Page 38 of The Wedding Cake Wish
‘What’s wrong with that?’ demands the man called Gerry. ‘Isuppose you’d just throw him in the river, would you? Christ!’
‘He was a bloodyrat, for Christ’s sake. Dirty littleshite. And you think he’s entitled to a goodsend-off?’
‘Look, Iknowwhat hewas. Does that mean heshouldn’t get a proper burial?’
‘Aproper burial! Look, it’s bin day tomorrow. Justput him out with the rubbish. Bottom of the wheelie bin.’
I stare at Hudson in horror. ‘What thehell?’I whisper.‘They murder people who rat on them and dispose of their bodies in thedustbin?What on earth will they do tousif they find us lurking aroundhere?’
He shakes his head and puts his finger to his lips.
I hold out my hand. ‘I’m shaking. We need to get out ofhere. And fast,’ I hiss. ‘Before we end up as body parts, being levered into abin lorry.’
‘Bloody Robbie. Bloody rat,’ mutters Buzz Cut Man. ‘It’sfinally happened, you realise. You’ve lost your frickin’ marbles, Gerry. Let’sface it, all it ever did was trip people up and scare Julie half to death.’
‘Your missus being scared of vermin is nothing to do withme, mate. Robbie was special. I swear he was half-human, that rat. And I’m notflushing him down the john for no one.’
I almost laugh but instead, I clap my hand over my mouth.
He’s actually talking about apet rat!
I close my eyes as relief floods through me, and when I openthem again, Hudson’s grinning broadly at me. I shoot my eyes to the sky,feeling very foolish.
‘Right. There’d better be milk in that fridge,’ says BuzzCut Man.
‘Just used the last.’
‘Bloody typical. Shop it is, then.’
At that, they both get in their vehicles and motor off,presumably in the direction of the front gates.
I breathe a sigh of relief and sit up cautiously.
‘Brendan Myers could definitely do with tightening up hissecurity,’ says Hudson, doing the same. ‘His minders aren’t exactly thugs andthat dog barking machine is pathetic. It’s not even working.’
‘What do we do now?’
‘Investigate the barn.’
I glance over at it warily. When we were planning it, Ithought I’d be okay. But now that we’re here, all my courage seems to be desertingme. But I push down my nerves and nod. ‘Okay. Let’s go.’
We creep through the longish grass, aiming for the barnthat’s visible off to the right through the trees. It would be quicker to walkas the crow flies but that would take us dangerously near the swimming poolarea at the back of the house, with its exotic-looking cabana, sun umbrellasand what looks to be a bar. There’s no one there at the moment, but to be onthe safe side, we stay close to the perimeter railings.
‘I bet it’s locked,’ I whisper as we approach the barn.
‘Try the door.’
‘Me?’ I turn nervously.
‘Yes, you.’ He smiles, looking remarkably relaxed for onewho’s trespassing on land belonging to an unscrupulous thug – a man who thinksnothing of pushing people in front of speeding vehicles should they prove anuisance.
My heart racing, I step forward and pull at the handle, andto my surprise, it swings open. I hesitate on the threshold as a pungent scent– like rust but much stronger – surges up my nose, catching in my throat andmaking me cough.
‘What’s that smell?’ I hiss, stepping back onto Hudson’sfoot. ‘Oh, hell, I’m not sure I want to go in there.’
‘It’s okay.’ Hudson moves forwards stealthily and pulls thebarn door a little wider, checking inside. ‘Come on.’
I follow him inside, peering into the darkness as my eyesgradually adjust. Hudson shines the torch from his mobile around the emptyspace. ‘No one here,’ he murmurs, and my shoulders, hoisted somewhere around myears, slump with relief.
