sat next to him on the sofa. ‘I know what you thinking, Aaron,’ Dee continued. ‘You’re wondering if there’s any way you can get out of this room alive.’
Aaron was too scared to respond. The tendons in his hand stood out as his fingers clutched the arm of the sofa.
‘You can get out of here,’ Dee said soothingly. ‘As a matter of fact you can get out without a scratch by telling me everything I want to know. And you might as well tell me, because you’ll talk one way or another.’
Dee gave the drill another spin to make his point.
‘What is it you want to know?’ Aaron asked, managing a timid smile.
Dee placed a hand on Aaron’s shoulder. ‘I’ve never had a beef with the Runts before,’ he said. ‘You’re street dealers, muggers, hustlers, small-timers. But now you’re suddenly organised: you’ve got information, you know where all my dealers are and you’re smart enough to uncover my stash. Who’s the traitor in my organisation?’
Michael was surprised that Dee thought the Runts had learned about the cocaine from one of his own men; but actually it was the most logical explanation.
‘Listen,’ Aaron said, so scared that his whole head twitched when he moved his jaw. ‘I don’t mean you no disrespect Major Dee, but I’m not exactly on the top rung of the ladder. I can only tell you what I know.’
Dee shrugged. ‘Then tell me what you know and pray it makes me happy.’
‘We got the information about the cocaine off this guy. He’s black, but I don’t think he works for you.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘Kelvin Holmes.’
Major Dee looked towards Colin. ‘I don’t know that name. You ever hear it?’
‘From my boxing days,’ Colin nodded. ‘Kelvin used to coach in the old gym on the Thornton Estate. Had a shot as a pro-fighter, but got busted for dealing.’
Dee raised an eyebrow. ‘You talking about Keith Moore’s old gym?’
Colin nodded. ‘Which means Kelvin’s probably mixing with the Mad Dogs now.’
Major Dee turned back to Aaron. ‘You hear this Kelvin say anything about Sasha Thompson, or the Mad Dogs?’
Aaron nodded. ‘Well … not exactly about the Mad Dogs, but Kelvin put us in touch with this brother who said he’d give us a good price for whatever coke we stole.’
‘And what was his name?’ Dee asked.
‘That I don’t know, I swear. But everyone seemed to think that he worked with the Mad Dogs – and come to think of it, I heard one or two others say that Kelvin was one of Sasha Thompson’s boys too.’
Dee’s eyes bulged like ping-pong balls. ‘I knew Runts weren’t capable of this,’ he hissed, as he threw down the drill and pounded a fist into his palm. ‘Sasha hasn’t got enough manpower to take me on, so he sets up a war with the Runts …’
‘Makes sense,’ Colin said.
Michael was relieved that Aaron wasn’t getting tortured, but in every other way this was the worst thing that could have happened. Major Dee knowing that Sasha had robbed him could only lead to an all-out war.
Dee smiled at Aaron as he pulled a money clip out of his pocket and began peeling twenties. ‘You know the Mad Dogs created a lot of trouble for you? I’ll need a man on the inside. Here’s a hundred pounds. I’ll pay you more every time you tell me what you hear about the Runts and Mad Dogs.’
Aaron was in no position to refuse Dee’s offer. He’d been expecting a drill through the back of his head and his smile was pathetically grateful as he grabbed the banknotes fluttering into his lap.
‘But don’t deceive me,’ Dee warned. ‘Colin’s been through your wallet. We have your address and a picture of your family. Any slips and you be back here with the Black and Decker.’
‘I understand,’ Aaron stammered. ‘I completely understand.’
‘Glad you do,’ Dee nodded. ‘Now you better prove where your loyalty lies.’
‘I won’t mess you about, Dee. I’m not a smart guy like you or Sasha. All I’ve ever wanted was a bit of extra money to make things good for my girl and my baby.’
‘How nice,’ Dee grinned. ‘But Owen Campbell-Moore was a long-standing friend and I bet you know details of the other boys that were around when he got done in.’
Aaron looked edgy. ‘Not addresses and everything, but I know all their names.’
‘That’ll do,’ Dee nodded, as his eyes turned to Michael. ‘Mickey boy, have a look around. There’s gotta be a pen and paper in this house.’
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