The Thousand Faces of Night - Jack Higgins [26]
Marlowe gave her shoulder a hurried squeeze. 'Don't worry, angel,' he told her. 'I'll fix that rat Kennedy once and for all. He won't show his face round here again in a hurry when I get through with him.'
She raised her head at once, an expression of fear on her face. 'No, Hugh, please. No trouble. I'm scared what might happen.' He smiled once reassuringly and hurried out of the house, Mac at his heels.
It was raining quite heavily as they drove down into the village. They cruised through several streets without any luck and after ten minutes Marlowe was cursing steadily. 'Where the hell is he?' he demanded.
Mac shrugged. 'We can't be sure, Hugh. He may be calling on some of the outlying farms.'
At that moment a yellow truck turned out of a side street and passed them going in the opposite direction. Marlowe turned into a side street and reversed quickly. As they drove back along the main street he said to Mac, 'Did he spot us?'
Mac shook his head. 'Didn't even notice us. Too busy watching where he was going.'
The yellow truck slowed down and turned into a side street and Marlowe followed. A few yards past a public house there was a piece of waste land and Kennedy drove on to it and parked the truck. As they drove past, he climbed down and walked back to the public house.
'Gone for his lunchtime pint,' Marlowe said.
Mac nodded. 'What are you going to do?'
Marlowe had been examining the yellow truck closely with a slight frown. A smile appeared on his face and he started to laugh. 'I've just had a flash of genius,' he said. 'You wait here for me.'
He jumped down from the cab and walked back to the yellow truck. He paused for a moment and looked carefully about him to make sure that he wasn't observed. He jerked open the door of the cab, reached inside and pulled on a certain lever, and closed the door again. He turned and hurried back to Mac.
As he approached the truck, the Jamaican was leaning out, a delighted expression on his face. 'Man oh man, but that should fix him good.'
Marlowe turned and looked back. O'Connor's first venture into the coal business had obviously been hastily planned because the truck Kennedy was using was an hydraulic tipper. As Marlowe watched, the back slowly lifted into the air and sacks of coal started to topple. Inexorably, the back continued to rise until the last bag of coal had fallen to the road. At the very moment that happened, there was a cry of dismay from the public house and Kennedy emerged from the doorway.
Marlowe climbed up behind the wheel and started the engine. He reversed the truck and drove back towards the scene of the disaster. As they approached he slowed down and leaned out of the window. 'Having trouble, Kennedy?' he inquired.
Kennedy turned and his expression of dismay changed to one of fury. 'You bastard,' he shouted. 'O'Connor will fix you for this.'
Marlowe ignored the threat. 'Just give him a message from me,' he said. 'Tell him he'd better not try this stunt again. I shan't play games next time.' He moved into gear and drove away before Kennedy could reply.
When the truck rolled to a halt inside the barn, Maria came running from the house, tremendous anxiety on her face. 'What happened?' she demanded. 'You didn't start any trouble, Hugh? Please say you didn't.'
Marlowe grinned. 'Everything went fine,' he said. 'I never even laid a finger on Kennedy. He had an accident as a matter of fact. All his coal got spilled on to the road. He was in a bit of a mess when we left.'
Relief showed on her face and something suspiciously like laughter sparkled in her eyes. 'You don't think he'll be back again?'
Marlowe shook his head gravely. 'No, somehow I don't think he will.'
She nodded. 'Thank goodness. Papa's back. I haven't told him anything yet. I didn't want to worry him.' She smiled brightly. 'Anyway, there's a meal ready. Hurry and get washed before it's spoiled.'
During the meal Mac told Papa Magellan and Maria in detail what had happened to Kennedy. He was a natural story-teller and had them both laughing heartily