Chapter 3
Tuesday April 20th. 9:34 am.
‘Don’t turn round,’ Benny felt the cold steel of a gun barrel pressed firm at the back of his skull. The man continued, ‘or I will put a ventilation shaft fit for the channel tunnel straight through your fuckin’ head.’
Whether out of shock or fear, Benny Coleman tried to push on the door of his Citroen Dispatch, in a futile attempt at making his escape.
It wouldn’t budge.
He caught sight through his wing mirror, of a large dark figure blocking the daylight from illuminating the van.
‘Now you’ve realised there’s no escape, just drive.’
‘But there’s nothing in here worth stealing.’
‘Last chance. It’s in your best interest to cooperate. So drive or die, the choice is yours.’
Nervously and without any further thought of escape, Benny grabbed the steering wheel with one hand, and turned the ignition key with the other.
As he pulled away from the kerb he glanced through his side view mirror, and the obstruction that wouldn’t allow him to get out of the van came into view.
A man. Built like the proverbial brick shit house, sporting a thick dark beard and wearing shades. The dark trousers and jacket weren’t exactly in keeping with early spring. His right hand looked like it was bulging inside his pocket, and Benny dreaded to think what he might be holding out of sight.
‘Is that a fuckin’ dash cam?’ said his captor, as he pointed to the top of the dashboard using his free hand.
‘It’s only a dummy,’ replied an extremely nervous Benny, ‘the boss said that it could work as a deterrent to any would be thieves. With us being in the CCTV business some unscrupulous idiots might think that we keep monitors or cameras in here, but all I carry are a few spares and my tools for effecting repairs.’
‘Are you sure?’ He didn’t sound convinced.
‘Here see.’ Benny stretched out his hand and pulled the small imitation camera off the dashboard. ‘It’s only stuck on with blue tac.’
‘OK, keep going.’
He sped down Hatton Garden with the cold metal of a gun barrel, pressed hard on the back of his head, wondering what had he ever done wrong. He couldn’t remember which of his customers he’d wronged or cheated, especially as he wasn’t that sort of guy.
When he climbed out of bed that morning, he’d been a normal, regular, family man. A wife and three children. A mortgage. No debts to speak of.
Yes they still owed money for the new Astra, but to his knowledge the loan was paid up to date. As far as he knew there was no reason to kidnap him.
He’d got nothing worth stealing, either at home or in his van.
He was just a normal, indiscriminate man, going about his daily life. Working to cater for his families needs, and provide for them the best way he possibly could.
Yet here he was driving away from his last customer call, with a definite threat to his life. A stranger holding him at gunpoint wasn’t an everyday occurrence.
‘Keep going to the bottom of Hatton. Not too fast mind; we don’t want to attract attention. Then turn right onto the A40.’
‘Where…Where am I going?’ Benny stuttered, ‘I don’t know what you want, but if I’m not at M & S in the next fifteen minutes, the Police will be notified of my absence, and either you’ll get caught or I’ll be reported as missing.’
‘Now why would the Police be interested?’ came a sarcastic reply.
Benny gulped. Knowing that most of his customers were only due for a service to their CCTV systems, and it could be as late as 6 pm before he was actually missed.
‘I work with closed circuit TV systems which are linked to the Police Station, and if my service checks aren’t logged in, then they’ll be on to you.’
‘Now what would they be on to? We’re only having a friendly chat.’
‘Sticking that gun into my head, doesn’t exactly look like we’re best mates.’
‘Oh but we are.’ replied the gunman. In such a casual manner, and with so much confidence and surety.
‘How old is Janice now, 37, 38, she doesn’t half look good, especially after 3 kids.’
‘Who are you? And how do you know my wife?’
‘Benny, Benny. We’re such good friends; I know all your family.’
‘Just keep driving along here.’ instructed the gunman calmly.
Even though in shock, he still needed to keep it together and do as he was told. Especially as the man was threatening him, and had knowledge about his wife and kids.
‘Keith’s 15 now isn’t he,’ remarked his captor, sounding nonchalant, ‘and do you know, I really think you made the right decision letting him sign for Brentford juniors, instead of Fulham. Sometimes the bigger clubs can incite so much ambition, that it can stifle the youngster’s natural ability.’
‘How do you know about that, we only put pen to paper the other day, and not even the Fulham management are aware of our final decision yet?’
‘No, but the Fulham guys don’t have the same agenda and contacts that I do. All their concerned with is football, and all that I’m bothered about is a gem.’ The gunman paused reflectively.
‘Yes, a gem.’ he remarked almost dreamily. ‘And it’s that gem that you’re going to help us get our hands on.’
‘I’ve not got a clue what you’re on about,’ croaked Benny, ‘but whatever it…’
‘Where will Keith be now?’ came the interruption.
‘What do you mean? He’ll be in class.’ He lifted his wrist up checking his watch to make sure of the time.
‘Are you sure about that.’ said the man holding the gun. This shot a bolt of doubt in Benny’s direction.
‘Well if he’s not in school, where the hell is he?’
Whilst Benny was speaking, his captor lifted out a mobile phone and was making a call.
As soon as the call was answered, the gunman switched it over to speaker.
‘Lazarus?’
‘Yes.’
‘Put the lad on.’
‘Go on Benny, ask your lad why’s he not in school.’
‘Keith, are you there.’
‘Dad, Dad, what’s going on?’
‘You alright. They’ve not hurt you, have they?’
‘No. There’s this big bloke. He’s tied me to a chair, to stop me from running away. But he won’t tell me anything.’
Before he could respond, his captor pressed the end call button.
‘Do we understand each other now?’
‘You touch my son, and I swear, I’ll fuckin’ kill you, you bastard.’ he replied anxiously.
‘Do as you’re told Benny, and I promise you, no harm will come to your lad.’ His captor’s tone changed from nonchalance to aggression.
‘But disobey once, and that ventilation shaft I promised, will be inserted into your lads head, as well as yours - Copy?’
Benny was in a no-brainer of a situation.
He did as instructed, or both he and his son would get blown away.
After a moment of uneasy quiet, he replied.
‘I don’t know what I can do to help you, but please don’t hurt my Keith. I’ll do anything you ask, just don’t hurt my lad.’
‘Hurting you or any member of your family is not what we want,’ came the reply. ‘all you have to do is exactly as you’re told, and in a couple of days you’ll all be together again, as though nothing has ever happened. But cock up and you’re family will be…’ he paused, ‘well, I think you get the point.’
‘What is it that you want from me?’ was his conforming reply.