Widows

‘I’m not here for the seven thousand,’ she said, looking straight ahead.

Marshall closed his eyes. If she didn’t want the cash, then she wanted something much worse. ‘I knew it would happen again,’ Marshall whimpered. ‘It’s my brother-in-law’s security firm. This’ll break him!’

Dolly maintained her composure. Marshall was clearly terrified of her and she had to keep it that way to get what she wanted. She noted the child’s seat in the back of the car. Mr. Marshall will do as he’s asked, she thought.

‘There’s ten grand here,’ she said, flipping open the briefcase on her lap. Marshall’s eyes widened at the rows and rows of banknotes. She snapped the case shut again. ‘That’s more than you were offered last time.’

‘I was promised that last time was the last time,’ Marshall whined. ‘Rawlins gave me his word! He said he’d let me off the hook and—’

‘Rawlins is dead.’ As the words left Dolly’s mouth, her heart jolted, but she couldn’t let Marshall see how much those words hurt her. ‘Even though three men died, you still got paid seven grand. And Harry Rawlins picked up your marker.’

‘You said you weren’t here for the seven thousand!’

‘If you keep to your side of the bargain, I’m not. If you don’t keep to your side of the bargain—’

‘Bollocks!’ interrupted Marshall. He looked at the hard bitch of a woman sitting next to him. He didn’t know who she was or who she worked for, but he disliked her intensely. He could feel the brandy giving him confidence. ‘I’m broke, so you can demand money all you like; I don’t have it to give. And I can’t get the delivery routes again because my brother-in-law’s upped his security. So — what can you do?’

Dolly stared at Brian, unblinking. ‘If you don’t keep to your side of the bargain,’ she continued as if Marshall hadn’t interrupted at all, ‘the debt gets sold back to the Fisher brothers. You do know the Fisher brothers, don’t you, Mr. Marshall?’

Instantly, the boldness instilled by the brandy ebbed away and the blood drained from Marshall’s face. He didn’t know the Fishers personally, but their reputation was enough.

Dolly continued, ‘Give me the route, your seven-grand debt goes away and, when the job’s done, you get this ten grand in cash. You should be glad I’m giving you this opportunity. The Fisher’s won’t be so kind.’ She opened the passenger door and got out, taking the briefcase with her, glancing very obviously at the baby seat as she slammed the door.

Marshall’s mouth trembled as he squeezed the leather steering wheel. Dolly walked away, her stride was even and controlled: she didn’t give a damn about him or his family. He found his hand on the car key in the ignition. It would be easy to knock the bitch down, steal the briefcase and disappear for good. The thought was fleeting — Marshall was a coward.

Taking the brandy flask from his pocket again, he drank it down, thinking of his wife and kids. The tears welled up and the pressure in his head was almost painful. Then he heard that voice inside, the one that spoke every time he took a drink. Everything was all right, his brother-in-law was insured, he was the family drunk, the charity case. No one would expect anything less even if they did find out. And he desperately needed that money! Ten thousand pounds... He could pay off all his debts with it; maybe even start up his own business.

As Dolly got back to her Merc, her heart was beating so fast she thought she was going to faint. God knows how she had walked so calmly across the endless car park, but she couldn’t let Marshall see how worried she was. ‘Stay upright, Dolly,’ she mumbled to herself. ‘Stay upright.’ As she got to her car, she put the suitcase on the roof and leaned her back against the door. From where Marshall was parked, it would look as though she was relaxed, waiting for his decision. In reality, she was leaning against her car to stop herself from falling over. Little Wolf watched Dolly from the passenger seat, probably wondering why she wasn’t getting back in beside him.

On the other side of the car park, Marshall didn’t move. Come on, Dolly thought. Come on. Had she been too threatening? Not threatening enough? What if he called her bluff and drove away? Perhaps it would have been better to cajole Marshall, be nicer to him, lie to him tell him that Harry respected him. Come on, Marshall, come on!

The Rover’s engine started up. Dolly held her breath; the direction Marshall took would decide her future. He pulled out of his parking space and headed for Dolly. Breathing a huge sigh of relief, she composed herself. The Rover pulled up neatly beside her and Marshall handed Dolly the envelope he’d brought with him.

‘The routes, dates and times for the next month are all in there, but I want the briefcase with cash up front now and your assurance the gambling marker is over and done with.’