The Job.

‘You want someone killed?’

‘Why else would you be here? Yeah, I want someone killed. That’s part of the job. Not the most important part. I need to find out who killed my son, that’s the first job. Then, I want him to talk. All I need to know is what happened to my son’s body. Find out, then kill the bastard. Simple as that. Can you do that?

The other man nodded. ‘You want the best. That’s me. Only thing is…’

‘What?’

‘You don’t have any idea who killed your son? Or even if he’s dead?’

‘Of course he’s dead. People like Gary don’t just wander off. That’s why I’ve come to you. If I knew who I was looking for, I’d have sorted it by now. Gary being dead isn’t a worry to me. He may have been my son, but that don’t mean I’m all cut up about someone topping him. Gary was asking for trouble getting himself involved. He was told but he never listened. He was an accident waiting to happen. Fuck him. History.’

The other man said nothing but his eyes questioned.

‘You’re maybe thinking I should have done it myself? At the time?’

The other man said nothing, sipping his drink reflectively. He shrugged. ‘Not for me to say.’

‘Too bloody right it isn’t. Look, my son was a waste of fucking space. I wouldn’t risk getting banged up, or worse, just to save his worthless skin. I wouldn’t cross the road to save the little bastard. He’d been asking for it and he got what he deserved.’

‘So?’

‘You mean why am I bothering now? Not rocket science, sunshine. He might have been nothing but he was still my son. His mother wants closure. His mother needs closure. A Christian burial. Say her prayers over the coffin. All that. Means a lot to her. So, find the man who killed him, find where the body is, then kill the fucker. Job done.’

‘And that’s it?’

The fat man laughed mirthlessly. ‘Oh yeah. And one more thing. Whoever did kill my son, they knew who he was. Knew who his father was. Knew it and still went ahead and killed him. I can’t have that. Make sure he dies screaming. Damaged. Visibly damaged. Got it now? Got the fucking message? Now fuck off and do the job.’

The other man rose to his feet. He drained the glass of its contents and set it back on the coaster. He nodded once but didn’t speak, then walked away.