Page 82 of The Impossible Fortune

‘Ibrahim,’ says Connie, ‘have I ever asked anything of you?’

‘Yes,’ says Ibrahim. ‘Many times.’

‘Okay, anything illegal?’ says Connie.

‘Again, yes,’ says Ibrahim. ‘So this is illegal?’

‘It’s quite illegal,’ says Connie. ‘But I’m sure it’s fine.’

‘Connie,’ says Ibrahim, ‘I’m going to say to you what Captain Lee said to Eddie onBelow Deck. “We have a bond of trust. We trust each other to tell the truth.”’

Ibrahim WhatsApps her aboutBelow Decka lot now.

‘The last time we spoke,’ says Ibrahim, ‘Tia was settling into a cleaning job, and you were giving her tips and advice. It was a very proud moment for me. Now you have arrived at Coopers Chase at some speed, and Tia has a number of small cuts to her face. I conclude that since I saw you both last, something untoward has happened, and, much as I would like to help, if you don’t tell me exactly what that is, I shall have to ask you both to leave.’

‘We should leave,’ says Tia to Connie. ‘This isn’t fair on Ibrahim.’

‘Ibrahim can look after himself,’ says Connie. Why is everyone ganging up on her? This should be so simple. Drop Tia off, pick her up again in a few days when one of her police contacts has let her know what’s going on, and in the meantime Ibrahim and Tia can have a fine old time watching TV, or solving murders, or whatever Ibrahim does when she’s not around. Connie is no great expert on what other people do when she’s not around.

‘Tia,’ says Ibrahim, ‘you are more than welcome to stay. But Connie has mentioned the word “hidden” and I am simply doing my due diligence. Did you have a fight at work? With one of the other cleaners perhaps?’

‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ says Connie, ‘show Ibrahim your gun.’

Tia flashes Connie an ‘Are you sure?’ look.

‘He’s seen more guns than me in the last couple of years,’ says Connie.

Tia pulls the gun from her cleaning overalls and puts it on one of Ibrahim’s coffee tables. Ibrahim slides a place mat underneath it.

‘Tia robbed a warehouse today,’ says Connie. ‘That was her new job. She pointed a gun at the driver and two security guards, then tied them up and drove the vehicle out of an industrial estate with half a million pounds’ worth of Rolexes in the back. A remote security protocol disabled the vehicle, and she had to shoot her way out and run, leaving the watches behind. Her accomplice was picked up by the police, whereas Tia, because she has aresponsible mentor, was picked up by me and driven to a place of safety, which is here, to stay with someone I trust, which is you.’

Ibrahim and Tia look at each other. Tia looks apologetic. Ibrahim gestures to a chair, and she sits. He turns to Connie.

‘Excuse me?’

Connie senses she is in trouble, and doesn’t much like it. She doesn’t get in trouble very much these days, and can usually shoot or talk her way out of it. Sure, she’s just been in prison for the best part of a year, but being in prison isn’t the same as being in trouble. It’s an admin issue. Ibrahim looks cross.

‘It was her idea,’ says Connie. ‘I encouraged her, the way you told me to. I helped – I passed on the benefit of my wisdom.’

‘You let her plan an armed robbery?’ says Ibrahim.

‘When you say it like that, it sounds bad,’ says Connie. ‘But it was actually a good idea.’

‘So good you’ve brought her round to my home to escape the police?’

‘Plans sometimes go wrong,’ says Connie. ‘I told Tia that too.’

‘She did tell me that,’ says Tia. At least someone is sticking up for Connie. Tia robs a warehouse, Ibrahim refuses to hide her, but it’s Connie who’s the bad girl? Everything’s tied up in knots. It’s like an upside-down world.

‘Were you going to share in the proceeds?’ Ibrahim asks her. She knows she’s not supposed to say yes, butof courseshe was going to share in the proceeds. What sort of a question is that?

‘It hadn’t been discussed,’ says Connie.

‘You let an eighteen-year-old girl, who still carries a school satchel, rob a warehouse with a gun?’ says Ibrahim.

‘You should have seen her in prison,’ says Connie. ‘She really fitted in.’

‘I imagine she was terrified,’ says Ibrahim. ‘After all the work we’ve done. After all the chaos of your own life? You chose to continue the cycle? To turn Tia into you?’