absorbing some of the warmth of the afternoon autumn sun, watching Brian’s pub wishing I could go in, sit at the bar and just feel their presence.

  I hadn’t been to Brian or Stella’s graves to pay my respects. I was sure that there would be someone watching them to see if anyone turned up. When all this was over with, I would go sit with them and mourn them and say my goodbyes. But for now, sitting across the road from the pub was the best I could do.

  I had decided to pack it in for the day and head home for a soak in the tub and a nap before Skyping Memphis when movement in the ally beside the pub caught my attention. Brian was a creature of habit, and for the past thirty years, everything had happened according to the same schedule.

  Even after his murder, Mike, Brian’s assistant manager and childhood friend who had inherited the pub, had kept the bar running to the same schedule. Mike had told Charlie that Brian would have wanted it that way. So, the small refrigerated truck backing into the alley was completely out of place for a Wednesday. The pub opened late on a Wednesday because Brian would take Stella out for lunch. Mike had kept up the tradition of opening after five. So, a truck arriving at two in the afternoon was abnormal.

  I needed to investigate. I got up dropping my rubbish in the nearest bin and walked unhurriedly towards the alley. There was a tube station a few blocks from the pub, and plenty of people would cut through the alley to reach the station. I put my earbuds in my ears without turning the music on and headed down the alley, just another bored kid headed for the train.

  As I approached the truck, I took photos of the signage on the side and the number plate, looking like I was just scrolling through my phone. I noted that although it was a refrigerated truck, the fridge motors were not running. Three men climbed out of the truck like they were preparing to unload a delivery.

  “Bob, you got the work order,” one man said eyeing me as I approached the truck.

  “Right here,” Bob replied exaggeratedly holding up a clipboard with a sheet of paper clipped to it.

  It was all for appearance's sake. They were wearing overalls like most delivery drivers wore, to the casual observer, they were just three guys going about their day. I was not so easily fooled.

  They all had tell-tale bludges at their backs from their guns, their work boots looked too clean and new, their overalls too white, their conversation and movements too rehearsed. They were up to no good.

  I kept my head down and walked to the end of the alley turning towards the station. Once I was out of sight of the men, I doubled back. I stripped off the chunky scarf, oversized shirt and jacket stuffing them into my backpack, stashing it underneath the dumpster.

  I tucked the plaits of my wig under my black beanie. In my black tights and fitted long sleeve tee I wore, I disappeared into the shadows of the buildings to find out what the men were up to.

  The early setting London autumn sun helped to create plenty of shadows for me to hide in. If anyone spotted me my clothing would help me go from sneaking in the shadows to a city jogger trying to get in some exercise in the dying light of the day.

  At the back of the pub, I scaled the fire escape. Keeping low, I ran across the roof and silently lowered myself down onto the overhang above the back door where the men had gathered.

  “The Reaper said everyone attending the meeting would enter and leave through this door. No one’s going through the pub,” a man said.

  Well, that answers that question, I thought. Fucking Vex, I should have known that asshole was behind this.

  “He wants cameras set up in the alley and by the door,” the other said scratching at his jaw. “He wants to see everything.”

  “How many?”

  “Just three the guy wants to see everything but
he’s a cheapskate so all he gets is three. One on the door and two on the alley.” “Right-o let’s get to work,” the one called Bob said.

  From my shadowed hiding spot above them, I watched the men work. Noting where each camera was placed so I could avoid them. I planned on hacking the feed, so I could see what they saw. The men worked quietly and efficiently installing the micro cameras that wouldn’t be noticed unless you were looking for them. I was just about to retreat off the roof when Bob’s words froze me in place.

  “The charges are going to be a little harder to conceal.”

  “Where are we placing them?” Jaw scratcher asked.

  “Along the gas piping and against the structural beams in the basement,” Bob instructed. “Once the Reaper has cleared the building he’ll remote detonate it.”

  “What is this shit, anyway?” Clipboard guy asked tipping a glass cylinder side to side sloshing around a pale green liquid.

  “Don’t mess with that shit Paul!” Bob reprimanded. “It’s the fucking explosive, you idiot.” Paul stilled his hand, the colour draining from his face. “That’s the shit that’s going to make it look like there was a gas explosion taking out everyone. Charlie the fucker, the head of the Marino family and that bitch Morningstar.”

  Bob and Jaw Scratcher both laughed but Paul looked like someone had just kicked his puppy.

  “Morningstar, really? Well that sucks.”

  “Why?” Bob asked. “She’s a fucking bitch she killed my brother and slept with my wife to get information!”

  “Well bugger me,” Jaw scratcher laughed. “That’s the reason you broke up? She left you for a woman.” Jaw scratcher doubled over roaring with laughter, tears streaming down his face.

  “Fuck you, Darryl,” Bob said shoving the man, “and fuck that stupid lesbo.”

  “You did, and not very well it would seem,” Paul said laughing at his own joke.