Page 95 of Tell No One
“You’d enjoy that, wouldn’t’ you?Andwhen it gets stuck or lost inside me? What then? I’m not doing it. I know it’s to help Delaney but it’s too risky. You think one of them isn’t going to fuck me when I’m in their hands? No phone.”
No one was going to be fucking him without a fight but the idea of a phone up his arse filled him with horror. He’d known of a couple of guys in prison who’d ended up in the hospital.
Smiler came back with the contract and after Tag had read it, he signed it and the others did too.
“Now make the donation,” Tag said. “And tick the Gift Aid box since it’s in my name.”
“Cheeky little…” But Barker gave Smiler the order and in minutes the money was sent.
Tag sighed. There was no pulling out now. At least he wasn’t going to do this entirely for nothing.
Later that night, they woke him and took him into London.
“Do try not to get arrested,” Barker said. “That would fuck everything up. This is the plan: Feely comes out of London Bridge station and gets a coffee every morning from The Colombian Coffee Company, then drinks it as he crosses the bridge on the way to work.”
“What does he do?”
“He’s a lawyer.”
Tag’s jaw dropped.
Barker smiled. “Happily married with four kids. Well, maybe nothappilymarried.”
Shit!
“He always crosses at seven thirty. You need to be coming the other way. When you see him, start asking people for money. Make sure he sees you.”
“Why wouldn’t I run the other way?”
“Pretend to be shocked. Then ask him for what you’re owed.”
“Coming up on London Bridge,” the driver said.
Barker looked out of the window. “Find somewhere quiet.”
Tag gave a shaky exhale. It was game on.
When the car pulled up, Barker and Bruiser got out. Tag stepped onto the curb. The attack came fast and the first punch threw him against the wall. They used hands and fists, but he could tell they were holding back on doing any real damage. Even so, it still hurt and his cheek was bleeding. Tag wasn’t just going to stand there and take it. He landed a fist in Barker’s stomach and as a reward, was thumped even harder. Tag was on the ground by the time Bruiser pulled Barker off.
“Do not fuck this up,” Barker snarled.
Bruiser threw his backpack and a bottle of water at him, then the car pulled away. Tag couldn’t move for a while and just lay there groaning. Finally, he crawled into a doorway and curled up around his backpack and the water. He didn’t like the idea of walking into Feely. What if the guy didn’t see him? Tag had a better idea, assuming he could walk tomorrow.
Sleeping didn’t really happen. He’d pulled on a hoody so he wasn’t cold, but he was uncomfortable. As soon it was light, he made his way to the station. It was five in the morning. There were a few people around but Tag didn’t make eye contact. He kept his head down as he descended the stairs to the lower concourse and went into the toilets. He grimaced when he looked in the mirror.Fucking Barker!Tag washed his face until there was no trace of blood, then cleaned his teeth. He felt better but he didn’t look much better. His cheek was grazed and there were bruises on his chin and under his eye.
He pulled his fingers through his hair and made himself smile.I can do this.He probably couldn’t but he was going to try. One thing he could do, but it would mean using one of his precious pounds, was call Delaney. He had the number memorised. Tag didn’t want him to do anything, he just wanted to hear his voice.
He checked his bag and his clothes to make sure they hadn’t put a tracker on him, then headed for the payphones.
Delaney answered on the first ring. “Yes.”
“It’s me. Call me back on this number if I run out of money.” Tag rattled it off.
“Are you okay?” Delaney asked. “Not inclined to shorten my name?”
Tag managed a chuckle. “I bet you didn’t buy that chocolate.”
“I thought getting back to you was more important. Where are you?”
