To Catch A Storm

by Warren Slingsby

  A little time later as they finished off a cool (but not cold enough) beer each and nibbled on a selection of cheap crisps and nuts, Dan said he’d had his doubts about Joseph.

  “Well you should have said something about those doubts at the time my friend.” Charlie told him without a flicker of hesitation and quite a lot of anger “You going mute has probably lost us our share of that cash.”

  “Hang on a fucking minute now Charlie, I...”

  But he was cut off by Carl “Now it’s not your fault Charlie or yours Dan or mine, it’s whoever has double crossed us. They’re the ones who’re at fault here.” He was bright red in the face and obviously angry as hell but just about holding it together. “And anyway, it may all be fine, they may have just had a problem getting up here. Who knows what could have happened? Could have got stopped by the police or crashed or broken down like us.”

  “That Audi was too high mileage, I wouldn’t be surprised if it blew up on the motorway” Charlie interjected.

  “Or maybe Joseph killed those two idiots and ran off with everyone’s cash?” Dan offered.

  “Whatever it is, we’ll either find out or I will get to the bottom of it, rest assured.” Carl said ominously. “For now, let’s sit tight.”

  They tried not to but kept going over different scenarios both internally and out loud of what could have happened. None of them were close to the correct version of what happened. It was a fractious time. Carl tried to keep them as positive as he was able. Tried to keep believing himself that they were on their way, but his gut was saying something very different. Usually his gut was right.

  . . .

  Joseph and Janet walked through the Radisson to the multi-story car park. A man was behind them and joined them in the lift. Joseph pressed the button for the top floor and allowed the man to choose his own floor. He didn’t touch another button, so they both assumed that he was bound for the same floor. No one said a word during the time in the lift, but Joseph and Janet shared a glance behind the man. It was a smouldering look and Janet found her eyebrow raising slowly. Seductively. At least, she hoped it was seductive and not comical.

  The three walked across the dim car park, the man peeled off to the left in front of them and down another alley of cars. Janet was led toward a white sports car. Joseph blipped the locks and then opened the door for her. This was turning out to be a pretty good night she thought to herself.

  “Nice car.” She said but actually it seemed more ridiculous than ‘nice’. The sort of car some bankers went and bought when they’d had a particularly big bonus and went shopping with a champagne hangover.

  They almost reached Glasgow in the white sports car before they learned each other’s names. Both secretly knew this was going to be a wild night. As the best nights in one’s life start out, totally spontaneously. This was not the sort of thing that Janet (or Joseph) did usually, but some spark had been set alight between them in that bar. A connection that neither of them had had many times in their lives, but one that they both wanted to go with, it drew them in like a spark burning down toward a fuse attached to a large stick of dynamite.

  Janet had rarely been this carefree. Her life as a banker usually meant she went out with other people who worked in the financial services industries. Usually, this was great and she did date lovely guys who worked for banks (and other types too). Maybe this was more about the situation than this guy who she now knew as Joseph, but this felt so exciting. More intense; he seemed more interesting than anyone else she’d been out with. Actually interesting was not really how you’d describe him, there was something burning in him, some fire in his belly, some sparkle in his eye that most bankers didn’t have. It was more than a glint, it wasn’t quite danger, but it was as if his eyes dared her. I dare you to accept this champagne I’m sending over, I dare you to come for a meal with me - a guy you’ve never set eyes on before, I dare you to come halfway across Scotland for that meal. Dare you!

  “Wanna put some music on?” Joseph asked pulling out a cable from the centre console and holding it up toward Janet. She took the wire and retrieved her phone from her bag.

  “Let me think.” she half muttered under her breath. She wasn’t that current, but she had quite a decent selection of tracks downloaded to her phone. She swiped through all the playlists from start to finish, mentally noting one or two possibles (and some definite No Nos), then quickly scrolled back up. She hit play and found the volume control and adjusted it slightly upwards as a lone guitar began to strum.

  Morning, it's another pure grey morning

  Don't know what the day is holding

  When I get uptight

  And I walk right into the path of a lightning bolt

  “Good call.” he said tapping his leg. It wasn’t the most obvious track to play on a night like this, but what was. This wasn’t any sort of a night. They were out in the middle of the country now with no street lights and the sky was insanely clear. The high half moon blazed down on them surrounded by a billion stars. They passed a sign that said Glasgow 20 miles. The time was flying, the chat was easy between them and they seemed to pass from one topic to another easily. Janet pushed the button and wound her window down all the way, Joseph did the same. He pushed a little harder on the throttle and she was pushed a little harder into her seat but even though he was going quite fast, she didn’t know how fast but definitely well over the speed limit, she felt safe. She turned the music up high and tipped her head back.

  Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up outside a hotel. As they were led to the restaurant, Joseph asked if there was a nice private table. ‘Of course sir’, he was told. They were seated at a table off to the side of the restaurant in a quiet area behind some large rubber plants.

  “What’s with you always wanting to hide?” she enquired.

  “I think I’m just a shy and retiring type.” he joked. He was so far from being being shy and retiring; more larger than life with a cherry on top she thought to herself.

  “Red or white?” he asked her. She wanted red as did he so he called the waiter over and asked him to bring a good red. After a few minutes, a bottle of Fleurie arrived. Joseph briefly took the bottle, looked over the label bounced the bottle in his hand gently, as if weighing it. He stuck his thumb into the concave underside, nodded and passed it back to the waiter to open and pour.

  As the waiter left them with three-quarter full glasses, Joseph half pulled a small packet from his inside jacket pocket. The packet, which was about the size of a book of matches, looked to be made from magazine paper.

  “Want a cheeky perk up?” he asked.

  “I don’t do that sort of thing very often. I’m a good girl Joseph. But I’ll have a dabble.”

  “Well I’m going to take myself off to the rest room my dear.” Joseph said bringing his voice back up to regular levels. “Have a look at the menu and we’ll get some food ordered. Back in a jiffy.”

  Janet mentally selected the free range chicken with parsnip purée, creamed leek and truffle, then pulled out her phone and sent her friend Jess a message on Facebook.

  Hey babe, WUU2?

  She saw the chat bubble start to fill to signify Jess was typing something.

  Alright chick? Having a bite to eat at Terrace

  with the girls from work. Where are you?

  Wanna meet up for a drink?

  I’m in Glasgow on a conference, just eating with

  a colleague at the Park Square restaurant.

  Have fun and we’ll catch up soon. xxx

  Ok babe xxx

  She flicked her phone off and stuck it back in her bag. She’d just wanted to have a little contact with her world and to let someone know where she was. It was something she tended to do if she was on a date. She was a single woman and you had to be a little cautious. She didn’t think Joseph was a scum bag or that he was dodgy at all, but it made her feel more at ease.

  She saw him on his way back from the ‘rest r
oom’ and got up to flip flop with him. As he passed her, he dropped the package into her hand. He mouthed. “It’s strong.” As he did, he crossed his eyes. Then back at normal volume. “Oh yes, they’re over that way my darling.” She sniggered under her breath and sauntered off. In the toilets, she went to the furthest cubicle. She had no idea how to do this. She unwrapped the package and looked at the small amount of cocaine sitting there. Did she take it all or just a little? Usually when she had it before, someone had done all this bit for her. She’d seen it taken out of a false nail by her hero Tanya Turner once, but she didn’t have long nails. Did she roll up a ten pound note? She didn’t really want to do that, she knew all about cash and she knew it was riddled with bacteria. It was too complicated so she decided that she wouldn’t risk it.

  She left the cubicle and went to the mirror. The toilet was empty. She took out her compact to apply a little more eye shadow. She’d never applied this much before, but for some reason, the more she applied, the better it seemed to look. Was it just this lighting? She backed away from the mirror, but it still looked hot. She applied a little more blusher. What the hell, she re-applied mascara and lip gloss too. Was it too much? Hmm. No, not for a girl who’d just driven half way across Scotland with a guy she just met. She made her way back to their table.

  “I’ve never done this… on my own.” she said wrinkling her nose, “sorry I don’t know what to do.” She slipped the packet back across the table and it went smoothly into Jacob’s hand and was palmed away into his inside jacket pocket in a flash.

  “No need to apologise. We can take ourselves off after we’ve eaten and have a little if you still like.”

  The waiter was back and took their orders gracefully before topping their glasses again and bringing a bottle of iced water.

  “So tell me more about this robbery then and where have you stashed your million quid?”

  “Well I stole a piece of modern art worth £17 million quid. Have you heard of Rothko?”

  “You are very funny. What do you actually do?”

  He gave her his usual ‘dabbling on the stock market’ spiel. He was well versed in this by now and it flowed out of him with conviction.

  “Oh I work in the finance industry too.” She smiled. He hoped not in the markets as she could soon unpick his knowledge. “I work for a bank, but the irony is that I’m really rubbish with my own money. I seem to have no control over my spending. It’s like I see something I want, like a new dress or handbag or shoes or furniture or perfume or, well you get the picture, I just have to have it and all thoughts about how much something costs or how much money I have seem to just go out the window. And yet, I advise customers how to conserve and manage their money. Funny old world eh?” she laughed.

  I bet you could help me spend two and a half million quid in cash too Joseph thought to himself.

  By the time they’d polished off their desserts, they were stuffed and quite drunk. They’d drunk almost two bottles of the Fleurie between them and they were both slurring their words but they hadn’t noticed. Joseph suggested they have some champagne and ordered some Perrier et Jouet from the wine list. He used the facilities once more before it arrived, taking a little toot of coke whilst he was in there. As he came out of the toilets feeling on top of the world, he bought condoms from the machine feeling his luck was in. If it wasn’t, then he wasn’t sure what a guy had to do. He had laid all the moves on her now.

  He arrived back at the table to a glass of champagne held up to him. They chinked glasses.

  “Bottoms up!” he said casually.

  She took him at his word and downed her glass and then succumbed to a huge, un-lady-like burp which cut through the atmosphere of the restaurant. She went bright crimson and he simply buried his head into his hands until people stopped staring around at them. He was embarrassed but laughing so hard he couldn’t control himself. His shoulders jumped up and down involuntarily as she kicked him under the table.

  “I think I need to get out of this restaurant now.” she said under her breath.

  “I think you’re right, you do.” he laughed. “Err, sorry we do.” he corrected himself.

  “How are we going to get back to Edinburgh?” she asked looking genuinely confused. She had just not thought any of this through. He raised his shoulders un-knowingly. “I think we’d better not drive back in this state,” she said stating the obvious, “perhaps we should get a room?”

  “Are you definitely ok with that? You’re pretty drunk; sorry we’re pretty drunk. I could get us separate rooms...” he left it hanging in the air wondering why he’d said that as he definitely wanted to share a room with her.

  She thought for a moment and then said “No, no that would be too expensive. Besides I want something that you have.” she winked and pointed at his jacket where his inside chest pocket was located.

  He reached inside and pulled out the packet of condoms. “Really?”

  She smiled, “You got me. And yes, we will need them.” She felt dirty and a little slutty. But this didn’t feel like a bad thing to her. This was living.

  He asked the waiter if there were rooms available in the hotel and if they could take their champagne to their room? He said he’d see to it that it was taken up for them. He showed them to the reception saying he’d have their meal added to their bill.

  Compared to Janet’s hotel room in Edinburgh, the room Joseph booked was just beautiful. Roomy, plush, expensive drapes, thick carpets. The works. They finished the champagne and Joseph ordered another bottle from room service which made Janet smile even more.

  “While we’re waiting, do you want to join me?” Joseph asked holding the cocaine wrap between his fingers. He poured some onto the dressing table’s glass top and divided it with his credit card into four lines of about 2 inches in length, then took a note from his wallet which had obviously been rolled up and used for this purpose before. He took it between his fingers and created a very tight straw, then hoovered up the first of the four lines and passed the expensive straw to Janet. Previously she was worried about the bacteria. That worry was well and truly gone. She followed what he’d done, sucking up hard and the line disappeared. She pulled back as it stung her nose. She rubbed the top of her nose as if trying to dislodge what she’d sucked up there. But almost immediately, she got the hit making her brain woozy and hot and heightening her senses. She suddenly smelled Joseph for the first time, he was musky and yet fresh like some just picked herbs. It was lovely. He took the straw back and did the third line and passed back. She wasted no time. She was ready for the little sting on the back of her nostrils this time.

  “You’re pretty good at this,” he said, “you’re like a little Dyson aren’t you?”

  “I think you’re right” she said laughing.

  The champagne arrived and Joseph allowed the waiter into the room to open it and serve their first glass. They were still sniggering to each other about the Dyson remark. The waiter asked if they were celebrating something special and Joseph said that they were indeed, but gave no further detail. He pushed a twenty note into the waiter’s hand as he left.

  “What are we celebrating again?” Joseph asked once he closed the door.

  Janet thought for a second and then said “The meeting of two great minds!” and held up her glass to his. “Bottoms up!” They downed the drinks again and looked into one another’s eyes. Joseph moved closer, reached around her waist and pulled her toward him and kissed her. She kissed back equally passionately. He enjoyed the taste of her lipstick and lip gloss and the smell of her perfume and her hands on him. They kissed for a long time and as they had been throughout the rest of the evening so far, seemed to be on one another’s wavelength; neither seemed to want to rush.

  “Can we have another ‘toot’?” she asked half muffled by his lips “Or is it too soon? Am I getting too giddy with it?” she asked.

  “You can do whatever the hell you want gorgeous.” He pulled away and
cut up another few lines, just two this time. It was strong stuff this, so he didn’t want to end up going mad with it. He handed her the note to roll up. She gave it a pretty good go and he told her as much. She went fuzzy again and sat on the edge of the bed. After that, things went a lot quicker. Where they had been tender before, it became passionate and intense and fiery. Janet straddled Joseph naked on top of him on the bed. She’d ripped her knickers off and thrown them behind her and now they were on the chandelier above her. She rode him rhythmically, massaging his chest with one hand and drinking champagne straight from the bottle with the other. Intermittently, she poured champagne into his mouth from up high and he did his very best to drink it but it was so bubbly most of it foamed up and slid down his cheeks onto the bedding. Janet was quiet but it was very obvious from her face she was enjoying every second, as was he. Their senses heightened by the powder up their noses.

  She dropped the champagne bottle. He caught it before it spilled. She threw her head back, squeezed her eyelids closed tight and swam in the moment for a good thirty seconds. Once her eyes re-opened, he gave her the champagne back and she continued to neck it as he eased himself toward climax.

  They lay in a collective glow and sniggered at the state of Janet’s knickers as they hung from the bedroom’s chandelier.

  “Ripping them off and flinging them over my head was probably not the most lady like thing I’ve ever done.” They collapsed laughing. It was funny but she had sore marks on her hips where she’d ripped them off.

  Joseph rolled over toward the phone, called room service and asked they send up some another bottle of champagne. While they waited, he got them Perrier waters from the mini bar and then held up a selection of spirits and mixers. Janet asked for a vodka and tonic. Neither of them knew what time it was and had no care. It didn’t seem even slightly odd to Janet that Joseph was walking around the room totally naked even though she’d only met him less than seven hours ago. She watched him as he goofed around making drinks and wanted his body near hers again. She pulled the sheet to cover herself, but it wasn’t that she felt odd being naked, she just had a slight chill. A phone had vibrated a few times as if receiving text messages but they were ignored. They were both in the moment. That moment that happens when two people connect.