Part 11 (1/2)

The man winked at Sally and indicated Delaney. 'You get to an age and suddenly you can't perform, if you know what I mean.'

Sally smiled back. 'Oh yeah, and how's your performance been of late?'

'I've had no complaints, darling.'

Sally pretended to be surprised. 'Really? Only an elderly nurse we were talking to earlier said you could only manage to fly the flag at half mast this morning.'

The guy looked over at Delaney. 'What's she on about?'

Sally turned to her boss. 'Do you know him then, sir?'

Delaney nodded. 'This here is Andy Ware. Aka Chemical Andy. Small-time drugs dealer, full-time pain in the a.r.s.e. The last time I saw him he had a skinhead haircut. Peroxide blond.'

'Yeah, well, you got to move with the times, haven't you? I do a lot of business with the brothers nowadays . . .' Correcting himself. 'Did a lot of business. All behind me now of course. I've gone legit.'

Sally looked him up and down, unimpressed. 'What's up then, Chemical? Couldn't you get hold of any v.i.a.g.r.a? Or was it just too cold for you this morning?'

'The f.u.c.k are you talking about, woman?'

Sally gestured towards his groin. 'The little man, flas.h.i.+ng it on the heath this morning, were you?'

'I haven't been flas.h.i.+ng anything.' He swirled his hips. 'And let me tell you, there ain't nothing little about this baby.'

'What are you doing here, Andy?' Delaney cut him short.

'I live here. Last I knew that ain't a crime.'

'You caught the train just after eight this morning. What have you been doing all day?'

'Working. Like I say, I'm out of the life.'

'Working at what? Somehow I can't see you as an estate agent.'

'Like I give a f.u.c.k what you see me as.'

Delaney leaned in. 'We can do this down the nick if you prefer it?'

The man shrugged. 'Community service.'

'What?'

'With the CAB, helping people with their finances.'

Delaney turned to Sally. 'He's a semi-qualified accountant. Left university with a degree, a bad haircut and a habit.'

'f.u.c.k the habit, I left university with fifteen thousand pounds' worth of student loans to pay off.'

Sally flashed him a less than sympathetic look. 'So, you're telling us you weren't flas.h.i.+ng the wiener this morning.'

Chemical Andy flashed his teeth again and pumped his groin forward. 'I told you, sweet cheeks, this here ain't no chipolata. I'm talking jumbo sausage, darling, you bring your own sauce.'

Delaney glared at him. 'Just answer the question.'

'What, you serious? You think I'm some kind of pervert?'

Sally nodded. 'Yeah. We do. Why did you take off when you saw us otherwise?'

Andy Ware shook his head. 'Because I know the way you people work. You be putting something on me.'

His eyes slid sideways a little, not holding Delaney's gaze.

Delaney sighed and turned to Sally. 'Look in his briefcase.'

Andy Ware struggled futilely against the grip of the uniformed officers as Sally opened the case.

'No way, man. That's my private property. That's cold, man. You got no cause. You got no right.'

Sally opened the briefcase and pulled out several packs of white powder. 'And you got the right to remain silent.'

'f.u.c.k that.'

'And the right to brag about the size of you hot dog to the boys of E Wing. I'm sure they'll have plenty of sauce for you.'

Delaney nodded to the uniforms. 'Take him to the car.'

The uniforms led him off cursing. Sally smiled and looked at Delaney. 'You think he's good for it?'

'Doubt it somehow.'

'So where does that leave us?'

Delaney let out a long painful sigh and let the pain show on his face. 'In need of a drink.'

'What's up, boss?'

'I've dislocated my shoulder.'

'Shall I take you down to the hospital?'

Delaney held his right hand out, wincing. 'Just take my arm, both hands, and hold it tight.'

'Sir?'

'Just do it, Sally.'

Sally, puzzled, did as she was asked.

Delaney took a quick, sharp breath then wrenched his shoulder, snapping it back into place. 'Jesus, Mary, and all the sweet saints!' He staggered backwards, Sally still clinging to his arm. 'All right, you can let go now.'

Sally released her grip and Delaney put his left hand against a lamp post.