Kings of the Night Read online

  Chapter 8

  [A knock on the door?]

  Whoa. Suddenly I’m awake, lying on my bed alone, god my head hurts. Wow, I don’t even seem to have got undressed, should at least have taken my shoes off, never mind.

  The phone starts ringing.

  “Hello?” my throat hurts, my voice is rough. Maybe I should drink some water.

  “Wolfskin”

  “What?” Maybe I’m still dreaming

  “Wolfskin” the voice repeats. A man’s voice, low and soft.

  “What?” I don’t know what else to say.

  The phone goes dead. And I fall back onto my bed. And then it rings again.

  “Hello?”

  “Wolfskin”

  “What the fuck?” I say

  The voice goes quiet. “Listen, Mr. Green, I know it’s you. Just give me the password.”

  I really don’t know but this sounds kind of interesting.

  “Erm, well, sorry mate, the thing is I’ve forgotten it.”

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Mark, I mean, Mr. Green.”

  “Sorry mate. Just had, well, you know, a bit of amnesia.” That’s quite good actually. “Oh, while you’re there, you don’t know a John Paris do you?”

  “What? Who the fuck’s John Paris? Listen. I’ve just had instructions. The thing’s on. We need to move tonight. You ready?”

  “Yeah, yeah, course I am, the thing is, I’ve just had this amnesia thing, so you know, can you just let me know…”

  “What do you mean, this amnesia thing? You don’t just suddenly get amnesia. Oh shit, you’re not chickening out are you. You haven’t told what’s-her-name have you? She hasn’t talked you out of it? Oh God, Mark, tell me you haven’t told her.”

  “No, no, no” I say quickly, “just erm, well, blanked out at work, and then I kind of forgot a few things…” This has been a great trick. I’ve managed to get all my passwords and everything reset over the last few days, just by telling people I forgot cos I had this amnesia thing. It’s brilliant. I’ve got access to all my cash now, and it’s great, I mean there’s loads of it. I’m going to strip out all this bloody furniture for a start, and get myself a new car. Sporty thing. Black leather seats. Will be really cool.

  “Shit. All right, listen, corner of Lexicon Row and Smythe Avenue. Nine on Tuesday night. Don’t forget to wear black clothes all right. And for Christ’s sake, remember the password next time.”

  And then he’s gone. Would have probably helped if he’d told me.

  I fall back onto my bed and close my eyes. Somewhere I think I’ve got my cigarettes. I start feeling around my pockets and the bloody phone rings again.

  “Wolfskin” I answer.

  “What?” it’s a woman’s voice on the line this time. Maybe they’re trying to trick me.

  “Wolfskin?” I say again, less sure.

  “I’m sorry, Mark, is that you?”

  “Erm, yeah” I reply slowly.

  “Mark, it’s Jane Prior. I was just wondering if you were planning to come in to work today? I mean, you’re only…” and there’s a pause, “three hours late today. Slightly better than yesterday but nonetheless, not great is it?”

  Shit. “Yeah, yeah, course” I say quickly. “It’s just, you know, since I had that, erm, episode the other day…”

  “What episode, Mark? What are you talking about?” Her voice is a great mixture of confusion and annoyance, very sexy. I could really go for her. “Listen, whatever, we need you here. This should be Paris’ last day today so you have to learn the procedure. Be here in half an hour.”

  And she’s gone, too. Well, at least I’m dressed, that will save some time.