Instruments of Darkness

‘I don’t. He’s a family friend, a Syrian multimillionaire. He did a lot of business with my father over the last forty years.’

‘Was that him before?’ I asked. Jack nodded. ‘What does he want?’

‘He needs someone he can trust in Cotonou and I’m volunteering you.’

‘I’ll give him a call.’

‘He wants to see you.’

‘What the hell for?’

‘He likes to see people he employs.’

‘I don’t want to go to Accra.’

‘It’s good money.’

‘To hell with the money. Heike’s in town and she’s bloody furious.’

‘You didn’t make her count the money?’

‘What the hell else was she going to do?’

Jack shook with high giggling laughter and drummed his fingers on his taut belly.

‘If you go now you’ll be back in Cotonou this evening.’

‘Ready for action,’ I said.

Jack ducked his head and turned his mouth down.

‘It’s a new client for you. He’ll pay you a lot better than anyone else around here.’

‘You mean his currency is money rather than promises.’

‘He does have money.’

‘Giving-type money or keeping-type money?’

‘Money-type money.’

‘I don’t care. I don’t want to go.’ I was searching for something. ‘I’ve got lunch with Madame Severnou.’

‘Lunch!’

‘Yeah, first course is a ground glass soufflé.’

‘You’re not going to lunch.’

‘No, and I’m not going to Accra either.’

‘I’ll get someone else. Fine. No problem.’ Jack was giving me the lion look now.

‘I owe Heike. We were counting until three in the morning.’

‘No problem. Forget it.’ Jack looked off into his neighbour’s garden again.

‘Jack,’ I said. ‘I’ll go as long as you promise never to say “no problem” to me.’

‘No problem,’ he said smiling. I didn’t laugh.

It was a game that had to be played. Jack knew I needed the money. I knew I needed the money. Jack knew that I owed him. But appearances have to be kept up. I also wanted to find out what was going on with Madame Severnou and I thought I might be able to catch Jack right now with the stabbing technique.

‘What’s going on, Jack?’

‘With what?’ he said.

‘Madame Severnou.’

Our eyes fixed; Jack’s were steady.

‘Croissant?’ he said, holding up the plate and shrugging.

‘I’ve got to get rid of this first,’ I said, pinching the fat on my stomach. Jack smiled and breathed out.

‘You have nothing to fear, Bruce,’ he said, standing up and slapping his wooden gut. We shook hands and clicked fingers Ghanaian style.

‘My uncle’s name is unpronounceable. Everybody calls him B.B. He lives on the airport side not far from the Shangri La Hotel. Ask for the Holy Church of Christ. His house is next door, on the left as you look at the church.’

I started down the spiral staircase, back into the garage.

‘By the way,’ added Jack, picking up the zapper, ‘he’s a little unusual for a millionaire.’

‘He gives people money for nothing?’ I said.

Jack laughed and the TV came on so I left him. I kept a few things in a room in Jack’s house. I had a shower and changed.

Patience accepted my dirty clothes which she dropped on the floor and walked off to go and be surly somewhere else. Jack was leaning over the balcony waiting for me.

‘What were the heavies like?’ he asked.

‘Big and heavy,’ I said, not feeling like telling him anything.

‘Did they have guns?’

‘Either that or very long arms.’ That impressed him.

‘You keep me informed,’ he said.