Den of Thieves Read Free

what? What you goin’ on about?’
    â€˜Put it another way, some fool’s lent him the money and my patron wants to make his mark on London – leave something for him to beremembered by.’ I was feeling ungenerous to Mr Sheridan today. ‘Oh yes, and I s’pose there might be the little matter of making a bigger profit by selling more tickets.’
    Syd whistled and shook his head. ‘That’s a rum do – spending a fortune to make one.’
    â€˜I couldn’t have put it better myself.’
    â€˜But what about you, Cat? Where are you goin’ to live now, eh, when they knock your theatre down?’
    I shrugged, not wanting him to think I couldn’t look after myself. Pedro had asked me the very same question when I’d broken the news to him the night before. But I couldn’t bear to confess my worries to two of my best friends. Pedro was in no position to help me and as for Syd, he’d never let me in his gang if I appeared incapable of sorting out even this simple matter. I have my pride.
    â€˜I don’t know yet, but I’ll find somewhere,’ I said more cheerfully than I felt.
    Syd nodded. ‘Mr Sheridan won’t let you down, not after all you’ve done for ’im in the past.’
    I didn’t want to tell him that this was exactlythe kind of matter over which my patron was entirely unreliable. I just gave Syd a non-committal smile and got up to go.
    â€˜â€™Ere, Cat, wait ’alf a tick. I ’aven’t told you my news yet.’
    â€˜What’s that?’
    A country girl walked past with a tray of strawberries and gave Syd the eye. He winked back then blushed when he remembered who he was with.
    â€˜I . . . er . . . I’m leavin’ London for a bit.’
    â€˜No!’ I was astounded. Neither Syd nor I ever left town. Our bones were made from the dust of its streets and our blood from the water of the Thames. I couldn’t have been more surprised if he’d announced he was going to the moon.
    Syd was pleased to see that I was shocked by his announcement. ‘Just for a bit like, Kitten. Just for the summer. I’m goin’ on tour with me manager. We’re goin’ to take on all-comers at the fairs up and down the country. ’E says there’s a mint of money to be made in boxin’. ’E promises it’ll set me up for me own place in the autumn if all goeswell. I’ll be able to think about settlin’ down.’
    I made a sceptical snort. Syd’s face fell. ‘What? You don’t like the idea of settlin’ down? Me startin’ a boxin’ academy?’
    â€˜No, Syd, not that. It’s just that I don’t like your manager. I don’t trust him as far as I could throw him – which, as it’s my muscles we’re talking about, isn’t very far at all.’
    Syd turned away and ran his hands through his hair in exasperation. ‘Don’t start that again, Cat. What you got against Mick Bailey but his bad taste in jackets, eh? I know ’e looks a sharp one, but ’as ’e ever let me down, I ask you?’
    â€˜He hasn’t had the chance. You’ve been on a winning streak.’
    â€˜It’s more than a streak, Cat,’ said Syd, bobbing on his toes and making a jab at his shadow. ‘I’m good, bleedin’ marvellous, ’e tells me.’
    â€˜For once, I agree with him. Just be careful.’
    â€˜Course I will, you daft Kitten,’ he said, making a playful punch in the direction of my ribs. ‘I’m a big lad. I can look after meself, you know.’
    â€˜I know.’
    We’d been friends for so many years, but I couldn’t see the grown-up Syd without remembering the boy who’d taken me under his wing when I was an infant. My earliest memories consisted of me trailing after him, pulling the little wooden horse he’d made me, or sitting unnoticed at his side when he