let’s me and you go and have a little chat.’
Jimmy frowned. ‘I ain’t going nowhere, Mr Laughton. You got a warrant for me?’
Laughton shook his head. ‘Course not. This is me, Laughton, not fucking Paul Condon, you prat. Since when did I need a warrant - or anything else, come to that?’
Jimmy took a step backwards, straight into the arms of two uniformed officers.
‘Bollocks, Laughton! I ain’t getting in no motor with you …’
Laughton spat noisily on to the tarmacadam. ‘Get him in the car, lads. I ain’t got all fucking night.’
Jimmy was sandwiched between the two officers inside the blue unmarked Daimler, while Laughton sat in the front seat. Leaning
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nonchalantly back he smiled into Jimmy’s frightened countenance.
‘I want the score on Georgio Brunos,’ he said. ‘And before you begin, Jimmy, if push comes to shove I’ll smash your face in without a thought for blood, AIDs, gristle or bone. Do you get my drift?’
Jimmy shook his head sadly. ‘I don’t know Brunos. I mean, I know of him, but not personally like. All I know is, he’s a face. But I don’t know anything about him. What’s he supposed to have done?’
Laughton lit up another cigarette and looked out into the car park for a few moments, as if debating with himself over his answer.
‘Never mind what he’s done. I want .you to tell me what he’s done. You, James Crossley, Grass of the Year and prize prat. Now tell me all you know about Brunos because I’m beginning to get annoyed. I’ve collared Wilson, and according to him you’re a bit of a face lately. So just open your fucking trap and we can all get home for a kip.’
Jimmy kept his eyes on the dashboard, not trusting himself to look at Laughton. The smell of the cigarette was making him feel ill. One of the uniformed men had been eating garlic, and the combination of odours was causing the beer to rise up in his stomach. He swallowed nervously.
‘Look, Mr Laughton. If I knew anything …’ Laughton sighed. ‘Belt him one, Stanley, the night’s drawing on.’ The policeman to Jimmy’s left jabbed him in the face with a short uppercut. Jimmy felt the man’s knuckles jar on his teeth. He could taste blood, and knew his lip was split and probably swelling badly. Putting his hand instinctively to his mouth, he mumbled, ‘Fucking leave it out! I tell you, I don’t know anything!’
Blows were rained on him by both men now. Jimmy, trapped between them, was helpless as the two officers pummelled his face and head.
Laughton leaned over the seat, and the two men resumed their earlier positions. Neither was even breathing heavily after his exertions.
‘Don’t wind me up, Jimmy. I’m on the verge of losing it, believe me.’
Jimmy was nearly in tears. Laughton watched the changing expressions on the man’s face with a deep-felt glee. He hated this villain and all his counterparts.
‘Now Brunos’s arse is up for robbery, the big robbery that has even impressed the government. So you can imagine, I want as much as possible on our Georgio before I get him to court, and that is where you come in, Jimmy. I want you to tell me what I want to hear, see? Even you can manage that, surely?’ Jimmy stared into the older man’s face. ‘You must be mad, Mr Laughton.’
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them Laughton laughed noisily. ‘Mad? Oh yes, I’m as mad as a hatter, my son, and don’t you ever forget it. Now, talk.’
Jimmy’s eyes were burning bright with malice. ‘With respect, Mr Laughton, if Brunos’s face is in the frame for that robbery, then quite frankly you can kick the shit out of me and I’ll just take it. Because I’m more inclined to be frightened of Brunos at this moment than I am of you. Do you get my drift? I ain’t putting no one down for a long one. No fucking way. Especially not Georgio Brunos.’
Laughton smiled, a chilling little smile. ‘Would you get up in a court of law and say that then? That you’re too frightened to give information