Chapter 7
Danny's eyes fluttered open. The first thing he saw was Mickey, Ash, Stacie and Albert sitting either side of his bed. There was a distant, incessant beeping coming from somewhere but an agonising pain in his abdomen soon distracted his thoughts.
"What happened?" He asked hoarsely.
"You don't remember?" Mickey replied. "You were shot. Ash and Stacie found you in the hotel room. You have been out of it for a while."
"Keanon," Danny said.
"What?" Stacie asked, clearly confused.
"Jeff Keanon. I met him a few years ago, before I met you guys. He was big on gambling. Horse racing, cards, casinos. Liked to bet all his money but whenever he lost, he got violent. Cut one blokes finger off! So I thought I'd try and con him. Told him I had a mate on the inside who could delay horse racing results until he had chance to put on a bet. He won £5000 for the convincer, then he bet it on a horse with 3-1 odds. But the horse lost and I got the 15 grand."
"15 grand, you are joking Danny." Mickey scolded. "A short con artist, taking someone for that much, you must have guessed something would go wrong."
"Well, after a few years went by and I still had all my fingers, I thought I was safe. Then there was this bloke following me round London. I didn't recognise him but he must have been one of Keanon's heavies. Next thing I know, he's pointing a gun in my face."
"We'll get him Danny, don't you worry about that," Stacie reassured him."
"Don't." Danny argued. "He's dangerous. You could get hurt."
"No one can outwit us Dan, you know that." Ash replied.
"Danny's right. Unless we're absolutely sure that we can con him, I'd prefer to leave him alone." Mickey said.
"Time to go you lot." A nurse came in and told them all to go. "He's had enough excitement for today."
"See you later Danny," Stacie said, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.