‘Special relationship my arse. If the Americans say jump, we say how high, and rightly so. When I was in Iraq, their kit was supreme, and our families were sending us body armour bought off the internet. We are the poor cousin. If this has come from Downing Street then they’ve been warned by the embassy, which to me says everything. Be careful. I know you too well. You’ll go charging in and scratch the scab off and it won’t be welcomed. You’ve got a daughter now, Kel.’
Five years ago, she would have hit him for being so conformist and easily bought, but today she knew he was right. The value of her life and that of her daughter was more important than anything in the world. Whatever Jamie and Angelina were up to, she couldn’t single-handedly expose a trail of corruption and dirty money that led to the heart of Big Pharma and, ergo, the American government. That was above her pay grade.
‘You’re right. I haven’t decided exactly how I’m going to handle this. I reckon there’s a trail leading to market share leaders who are so rich they buy economies. I’ve looked into them. These families have been billionaires since the Rothschilds and Rockefellers won the First World War.’
‘Woah, what have you been reading?’
‘I’ve been following a podcaster. He’s controversial. Many would say he’s a conspiracy theorist. He’s got a whole series on the Twin Towers, Princess Diana, Epstein. My God, honestly, it blows my mind.’
‘You know what they call a conspiracy theorist?’
She nodded. ‘A year ahead of the news?’
‘But seriously though, what is all this about? Do you need me to take Lizzie away for a while?’
‘That might not be a bad idea. I found documents relating to clinical trials in the woman’s personal items – hidden in abloody wall – I know, you can’t make this shit up. Have you heard of the legend of Skelwith Bridge?’
‘The spies?’
‘You know! How did I not know?’
‘No, I’m pulling your leg, tell me. It was just a guess because you’ve gone all cloak and dagger on me.’
She told him what Tommy at the Old Man had told her and Johnny chuckled.
‘Blimey, you really must be careful.’
‘It all points to them using an untested compound in a health drink.’
‘What is it?’
‘I don’t know yet; I’m having it tested. If it’s harmful what the hell do I do? Nobody takes on the food and drug industry and wins. It’s got some silly name. Neurohydroxy-14. I think the two victims were going to go public with the information.’
‘No one takes them on and survives. They can ruin anyone who gets close, I’ve seen it with whistleblowers in the army. The arms trade is dirtier than Blackpool beach. I’ve seen it from the inside. Sierra Leone. Bosnia. You don’t want to get anywhere near big business that is funded by governments.’
‘How do I know it’s funded by governments?’
‘Why else would you get a warning through channels that presumably came through the Home Office, via the Foreign Office, via diplomatic comms? Follow the vested interest and sooner or later you get to a boatload of money.’
‘Why is this planet run by megalomaniacs?’
Johnny smiled. ‘To test the little people. We always win in the end. Empires never last very long, only around a thousand years, and then they have too many wars and they implode.’
‘Great. Let’s celebrate the end of the world as we know it.’
‘Let’s get food. What are you having?’
‘Large haddock, chips and mushy peas.’
‘I’ll get the same.’
They walked to the van and said hello to Ned, the owner. His enterprise had brought another food outlet to Pooley Bridge to cater for the tourists and locals alike. The van was extremely popular. Ned wrapped up their food and placed it in a plastic bag and Johnny carried it while Kelly pushed the pram. The smell made her hungry and when they got back to her house, it didn’t take long for them to unwrap and begin to devour them. Kelly put some ketchup on the kitchen table, and they loaded their plates and took them onto the terrace. They didn’t need blankets just yet but there was a definite cooling of the sky.
‘How’s Ted?’ Johnny asked.
‘He’s great. Sharp as ever. He misses you.’
‘Do you miss me?’
