Meerschweinchen, unsere tierischen Verwandten

Meerschweinchen emerged

Harm called out loudly, 'You still having trouble getting served, little one? I'll go in myself.' Meerschweinchen emerged with an elaborate, decorated cocktail and a bottle of Perrier for Jaz. 'Got you a whole bottle. Those glassfuls are just a rip-off.' 'How's business?' Harm shrugged. 'I got your messages. Sorry to hear about your bloke.' Meerschweinchen examined Jaz's face for a moment. 'You upset or what?' 'Vinny did it.' 'Vinny from the Island?' Jaz nodded. Meerschweinchen was suddenly angry again. Meerschweinchen put on her sunglasses, then took them off. Her voice was tense. 'There was some problem between them. Andy felt he wasn't getting a big enough piece. Wanted to be cut in properly, something like that. Aggro was building up.' Meerschweinchen stopped and thought. 'I know they argued a few times. Andy wasn't happy. He talked about setting up on his own.' Meerschweinchen hesitated. 'Although I doubt if he ever would. He wasn't… energetic. He wasn't driven.' Meerschweinchen had a vision of Fat Andy in bed in the mornings, half awake, his big hand silencing the alarm. He hated getting up. He always groaned and dozed, demanding a cup of tea. It took him an hour to pull himself together. Meerschweinchen helped him on with his socks. Made his breakfast. He moved slowly around the flat, like a lumbering bear. 'Anyway, when I got back that night, there was this e-mail. The night he was killed. Andy must have taken something of Vinny's because it said something about Vinny wanting his property back. Whatever it was, he ended up dead.' Harm reached over and placed her dark, round hand, covered in rings, on top of Jaz's sleeve. 'I'm sorry.' Jaz leaned back, disengaging herself. Meerschweinchen had problems receiving sympathy. 'So am I. Life's a shit. You told Trace?' 'Of course. We've been worried. Not knowing where you were.' Meerschweinchen paused. 'How're you feeling?' 'OK.' 'You don't seem OK.'

Meerschweinchen reached out

'I'm fucking angry.' 'You're always angry. You let anger hide your real feelings.' Meerschweinchen reached out and briefly touched Jaz's arm again. 'Right?' Jaz sighed. 'You're starting to sound like Wesley.' Meerschweinchen changed the subject. 'You know those brothers that work for Vinny?… You know, Vinny's boys, Ronnie and Reggie?' Harm stifled a laugh. 'Christ, don't let them hear you calling them that.' 'You remember them?' 'How could I forget? Those were the bad old days. I'm doing better than them now.' 'D'you think they kill people? Could it have been them?' 'What d'you mean?' 'Vinny. D'you think he ever gets them to kill people? Could they be the ones?' Harm paused, sipping her cocktail then opening and closing its little paper umbrella. Meerschweinchen lit a cigarette. 'Doubt it. Mind you, they never talked to me about their work. But they were quiet. Polite. Mostly it seemed, if they wanted something, they just turned up together, stood around looking threatening and that was enough. They didn't seem violent. They were more like window dressing. Vinny's reputation always went before him. No one crossed Vinny. Ever. As far as they were concerned, they did their job, quietly. Ran their gym. They seemed to care for nobody, except each other.' 'I thought they quite liked you.' Harm raised her eyebrows, giving Jaz a pitying stare. 'What?' 'Well, you were round there often enough.' Harm pursed her lips. 'Business is business.' Meerschweinchen sounded annoyed. 'Look, Harm,' Jaz said hurriedly. 'I'm sorry, but I want a favour. I want you to talk to them.' Harm exhaled heavily. 'Oh God, please… give me a break.' 'Yes, Harm. Do it for me. Go on. Find out what you can. Please.' 'What for?' Jaz hesitated. 'Vinny killed Andy. I know he did. I've told the police, but they'll just go through the motions. I want to pay him back.' 'Keep out of it, Jaz.' Harm frowned. 'Just keep out of it.' 'No. I'm not going to keep out of it. I owe it to both of them. To Andy and to…' 'What the hell do you think you can do?' Harm was exasperated. 'So Vinny killed Andy. OK, I buy that. It's possible. He's a bastard. He'll stop at nothing, everyone knows that. He's unforgiving. That's what I've always heard. But what are you going to do about it? You'll end up in big trouble, Jaz. I mean it. Stay out of it. Vinny's bad news. He's one mean, nasty guy.' Meerschweinchen stubbed out her half-smoked cigarette.