Page 14 of The Impossible Fortune

Kendrick looks at his dad, then back at his mum. ‘Do you promise?’

‘I promise.’

Kendrick nods.

Danny can actually see upsides here. A bit of freedom. He’ll be a single man, officially single. He’ll be back to claim the house, of course, and the rest of his assets, maybe even go to both funerals, Suzi’s and Jason’s, but a few months in Portugal will do him the world of good.

‘Just go, Danny,’ says Suzi. ‘Before Jason gets here.’

‘Is Uncle Jason coming?’ Kendrick asks.

‘He’ll be here any minute,’ says his mum.

‘Can I stay up and see him? Pleeease?’

‘Just this once,’ says his mum. ‘Special occasion.’

She walks Danny into the hallway and gestures to his case with the gun.

‘Is there a passport in there?’ he asks.

‘A couple,’ she says.

‘I’ll be back,’ says Danny. ‘And I’ll kill you, and I’ll kill Jason.’

‘We’ll see,’ says Suzi.

Danny sees Suzi move to put her arm around Kendrick. But Kendrick puts his arm around his mum first. Always thick as thieves, those two; it makes him sick.

He picks up the case and opens the front door. His front door. I mean, you never know with life, do you? One minute you’re sitting there looking at tanning machines online, the next you’re being forced out of your own home at gunpoint. There are surprises around every corner.

As Suzi and Jason Ritchie will find out very soon.

FRIDAY

8

Elizabeth climbs the three steps onto the minibus. It’s been a while, but Carlito is still there in the driver’s seat, now with added moustache.

‘Welcome back,’ says Carlito.

‘Thank you,’ says Elizabeth. She sees Joyce wave to her from the back of the bus.

‘For goodness’ sake, Joyce, there’s no need to wave. There are only twelve seats on the whole bus – I think I would have found you. I did use to be a spy.’

‘Me too,’ says a small man in the front row. Elizabeth considers him and suspects he might be telling the truth. She makes her way to sit beside Joyce.

‘Ready for action, Joyce?’

‘I have a flask of tea, some dried apricots and a hangover,’ says Joyce. ‘I’m ready. Any news on what we’re doing?’

‘We’re going to see Nick Silver,’ says Elizabeth.

‘My son-in-law’s best man?’

‘Paul’s best man,’ confirms Elizabeth. At some point Joyce is going to have to stop saying ‘my son-in-law’.

‘And why are we going to see him?’ Joyce asks.