Chib Calloway had fairly stalked towards his car. Johnno had flicked away his cigarette, Glenn holding open the rear door for their boss.

‘Unless you want to drive…?’

But Chib had been content in the back, looking over his shoulder as the car pulled away. No sign of anyone at the top-floor windows.

‘Good meeting?’

‘Never you mind,’ Chib had growled, chewing on a thumbnail while he considered potential courses of action. Of course, in a sense it wasn’t for him to decide. The demand had been made to Mike – twenty grand or one of the paintings. The girl called Alice, she had to be Westie’s girlfriend. Chib knew about Westie, but no one had thought to mention that there was a bird in on it as well.

And now the pair of them were getting greedy. Chib found himself tutting, while at the same time admiring their bare-faced cheek. What were they going to do – run to the cops? Not likely, with the two of them being every bit as complicit as anyone else. They were testing Mike’s nerve, that was all, same as Chib himself had just been doing. Problem wasn’t really Mike, though – it was that wet pal of his, Allan Cruikshank. Losing his bottle. Mike’s lie about the new girlfriend might have worked if he’d had time to refine it. Over the course of his professional life, Chib reckoned he’d probably heard about twenty thousand lies, the majority of them honed to near perfection. Mike’s attempt hadn’t been in the same league. Hadn’t even been playing ballboy.

Another reason for the little visit today: Chib wanted to see exactly how rich Michael Mackenzie was. Just because he’d run a company, sold some product, it didn’t mean things hadn’t gone tits up along the way. Plenty of guys Chib knew had made money only to blow the whole lot on misguided shares or badly tipped nags. But Mike was living the high life, no question about it. Chib doubted the paintings on the walls were repro. Flat-screen TV must’ve been three of four K. As for the flat itself – not much change out of a million. Hell, the way things were in Edinburgh, maybe even a million-five, million-six.

Which was all to the good: Chib liked a man with money.

Mike could solve the Westie problem by throwing cash at it, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t come back wanting more – might happen next week or next year, but it would happen. Come to think of it, Mike could solve Chib’s own cash-flow problem, too, if the Vikings decided they didn’t want to go with the painting. The planning… the clandestine meetings… car manoeuvres to lose any tail… the handover of the shooters… all these things had kindled something in Mike Mackenzie. He’d been growing to like it. Introducing him to Hate, however, might have been a mistake – Mike hadn’t been ready for that. Hate had scared him good and proper, and he had yet to recover his early confidence. Still, he’d held up pretty well this morning.

How did you get this address?

Chib had to smile at that – it had been as easy as asking an estate agent. They all knew ‘the Mackenzie pad’, could reel off the magazines and supplements it had appeared in. Another good reason, Chib told himself, for not being flashy with your cash and your choice of residence. Didn’t want every fucker knowing your business or that you might be worth a visit.

‘Where to, boss?’ Glenn was asking from the driver’s seat.

‘Home,’ Chib said. The other text message had been from ‘Laura’. When Chib had noted her resemblance to the portrait, Mike had been all casual – Laura Stanton, you mean? But the pair of them were close. She sent him texts, used only her first name, and sounded keen to see her millionaire businessman friend. Chib would have to consider the ramifications of this, too. But for now, one of his own mobiles was trilling. He recognised the number and considered not answering, then told Glenn to pull over. Chib was pushing open the door before the BMW was fully stationary. He’d taken a deep breath and flipped the phone open.

‘Calloway?’ came the quiet voice.

‘Hiya, Edvard.’ The only name Chib had for the man: Edvard. Boss Hogg of a Hell’s Angels chapter in the wilds of Norway. They ran drugs from all over: Denmark to Sweden; Russia to Finland; Norway to the UK. ‘Happy with the collateral?’ Chib noticed that he was standing beside some railings. Behind them was a patch of churned-up grass, some kids having a kickabout.

A quarter-century back, that was me. Nobody would dare take the ball away once I had it…

‘Well,’ Edvard was saying, ‘that’s why I wanted to talk with you.’ The voice was cultured, never threatening. Chib had been informed early on in the relationship that he would never meet its owner. Probably not even Hate had got to meet Edvard…

‘I hope there’s not a problem.’ Chib was staring at the game without really seeing it. A dog was barking. It had been tied to one of the goalposts.

‘No problems as yet – in fact, quite the contrary. You will know, of course, that collateral such as yours can make for a reliable form of currency?’

‘The one you’ve got isn’t even posted as missing.’ Turning towards the car, Chib noticed that the passenger-side window was down, meaning Glenn and Johnno were listening. Of course they were. Chib knew he had to keep from saying anything meaningful. He walked further down the pavement.

‘That’s good, that’s very good.’ Edvard’s voice was as soft as a lullaby. ‘So then, to cut the story short, perhaps more of our business could be transacted in similar fashion in future?’

Chib doubted it.

‘Sure,’ he agreed, sounding enthusiastic. ‘No problem at all, Edvard. You like your art, huh? Me, too.’

‘I like money better, Mr Calloway.’ The voice had turned cold. ‘And what I’m really passionate about just now is the money you still owe me.’

‘It’s coming, Edvard…’

‘I’m happy to hear that. I’ll be in touch soon about further transactions. ’

The phone went dead – Edvard never stayed on too long, just in case. Chib snapped the phone shut and tapped it against his teeth. He was replaying the conversation, and winced when he got to You like your art, huh? To anyone listening in – on a wire-tap, say – he’d just given away the nature of the bloody collateral!

Good work, Chib… Nice fucking going…

Still, Edvard wanted to do business with him. More paintings to be swapped between gangs as security on various deals. Tap, tap, tap of the phone against his teeth. The dog howling now in frustration. The BMW drawing up alongside Chib, making him realise he’d kept on walking. He was thinking about Edvard and the people Edvard did business with, hundreds and thousands of miles away from Edinburgh. How much did they know about art? About the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists? If paintings were just collateral to them, just something to be held on to while deals were being done…

Professor Robert Gissing reckoned that this kid Westie was a master forger, and Chib began to wonder about that, too. He was still thinking as he got back into the car, thinking as they pulled away from the kerb. Westie and Alice, Alice and Westie.

Westie short-changed.

‘I know how you feel, pal,’ Chib said out loud.

‘Boss?’ Glenn asked from the driving seat.

‘Nothing.’

‘Who was on the phone? Was it Hate?’

Chib sat forward in his seat until his face was almost level with Glenn’s. ‘Any more sticking your big pointy nose in, you’ll have my hands around your throat – understood?’

‘Loud and clear,’ Glenn said, sounding suitably chastened. ‘It’s just that…’ He swallowed hard, as if fearing his boss’s hands. ‘If you’re in trouble, me and Johnno want to help.’

‘What we’re here for,’ Johnno piped up.

‘Well, isn’t that touching?’ Chib crooned.

‘We feel maybe you don’t trust us the way you used to,’ Glenn persisted.

‘Oh aye? And who are you going to complain to – your shop steward? Get a grip, Glenn. Some of my business you’re better off not knowing. I’m taking more than my share of flak, just to keep you two off the radar, know what I mean?’