Payback Time 8 ( Cornwell )

Paul Fletcher was in his snooker room looking out the window at his estate. The hole was being dug for the swimming pool, but it would be a good few weeks before it was completed. He sighed; the grounds looked like a complete fucking abortion.

He sat down and called Ross.

“How’s it going with Craig?”

“All done, he’s ready.”

“How is he?”

“In a bad way, but he’ll survive, he knows what to do.”

“Did you promise him anything?”

“Just a step up the ladder when it’s all over and a good brief.”

“Ok, give it ten minutes than take him.”

Paul hung up as usual. He called another number from the old mobile. A gruff voice answered.

“Cornwell”

“Call me…….now!”

Paul hung up the phone and started to count, he got up to twenty six then his mobile rung. He smiled and answered; someone on the other end was out of breath.

“Bloody hell Paul, I’ve had to run all the way to the call box at Mile End station, what’s up?”

“What’s fucking up? Terry Murphy is out, Danny’s been killed, Murphy’s teamed up with the Irish and you ask me what’s up, are you some kind of cunt?”

“No, no, course not, I mean, I was going to call you later anyway, about Danny, I knew Murphy was out but didn’t know he was with the Irish, Murphy’s got an alibi for the killing anyway, he was in the Oporto, loads of people saw him”

“I fucking know that, Ross was in there with them, now listen carefully, I don’t want a big investigation into Danny’s demise, don’t want anything being uncovered that needs to be left alone, understand? This should be just a simple argument between two blokes that got out of control.”

“Yeh sure Paul, there’s nothing at the moment, no prime suspect, the guy that’s in charge is just concerned that the gear wasn’t taken, over a kilo of powder, worth a few grand, but no one took it”

“Ok, in a few minutes time, someone will walk into your nick at Mile End, he’ll be covered in blood, he’s been stabbed a few times, he’ll confess to the murder of Danny. It was an argument that got out of hand, Danny stabbed him and in self-defence this guy stuck a knife in him, it was nothing to do with the gear ok? Just an argument that got nasty”

“Who is it Paul?”

“It’s Craig, he’s ok, I’ll have my brief take care of everything, then I want the case closed, Ok?”

“I’ll do what I can Paul?”

“No you won’t, you’ll do as you’re fucking told!”

Paul hung up. He smiled, he loved the power that money gave him, everyone could be bought, you just had to find out how much. It was a game that he loved to play.

He suddenly remembered something from years back, he was playing cards in the early hours of the morning, with a Surveyor from the local council, Paul was winning. The Surveyor was running out of money. They took a break. Paul remembered the conversation clearly. He asked him.

“You gay?”

“Fuck off, no way, I’m married with kids”

“Ever sucked cock?”

“Fuck off, I told you I’m not gay”

“You need more money to continue playing, right?”

“Yeh”

“I’ll lend it to you”

“Really? Cheers Paul”

“But you have to suck my cock first”

The Surveyor thought he was joking at first then saw the look in Paul’s eyes.

“Fuck off, I’d rather go home”

“Twenty grand”

“Fuck off, no way, I’m off”

He put his coat on.

“Thirty grand and you only have to pay me back ten”

The guy looked at him and at that moment Paul knew he had him. There was a silence. Then the guy took a deep breath and said.

“No, no way, I’ve had enough I’m going home”

Paul knew he was close.

“Fifty grand, I’ll give it to you right now, you only pay back ten and you can pay it back whenever you like, just come into the kitchen and get on your knees”

Paul could see the guy thinking it over, the mortgage, the car payments, the kid’s school fees just for a five minute blow job. He nodded and walked into the kitchen.

Paul followed him and shut the door. The guy got on his knees. Paul put a hand on his head and then brought his knee up, it caught him full in the face.

“See you, see you, you’ve sat opposite me all night, thinking your shit don’t stink and yet here you are about to nosh me off, there was never any money, it was all about you and how much it would take, now fuck off home to your wife and kids and one day I’ll ask you for a favour and you will not refuse me, OK?

Four months later Paul wanted planning permission to build four two bedroom flats on a piece of green belt land. It went through.

DCI Cornwell was sitting in his office in Mile End Police station, the door burst open.

“Guv, there’s a guy out there covered in blood, he says he killed Danny Wilson in self-defence, I’ve called an ambulance, he’s in a pretty bad way”

Cornwell smiled and under his breath said. “Paul Fletcher you are one amazing cunt."