Gangster Girl

by Dreda Say Mitchell

  ‘You let us worry about that.’

  Just then a pinging noise sounded. Someone’s mobile. Miah hurriedly pulled his from his jacket. Stared at the screen as he bit into his bottom lip and shook his head. Stella moved towards him and pulled the mobile from his trembling hands. Stared grimly at Billy’s latest addition to Miah’s photo album – a close-up picture of his daughter with tape over her mouth and large, terrified, brown eyes staring into the lens.

  The employees of the bank streamed out at five on the dot. Everyone looked as if they were more than happy to grab this extra time to themselves. No one looked back. All except Mr Miah’s PA Pamela Walker. As she waited on the Jubilee Line platform she dug into her bag looking for her theatre ticket. She was dead excited about this evening. It was going to be her first date with James. A delicious smile rippled across her face as she thought about finally getting him in the palm of her hand. She’d been chasing him to hell and back for over a year. Now his divorce was through she could have him all to herself. And what things she had planned for him. The smile slipped off her face as she realised that she couldn’t find the ticket. Damn. She’d definitely put it in her bag this morning. Where the hell could it be? She shoved a finger into her mouth as she chewed on a nail, her mind going a million miles a second as she thought back over the day. It should be in her bag. That was the only place . . . Her thoughts stopped as she remembered where she’d placed it earlier for safe keeping. Her desk drawer. If she turned up without her ticket she might ruin her date. No, she wasn’t prepared to do that. Nothing was going to get in the way of her finally claiming James Rogers as her own. She had no choice. She’d have to go back and get the ticket.

  5.17 p.m.

  Stella finally spoke, breaking the silence they had all held for so long. ‘Ring security downstairs and get one of them to check every floor to make sure no one’s left behind.’

  ‘But they won’t leave their post in reception,’ Miah answered.

  ‘Just do it, mate, we’re not playing games here, I’d have thought you’d have noticed that by now.’

  He quickly picked up the phone. ‘It’s Mr Miah. The security firm want to start checking the equipment but they can’t do this until everyone has gone, so I want you to do a quick round robin . . . I know you’re not meant to leave your post.’ Suddenly his tone changed as he plastered a smile onto his face. ‘It’s Calvin, isn’t it? . . . I understand that you’ve been discussing taking out a loan. Why don’t we sit down and talk about that some more tomorrow. In the meantime, just do this little favour for me.’ He put the phone down. Looked across at Stella. ‘He’s going to call me back as soon as it’s done.’

  The call came twelve minutes later. ‘The building’s empty.’

  Stella stood up. ‘OK, then, let’s get down to business. Where’s these boxes?’

  Pamela Walker caught the eye of one of the security guards and tapped against the bank’s glass door. The guard quickly came over and opened the door. She moved forward but he stepped in her path.

  ‘Really sorry, Calvin, but I’ve got to get back upstairs.’

  He shook his head. ‘Can’t let you in. Orders straight down from the boss man himself.’

  ‘Come on. I’ll be in and out quickly. I left something behind, something important.’

  ‘I could lose my job over this.’

  ‘No way. You’re the best and Mr Miah knows it. Trust me.’

  With a resigned sigh he widened the door letting her in. She checked her watch again. Shit, time was moving fast and James wasn’t a man who liked to be kept waiting. She ran towards the lift.

  Stella shoved the barrel of the gun tight into Miah’s back as they entered his PA’s office. ‘Stay close to me when we get downstairs. Remember – any false moves . . .’ She didn’t need to finish. She pulled the Glock back and buried it back into her pocket. They walked across the room and reached the door. Miah’s hand shot out towards the handle. But before he could reach it the door was flung back from the outside. Startled everyone stopped. Tommy pulled his gun from his pocket.

  Pamela stared horrified at the gun pointed at her. She opened her mouth to scream.

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  It was Daisy who made the move. She jumped forward. Slammed her palm over the shocked woman’s mouth. With her other hand she gripped the woman’s jacket. Dragged her inside the room. With a twist she spun her inside. Miah’s PA wobbled on her feet, trying to get her balance. But it was too late. The force of Daisy’s move and the shock rocked her backwards and she lost her footing and tumbled onto the floor. Tommy ran towards her. Fell on one knee. Placed the barrel of the gun point blank in her forehead. He placed a single finger against his lips, letting her know that if she opened her mouth it might be the last time she ever did it. Petrified, she let the scream die in her throat.

  ‘What are you doing back here?’ Miah yelled at his PA.

  She tried to speak but the terror was too great. All that came out were whimpering noises.

  ‘I’ll sort the bitch out,’ Tommy said. His finger curved around the trigger.

  ‘No.’ It was Ricky who spoke this time.

  ‘I give the orders around here, handsome, you know that,’ Stella said.

  ‘I know that. But we’re losing focus here, which is the box. All we need to do is to keep her quiet long enough to give us time to get this job done.’

  Tommy twisted his head to look up at them. ‘Focus? You sound like my old social worker. No, my way’s better. Take her out and matey-boy here with the family will know we mean business.’ He turned his fierce, furious eyes back onto the PA. ‘Proper business.’

  The atmosphere in the room deepened. Finally Stella turned to Ricky. ‘What do you suggest we do?’

  ‘The bag,’ he said to Stella.

  She passed it to him. He unzipped it. Pulled out a roll of metallic silver tape. He looked at Stella. She sent him a grim nod. He dropped his bag. Quickly headed towards Tommy and the woman. Tommy shot him a nasty look, which Ricky clearly read as saying, ‘That’s twice I’ve marked your card and I won’t forget.’

  Ricky ignored him. Hunched down. Tommy eased the gun back. Stood up. But didn’t step away. The woman’s chest heaved back and forth with such power that Ricky thought she was going to pass out. He stretched a length of tape from the roll. The sticky, zapping sound it made filled the room. He bit off a length with his teeth. Moved the tape roll over his hand so that it swung over his arm like a huge, chunky, silver bracelet. He gazed into the woman’s tear-filled eyes and said, ‘I want you to breathe easy. Just like me. In.’ He inhaled. She followed what he did. ‘Out.’ Exhaled. So did she. In. Out. In. Out. On the fourth breath in, without warning, he slapped the tape over her mouth. He leant over. Grabbed her arm. Hauled her to her feet. He moved behind her. Grabbed her hands. Wound a thick wad of tape around them. He grabbed her arm and started marching her out of the room.

  ‘Where you taking her?’ Tommy called.

  ‘In the bathroom. Then I’m gonna secure her legs so she can’t move.’ Without waiting for a response he carried on moving her as the tears now rolled bleakly down her cheeks. He reached the private bathroom in Miah’s office. Thrust the door open. Pushed her inside. He kicked the door closed behind him. He spun her around and gave her a killer look.

  ‘Do what you’re told and nothing’s going to happen to you.’

  Pamela rapidly nodded. ‘Over there,’ Ricky said, pointing with his finger next to the sink. ‘Lie down.’ Quickly she obeyed him. He wound some more tape around the pipe that ran from the sink into the ground. Then he pushed her legs together and wound the end of the tape from the pipe around her ankles. Once he was satisfied that she was secured he rocked back on his heels.

  Pulled out his mobile. No messages. Shit. He didn’t even know if they’d got his earlier text. The woman watched him as he started to text another message. The door started opening. Ricky shot to his feet and slipped his hand with the mobile behind his back. Tom
my burst into the room.

  ‘What’s taking so long?’

  Ricky nodded at the woman on the floor. ‘She needed calming down. Come on, let’s go.’

  As soon as the other man turned his back on him, Ricky slipped the mobile back into his pocket. He didn’t know what he was going to do if they didn’t come.

  They took the lift. Tommy had his shooter riding roughshod by his side. Stella stood behind Miah, while Daisy stood tight next to Ricky. Ricky’s hand caressed her arm. She looked up at him knowing immediately what his touch meant. She nodded back, letting him know she was alright. Well, as alright as any lawyer turned bank robber could be.

  As the doors began to open Stella’s words grated in Miah’s ear, ‘You know what to do.’

  Miah smoothed his hand over his hair. Stepped outside. They shifted behind him and took cover around the corner. Miah moved in the direction of the reception. He came into view of the security guards. The men sat playing cards at the reception desk.

  One of them laughed, rubbing his hands together. ‘That’s three Guinnesses you owe me.’

  ‘The game ain’t over yet.’

  ‘It is now,’ the other one warned in a rush, seeing Miah coming into view. He jumped to his feet.

  The other guard leapt up, desperately trying to hide the cards.

  ‘Mr Miah, we’re just getting ready to patrol the upper floors.’

  Stella turned to Tommy and gave him the nod. Tommy sprang out with his gun aimed in the air. He ran into the reception hall. Aimed his gun at the guards. The two men stood frozen. Then one tried to leap back behind the reception desk. Tommy shifted his gun. Pulled the trigger. The bullet blasted a hole in the corner of the desk sending splintering wood in the air. The guard froze in his tracks.

  ‘Any more of that and they’ll be playing poker at your wake,’ Tommy roared. As if to emphasise his words, he aimed the gun into the ceiling and pulled the trigger. Plaster showered down on the other guard.

  ‘Move slowly towards Miah.’ Their ragged breathing filled the air as they followed his instruction. They stopped when they reached the bank manager. ‘On your knees.’

  The men quickly did what they were told.

  ‘It’s sorted,’ Tommy shouted.

  Hearing the signal the others came out of their hiding place and moved into view. Stella moved towards Tommy. Looked at the kneeling men. She gazed back at Tommy. ‘Do it.’

  He moved swiftly behind both men. He raised his gun and pointed it at the back of the first guard’s head.

  Tommy smashed the butt of the shotgun into the guard’s skull. The man groaned. Then toppled forward, already unconscious when he hit the ground. A small pool of thick blood began to pool next to his head on the ground. Tommy did the same to the other guard. Both men were laid out cold on the floor. Ricky and Daisy knew what to do next. They moved forward. Each took one of the men’s legs and dragged them across the hall until they reached the Gents opposite the lift. The blood oozing from the first guard’s head left a trail of blood on the floor. Ricky’s back barrelled into the door, pushing it open. The air inside the room was much cooler than outside and the faint smell of disinfectant hung in the air. They dumped the men onto the tiled floor. Ricky used the tape, still around his wrist, to bind and gag them. As he’d done with Miah’s secretary upstairs he secured their legs to a set of piping.

  Ricky stood back up. Took a deep breath. To Daisy’s surprise he rolled his balaclava up and over his nose. He pulled her to him. ‘We’ve got to get that box.’

  Daisy rolled her balaclava up as well. ‘But how?’

  ‘Dunno. Ain’t gonna be easy with Tommy playing the cowboy.’

  Daisy’s hand reached forward and tenderly touched Ricky’s jaw line. ‘You OK?’

  He gave her his trademark cheeky smile that reminded her so much of her dad. ‘With you by my side life’s always on the sunny side of the street.’ A thrill of intense pleasure shivered inside Daisy. He took her fingers that lay across his skin. He moved them up to his lips and gently kissed each fingertip.

  ‘Well, ain’t this all Mills and Boon?’ They both jumped when they heard Stella’s sarcastic voice coming from the doorway. She held onto the doorframe looking none too pleased. Embarrassed, Daisy stepped back from Ricky.

  Daisy and Ricky quickly pulled their balaclavas back into place. Ricky shot past Stella out of the room. Daisy followed him. But when she reached the door Stella’s grasp on her arm stopped her.

  ‘The likes of him ain’t for you.’

  Daisy looked back at her defiantly. ‘You’ve got it wrong. I’m more or less engaged.’

  ‘You wanna know how many engaged and married men come through my door every evening? They don’t even have the decency to take off their rings when they’re screwing my girls. When this is all done you’re going back to nanny-land world. And my advice to you my girl is to make sure you leave Ricky in his.’

  Before Daisy could answer the sound of gunfire and shouting coming from the reception hall startled them both. Stella drew her Glock as they started to run.

  Tommy was laughing like a mad man as he shot out the lens from the camera in the right hand corner of the hall.

  ‘What the fuck are you doing?’ Stella screamed as she lowered her gun.

  Tommy swivelled around. ‘Someone’s watching us . . .’

  ‘The cameras are all down. What’s the matter with you?’

  ‘I told him to lay off—’ Ricky said.

  ‘You seem a bit confused about your role in this outfit. You don’t give orders, you take them.’

  ‘Put that down.’ Stella pointed her shooter at Miah. ‘Take us to the boxes. Now.’

  They moved behind him on the staircase, with Stella taking the lead again.

  ‘Hurry it up,’ Tommy growled as he prodded Miah in the back. He quickened his pace down the stairs. Hit the bottom. Came to the first door. Took the keys from his pockets.

  ‘Hurry it up.’

  Fingers shaking he thrust the key into the lock. Turned. Pushed. The door eased back. Tommy’s hand slammed into Miah’s back pushing him forward. Miah stumbled, only his hand catching the wall stopped him from falling. The quickening pace of their feet echoed around the empty corridor. The walls felt tomb-tight; the lighting fiercely bright. And the door up ahead looked a thousand miles away instead of a few seconds. Tommy kept twisting looking down the corridor as if he expected to see somebody back there. Miah reached the next door. His hands were quicker this time, unlocking the door with a flourish. He slammed the door back and moved at the same time. But the others stopped noticing the camera pointing straight at them at the end. With an ugly snarl, Tommy immediately targeted his gun at it.

  Bang.

  Bang.

  Bang.

  The glass from the camera popped and dived to the floor, splintering into tiny pieces.

  They reached the final door. Thick and defiant steel, nobody’s friend. Three seconds later the door was opened and they stepped inside.

  ‘It’s over there.’ Miah pointed to a door on the other side of the room.

  He kept moving as he rattled his keys, getting the right one in position. They waited expectantly behind him. Daisy’s hands rolled into fretful fists by her side. God, this was it. This was where she got to see if her plan was finally going to work. Her breathing sharpened in her chest as she watched Miah’s every move. He pushed the key inside the lock. Her heart started thumping. He turned the key to the right. The sweat dribbled down the middle of her back. The lock clicked. Then his fingers tapped away at the numbers and letters on the silver keypad. His hand touched the handle. She rubbed her hand over the gun stashed inside her waistband. He opened the door. Wide. They rushed inside.

  The room they entered was empty except for two doors. Two steel doors.

  ‘Which one?’ Stella asked, her gun, raising nervously in the air to point at Miah.

  He didn’t answer her. Instead he walked briskly towards the door on the left wall. Tap
ped his fingers quickly on the steel keypad. Stepped to the side. His hands reached out for the steel bars, but before he could touch them Tommy spoke. Tommy’s eyes were fixed firmly on the door on the other side of the room. ‘What’s in there?’

  Miah swallowed as he twisted around. ‘That’s the money vault.’

  ‘Forget it, son,’ Stella cut in as if reading his thoughts. ‘We’re here for one thing only.’

  ‘I ain’t said nothin’, have I?’ Tommy’s voice was casual, but it took him a good few seconds to remove his gaze from the door.

  Miah swiftly turned back and got on with the job of opening the doors. The bars creaked as he moved them. Everyone stepped closer to him, hemming him in like a human fence. The bars stopped moving. He took a deep breath. Pushed the door open.

  ‘What was that?’ Ricky’s startled voice ripped through the air. He twisted his body towards the main door. Cocked his head to the side. Everyone froze.

  ‘What?’ Stella answered.

  They all twisted towards the door. Tommy raised his gun.

  ‘I heard something.’

  ‘Like what?’ Stella asked.

  ‘Dunno. Just a movement.’

  Stella turned to her son. ‘You did lock the doors upstairs?’

  ‘Course I did.’

  They remained frozen. Listening.

  ‘I can’t hear a thing.’

  ‘There ain’t nothin’ out there.’

  ‘We do this now.’ Stella faced Miah. ‘Which key opens the boxes?’

  He showed the skeleton key. She swiped the bunch of keys from him.

  They turned back to the room. ‘Keep him out here.’ She bawled in Tommy’s direction. She turned to Ricky and Daisy. ‘Both of you in here with me.’

  Stella took the first step. Entered. She smiled when she saw what faced her. A wall with lockers just like the ones she used at the spa every week.