So now, ten years on, it was finished, and though Joe had generally been of the party who thought the whole idea was crazy, now as he drove along the main avenue, with that phlegmatic pragmatism which makes Lutonians such great survivors, he felt a glow of proprietorial pride.
He was a bit late, partly Chiverss fault, partly Whiteys. Hed rushed back to rescue the cat from the office and found him full of indignation at having been left so long. Also of pee because he was clearly going to have nothing to do with his new puce tray, so theyd had to stop at the first flowerbed as they reached the Plezz complex and despite the evident urgency, it had taken the cat the usual ten minutes of careful exploration with many false starts to find the piece of earth precisely suited to his purpose.
Being late didnt matter, however, as he clearly wasnt expected.
Im here to see Zak Oto, said Joe to the armed guard. In fact he wasnt armed, but he looked as if this was just because hed left his Kalashnikov in his ARV as he felt like tearing intruders limb from limb today.
You and a thousand others, he said. Piss off.
Shes expecting me, said Joe.
Shed be wise to have an abortion then, said the guard.
Hey, man, why so rude? asked Joe. OK, youve got a job to do, but maybe you should remember whos paying you and do it politely.
Sorry, said the guard. Piss off, sir!
Joe regarded him almost admiringly. Dick Hull, manager of the Glit where they liked their humour subtle, should book this guy for Show Nite.
Meanwhile he stood there, like the big dog theyd told him about at school, guarding the entrance to hell, though why anyone should have wanted to get into hell Joe had never quite grasped. But the way to get round him was toss him something to eat.
Trouble was, Joe couldnt think of anything this guy might have an appetite for except maybe his head.
Joe Sixsmith? Is that you?
A burly balding man in a tracksuit had come out of the door leading into the depths of the Dome. He was smiling at Joe.
Yeah, this is me, admitted Joe.
Thought it was. Dont recognize me, do you?
In fact the mans creased and weather-beaten face did look familiar. But there was a sense of a thinner, younger face peering out of fortyish flesh which was more, though differently, familiar.
Jim Hardiman, said the man. We were at school together.
It was the nose that finally did it.
You mean Hooter Hardiman? said Joe.
A shadow touched the smile like a crow floating across the sun.
Thats right, he said. Long time no see, eh?
But in fact Joe had seen Hardiman several times both in the local paper and on the telly since he had come to prominence, first as Zaks trainer, then as sports director of the Plezz. He felt ashamed as a PI that hed never made the connection between the grown man, Jim, and the schoolboy, Hooter. His excuse was that the nose which had stood out like a chilli on a cheesecake at fifteen had been absorbed and assimilated by forty. Also the boy had been a class above him and theyd never had much more contact than the usual ritual bullying a schoolboy heavy feels it necessary to dish out to whoever gets in his way in order to encourage the others.
But now it was best-years-of-our-lives time.
Heard a lot about you recently, Joe, and often meant to look you up. Have a chat about the good old times we had together.
Would take all of ten seconds, thought Joe.
He said, That would be great, Hoo er, Jim. But Im here to see Zak just now. Any idea where she is?
Zak? She expecting you?
Thats right, Mr Hardiman. Ms Oto told me to look out for him.
This was the gung-ho guard unexpectedly coming to his support.
Joe said, You knew that, why all this guard-dog crud?
Thought you were just a pushy fan, didnt I? Ms Oto didnt tell me youd look like how you look.
A diplomat already, thought Joe.
Hardiman said, Thanks, Dave. Come on, Joe. Let me show you the way.
He set off into the Dome with Joe following. The place was full of workmen.
You going to be ready on time? said Joe, gingerly edging past WET PAINT signs.
No sweat, said Hardiman. Gilding the lily is all. Time for a quick word.
It wasnt a question. As he uttered the words he opened a door marked DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL RECREATION, a title rather larger than the office he ushered Joe into. There were lots of files and correspondence in evidence, but all neatly stacked. To Joe, who could create chaos out of two sheets of paper and an empty desk, it looked like the workplace of a busy but well-ordered man.
Have a pew, said Hardiman, and tell me what this is all about.
Cant do that, Hoo er, Jim, said Joe. Private business.
So youre here professionally?
So it wasnt Hooter who suggested me, thought Joe as he shrugged noncommittally.
OK. But I need to know if this is anything to do with that stupid business about that phone call.
Another shrug. It was pretty good this shrugging business. Saved a man a lot of tripping over his tongue.
Ill take that as a yes. Listen, Joe, I appreciate you got a duty of confidentiality, but Ive got duties too, and anything to do with the New Year meeting is my business. Zak told me about the call, I told her it was the price of fame, some nutter, ignore it. I thought I got through. Whats happened? There been more?
Joe varied the shrug with a little hand movement, sort of French, he felt.
OK, so theres been more. Listen, Joe, Ive got to know this. Is Zak seriously thinking about scratching because of this crap?
There didnt seem any harm in saying, No, I dont think scratchings an option, till hed said it, after which he realized it implied agreement with all that had gone before. But shoot, not even a Frenchman could shrug forever.
Thank God for that. But if shes so worried, why hire you? Why not talk to me again, or go to the police?
Back to the shrug.
Ill tell you why, said Hardiman after a moments pause for thought. The girls worried someone close to her may be involved. And if thats right, if its someone in her family, Zak wouldnt want that to get public. Shes a loyal girl.
Wasnt so loyal to you, thought Joe.
He said, Why should she think someone in her family could be out to harm her? Thought she was the apple of their eye.
I take it you havent met her sister? said Hardiman. Zak might be the apple of her parents eyes, but shes the pip up sister Marys nose.
With a mental sigh, Joe abandoned all shrugs and pretence. This sounded too important to miss.
He said, Whats the set-up? Young sister having all the talent, getting all the attention?
Half right, said Hardiman. But Mary was talented too, very talented. Squash was her game, and she was good. Ive known her a long time. She used to work out at the gym where I took my athletes for weight training. From thirteen, fourteen on she had just one idea in her mind. She was going to be the worlds Number One Woman, and nothing was going to get in her way. And I think she might have made it too if it hadnt been for the accident.
Hey, I think I remember something of that in the Bugle, said Joe. Car smash, wasnt it?
Thats right. She was driving her parents to see Zak run. They were shaken and bruised, nothing more, but Mary got her knee mangled. End of hopes.
Joe said, You tell that story like theres a lot more to it, Jim.
Sensitive soul, arent you? said Hardiman. Listen, Im into confidentiality too. Was a time when Zak used to tell me everything. There are things I figure you ought to know because of this situation youve got yourself into. But I dont want Zak knowing it comes from me, you understand me, Joe?
Back to the playground, Hooters voice soft, but his eyes oh so hard and menacing.
Just tell me what you want to tell me, Jim, said Joe mildly.
Hardiman looked like this wasnt the cued response, then said, OK. Way I got it from Zak was that in her parents eyes she was the star who needed cosseting, Mary was the toughie could look after herself. Easy to see why. Mary was completely single minded, didnt care what kind of impression she made. While Zak, well, youve met her. Cant help liking her, can you?
No, agreed Joe. So what happened?
OK, this night, Mary was late picking up her parents her dads car was in dock, which was why she was doing the driving. Reason she was late was shed been playing in a club competition and the woman she beat was the Great Britain Number 2, and thered been a journalist there whod wanted to interview her afterwards. None of her family there though. So shed got home full of this, only to be yelled at cos she was late taking them to see Zak run. Henry, thats her dad, was nagging away at her, cant you go faster, that sort of thing. So she jumped a light. Which was when it happened. And when Zak got to see her in hospital, first thing she said was, now youll be satisfied, last time Ill have an excuse being late for seeing you run. Laying it all on Zak.
Howd Zak take it?
Like the trooper she is. When Mary got out of hospital it was Zak kept her up to scratch with her physio. I think Mary would have been happy to walk with a stick the rest of her life sos no one would forget. As it was she seemed set to laze around at home looking miserable till Zak got her a job with her agent.
Thats this guy Endor, isnt it? Read about him too. Local isnt he?
Not really. Flash house out near Biggleswade, but hes a professional Cockney, on the make, on the up, said Hardiman without much sign of affection.
Blames him for Zak going to the States and changing trainers? wondered Joe.
But, to be fair, he seems to be doing OK by the girl, Hardiman went on, as if realizing hed let his feelings show. He spotted Zak was going to need an agent before shed got around to thinking of it for herself. But shes no fool. Once she heard his proposal, she sat down and re-evaluated things. I think she signed up on a short-term contract, and part of the deal was that Endor gave Mary a job without it looking like a fix.
Mustve been pretty obvious, said Joe. And some folk might think it was rubbing Marys nose in it, putting her where shed see the figures clicking up every day telling her how well her sister was doing.
His aim was to provoke and it worked.
That shows you know dick about Zak, snarled Hardiman.
While you know her inside out?
I know her better than most. Youve got to get close to someone youre training. Sometimes you can get too close.
Whats that mean?
Young kids are vulnerable. They find a friendly ear to pour things into which, a couple of years later as they grow up, they wish maybe they hadnt. So then they look for a reason to split.
Thought you and Zak parted by mutual consent cos she wanted to go stateside and you wanted to take this job at the Plezz?
I was talking in general, Joe, not about me and Zak, said Hardiman coldly. Listen, Joe, you tread carefully here, right? Last thing I want is some family row blowing up in the Plezz, so save your dramatic revelations till Zaks on her way back to the States.
Shouldve thought the last thing you wanted was Zak coming last, said Joe.
Hardiman shook his head and sighed deeply.
Joe, he said. The Grand Opening isnt about Zak, its about the Plezz. After its over, then the real work begins, and it doesnt matter if during the course of the ceremonies the mayor gets fighting drunk, the visiting dignitaries all fall into the pool, or Zak Oto gets run into the track by a no-name from nowhere. In fact if one or all of those happen, wed probably get much more publicity than if everything goes to plan. This time next week, the mayor will be sober, the dignitaries dry, and Zak long gone to sunny Virginia. And all of us back here will be settling down to the long hard struggle to make this place pay.
He paused and Joe digested the speech.
So youre not bothered about Zak? he said finally.
Of course Im bothered about Zak! said Hardiman indignantly. I put years into that girl, the important years. Im looking forward to a good decade of watching her tear up the record books, and all the while Ill be thinking, it was me who got you started, girl! And Ill tell you one thing, Joe. Doesnt matter what some nutter might be saying, once Zak gets out on that track, shell run to win. She doesnt know any other way. I guarantee that, cos it was me that put it there!
Good speech, thought Joe. But when youre watching her winning Olympic Gold, wont you be thinking, it should be me there at trackside, me shes running up to with the big thank-you hug for all to see on worldwide telly?
He recalled vaguely that last summer when Zak had announced she was definitely heading west, some of the tabloids had tried to whip rumours of an acrimonious parting into a full-blown row. Both of the notional participants, however, had been at pains to play things down. Zak, looking so lovely youd have believed it if shed told you she could fly, had talked about her gratitude to Jim and his total support for her decision that the American option was best for her, both personally and athletically. And Hardiman had completed the smother job by announcing that he was taking up the post of sports director at the Plezz. With Zaks talent, coaching her was a full-time commitment and I was never going to be able to combine it with getting things off the ground at the Pleasure Dome, hed said, cleverly suggesting that if any dumping had been done, he was the dumpster.
Now lets see if I can find Zak for you. I think shell be in the café with the others.
Others?
Didnt she say? Her agent, her Yank trainer, and of course big sister are all here.
He made them all sound like a gang of freeloading hangers-on.
So what exactly happens on New Years Day? asked Joe as they set off walking once more.
Well, theres an official opening of the stadium, flashing lights, boys and girls dancing, that sort of thing, followed by the competition, with Zaks race as the highlight, of course. Then in the evening theres a civic reception in the art gallery to inaugurate the other facilities, Zak will be asked to unveil a plaque, everyone will get noisily pissed, and the ratepayers will foot the bill. The luminaries of Luton are fighting for invites. If you dont have a ticket, youre dead.