DEAD UNLUCKY: A Joe Box Story

by Jim Reeves

  Twelve, he decided silently.

  She smiled, displaying perfect white teeth, as she sat down. ‘Do you mind if I join you?’ she asked with a trace of an accent.

  ‘No problem.’ Joe smiled back.

  The cabin crew went through the usual safety routine and pretty soon the plane was ready for take-off. As soon as they were in the air Joe’s companion pulled a paperback out of her handbag and settled down to read.

  Joe glanced sideways, trying to read the title of the book. He grimaced when he realised it was printed in German.

  The lady seemed to sense his interest and smiled at him. John Grisham,’ she said showing him the cover. ‘One of my favourite authors.

  Joe, slightly embarrassed at being found out, nodded. ‘I should have picked something up at the airport. I passed through in a hurry.’

  The lady offered a well-manicured hand. ‘Betine Hasler.’

  ‘Joe Box,’ he told her as he took her hand. Her grip was cool and firm.

  Betine wore little or no make-up. With her looks she didn’t need any help.

  ‘Sorry, if I put you off your reading,’ Joe said.

  ‘That’s all right,’ Betine smiled, closing the book. ‘Do you make this flight often?’

  ‘First time,’ Joe said. ‘How about you?’

  ‘I do it a couple of times a year.’

  ‘Business?’ Joe asked.

  ‘No, pleasure. I have friends in London. So, you don’t know Salzburg?’

  ‘Not at all. Do you live there?’

  ‘About an hour away.’

  ‘I’m only making a quick visit. I’m flying back to the UK tomorrow morning.’

  ‘That’s a pity. It is a beautiful city.’

  ‘Maybe some other time.’

  ‘You should make the effort,’ she smiled. ‘It is worth it.’

  Conversation lapsed for a while. Joe dozed slightly, still recovering from the early morning start. He wondered if he could ask Betine to show him around Salzburg that night but decided she was probably slightly out of his league. Her clothes looked expensive. He might look a little out of place in his shabby raincoat and well-worn Hush Puppies.

  He still couldn’t get the cat out of his mind. What was he going to tell Maggie and Mrs Roberts? Maybe Maggie should get the truth but not Mrs Roberts. Better for her to think that Tregorran has just run off somewhere. He tried to think of some way to wipe the smirk off Bishop’s face. He considered the Magnum tucked away in his underwear drawer. That would do the trick, but that was trouble for sure.

  The cabin crew served food and Betine passed Joe his coffee.

  ‘So, what do you do?’ he asked.

  ‘Nothing very exciting. I’m a sales person in a clothing store. What do you do?’

  Joe thought for a moment. ‘I’m not sure.’

  ‘Not sure?’ Betine looked puzzled.

  ‘I’m waiting to hear about a job application. This trip is a one-off thing. I don’t know what I’ll be doing long term.’

  ‘Are you married?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Maybe just as well, at the moment.’

  ‘I think so,’ he said with some feeling. ‘What about you? You married?’

  ‘Not anymore,’ she said wistfully.

  ‘Are you sorry about that?’ asked Joe.

  ‘A little sad, sometimes.’

  ‘Sorry I asked,’ Joe said.

  ‘That’s all right,’ Betine told him.

  They lapsed into silence again. Joe decided that it would be pretty gauche to try any kind of chat-up line.

  Pretty soon the pilot announced that they were on the approach to Salzburg.

  ‘Would you like to share a taxi into Salzburg?’ Betine asked. ‘You will need a hotel for the night.’

  ‘Sounds good,’ Joe said, ‘but somebody’s meeting me at the airport.’

  ‘Oh, that’s a shame.’

  ‘I just have to hand a package over,’ Joe told her. ‘Maybe we can do it if I’m quick.’

  The plane landed with a slight bump and taxied towards the main arrivals building. Joe peered through the window. Everywhere looked cold and wet. The tarmac was coated in slush.

  ‘Welcome to Salzburg,’ said Betine.

  ‘It looks pretty chilly,’ replied Joe.

  ‘In February it is very chilly,’ smiled Betine.

  The plane halted and passengers scrambled for the overhead lockers in a great rush. Betine didn’t move. Joe looked questioningly at her.

  ‘Are you going to make a move?’

  ‘No point in rushing,’ she told him. ‘The luggage will be quite a few minutes.’

  As the passengers thinned out Betine jumped nimbly up and pulled her bag from the locker above. The flight had lasted just under two hours. In the cramped seating Joe’s joints had seized up as he found out when he tried to move. He winced as he lifted himself from his seat and eased himself stiffly into the aisle. Betine laughed girlishly as he reached painfully for his bag and raincoat.

  ‘Let me,’ she said. She reached up past him and pulled his bag down.

  Joe smiled ruefully and accepted the bag. ‘Could do with a bit more leg room on these planes,’ he said.

  Betine pulled the raincoat down and looked at it doubtfully. ‘Is this your coat? ’

  ‘We’ve been together a long time,’ nodded Joe. He pulled the raincoat on and they followed the straggling passengers towards the exit and out to the steps leading to the tarmac. Joe gasped as he stepped into the sub-zero temperature.

  ‘Jesus Christ,’ he gasped. The cold air cut through him and he started coughing almost immediately as his asthma reacted.

  Betine looked at his ancient raincoat. ‘You have never been to Austria before in winter?’

  ‘First time,’ he said shuddering and pulling his coat closely round him.

  ‘Your clothes are not suitable. You need something warmer.’

  ‘I won’t be here very long.’

  Joe gripped the handrail and walked gingerly downs the steps.

  When he reached the bottom of the steps he discovered that his well-worn shoes were almost lethal on the icy tarmac. He slipped and sat down on the ground with a hard bump as his feet went from under him. A stewardess rushed forward to help him. Betine turned round and helped to pull him to his feet.

  ‘Hold my arm,’ she said. He did so, gratefully and slipped and slithered towards the arrivals building trying to stifle his asthmatic coughing as he went.

  Betine looked anxiously at him as they walked and held his hand to steady him. Even in the intense cold he felt a tingle of excitement.

  ‘You need suitable boots, a warm coat and a hat and gloves as well,’ she told him.

  ‘I’ll be gone tomorrow,’ he panted.

  They queued up to show their passports then Betine waited for her luggage at the carousel. Joe waited with her. The building was warm and Joe soon recovered his equilibrium.

  ‘Nobody meeting you?’ he asked.

  ‘No,’ she shook her head.

  Her suitcase came down the carousel. Joe grabbed it determinedly when she pointed it out and they walked towards the exit. Several people stood at the barrier holding cards bearing the names of people they were meeting. Joe scanned them but nobody had the name Box on display.

  ‘Is your friend here?’ asked Betine.

  ‘He’s no friend of mine,’ Joe told her. ‘But it doesn’t look like he’s here.’

  They walked past the barrier. Betine looked at her watch.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I’m going have to go. I have to catch a bus at the station.’

  ‘Oh.’ Joe’s disappointment was written all over his face. Betine held his hand and stretched up to kiss him on the cheek. Her lips were soft and cool and she smelt pretty good too.

  ‘It was nice meeting you Joe,’ she smiled. ‘Be careful. Get a taxi to a hotel and stay inside where it is warm.’

  ‘Can’t you get a later bus?’ asked Joe.

  ‘I have t
o get home,’ Betine explained, screwing her face up.

  ‘Boyfriend?’

  ‘My Mother,’ laughed Betine. ‘She worries.’

  ‘You live with your Mother?’

  ‘No, but she will expect me to call her as soon as I arrive home.’

  ‘Can’t you give her a call and say you’re staying overnight in Salzburg?’

  ‘Staying overnight?’ She stared quizzically at Joe.

  ‘You could give me the tour. It might be the only chance I get to see the place,’ he grinned.

  She paused for a few moments, like she was really considering the idea, but finally she shook her head.

  ‘Then I think she would be really worried,’ she told him.

  ‘With good reason,’ Joe laughed. ‘Good looking girl like you. You might get some old guy chasing you around town.’

  She laughed and stretched up again to kiss his cheek again but he turned his head slightly and their lips brushed for the briefest moment. She stared at him reprovingly for a few seconds, suppressing a smile, then took her suitcase, gave a little wave and headed towards the row of taxis.

  Joe was seriously tempted to run after her but thought better of it. He watched as she handed her case to a taxi driver. She turned to look back and waved again as she ducked into the taxi. The taxi pulled out into the flow of traffic and she was gone.

  ‘Some other time,’ Joe sighed, ‘some other planet maybe.’

  Chapter 15

  There was a row of empty seats backing onto the large window that looked out onto the taxi rank. Joe scoured the thinning crowd around the arrivals gate. Nobody seemed to be looking for him so he walked over and sat down dejectedly.

  People were coming and going. Joe just sat thinking morosely about Betine. He told himself to grow up. He had known her for barely two hours and he was acting like a lovesick teenager. Suddenly somebody sat down in the seat next to him. He looked round to see a young man smiling at him. He was wearing a bright red skiing jacket, heavy cord trousers and fur boots. Obviously dressed for the weather. ‘Hello,’ said his new companion in an English accent. ‘You just landed?

  Joe nodded, not too interested.

  ‘You’re English,’ said the man.

  ‘Is it obvious?’ asked Joe.

  ‘Just a bit,’ smiled the man. ‘I’m Benny Travers.’ He offered his hand. ‘I’m from Nottingham but I’ve been working out here for a couple of years.’

  Joe shook his hand. ‘Joe Box.’

  ‘Are you here long?’ asked Benny.

  ‘I leave tomorrow,’ Joe said. ‘Before I freeze my nuts off.’

  ‘It is a bit parky,’ nodded Benny eyeing Joe. ‘You’re not really dressed properly.’

  ‘So people keep telling me,’ Joe said.

  ‘Where are you staying?’

  ‘I haven’t got a place yet. I’m going to ask the taxi driver’s advice.’

  ‘You look like you’re waiting for somebody,’ said Benny.

  ‘That’s right,’ Joe nodded. ‘He’s late. Didn’t expect to be kept waiting.’

  ‘The traffic was hell,’ Benny told him. ‘The snow snarls everything up, even in this country.’

  Joe stared at Benny. ‘Why didn’t you come right out and say?’

  Benny looked puzzled as Joe unzipped his bag, pulled out the pack of CDs and handed them to him.

  ‘Enjoy,’ Joe told him.

  Benny took the CDs and looked at the top case. ‘Wow, thank you. But you don’t have to give me all of them.’

  ‘I don’t know which one you want,’ Joe said.

  Benny saw somebody coming through the arrivals gate and waved. He shook Joe by the hand as he stood up. ‘If you’re at a loose end later, stop by the Snake Eyes Club. I’m the resident DJ there. It’s in the Old Town not far from Mozart’s gig.’ He passed a card to Joe. ‘Ask anybody.’

  Benny hurried to meet a tall blonde man at the arrivals gate. They hugged and shook hands warmly then went out to the taxi rank. Joe slipped the card into his pocket and decided he would have to make a move and sort out a hotel for the night. He zipped his bag closed and started to rise when a firm hand gripped his shoulder and pushed him back down. He looked up to see a tall, heavily built unshaven man. Judging by his clothes, obviously a local. The man sat next to him. ‘You have something for me?’ he asked gruffly.

  ‘What?’ Joe asked.

  ‘Your name is Box?’

  ‘Shit,’ Joe gasped. ‘I knew we should have used a password.’

  He leapt off the seat and ran out to the taxi rank before his new companion could move. He raced to the taxi at the head of the line just as Benny and his friend were getting in.

  ‘Benny,’ he called.

  Benny stopped and smiled at him. ‘Have you decided to join us?’

  ‘Some other time,’ Joe said gasping as the cold air clawed at his lungs. He grabbed the pack of CDs from Benny. ‘Sorry mate, some kind of mix-up.’

  ‘Oh,’ Benny looked a little crestfallen as he slid into the taxi.

  ‘Sorry,’ Joe said again and he turned back towards the arrivals lounge.

  Chapter 16

  The gruff looking man was outside the terminal building as Joe approached. He took the CDs from him. ‘Who is that?’ he asked.

  ‘Never saw him before,’ Joe told him.

  Mission completed, Joe turned towards the taxi rank. The man grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

  ‘You come with us,’ he said.

  ‘Are you going into Salzburg?’ asked Joe. ‘I need a hotel.’

  Still holding Joe’s arm, the man nodded towards the car park beyond the taxis and service road. Joe was coughing again in the intense cold as he was steered across the service road towards a large gleaming Mercedes. Another man was sitting in the driving seat. He got out and opened the rear door as they approached.

  ‘Get in,’ said Joe’s companion.

  Joe did so, grateful for some relief from the cold. The driver slammed the door and got back in the driving seat. Joe’s gruff companion opened the other rear door and got in alongside Joe.

  ‘I just need a reasonable hotel,’ Joe told him as the car moved silently towards the exit. ‘Nothing too pricey.’

  The gruff man looked and Joe and a trace of a smile came to his lips. There was a loud click as the driver used the central locking to lock the doors. The Mercedes skirted a roundabout, passed through some traffic lights and took a left fork in the road that led down into an underpass and the autobahn.

  ‘You got a name?’ asked Joe.

  ‘No names,’ said the gruff man.

  He reached inside his coat and pulled out a gun. Joe didn’t know much about guns but this one, fitted snugly into the man’s hand, looked like the business. It was clean, well-oiled and pointed at his gut.

  ‘What’s the problem?’ Joe asked.

  ‘No problem,’ the man smiled. He put his hand on Joe’s head and pushed him down to the floor of the car.

  The floor space was cramped and Joe curled in a foetal position with his head hard against the door.

  ‘Was it something I said?’ Joe enquired looking up.

  The man responded with a sharp kick that landed near the base of Joe’s back. He gasped in pain. Another kick caught his backside. Tears came to his eyes as he struggled to get his breath. He turned slightly to look up. The gun was pointing directly at his head.

  ‘No talking,’ the man told him sharply.

  It seemed like a good idea to go along with what the man said, so Joe said nothing. As he curled up on the floor, he tried to make sense of things. All he was supposed to do was hand over a package. True, he had almost given it to somebody else but this reaction seemed a bit over the top.

  Being curled up on the floor of the car made it was difficult to judge how long they were travelling for. Traffic noises and the speed of the car suggested that part of the journey was on an autobahn. That lasted maybe fifteen minutes. Joe felt the car slowing almost to a halt, probably leaving the aut
obahn on a tight bend then accelerating sharply as they raced onwards. Minutes passed by. A sudden reduction in speed told him they were probably passing through a town. Then the car picked up speed again. For thirty minutes more, maybe, the tyres slapped the wet road. Joe had lost all sense of direction and time. The whole time the gruff man continued to stare down at him, the gun still aimed at his head.

  The car seemed to leave the main road and snake uphill for several minutes. There were sharp bends in the road and the car rocked from side to side as the driver maintained speed. Looking up, Joe could see snow laden trees on one side of the road at least. He decided against turning his head the other way in case his friend with the gun objected.

  Several more minutes crawled by while Joe tried to guess what was in store for him at journey’s end. He could imagine nothing good.

  Another sharp turn and the car was sliding and bumping through what seemed like soft snow for several hundred yards before coming to a halt. The engine died.

  Joe’s travelling companion opened the door and backed out still pointed the gun at him.

  ‘Come!’ he commanded.

  Joe’s neck hurt. He had stiffened up again and he found it difficult to oblige. The driver of the car opened the other rear door and jabbed Joe’s head with his foot. Joe looked up at the driver for a moment consigning his face to memory for later. He clambered painfully out and found himself on all fours in several inches of crisp cold snow. It all seemed unreal and he half expected to wake up in a drunken stupor until a sharp kick in the ribs reminded him that it really was happening. He put his hand against the car to steady himself and rose gingerly to his feet. A surprisingly bright sun reflected off the snow and he squinted around. There were snow covered mountains in all directions against a backdrop of azure sky. He shivered as a cold wind stung his face and cut mercilessly through his ancient raincoat. He guessed it must be early afternoon.

  ‘Come,’ barked the gruff man.

  Joe looked at a large timber clad house. Lights glowed warmly from inside and the thought of warmth, as much as the threats of his tormentor made him move towards the main door. The area near the house had been cleared of snow so Joe was able to walk fairly confidently.