‘I don’t have that much with me,’ Geoff explained.
‘Then what’s in the briefcase?’
‘It’s a pilot’s case,’ Geoff corrected.
Don slapped Geoff across the face. The blow bit like a wasp sting. It was more humiliating than any of the punches or the head-butt because it reminded Geoff he was at the mercy of a man who could simply slap his face whenever he chose.
One of the doormen snatched Geoff’s pilot’s case from the floor. He placed it heavily on the dinette table next to Geoff and began to toy with the dials on the combination lock.
‘444,’ Geoff prompted. ‘It’s the same for both dials.’
The doorman glanced at Don, who nodded for him to continue. Geoff waited patiently as the doorman went through the tedious process of lining up all the numbers to the same location.
‘Is the money in there?’ Don asked.
‘No,’ Geoff said. ‘I just told you I don’t have that much with me.’
Don raised his hand with the threat of another slap.
Geoff fell silent.
Glancing at the doorman, waiting for him to align the numbers on the combination dial and then open the case he asked again, ‘Is the money in there?’
‘No.’ The doorman sounded puzzled. ‘There’s just two bags of sugar.’ He lifted them out and showed them to Don.
‘Maybe it’s not sugar?’ the other doorman suggested. ‘Maybe its drugs he’s carrying?’
‘Inside bags of sugar?’
‘Concealed.’
The doorman holding the bags of sugar pushed his finger through one of the paper packets. As a hiss of sugar sprayed to the floor he put his finger into the contents and then licked it.
‘Sugar,’ he declared.
Without being told, he performed the same inspection on the second bag and proclaimed the same result. Seeming at a loss for what to do with the bags he tossed them both into the pilot’s case.
Don stared at Geoff. Now, instead of looking angry and menacing he looked genuinely puzzled. ‘What sort of ‘tard carries two bags of sugar in a Samsonite briefcase? Are you a diabetic? Or have you got special needs or something?’
‘It’s not a briefcase,’ Geoff said, sullenly. ‘It’s a pilot’s case.’
Don’s fingers curled into a fist. ‘Why?’ he demanded.
Geoff massaged his jaw before responding. He could have told Don that the sugar was in the case so that his arm got used to its weight. When he did manage to swap the sugar for the skull from Charlie Raven’s desk, Geoff didn’t want to raise anyone’s suspicions because they had noticed he was previously holding his case as though it was lighter or heavier. Rather than supply that explanation to Don, Geoff simply said, ‘I’m taking care of the job I’ve been asked to do. If you insist on having your money up front, I guess I’ve got no choice except to do as you ask–’
‘Damned right,’ Don agreed.
‘So I’ll make sure you get the money this evening.’
‘I want it now,’ Don insisted.
‘I haven’t got it on me now,’ Geoff sighed.
‘One of my friends here will drive you home so you can get it.’
Geoff struggled to get out of the chair. Staring solemnly at Don he said, ‘No.’
Both of the doormen squared their shoulders. Geoff saw they both made fists with their fat, pink hands. Considering the amount of heavy gold jewellery each wore on their knuckles he knew that a punch from either would be enough to land him in hospital. The prospect of impending pain was heightened by a shiver of protest from every bruised muscle in his body.
‘No?’ Don repeated. He was smirking. ‘Is that your final word on the matter?’
‘I’m not going back home now,’ Geoff said firmly. ‘Part of what I’m trying to do involves me being seen as the ideal employee for the next week. That means I should be appearing at work on time and putting in a full day’s work. I’ll have your money delivered to your restaurant this evening, as soon as I’ve finished being an ideal employee.’ He stepped towards the door and found the way blocked by both of Don’s subordinates.
‘What if I insist?’ Don asked.
‘You were the one who put my name forward for this job,’ Geoff reminded Don. ‘If you insist on fucking up my plans, then I’ll have to pull out of the job and your contacts will get pissed at you for recommending the wrong man.’
He didn’t bother looking at Don whilst he spoke. Instead, he stared at the glimpse of cafeteria doorway that was visible between the burly shoulders of the two doormen.
‘I’ll look forward to seeing you at the restaurant this evening,’ Don said easily. ‘If you haven’t turned up there by nine o’clock, I’ll have you tracked down like a dog and then one of my friends here will remove your testicles.’
‘The money will be with you by nine o’clock,’ Geoff said, stiffly. He started towards the door but neither of the doormen made an effort to move out of his way.
‘And,’ Don continued, lightly. ‘Since we’re being frank and honest with each other here, I’ll warn you now: if you ever put your dick anywhere near my girlfriend again, I’ll have my friends here remove that as well your testicles. Do you understand?’
32
Geoff tried to regain his composure on the brief walk that remained to take him to the offices of Raven and Skull. His head ached. Humiliation burnt inside his chest like acid indigestion. The irrational need to go back to Don and force a violent confrontation was overwhelming. Cautioning himself with the unwelcome knowledge that such an argument would only lead to his own brutal battering, Geoff made his way into the office and settled himself behind his desk. His computer was already switched on. The corporate screensaver was active, bouncing the Raven and Skull logo back and forth across his monitor. Geoff found the sight eerily disconcerting.
‘Have you got a black eye?’ Shaun asked.
Geoff ignored him. Taking a bottle of painkillers from the drawer of his desk he dry swallowed three. ‘I’m going for a coffee,’ he growled.
‘Are you going for a smoke?’ Shaun asked. ‘I’ll come with if you are.’
‘I’m just going for a coffee,’ Geoff said, coldly. ‘If anyone comes in looking for me you tell them I was in half an hour early this morning and I’ve only just gone for a coffee. Do you understand?’
‘Yeah,’ Shaun agreed. ‘I’ll also tell them you wanted to spread smiles and sunshine around the canteen.’
‘Fuck off, Shaun.’ He didn’t like saying the words. He knew he was taking out his anger at the unassailable Don on the more pathetic figure of Shaun. The weakness of his own impotent character left his mood black with self-loathing. Entering the canteen he wanted to turn around and return to his cubicle when he saw Nicola.
‘Jesus, Geoff,’ she gasped. ‘You look like shit. What happened?’
‘Your fucking boyfriend and two of his Neanderthal buddies,’ Geoff snapped. ‘That’s what happened to me.’
‘Shit!’ She blushed and put a hand on his arm. ‘I think that might be my fault,’ she whispered.
Geoff shrugged his arm free and ordered a coffee. Taking the drink to an empty table in the corner of the cafeteria he was annoyed to discover that Nicola was following him. She took a seat facing him and leant conspiratorially across the table.
‘Don asked me if we’d ever done anything.’ She stressed the last two words in an ultra-soft whisper. ‘That’s probably why he was pissed at you.’
Geoff sipped at his coffee.
‘What did you tell him we’d done?’
‘Nothing.’ She wasn’t looking at him. Eventually she said, ‘Nothing much. I just said we’d gone out together for a while.’
Geoff stayed silent. He knew that Nicola had already said this much to Don. He waited for her to explain what else she had said. He took another sip from his coffee and hoped the painkillers would soon start to take some effect.
‘Last night he asked if we’d ever fucked,’ Nicola went on.
; Geoff rubbed his aching forehead. He couldn’t imagine why it would trouble any man that his girlfriend had been in a previous relationship with someone. However, it was easy to believe that someone with Don’s possessive personality would consider it an affront that his girlfriend was not a vestal virgin.
‘You told him we’d only ever held hands?’ Geoff said, hopefully.
‘I said I gave you a pity fuck once.’
Geoff groaned.
‘I said I only gave you the pity fuck because you seemed desperate, I felt sorry for you, and you have such a tiny cock.’
‘Gee,’ Geoff said thinly. ‘It’s nice to know people have been saying such good things about me behind my back. Do you happen to know the telephone number for the Samaritans?’
‘He saw you as a threat.’ Nicola spoke with quick anger. ‘I had to say something that would make it sound like I had no sexual interest in you whatsoever. I wasn’t going to tell him that you’re hung, able and extremely competent in the sack.’
Geoff accepted this compliment grudgingly.
‘That’s why I told him you’re hung like a hamster and you smell of chlamydia.’
‘I smell of…?’ Geoff didn’t bother finishing the question. He wasn’t sure chlamydia had a distinctive aroma and, if it did, he certainly didn’t want people thinking it was a smell that could be associated with him. But he could see no point in saying that to Nicola. He took another sip at his coffee and then decided it was time to get to his desk.
‘OK,’ he told Nicola. ‘I understand what you’re telling me. Don’s insecure. I’ll make sure I don’t do anything to upset his precious self-image. Is there anything else you wanted to share with me before I take my small cock and my chlamydia smell back to my desk?’
She nodded. Glancing around the cafeteria before speaking she whispered, ‘It can’t happen at night.’
He didn’t need to ask what she was talking about. ‘Why not?’
‘All the doors are locked. You’d never get in.’
‘There’s a guy in janitorial who owes me a favour,’ Geoff started. ‘I plan on borrowing the key from him today, getting a copy made this lunchtime and–’
‘I’ve been talking to my friend Chloe,’ Nicola said, stiffly. ‘She’s been working overtime for the past month. She knows what goes on at night in this building and she says that every door is locked. You’d need to copy all of the janitor’s keys and then spend a month learning which was which. Trust me. You can’t go in at night.’
‘Great,’ Geoff growled. He swigged the remnants of his coffee. ‘This is proving to be one of those days, isn’t it?’
‘It’s about to get worse,’ Nicola warned him. ‘I hear that Roger Black wants to see you in his office this morning.’
33
Geoff sat opposite Roger Black and wondered how the man could be so intimidating.
This morning he had been beaten by Nicola’s boyfriend and accosted by two physically capable thugs. The memory of that incident was still fresh enough to leave him nauseous if he brooded on the episode for too long. Yet Geoff knew he would rather go back to the small cafeteria and face those three than be sitting on the opposite side of a desk from Roger Black.
A small part of him believed, if Don and his henchmen had been charged with tackling Roger Black, they would have immediately backed down and left the man to his own devices. But he supposed that particular stand-off was one he was never likely to witness.
‘What the fuck is wrong with you, Arnold?’ Black’s gruff manner was daunting at the best of times. This morning, Geoff struggled not to leap from his chair and run screaming from Black’s office.
‘There’s nothing wrong with me,’ he stammered.
‘Your face looks like shit,’ Black growled. ‘Someone’s been punching you. Who? Why? What’s been going on?’
‘I got mugged on the way here this morning,’ Geoff said, quickly. It wasn’t the truth but it wasn’t an outright lie. Because of this morning’s event he knew he was going to be ten grand worse off by the end of the day.
‘Fuck,’ Black grunted. ‘Have you reported it to the police?’
‘Would that do any good?’
Black sighed and shook his head. ‘You’ve got a point, Arnold. What did they get away with?’
‘About four pounds,’ Geoff admitted. He didn’t bother explaining that they were four pounds of sugar. ‘I seldom bring large sums of money with me on my way to the office.’
‘I guess that’s quite wise,’ Black conceded. ‘Do you need me to get a first-aider to take a look at you?’
‘No.’
‘I can have someone get painkillers or–’
‘Really,’ Geoff broke in. ‘I’m all right, Mr Black. I’ve taken some painkillers. I’m just trying to get on with my work and not let the whole shitty incident trouble me anymore than it needs to.’
Black raised an eyebrow. ‘It’s a shame we’ve not got more with your spirit of dedication in these offices.’
Geoff waved the praise away.
They were sitting in Charlie Raven’s office. Now that Black was acting CEO of Raven and Skull it was common knowledge that he used Raven’s office as his own territory. The gold-plated skull on the desk stared morosely at Geoff. The black, empty sockets looked impossibly deep. The row of even teeth was set in a voracious grin. Geoff tried determinedly not to stare at the skull but the only other alternative was to raise his eyes and meet Black’s intimidating gaze.
‘I’m serious,’ Black assured him. ‘You’ve obviously taken a pretty bad beating. I can see that your head is swelling up like a barrage balloon. But, instead of whining about it, or spouting some bullshit story about how there were two of them or something–’
‘There were three of them,’ Geoff interjected.
Black ignored him. ‘Instead of whining about it, you’re in the office, you’re getting on with your work, and you’re making the rest of the staff here look like a bunch of pikey losers. Well done, Arnold.’ He thrust a hand across the desk and said, ‘If we had an employee of the month award going on, you’d be a shoo-in for this month.’
Geoff tried to grin as he shook Black’s hand. ‘Raven and Skull don’t have an employee of the month award though, do they?’
Black shook his head.
Geoff laughed. ‘This day just keeps getting shittier, don’t you think?’
Black’s eyes clouded over for an instant. Then he opened his mouth and began to bray laughter. Geoff had never heard Roger Black laugh before. He supposed, in the whole of Raven and Skull, there were probably fewer than a handful of people who had ever heard Roger Black guffawing with laughter. The sound was so terribly malevolent that Geoff began to wish he wasn’t one of those who had heard the sound.
The skull continued to regard Geoff with its fixed, ever-hungry grin.
Geoff wondered if now would be the ideal opportunity for him to acquire the skull. Black was momentarily distracted. Geoff could snatch the skull from the desk and run. He would be out of the building before Black realised what had happened. Admittedly, it wouldn’t be a clean theft. There would undoubtedly be consequences. But if he stood up now, grabbed the skull from the desk and tucked it hard against his torso like a fly half going for a try, he could bolt from the office and the skull would be his.
The skull will protect you.
He didn’t know where that thought came from but it seemed less like an insane idea and more like a promise. The suggestion seemed to say, if he took the skull now, it would work like an amulet and protect him from any harm or danger as long as it was in his possession.
The empty sockets beckoned Geoff to make his move.
Geoff wiped one sweat-soaked hand against the thigh of his trousers. He licked his over-dry lips and glanced guardedly at Black. The man was still laughing and sufficiently distracted to allow Geoff his opportunity.
The skull will protect you
Geoff remained in his seat. If he took the skull now there would likely b
e police waiting for him at home when he returned. If he took the skull now there was no way he could return to the offices of Raven and Skull to resume his grey little job, and his grey little life with its grey little wage packet.
Black wiped his eyes and slapped a hand on his desk. He finally seemed to have his laughter under control. ‘I like you, Arnold. I’ll be watching out for you.’
Geoff stopped himself from making a comment. He hadn’t thought the day could get much worse but he figured the news that Roger Black was now ‘watching out’ for him had to rank as the base note of the morning. How the hell was he supposed to steal the skull if he had now appeared on Roger Black’s radar? The idea was enough to make him want to sob with despair.
‘You haven’t yet said what you wanted me here for.’
Black nodded. He was clearly impressed with Geoff’s efficiency and this question just seemed to improve his high regard. ‘End of year is approaching,’ he grunted. ‘Is your department ready for their accounts’ audit?’
Geoff had no idea. Nevertheless, because he knew that Black would not tolerate any vacillation, he nodded as though the end of year accounts’ audit had been at the forefront of his thoughts. ‘I’ll make sure they’re ready for this weekend,’ he promised.
Black nodded. ‘Good man, Arnold.’
The words struck Geoff as ironic. He did not feel like a good man. He was planning to steal from the only person he had spoken with this morning who had shown him any genuine sympathy. Roger Black wasn’t trying to beat Geoff up. Roger Black wasn’t wandering around the offices of Raven and Skull telling anyone who listened that he had a small cock and a lingering smell of chlamydia. Roger Black was only offering him praise and validation.
The idea that he could so easily abuse someone’s trust struck Geoff harder than any of the punches he had received at the hands of Don and his two doormen friends.
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