Page 20 of Diamond in the Rough

“Have you got any food?”

Jake gritted his teeth. “Always thinking about your stomach.”

“No, actually, I was thinking about yours.”

Jake hung his head. “Oh.”

“The Boss wants me to babysit, and I’m gonna be the best goddamn babysitter there is.”

“It’s my fault.”

Carl’s eyebrows met in the middle. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Richie, Lewis, he killed them because of me.”

“Correction: to save you.”

“Same difference, he’s getting sent down because of me. Murder, Carl.”

“I know the situation is shit, but trust me, the Boss always has a plan B and a plan C, all the way down the alphabet.”

“What’s plan Z?”

“Suicide. Pistol in the mouth and goodbye, world.”

Jake gawped and Carl quickly flapped his hands. “It was a joke.”

“You’re not joking though, are you?”

“Look, the point is, he’ll find a way, and the best thing we can do is carry on as normal until he contacts us.”

“Carry on as normal?”

“Yes,” Carl said, disappearing into the bedroom. He returned with the work clothes Jake had left in a heap. “And that means Stationery Corner.”

Jake caught his clothes and hugged them to his chest.

“Go get washed, then dressed.”

Jake heaved himself up from the sofa and did as he was told. When he returned, Carl stuck a plate of toast under his nose.

“Now eat.”

Jake offered up a weak smile and took a slice. “Thanks.”

“There was mould in your Jam, so it’s just butter.”

“I’m glad you know what mould looks like…now, at least.”

Carl narrowed his eyes, then smacked the top of Jake’s head. “Haven’t forgiven you for that.”

“Served you right for barging into my house for no reason.”

“There was a reason. You had the Boss’s diamond. It’s the only one of the three he’s got left.”

“It’s still in his apartment, right?”

Carl averted his gaze. “Yeah, don’t worry about it.”

---