Truth Lies Bleeding Read Online Free PDF Page A

business with, never mind one like this.
    ‘Are you sure Vee’s game for this?’
    Tierney shrugged. He looked to his left, then his right; his thin shoulders poked through his top. ‘Yeah, she’s sound.’
    McArdle felt a wariness creep up on him. He didn’t like getting too involved with this sort of people. Taking their money was fine, but any more than that was asking for trouble. But he had dealt with this pair before. Maybe it would be all right. ‘I’m warning you, Barry, if you’re up to something and I—’
    He butted in, ‘I’m up to nothing . . . we want paying. Nothing else. Just a few quid, eh.’
    A laugh, splutters. ‘You think there’s a drink in it for you? You pair of greedy bastards.’
    Tierney tried to smile but his heart didn’t look to be in it. His teeth were yellowed and broken when he showed them. The hollows in his cheeks deepened as he widened his grin. ‘Well, last time . . .’
    ‘Times change, Barry boy . . . times change.’ That took the smirk off his face. The state of him, thought McArdle, he’d sell his own flesh and blood for a fix with a smile on his face. Well, a sort of smile. Even for McArdle this was low; Tierney was the worst of trash. ‘We’ll see.’
    Tierney arked up, ‘But—’
    ‘No fucking ifs or buts. We’ll see.’ McArdle needed to think about it. Finding the buyer was no trouble, and the money was good, but he didn’t trust Tierney. Junkies were bad news. To a one, they were bad luck. Carried it round with them.
    ‘Well, what about just now?’
    McArdle shook his head, grabbed Tierney by the face. ‘You scrounging, that it?’
    ‘I gave you fifty.’
    ‘That wouldn’t clear you a week’s interest on what you and Vee owe me.’
    ‘But—’
    McArdle pushed back Tierney’s face. The junkie stumbled a few paces and fell onto the slabs. ‘You’re nothing but trash, y’know that?’ McArdle dug in his pocket, pulled out a couple of wraps and threw them at the addict. Tierney scrabbled about for them, picked up the wraps fast and pushed himself up. He struggled to find any purchase, his shoes slipping on the wet slabs as his thin arms stretched out behind him. ‘You won’t regret this, Deil,’ he said.
    ‘Get out my sight.’
    ‘Will you tell me soon, then?’
    ‘I said fuck off . . . Get out my sight.’
    McArdle watched Tierney struggle to his feet, then saw his slope-shoulders jink round the corner. He moved to sit on a low brick wall, trying to gather his thoughts. It was simple enough taking cash for a few wraps, but what the junkie was offering was something else. It was complicated, fraught with potential pitfalls, and meant working with more people than he was used to – and he was used to being in full control, in charge. The Germans would be the ones paying up, so they’d have all the power. He didn’t like that. Still, the money sang to him. It was very good money last time and maybe he could ask for more now. McArdle knew the junkie’s offer was too good to be passed up. It was chancy, always was, but wasn’t everything? He removed his mobile. As he delved into his contacts, and dialled, McArdle was already counting the cash in his mind.
    Ringing.
    The line was answered on the third chime.
    ‘ Hallo .’
    ‘Günter . . . that you?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘It’s Devlin McArdle.’
    ‘Uh-huh.’
    ‘Just enquiring . . . If the supply channel was to open up again, would you be interested?’
    There was no sound except static on the line for a few moments, then, ‘Interested? . . . I believe we would be.’
    ‘You would?’
    ‘Yes, Mr McArdle . . . I think we could almost guarantee it.’

Chapter 5
    BARRY TIERNEY WAS SWEATING AND flushed when he returned home. As he slammed the front door of the flat behind him Vee appeared in the hallway. Her dirty blonde hair had been scraped back and tied in an elastic band. Her eyes bulged and watered. The edges of her mouth were cracked and scabbed. She grabbed