Page 14 of Ordinary Girl

Skip

I lean back against the wall outside the clubhouse and watch Kasper and Kai working on a Harley we’re doing up for a business associate of mine, Killen Hunter. A big-time drug-dealing scumbag who runs various parts of the city from his huge, somewhat garish house just outside of Nørrebro. We do him a lot of favors, and in return he allows us to work his territory, for a cut of the profits. It’s the kind of business deal I like, and Killen’s never given us any shit. I’m making sure it stays that way.

“Is it always this quiet around here?”

I look up as Rik Nilsen approaches, pulling his cap down over his eyes.

“What can we do for you, Superintendent?”

“Just doing my rounds.”

“Bit beneath your rank, isn’t it? Babysitting the bikers?” I light up a cigarette and offer him one. He declines.

“You know why I’m here, Skip.”

I raise an eyebrow, and shrug. I have no idea why he’s here.

He leans in closer to me, takes off his cap and tucks it under his arm. “I’m on your payroll because you made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I’m greedy, I’ll admit that, I won’t settle until I’m Chief Constable, so we’re gonna help each other out. Okay?”

“Not sure that’s how it works, Rik.”

“You think there’s something going on with The Blackhawks, right? Involving a shipment of illegal weapons into the country?”

“Not sure. We’re keeping eyes on them, but so far they’re giving us nothing.”

“That you can see.”

“Obviously.”

“Well, we think they might be involved with an arms dealer called Gil Jessen. You know him?”

I shrug again and take another drag on my cigarette. “Heard of him. We’ve never had any dealings with him.”

Rik narrows his eyes as he stares me down. This lawman better not prove to be a problem, ’cause I don’t take too kindly tobeing dictated to. He’s on my property, things are onmyterms here.

“You haven’t?”

“You accusing me of lying?”

Rik takes a couple of steps back: puts his cap back on. “If we can prove they’re involved, in any way, with a major illegal weapons deal concerning Gil and his crew, we can bring that club down, which will only be beneficial to you. It would give you more territory. More business.”

“You really think you can shut the Hawks down?”

“We can try.”

“With our help?”

“Yes. With your help. Your clubs have history, everyone knows that. You’d both rather the other didn’t exist so, let’s try to make something happen. Something that benefits both you, and I.”

“You want us to help you bring down The Blackhawks?” I stub my cigarette out on the wall behind me. “Yeah. I don’t know. We’re fighting a continuous war with those assholes, and I can’t say I’d rather not have to waste energy on their crap…” I shake my head, “but working with the police…”

“You’re working withme. Nobody else will have any idea you’re involved.”

“We do all the work and you take the credit, huh?”

“Would you rather we brought the Vikings down, too?”

“You’re way too full of it, Rik. You need to know where that line is, and stay behind it. And that’s not a threat, it’s just a friendly word of advice: a little nudge to remind you of the rules here. We’re paying you a lot of money to make sure our backs are covered, so, let’s just say that we’ll continue to keep eyes on the Hawks. We’ll carry on doing what we do, and you stick to making sure we’re not prevented from doing that. You understand me?” I don’t break the stare. I think he gets it. Now. “You’ve neverworked with men like us before, Superintendent. Have you?” He stays silent, but his expression says it all. “You’ll learn.” I leave him standing there: go back inside, and he won’t follow. He knows, now, who’s pulling the strings. “Hey. Where’s Joel?” I ask Wade as he chalks the tip of his pool cue.

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