Liverpool,’ Debbie told David, ‘They’re making their way to the market now. Stay where you are. As O’Byrne doesn’t know me, I’ll follow him until they get here and they can keep an eye on him.’
‘I’m not leaving you out here alone.’
‘He’s moving off now,’ Debbie said putting down the top she was holding at the stall. ‘I’ll be alright. I’ll call you if I need you. For once, do as you’re told.’
‘But . . .’ David said as Debbie had terminated the call. Frustrated, he knew she was right. Stepping away from the stall, he kept himself out of sight as best he could while watching Debbie follow O’Byrne when the thought came to him that the Irishman might have purposely lured Hurst away from his family to allow O’Byrne’s associates to get to his mother and sister. Forcing his way through the crowds, he quickly made his way back to the cafe. Running through his mind was the thought it could have been the young stallholder working by the cafe that O’Byrne ordered to do the hit on his family. Perhaps that’s why they argued knowing it would attract his attention and he would follow the Irishman leaving his family behind vulnerable to a hit in the cafe. Slowing down, he walked to the entrance of the cafe. Glancing through the window he saw Mary and Siobhan eating their breakfast when his phone rang. ‘Debs.’
‘He’s got into a black hackney cab and driven off towards the city centre. Stay where you are and I’ll meet you.’
‘I’m by the entrance to the cafe,’ David said taking a step back from the cafe entrance so Mary and Siobhan could not see him.
‘What are you doing there?’
‘I thought it might be a ruse by O’Byrne to get me out of the way, knowing I’d follow him so someone else he’s with could get Mum and Siobhan.’
‘OK, I understand. My colleagues are going to chase up the taxi company and see where the driver takes O’Byrne. You go and join Mary and Siobhan and tell them you were mistaken about it being your old school friend and that I’m just getting some make-up. I’m by a cosmetic stall now so I’ll pick up a few bits to convince them.’
‘Good idea,’ David said as they terminated the call. On entering the cafe, he glanced over to the young stallholder. Paying David no attention, the officer took in the stallholder’s features. There must have been some reason why he was talking to O’Byrne.
* * *
Outside the cafe David put his hand on the bags Mary was carrying and said, ‘Give me your bags Mum and I’ll take them home for you. I’ll get off now and join Dad for a pint.’
‘Thanks love,’ Mary said and she looked at Debbie and Siobhan, ‘What time will we be home girls?’
Siobhan answered first, ‘That depends if Debbie’s got use of David’s credit card. If she has, I reckon we’ll be gone until its maxed out.’
‘Very funny,’ David said, ‘Do you need more cash Mum?’
‘I’m fine love,’ Mary said, ‘but thanks anyway. Tell your father we’ll be back by two this afternoon. Now give your mother a kiss.’
David kissed all three of them. As Mary and Siobhan started to walk away, David kept hold of Debbie’s arm and whispered in her ear, ‘Ask them to take you to the Liverpool One shopping mall in the city centre and I’ll go and see if I can get the details of the stall holder from the market security. I’m going to meet Dad, so I’ll you see back at their house later.’
‘OK. I got a text message from one of my colleagues that traced the taxi O’Byrne got into. He got out in Aigburth Road. Do you know it?’
‘Yes. See if you can get the actual location. Aigburth Road’s a couple of miles long and one end of it isn’t far from Mum and Dad’s. Take care and I’ll see you later.’
As he gave her a quick kiss, noticing Debbie was not with them, Siobhan stopped and turned round. ‘Hey you two, they’re be plenty of time for that later. Are you coming Debbie?’
‘Sure.
‘I’m not leaving you out here alone.’
‘He’s moving off now,’ Debbie said putting down the top she was holding at the stall. ‘I’ll be alright. I’ll call you if I need you. For once, do as you’re told.’
‘But . . .’ David said as Debbie had terminated the call. Frustrated, he knew she was right. Stepping away from the stall, he kept himself out of sight as best he could while watching Debbie follow O’Byrne when the thought came to him that the Irishman might have purposely lured Hurst away from his family to allow O’Byrne’s associates to get to his mother and sister. Forcing his way through the crowds, he quickly made his way back to the cafe. Running through his mind was the thought it could have been the young stallholder working by the cafe that O’Byrne ordered to do the hit on his family. Perhaps that’s why they argued knowing it would attract his attention and he would follow the Irishman leaving his family behind vulnerable to a hit in the cafe. Slowing down, he walked to the entrance of the cafe. Glancing through the window he saw Mary and Siobhan eating their breakfast when his phone rang. ‘Debs.’
‘He’s got into a black hackney cab and driven off towards the city centre. Stay where you are and I’ll meet you.’
‘I’m by the entrance to the cafe,’ David said taking a step back from the cafe entrance so Mary and Siobhan could not see him.
‘What are you doing there?’
‘I thought it might be a ruse by O’Byrne to get me out of the way, knowing I’d follow him so someone else he’s with could get Mum and Siobhan.’
‘OK, I understand. My colleagues are going to chase up the taxi company and see where the driver takes O’Byrne. You go and join Mary and Siobhan and tell them you were mistaken about it being your old school friend and that I’m just getting some make-up. I’m by a cosmetic stall now so I’ll pick up a few bits to convince them.’
‘Good idea,’ David said as they terminated the call. On entering the cafe, he glanced over to the young stallholder. Paying David no attention, the officer took in the stallholder’s features. There must have been some reason why he was talking to O’Byrne.
* * *
Outside the cafe David put his hand on the bags Mary was carrying and said, ‘Give me your bags Mum and I’ll take them home for you. I’ll get off now and join Dad for a pint.’
‘Thanks love,’ Mary said and she looked at Debbie and Siobhan, ‘What time will we be home girls?’
Siobhan answered first, ‘That depends if Debbie’s got use of David’s credit card. If she has, I reckon we’ll be gone until its maxed out.’
‘Very funny,’ David said, ‘Do you need more cash Mum?’
‘I’m fine love,’ Mary said, ‘but thanks anyway. Tell your father we’ll be back by two this afternoon. Now give your mother a kiss.’
David kissed all three of them. As Mary and Siobhan started to walk away, David kept hold of Debbie’s arm and whispered in her ear, ‘Ask them to take you to the Liverpool One shopping mall in the city centre and I’ll go and see if I can get the details of the stall holder from the market security. I’m going to meet Dad, so I’ll you see back at their house later.’
‘OK. I got a text message from one of my colleagues that traced the taxi O’Byrne got into. He got out in Aigburth Road. Do you know it?’
‘Yes. See if you can get the actual location. Aigburth Road’s a couple of miles long and one end of it isn’t far from Mum and Dad’s. Take care and I’ll see you later.’
As he gave her a quick kiss, noticing Debbie was not with them, Siobhan stopped and turned round. ‘Hey you two, they’re be plenty of time for that later. Are you coming Debbie?’
‘Sure.
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