Musclebound (31 page)

‘What you know about it?’

‘Hey, chill. I don’t read that sort of magazine myself but you see them around sometimes.’

‘I don’t read women’s mags neither,’ I said. ‘But you still got to be slim and fit if you’re modelling handbags or lipstick.’

‘It ain’t women’s magazines,’ he said, ‘and it ain’t handbags.’

‘Well, lipstick, whatever.’

He was staring at me with Cousin Carmen eyes, which made me shiver. But he said, ‘OK, baby-buns, lipstick, whatever.’

‘Models got to be fit,’ I said.

‘OK, child,’ Keif said. ‘They got to be fit.’

‘So?’

‘So, nothing. Just thought it wasn’t your scene. Just thought you might like it if I put a word in with my dad. It’s a proper gym – all weights and punch-bags. There’s a pool there too and a basketball court. All sorts of good gear. But, like, if you prefer the glamour game …’

I finished his chips. I was still hungry. ‘Well,’ I said, ‘Simone ain’t in business yet. So I got to find something temporary.’

‘Now you talking,’ he said. ‘And mebbe I’ll be working there too. Just temporary. And I got to get you running again.’

‘No running,’ I said. ‘I fucking hate running.’

‘Skipping then. You got to work on your lungs. I was watching you, night before last. Lotta raw power, lotta speed, but it ain’t no good if you out of breath.’

‘Wasn’t out of breath,’ I said. ‘I want some pudding.’

‘Fruit,’ he said. ‘You don’t want that sticky pudding. You going to eat good hard apples from now on.’

‘Bugger off,’ I said. See, he always thinks he knows what’s good for me and he’s always wrong. Sticky pudding
is
good for me. It keeps the cold out, gives me energy. Apples make my teeth ache.

‘Apples ain’t sweet enough for you?’ Keif said. ‘You eat what I tell you, then I’
ll
be your sugar. I sweet enough for both of us.’

But I wasn’t listening ‘cos I suddenly had a thought about the yard. See, it was
my
yard now. The owner wasn’t coming back. He’d be in Spain or Bermuda if he had any sense. He’d let all his employees take the heat and he wouldn’t come back till it was safe. At least, that’s what I’d do if I was him.

So I’d have the yard all to myself. Just me and Ramses and Lineker and Milo. I’d paint the Static and put some glass in the windows. And Simone could come and stay. And maybe I’d plant a tree so she could look out of the window and see something growing. She’s sensitive so she probably likes trees and flowers. The yard could be a home for the two of us.

I’d go out to work at the gym, and my personal trainer would get me ring-ready. He could come round sometimes and give me a back-rub with those voodoo digits and Cousin Carmen’s embrocation. But only if he promised not to annoy Simone. Oh yes. I could see it all.

‘Apples?’ said Keif. ‘I ain’t gonna waste time training you ‘less you change your diet.’

‘OK, apples,’ I said. ‘But I want some sticky pudding first. After that you can buy me all the apples you like. And while you’re doing that I’m going to check out my lottery numbers. I feel some good strong mojo coming my way.’

Liza Cody, one of Britain’s most inventive contemporary writers, grew up in London. She studied painting at the City and Guilds of London Art School and the Royal Academy School. She has worked as a painter, furniture-maker, photographer and graphic designer. Her first novel,
Dupe
, won the John Creasey Prize for Crime Fiction. In 1992 she won the Crime Writers’ Association Silver Dagger Award for
Bucket Nut
which introduces Eva. Wylie, the heroine of
Monkey Wrench
and the latest novel of the trilogy,
Musclebound
. She lives in Somerset.

Dupe
Bad Company
Stalker
Headcase
Under Contract
Rift
Backhand
Bucket Nut
Monkey Wrench

First published in Great Britain 1997

This electronic edition published in 2012 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Copyright © 1997 by Liza Cody

The moral right of the author has been asserted

All rights reserved
You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages

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A CIP catalogue record for this book
is available from the British Library

eISBN: 9781408837313

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