Chapter Two

      ‘That ain’t what we agreed.’

      ‘What you talking about ... what we agreed?’

      The woman listening outside the door recognised her husband’s mean, scoffing voice.

      ‘We didn’t agree nuthin’, as I recall.’

      ‘Reckon you must have a right problem with yer memory then. I told you a monkey, and a monkey it is, or no deal.’

      Winifred Finch shrank aside as, through a sliver of space, she saw her husband whip a glance her way. In her eagerness to concentrate on what was going on she’d gripped tightly at the door knob, making it squeak in protest. She crept backwards, still craning her neck in the hope of hearing more.

      The two men had frozen at the suspicious sound with their fists planted on the table and their torsos almost touching across its square cloth-covered top. A single lamp was burning to one side of them and it put sallow colour on their snarling profiles, and jagged shadows on the opposite wall.

      The younger of the men suddenly sprang half out of his chair and swept the gold on the table towards him with the edges of his palms. Broad, bristle-backed fingers then crouched protectively over the jewellery as he slunk down into his seat. ‘You don’t want this fair and square,’ William Black spat, ‘don’t fucking have it. I got other places to go. This ain’t high street crap, y’know, Finchie. This is stuff most likely come out of Tiffany’s and Mappin & Webb and the like. I’ll have people rip me arm off to get hold of it, so fuck you.’

      ‘Now ... now ... now ...’ the older man soothed. His slitted eyes darted back to the glitter visible beneath his associate’s hand. He was sure his wife was spying but he’d deal with the nosy cow later. He relaxed back in his chair and spread his arms, gesturing for a truce. ‘Didn’t say I don’t want it, did I, Bill? Just said we ain’t agreed a price yet. Certainly ain’t agreed the sum you come out with.’ He snorted a laugh, hoping he was conveying how farcical he thought Bill’s figure. His mockery sounded false and nervous, and did nothing to alleviate the tension in the gloomy room.

      Eddie Finch had known Bill Black for many years. He did business with him on a regular basis despite Bill living Lambeth way and Eddie being an Islington resident. Bill might turn up, unannounced, any evening, and unload from his car several cases stuffed with stolen goodies. Eddie knew Bill made the journey to see him north of the water because he liked the way he did business. If Bill had any better associates over Lambeth way paying good prices Eddie knew he wouldn’t have seen so much of him. He’d no intention of being railroaded into paying over the odds. He slew a crafty glance at the jewellery.

      This little stash was entirely different from what he usually got offered. As a rule Bill brought him a few boxes filled with luxury items of leather and linen, knocked off from some top West End store. But this wasn’t fifty quids worth of nice stuff from Derry and Toms or Selfridges, which he’d get a handsome profit on by channelling it through market stalls and clothes dealers. This was serious money. But Eddie wasn’t about to let Bill know how keen he was; neither did he relish getting into a scrap with the nutter.

      For one thing, he had his wife and kids about the place, and he didn’t want a tear-up occurring in his own home. For another, Bill was almost half his age and about a stone heavier. He’d seen the damage Bill could inflict when in a paddy. Last week, when in a south London pub for a business meeting with another of his partners in crime, Eddie had seen a fellow who looked a right state courtesy of Bill’s vicious temper. Apparently, he’d spoken less than respectfully to one of Bill’s lady friends. Bill was known to have plenty of women always on the go. In all probability it had been a slag he had no real feelings for that had been insulted yet it had resulted in a bloke nearly getting kicked to death. Eddie could see that Bill hardly had a mark on him so the fellow must have either been too pissed to put up a proper fight or had a lousy punch on him.

      Eddie’s excitement at the prospect of getting his hands on some lovely stuff had given him a racing heartbeat and guts that gurgled, but he’d no intention of letting Bill know he was seriously rattled. For a long, long time he’d wanted a plump sum to add to his little nest egg and Eddie reckoned he’d found one. He wasn’t going to let it slip away.

      ‘Winifred!’ Eddie summoned his wife in a bellow. ‘Take a drink, won’t yer, Bill?’

      A diminutive woman with frizzy brown hair and a sullen expression immediately shuffled into the parlour from the adjoining kitchenette. A small boy peered about the edge of the door with huge dark eyes, but when Bill noticed him and gave him an exaggerated wink the child shrank back out of sight.

      ‘Get us a couple of whiskies while we sort out some business.’

      ‘Ain’t gonna make no difference to the price.’ Bill Black gave a sour smile. ‘I’ll take a drink with you, Eddie, but I still want a monkey or nothing doing.’ As Winifred beetled back to the kitchenette Bill noticed Eddie’s eyes dart again to his humped hand so he temptingly wriggled his fingers, exposing the shimmer beneath. Weak lamplight caused the diamonds to spark fire and the dark stones appeared huge and profound.

      ‘Fuckin’ hell, that is nice,’ Eddie whispered, lunging to pick up a ring by its platinum shank. The huge sapphire at its centre appeared black until he angled it towards the light and it burst into colour.

      ‘Get most o’ yer monkey back on that piece alone, won’t yer?’ Bill softly drawled, watching Eddie with foxy eyes. ‘Tell you the truth, I reckon I must be nuts lettin’ it go.’ He inclined closer to whisper, ‘Betty took a fancy to that sapphire and I nearly had to break her finger to get it back off her, the greedy mare.’ He continued watching Eddie’s expression as he turned the ring this way and that, letting the lamp work its magic.

      Eddie fumbled under the edge of the tablecloth to pull open a drawer and find an eyeglass. Having screwed it in, he went to business.

      ‘Don’t let yer missus get a gander at that one. Go missing, it will, ’fore you’ve had a chance to shift it.’

      Eddie snickered and continued twisting the ring to and fro.

      Words were unnecessary. Bill knew the weasel sitting opposite would throttle his missus or his kids if any of them so much as touched anything of his without his say so.

      Eddie put down the sapphire and began examining a square-cut diamond ring set in yellow gold. He carried on until every single item had been thoroughly studied. He didn’t have much of a clue what to look for; the gems looked big and clean under inspection and that seemed enough. But he’d once had a job as a goldsmith’s apprentice in Hatton Garden and liked to think he knew a bit about the trade despite the fact he’d been sacked for stealing a bracelet before he’d been employed six months.

      ‘Well?’ Bill prompted, having impatiently observed his companion staring transfixed at the collection of gems neatly arranged in the centre of the table.

      ‘Give yer four.’

      ‘Get stuffed.’

      Winifred shuffled in and nervously put down two tumblers half-filled with Scotch. She audibly swallowed and gawped, dumbstruck at the jewellery adorning her dirty tablecloth.

      ‘On yer way,’ her husband gruffly ordered, jerking a thumb in the direction of the kitchenette. Immediately she did as she’d been told, pulling the door to after her.

      ‘Shut it!’ Eddie barked. He waited until he heard a click, then said, ‘Bleedin’ nosy cow’s probably got her eye stuck to the keyhole instead.’

      ‘Can’t