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Copyright © Trevor Hopkins 2009-2010 1
 
Copyright © Trevor Hopkins 2009-20102
Contents
Chapter 1 - A Small Problem.................................3
 
Chapter 2 - Glittering Assembly...........................12
 
Chapter 3 - Cat and Mouse.................................20
 
Chapter 4 - Chase the Lady................................29
 
Chapter 5 - Granny Knows Best..........................37
 
Chapter 6 - Take the Case..................................45
 
Chapter 7 - A Trip Topside..................................53
 
Chapter 8 - Bright and Beautiful..........................61
 
Chapter 9 - Alliance of Equals.............................69
 
Chapter 10 - Père et Fils.....................................76
 
Chapter 11 - Will and Testament.........................83
 
Chapter 12 - A Family Affair................................91
 
Chapter 13 - Return Visit....................................98
 
Chapter 14 - Malice Aforethought......................106
 
Chapter 15 - Situation Reports..........................114
 
Chapter 16 - Way Back When...........................123
 
Chapter 17 - Arm of the Law.............................132
 
Chapter 18 - Friends Reunited...........................139
 
Chapter 19 - Missing Person.............................148
 
Chapter 20 - Protection Racket..........................155
 
Chapter 21 - Accidents Happen.........................163
 
Chapter 22 - Cover Story.................................170
 
Chapter 23 - Follow the Money..........................179
 
Chapter 24 - Fat Lady Sings..............................189
 
Chapter 25 - Police Showdown..........................197
 
Chapter 26 - The Lady Gets It...........................203
 
Chapter 27 - Distant Friends.............................210
 
 
Copyright © Trevor Hopkins 2009-2010 3
Chapter 
1 - A Small Problem
City back alleyways are the same the world over. This one wasin New York, as squalid and uninviting as any I had experienced. Ilooked over my sunglasses down the short passage, lit solely bybroken shards of sodium lighting from the street behind me. Iscanned the shadows, distracted only momentarily by the busyrustle of rats investigating the contents of the foul-smelling bin Iwas leaning against.In the gloom I could make out a quivering punk cowered at theend of the alley, a short gaunt figure in an oversize anorak with abaseball cap pulled low over his eyes. He was trapped by thefeatureless brick walls on either side and the high wire fenceblocking the end of the passage."You're going down," I snarled, standing up straight and puttingmy hands in my trench-coat pockets."No," he quailed, "You won’t make me. You'll never take mealive."The perp pulled a black automatic from under his coat andwaved it around in a fashion that suggested he wasn't exactly surewhat to do with it."Punk," I spat, "Don't make me do this the hard way."I walked steadily towards him, my eyes fixed on his face, noteven glancing at the ugly black pistol. He was a weedy littlespecimen, half my weight and a head shorter. He looked nervous,twitchy; he might do anything.The gun wavered more wildly, then clicked once, twice. Noshots. That was the result of one of my better investments: aglamour that disables firearms close to me. True, it was a cut-price job, purchased mail-order from a company that advertised inthe Classified Ads sections of the trade press, one whosereputation was more spotty than saintly. I try not to rely on it but,right now, my desire to collect a little eating and walking-aroundmoney overrode my worry that the cheap magic might fail me.I reached forward suddenly, my long arms taking him bysurprise, and snatched the inert weapon from his grasp. I casuallytossed the toy aside, then picked him up by his shirt front and heldhim against the featureless brickwork.
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