Chapter 27
Wednesday, April 28th. 7:54 am.
Alf was woken up by the sound of his mobile.
Still feeling the effects of the lager, he slowly stretched out across the bed for the phone.
It wasn’t like four cans of Fosters had been a bit too much for him. Usually he could hold his drink. But it had been quite a while since he’d had anything like that amount, and it must have gone straight to his head.
He squinted at the screen.
Nicole.
‘Hello.’
‘Have you spoken to Chan Lee yet?’
‘No, I’m just about to do it. What time is it?’
‘You still in bed you lazy bugger?’
‘Your fault. Shouldn’t have brought those cans.’
‘Just get you’re arse in gear. We don’t have a lot of time.’
‘You spoke to Benny?’
‘Yes. We’re both waiting for you. So get a move on.’
The line went dead.
Alf glanced at the time on his mobile, it was just after eight.
‘Chan Lee should be up by now,’ he thought, ‘so here goes.’
He loaded up his contact list and hit Chan Lee’s name.
After about five rings it was answered.
‘Hello.’ was the response in his usual Chinese dialect.
‘Alf here. Just rang to arrange a time and place for the exchange.’
‘About time.’ he didn’t sound to put out, just annoyed. ‘You name it and I’ll be there.’
‘Can you make it to the AMT coffee shop in Euston Station for ten o’clock?’
‘Of course.’
‘Nicole will meet you there with another colleague. She’ll have her laptop so that you can transfer the cash into her offshore account. Then as soon as it’s cleared and she can see it in the bank, you’ll get the diamond.’
‘Will this other colleague be carrying the gem?’
‘Don’t be daft.’ Alf replied. ‘If he had it, what’s stopping you from pulling a gun and taking it, without handing over the money? No, there will be somebody else somewhere in the vicinity holding it, and once the financial transaction has been completed, our friend will go outside and collect it. Don’t worry. Nicole will still be there with you as insurance.’
‘Will you be with them?’
‘I think you know the answer to that. If I show my face in public I’ve had it. I’d be in custody quicker than you could order your next cup of coffee.’
‘I’ll be there. Just make sure you keep your side of the deal, or I’ll be coming after you. And you’d better believe it. I will get you. You can run, but…’
‘I get the gist.’
The line went dead.
Wednesday, April 28th. 8:33 am.
‘You and Benny need to be at the AMT coffee shop at ten o’clock precisely.’ Alf was entering text to Nicole; it was safer than a call. ‘Chan Lee will be there, probably with one of his cronies. I’ve told him that you’ll have your laptop to sort out the cash, and then Benny will go and get the gem, once the money has landed in your account. He doesn’t know that Benny will already have the diamond, but as soon as the finance has been sorted, you can hand it over. All clear.’
He pressed send.
He didn’t have to wait more than a couple of minutes before he got his reply.
‘Short notice, but we’ll have to get it done. Where will you be?’
‘I daren’t show my face so I’ll stay here. You let me know as soon as everything is over. Good luck.’
‘I’m hoping we won’t need any of that luck stuff. But don’t contact me again. Hartley and I have just landed at the shop, and it’s taking me all my efforts texting without him getting too inquisitive.’
Wednesday, April 28th. 8:47 am.
‘Pick me up at the corner of Grenville Street at nine fifteen.’ Nicole was texting Benny. ‘We’ll use your works van, seeing your company services some of the CCTV’s in Euston; it won’t appear strange if it’s parked near there.’
‘Bit soon, but I’ll be there.’
‘Who are you chatting to at this time in a morning?’ said Hartley.
‘Eve. She’s got a problem, and wants some help.’
‘What. Again. Can’t she sort her own life out without encroaching on other peoples?’
Nicole didn’t respond straight away, but then said.
‘Who’s in today?’
‘Victoria. And hopefully she’ll be here any minute,’ Hartley sounded somewhat suspicious, ‘because by the sound of it, you won’t still be here within the next five minutes.’
‘Sorry,’ replied Nicole keeping her voice steady, ‘but if I can’t help out a friend, what kind of person would I be?’
Hartley didn’t reply.
‘She’s here.’ remarked Nicole as she went to the door and let Victoria in.
‘Good morning.’ Victoria greeted.
‘Glad you’re early. I have to go out.’
Nicole left the shop. Leaving Victoria to close the door, looking rather none plus.
‘What was all that about?’ she asked Hartley.
‘Don’t ask.’ was his reply.
Chapter 28
Wednesday, April 28th. 9:11 am.
Nicole thought she’d have time for a quick coffee before Benny showed up. But as she was approaching the corner of Grenville Street, she could see that he was already there, waiting.
‘Your early.’ said Nicole as she climbed into the van.
‘Can’t afford to be late. Boss thinks I’m taking the dog to the vets. I just hope he doesn’t ring up and ask my missus how it’s gone.’
‘Why?’
‘We don’t have a dog.’
Benny laughed as he started to drive. Nicole just grinned and shook her head.
With it being midweek and the rush hour over, the traffic wasn’t too bad. They arrived at Euston station at twenty to ten. Plenty of time to get to the coffee shop, and find the best table for their mission to be accomplished.
There were a few customers in having drinks and snacks, but it wasn’t over crowded.
Nicole spotted a table for four, right in the corner.
‘That’ll be perfect.’ she said to Benny. ‘Nobody will be able to see what we’re doing there. You go and sit down. I’ll get some coffees.’
Benny didn’t waste any time.
He sat on a chair with his back to the wall. That way he had a good view of everyone who came in, or went out.
‘I hope you like latte.’ said Nicole as she placed the tray on the table.
‘No problem.’ he replied, picking up a couple of sachets of sugar. Ripping them open and pouring the contents into his glass latte cup.
‘Once Chan Lee gets here,’ mentioned Nicole, ‘I think it would be wise if we let him sit with his back to the wall. That way he can’t get out of here before the transfer has gone through.’
‘I’m not sure he’ll agree to that,’ commented Benny, ‘but you can always try.’
As they waited, not very patiently, a number of customers came and went with takeaways, and three, what looked like teenage lads wearing hoodies, came and occupied a table about two yards away.
‘I hope they’ll not be any trouble,’ said Benny, ‘they don’t look very savoury.’
‘Don’t worry about them,’ replied Nicole, ‘let’s just concentrate on the job in hand. If they do start to interfere, I’m sure Chan Lee or his buddy will...’
Before she could finish what she was saying, Benny kicked her ankle under the table.
‘They’re here.’
‘So I see.’ she replied.
They started to stand, but the man who was presumably Chan Lee, using his hands in a pushing down motion, said.
‘Don’t get up. It would be better if you stayed where you are.’
‘I’d rather you sit with your back to the wall,’ stated Nicole looking at straight at the Chinese man, ‘that way nobody can see what you’re doing on my laptop. We don’t want any prying eyes. Do we?’
‘Then I’ll sit at the side of you,’ Chan Lee replied, ‘and your friend can sit opposite us, with my associate.’
Nervously Benny stood up and made his way round the table and took the seat directly opposite Nicole.
Chan Lee’s colleague sat at the side of Benny, facing his boss.
Nicole lifted out her laptop. Booted it up. And loaded her account onto the monitor.
‘There you go,’ she instructed, ‘you put your details in there,’ she pointed to the relevant sections on the screen, ‘and then the amount goes there.’
She glanced over at Chan Lee.
‘Is that OK?’
He looked at her almost in disgust.
‘I do know what to do you know.’
He started to input the details, and when he’d finished, before he pressed SEND, he looked across at Nicole.
‘Is that alright?’
She nodded.
He hit enter.
Nicole’s eyes were transfixed on the monitor, and after about thirty seconds she saw the amount of £20,000,000 come up in the credit box. The cash had been successfully transferred.
She smiled at Benny.
‘You can give the box to Mr Lee now.’
He bent down and lifted a square box out of the sports bag that he’d brought it in, and placed it on the table in front of Chan Lee.
‘There you go.’
Suddenly, before Chan Lee could pick up the gem, a commotion started to erupt just outside of the café.
It appeared as though some young lads were starting to fight, between themselves, and a bit of a crowd was quickly gathering.
The four of them were looking outside, but when Nicole turned back to face the table, Chan Lee and his colleague were slumped forward. Their heads face down on the table.
‘Move it.’ said a voice just behind Nicole. ‘Let’s get the fuck out of here before it’s too late.’
It was Alf.
As Nicole and Benny turned their heads they spotted Alf, slipping a handgun with a silencer into his hoodies inside pocket.
‘What the fuck are you doing?’ said Benny. His voice no more than a whisper.
‘Never mind that,’ replied Alf, ‘lets get out of here before anyone notices that there’s two dead bodies slouching over the table.’
Alf had his head bent forward with the hood covering it; preventing anybody spotting who he was. Nicole and Benny followed him quickly, close behind, as he was scurrying out into the public thoroughfare, with the intention of getting lost in the crowd.
Benny had a quick glance behind them to see if anyone had noticed the bodies they’d just left, but fortunately most people were too busy watching the kerfuffle created by the youngsters.
As the three of them headed towards the exit with their heads bowed as low as possible, Alf said.
‘Where you parked?’
‘I’ll lead.’ responded Benny, as he sped up and took the lead.
‘Slow down,’ remarked Nicole, ‘before we start to look suspicious.’
Benny slowed to a brisk walk, and Alf followed suit.
It didn’t take more than a couple of minutes and they arrived at Benny’s works van.
He unlocked it and they all jumped in.
Nicole occupying the front passenger seat, Alf slouching in the back, keeping his head down.
‘Move it Benny.’ said Alf with his voice raised.
He keyed the ignition and started to drive. Not too fast, that would also cause heads to turn.
‘Bloody hell,’ commented Alf, ‘we’ve only gone and done it. Got the money as well as the Appleford.’
‘How the hell did you manage to be in the café with that gun, ready to shoot Chan Lee and his mate?’ questioned Nicole. ‘Where did you get it, and was it you that arranged for those youngsters to start fighting, directly outside the coffee shop?’
‘It took a bit of sorting,’ said Alf, ‘but when you’ve got contacts, it’s easy.’
He’d already slipped the hood down, and was sat up with a smirk on his face.
‘Where to?’ queried Benny.
‘Head to the house where Alf’s been staying.’ replied Nicole.
‘And where’s that?’
Nicole told him the address.
‘And where the hell is that?’
‘Just keep going up here, and I’ll direct you.’
As they were travelling, Alf couldn’t stop bragging about his exploits.
‘I rang an old friend and he supplied me with the gun and silencer.’ he boasted. ‘Then I got in touch with another mate who arranged for the two guys wearing hoodies that were with me in the café, and the teenagers who started the distraction.’
‘You should have told us what you were up to, don’t you think.’ said Nicole.
‘Why?’ replied Alf. ‘Would it have made any difference? It was better you didn’t know what I was doing; otherwise it could have all gone tits up. You’d have been too busy wondering when I was going to make my move, than concentrating on getting Chan Lee to transfer the twenty million quid.’
‘Well at least it worked,’ commented Benny, ‘and so far so good, we’ve not had our collars felt.’
‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.’ Nicole remarked. ‘We’re not in the clear just yet.’
‘Why?’ said Alf. ‘What can go wrong now? We’ve got the money safely tucked away in your offshore account. We’ve got the diamond, which we can sell again. It’s a win win situation if you ask me.’
‘We’re here.’ remarked Nicole. ‘Pull into the drive of number fifty three.’
As he drove in he mentioned.
‘Look, I’m going to have to get back to work before the boss starts to get on my back.’
‘No problem.’ answered Nicole. ‘It might be best if you give me a ring when it’s convenient, rather than me phoning you. I’ve a bit of juggling to do with my accounts. But as soon as I can, I’ll sort you both out with your share. So keep in touch.’
‘Don’t worry about that,’ replied Benny, ‘I’ll definitely be keeping in touch. I’m going nowhere without my money, have no fear of that.
Nicole and Alf quickly climbed out of the van, and headed inside the house, as Benny drove away.
Chapter 29
Wednesday, April 28th. 2:18pm.
‘And where the hell have you been?’ said George, one of his work colleagues as Benny walked into the office. ‘Woodbridge is on the warpath. So much so he’s headed over to your house, to try and find out what you’ve been up to on works time.’
‘I took the dog to the vets,’ replied a nervous Benny, ‘but I’ll give him a quick ring.’
‘Shit,’ he thought, ‘I hope he’s not landed at our house yet, otherwise I’m for the high jump.’
He shook his head whilst chuckling inside, thinking.
‘What the fuck am I bothered about. I’ll be a millionaire in the next few days. So it doesn’t really matter whether I’ve still got my job, or whether we have a bloody dog or not. I’ll still ring him anyway, even if it’s just for the sake of my missus.’
He lifted his mobile out and rang.
It was answered almost immediately.
‘Hello, Clive?’ said Benny.
‘Oh yes its me.’ replied his boss. ‘And you’ve got a hell of a lot of explaining to do. Where are you?’
‘In your office. George just told me that you’re on my case.’
‘I’m on more than your case, as you say.’
‘Have you spoken to my wife yet?’
‘No. I’ve only just landed at your house. But now that you’re back in circulation, I’ll come straight back. I’ll see you very, very soon.’
Benny didn’t like the sound of Clive Woodbridge’s tone.
Glad that he’d not spoken to Caroline though.
But, even so, it didn’t have the ring of a fuming boss who was about to bullock his employee for absenteeism. It had the air of a boss who had something on his mind.
But what?
Wednesday, April 28th. Still 2:18pm.
‘I’m going to get back to the shop.’ said Nicole. ‘I’ll still have to keep Hartley appeased, or else if he starts to get too nosey, we could be in a spot of bother.’
‘Before you go,’ queried Alf, ‘when do you propose to come back?’
‘Not sure. Why?’
‘Don’t forget, I still can’t go out anywhere. So how am I supposed to pick up any shopping? There’s only a bit of food in the cupboards. But there’s no alcohol at all, and I couldn’t half do with a drink.’
‘What do you want, and I’ll nip to the off-licence. Have you got enough food for today? If so I’ll pick something up tomorrow once Hartley’s sorted.’
‘Can you get me some cans, but more than a four pack? And a bottle of whiskey wouldn’t go amiss.’
Nicole was smiling as she shook her head.
‘The shit that we’re in if we get caught, and all your bothered about is booze.’
‘Well, there’s not much else I can do is there?’
She left without another word.
Wednesday, April 28th. 3:26pm.
George had mentioned that Andy had covered all Benny’s service calls, so he’d been glancing at his rota for tomorrow. Thinking that, it would be in his best interest to appear like his usual self, and not somebody who was about to come into a hell of a lot of money. He’d just returned from a visit to the bathroom. During which time, Clive Woodbridge had arrived, and was sat in his office.
They’d clocked each other through the boss’s office window, before Benny had a chance to sit down at his desk.
Clive lifted his hand, and with his finger and a grim look, indicated for Benny to come and see him.
‘So come on,’ said the boss not sounding exactly pleased, ‘where have you been all morning.’
‘I told you that I had to take the dog to the vets.’
‘And what’s your dog’s name?’
That wasn’t the question he would have expected in this kind of inquisition.
‘What?’
‘What’s its name? And can you remember what breed it is?’
‘A corgi, called,’ he paused. He had to think quickly. Corgis are usually golden in colour, ‘Goldie.’
‘Now why does that surprise me.’ replied Clive.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well dogs that come to the rescue of their owners are usually called Lassie, and are always collies.’
‘I don’t know what you’re on about.’ Even though he knew full well where his boss was going, he couldn’t let him go down there. It wouldn’t half make him look a fool. Even more of a fool than he was making himself look already. Benny was aware that Clive realised that there wasn’t a dog, but as far as Benny was concerned, that was fine. The main thing was that the boss didn’t seem to have a clue what he’d been up to.
‘This is getting us nowhere,’ remarked Clive with a resigning tone, ‘you carry on. I’m going out and writing down the mileage on all the vans. That’s the only way I can keep a check on how far you’re all travelling.’
As the boss made his way to the car park, Benny went back to his desk.
‘What’s he up to now?’ questioned George.
‘He’s making a note of the mileage on all the vans.’
‘So because you absconded for the morning, we’re all being monitored. Thanks for nothing.’
Wednesday, April 28th. Still 3:26pm.
‘Oh, so you’ve decided to pay us a visit then.’ remarked Hartley as Nicole made an appearance.
‘I told you where I was going.’ she replied. ‘Eve needed help, and I just had to be there for her.’
‘Oh its Eve now is it?’ said Hartley doubtfully, ‘it was Beth this morning.’
‘Sorry did I say Eve. I meant to say Beth.’ she had to think quickly. ‘I see them both so often, sometimes I call Eve Beth, and vice versa.’
Hartley didn’t see the need for any further response; he simply walked over to the stockroom and continued checking through the various quantities of watches, earrings and bracelets.