The Night the Rich Men Burned Read Online Free PDF Page B

different. Yeah, the taller one is the sort of person you might just keep around. He doesn’t care if he’s a part of it or not. Having a little fun, seeing what happens. Honest, tough, willing to offend. Knocked Holmes down the stairs, then came here and insulted the club. ‘What’s your name, kid?’ Marty’s asking.
    ‘Oliver Peterkinney.’
    Marty’s giving him a look. A what-the-hell-sort-of-name-is-that-for-a-Glaswegian look. He’s not saying it though. ‘Okay. Good. You two go enjoy the party. When I have another job for either of you, I’ll be in touch.’
    As soon as they’re out in the corridor and the door’s shut behind them, Glass is turning on Peterkinney. He’s started to talk, but stopped, realizing how loud his voice was. They’re moving up the corridor, away from the office. Towards the door that leads out to the main entrance. One left turn from the dance floor. The music’s getting louder. They can feel the little thumps in the soles of their feet as they walk towards the door. That’s relaxing Glass, but not enough.
    ‘What the hell was that? You want to get us chucked out of here?’
    ‘For what? For telling him what he already knows? They want you to be honest. Surely you know that. How many arse-lickers does a guy like Marty Jones see every day? And I ain’t just talking about the hookers he employs.’ Saying it with a smile, cutting the anger from the conversation.
    Glass is rolling his shoulders. It’s a thing he does when he knows he’s lost an argument but wants to pretend it’s ended inconclusively. It would look like a dismissive shrug, if it wasn’t so self-aware.
    Out into the corridor at the front door. The doors to the dance floor are shut, just in case someone presses their nose to the glass of the front door and looks in. Big heavy things, Glass leaning against one to push it open. Both of them stepping through and stopping. Must be fifty people in the club. About half of them are men in suits, the other half are all young women. Everyone looks like they’re enjoying themselves, but only the women are making an effort. The men are playing, the women are working. Some of the people are on the dance floor. The rest are sitting round large tables on the right-hand side of the room. The VIP area. Glass and Peterkinney look at each other with a smile, and head for the tables.

4
    There are a few different kinds of people who end up in the money business. Moneylending, debt collection, that sort of thing. There are people like Marty Jones. Marty does it because he can. It’s a way of making money, but it’s not the only way he has. He’s the consummate opportunist. He found his way into the criminal industry with women. A pimp, not to put too fine a point on it. Since then, he’s always been on the lookout for a good opportunity. Raising more money, raising his profile. And he got into money because it was a chance at fast cash. Wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t have the protection of Peter Jamieson. The boss of one of the biggest criminal organizations in the city. With his protection, Marty’s taking his chance to elbow into the collection business.
    For Marty it’s just another string to the bow. Something he’ll do while he can make easy money from it. When the going gets tough, Marty will shrug and walk away. Money’s only good for him if it’s easy. For someone like Billy Patterson, it’s an ambition. He’ll tough it out, no matter the threats. Surround himself with people like Alan Bavidge. Go out there and specifically target the debt business. Billy wants to build something that’ll last. This isn’t just a short-term moneymaker; he’s in it for the long haul. Focused only on the money business, all day every day.
    Then there’s the third kind. Not a short-term money-grabber, not an aggressive grower of his business. The kind who’ve always been around. The lifers. People like Ronald ‘Potty’ Cruickshank. He’s actually only forty-eight,