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by Rachel Martin

  Twenty

  “Come on, Sash,” Mia said tugging on Sasha’s hand, “it’s not that bad.”

  “Not that bad,” Sasha squealed, truncating her cries. She was pulling away from Mia and flapping her arms. “Are you serious, I mean look at it.” She pointed at the door.

  They all followed the invisible line her pointing hand was making. On the other side of the almost completely pitch black street stood two huge armed bouncers dressed in black at the entrance of the most run-down bar Jack had ever seen. The bouncers stood in the glow of the only street lamp that worked. Mia, Zach, and Jack stood with their hands on their hips and looked at the building. All the windows appeared to be either smashed in or boarded up but were protected by iron bars. Weeds as big as trees grew out of the walls, maybe they were trees, and there were bullet holes everywhere. Also, there was the smell, a stale beer smell mixed with something else, like blood, or rat droppings, or worse things, and it was radiating off of the pub. Even in the darkness, they could pretty much see a haze around the building. They could taste it. The muted sound of music could be heard from within, along with shouting and singing and screaming and laughing. Above the bouncer's heads was a sign which had once said: The One Eyed Dog, but the The had fallen off, and the rest of letters were almost completely worn and faded away. But it was a bar, and it actually had decent security.

  “What did you think the party was going to be like, Sash?” Jack asked.

  “I have no idea. I didn’t really think about it that much, to be honest.”

  “Well, to be perfectly honest, this is probably an upgrade,” Jack said.

  Sasha put her hands on her hips as Mia started walking towards the door.

  “I don’t know about you,” Mia said, “but I need a top up. I’m starting to sober up.” She shuddered theatrically.

  Jack laughed.

  “Are you really going in,” Sasha said.

  “You can wait out here if you like,” Mia said over her shoulder.

  Sasha looked at Zach.

  “Don’t look at me, I’m with them. You’re being over the top.”

  “Over the top,” she whispered in a voice louder than her normal voice, “we’re actually thinking of doing something utterly insane.”

  “Oh Sash, come on, we’re just going in for a drink,” Zach said, “that’s all.”

  She shook her head, “I can’t believe you.”

  “Are you coming Sash,” Jack said trying to usher her forwards.

  He looked up. Mia was already at the door. She was flicking her dark locks, apparently flirting with the doormen. She showed them her I.D. Jack watched them as they took it from her and inspected it. He imagined them saying ‘you can’t be that old,’ and ‘you look so young’. Jack rolled his eyes as the doormen made a gesture as if to hand Mia’s back her I.D, but instead pulled it out of her grasp just before she gripped it. The doormen and Mia shared a laugh for all to hear. ‘Oh you,’ he imagined her saying as she pressed her hand onto his upper arm. She stepped between them, towards the bar door, she turned around just as she pushed the door slightly ajar. The sound of music grew louder. Jack made eye contact with Mia, trying to tell her: ‘yes we’re coming, wait.’ She disappeared inside. He rolled his eyes.

  “Come on,” Zach said, holding Sasha’s arm. “We’re going in. We can’t leave Mia in there alone.”

  Inside was not the dive Jack expected. It was heaving with bodies, and it was hot and humid, but there was not a scabby face, greasy head, or track line in sight. This was a relatively civilised bar. As the three of them entered they all smiled a pleasantly surprised smile, and nodded in unison. There was even a barman who was clearly checking the alcohol with a Geiger counter and labelling the bottles accordingly. This was even more reason to believe the boy’s story Jack thought. As if reading his mind, Mia winked at him.

  “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” Mia said, taking Sasha by the hand and leading her into the bar area.

  Mia was leaning against a pillar rubbing Sasha’s arm when Jack and Zach returned with the drinks. Sasha grabbed her wine and downed half in one gulp.

  “I can’t believe you’re actually contemplating doing this,” Sasha said. “It’s mad. I want no part of it.”

  They all sipped their drinks.

  “He could be leading us into a trap you know,” Sasha continued.

  “Why would he do that? It’s not like we’re wearing any jewellery, or flashing the cash, we have nothing worth anything to steal. I don’t even have a phone, nor does Jack. And I assume you two left yours at home like we told you to. Besides if you were going to rob someone, why pick two ex-rugby players, one the size of a man-mountain?” Mia said.

  “He doesn’t know that, does he?”

  “He’s got eyes hasn’t he.”

  “Stop worrying,” Zach said, putting his arm around his wife and pulling her close into his chest. “We haven’t done anything yet. All we’re doing right now is having a drink in a pub.”

  “If we were sober there’s no way any of us would even consider it,” Sasha said pushing Zach away.

  “I honestly believe we can trust him,” Mia said. “I want to trust him. He looks clever, intelligent. Not like some of the other crims out here. I want to do whatever it is. You know that right?” she said looking up at Jack. “Besides, I’m sure I’ve seen him before. I’ve got this feeling like I’m supposed to do it. He may as well have a white rabbit tattoo.”

  “Maybe he does,” Jack said.

  “You never know,” Mia said mysteriously, then sipped her wine. “Anyway, I truly believe he looked absolutely genuine. There’s something about him, I can’t put my finger on it. He’s convinced me.”

  “I tell you, Mia’s gut is always pretty much spot on,” Jack said. “Besides, he’s convinced me too.”

  “I can’t believe I’m actually hearing this. You’re all drunk, out of your minds. Desperate.”

  “Sash,” Zach said, slowly, staring into space, clearly deep in thought, “you know we have our problems too. This could be the answer we’ve been looking for, a way out of our piling debt. We are desperate.”

  “Really, this is your solution. You’re drunk, you can be so stupid sometimes. What if they banish us from the compound? What then?”

  “I’m not drunk, and we won’t be banished.”

  “Oh really?”

  “Yeah.”

  They all stood in silence drinking their drinks listening to the beat of the music.

  “I’m going with or without you, this was supposed to happen tonight, I was supposed to do this. I just know it.” Mia downed her drink and headed to the exit.

  Jack shrugged his shoulders, raised his hands in submission, and followed.

  Outside, there was a car parked in the darkness, just beyond the halo of light. It was him, they both knew it. Mia and Jack shared an excited look then walked towards the car nervously. The young man wound down the driver’s side window.

  “You’ve decided to come then!”

  “We have,” Mia said as they both got in.

  Mia got in the passenger seat.

  The driver stared at her, and she back stared at him.

  “You won’t regret it. Where are the other two?”

  “Just go,” Mia said, “before we change our minds.”

  He started up the car, but at that moment Zach ran out in front of them. He slapped the bonnet.

  “That your mate?” He nodded towards Zach.

  “Yeah,” Mia said.

  Zach and a reluctant Sasha got in.

  No one said anything as they drove deeper and deeper into the unknown. Each of them caught up in their own contemplations. For Jack, this consisted of a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and blind anticipation. Scenario after scenario flashed across his mind, almost as if he had lived them all in another world, in another time. He fell into a memory. He remembered his Dad telling him: ‘sometimes in life son you just have to jump in. You want change, take risks, witho
ut risk, life is one dull, monotonous road. Trust me, it doesn’t matter what road you take, the end is always the same. Take the road less travelled, son.’ Agreeing to the second and third date with Mia was a risk. He loved her but knew straight away that their life together would be challenging, bumpy, yet exciting and real. He had no idea just how much he had craved something real, something different until that night. He was addicted at the first kiss. Everything from that day onwards was marred with risk. But, it was the risk that made him feel alive. Every time they fell into a rhythm he died a little inside. He knew as well as Mia did that as soon as the guy stood up and uttered those words, they were game. He never felt more alive than he did at that moment. It was the rush he was waiting for.

  The car stopped in a dark car park in front of a slightly more upmarket tower-block. They sat in silence, listening to the sounds of each other breathing, to the sound of their own hearts beating. Their brains were going haywire. Sasha crossed her arms, her elbows digging into the men on either side of her. She was huffing and puffing. The driver turned around and stared at them.

  “Don’t tell me your names, I don’t care, and it doesn’t matter, the less we know about each other, the better.”

  “Fine by me,” Jack said.

  “And me,” Sasha huffed.

  He stared at Sasha for a moment saying nothing.

  “In a moment, I am going to drive closer to that building in front of us.”

  “OK,” Jack said.

  “We will head to the top floor. In one of the apartments is a dealer. He’s alone, or with his girlfriend, she is no threat. I have been monitoring the calls of one of his henchmen.”

  “How?” Mia asked.

  “I’m in a small gang, nothing serious, but even in a low-level gang, you get to learn who the real players are. In that world, you have to show respect… Anyway, I took to following this geez, I knew he was one of the heavies from this turf. I followed him to a bar. I sits next to him, and I gets to drinking with him. Eventually, he goes off to the bog but forgets his phone. He’s a bit of an idiot, that’s why I chose him. Anyway, I uploads a bug onto his phone and hid it in the phones memory. Ever since then I’ve been listening to and recording all his calls. Anyway, his gangs done a deal. There’s over a million five in cash up there. He pointed vaguely to one of the top windows. It’s just a safe house where they’re stashing the cash, so it’s low security. Now, this is the really good part. The reason why I’m here. Today his heavies have gone up to Manchester to lean on someone. I watched them leave by train this morning. I’ve been tracking him on his GPS. They’re hundreds of miles away… Up there is the cash and only one man holding it.”

  “What do you need us for then?” Mia asked.

  “Trust me. I’ve been battling that question for days. I was on my way to do it alone, then I hears you. I always wanted a gang to do it with, but my gang are too much like pussies. I thought I could do it alone, but I know I can do it with you. I need someone big to kick the door in for that element of surprise. You get me?”

  “I want to hear the phone calls,” Zach said.

  They listened to the calls.

  “How do we know this isn’t some elaborate setup?” Sasha said.

  “I guess you don’t. Believe what you like. But there’s some life-changing money up there, and I want it. I’m prepared to go it alone, but I’d prefer to do it with you lot. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a small chance of a million plus, or a huge chance half that. Half for me half for you lot, we’ll go 50/50 right?”

  “Fine,” Mia said.

  “Good, so are you in then?”

  There was a long silence.

  “I am,” Mia said.

  “If she’s in, I’m in,” Jack said.

  They all looked at Zach.

  “Oh my God I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, I’m in.”

  “Zachery,” Sasha said. “I don’t believe you.”

  “Ssssh, idiot,” Zach said.

  “Don’t worry, I didn’t hear it,” the driver said. “You don’t have to come,” he said to Sasha. “You can wait here in the car? Be the getaway driver. I’ll give you the keys so you can leave if anything happens.”

  They all looked at Sasha.

  “What do you think?” Zach asked.

  “This is total madness.”

  “Please just stay in the car, it’s not like he can call for help, is it? So you won’t have to worry about the soldiers,” Mia said.

  “Give me that beer,” Sasha said pulling on Zach’s coat.

  He reached inside and pulled out two beers.

  “How many did you stuff in there?” Mia said laughing.

  Sasha cracked open a can and began gulping it down.

  “OK, fine, I’ll do it, I’ll wait here,” she said eventually. “I guess we really do need the money.”

  Everyone exhaled at the same time.

  “And you won’t drive off unless absolutely necessary,” Zach said.

  “I won’t drive off. You’re the Father of my children; I do not want their names tarred. I don’t want to be banished. I have to wait for you. So yes, I‘ll wait here. OK.”

  “Very well then,” said the driver.

  They all watched him get out and retrieve a rucksack from the boot. He started rummaging in the bag and then handed out his spare balaclavas and gloves.

  “These are absolute essentials.”

  “Why’re you giving me one,” Sasha asked.

  “Because when I drive closer to the building, you may become visible on the CCTV. I’m almost a hundred percent convinced it’s not working, but do you really want to run the risk of being seen if it is working, or if some spy out here sees you?”

  “Fine.” She grabbed the balaclava out of his hands.

  “Right, OK. I have one gun and one replica gun,” he said. “I am using the real gun, who wants the replica?”

  “Wait a minute, I’ve got my Ruger,” Mia said. She picked up her bag. “Oh fuck,” she said throwing her bag back down in the footwell. “I forgot to put it in my bag earlier, shit. What an idiot. The one time I actually really need it.”

  “Don’t worry, we won’t need it,” he took the replica from the bag.

  Mia pulled on the gloves before touching it.

  “Are you both OK with her having it?”

  They nodded. He handed the boys both knives. This was becoming so real. Up to this point, Jack had actually thought somewhere in the back of his mind that this was some kind of game. But, now with the knife in his hands, he knew it was his destiny. Zach and Jack looked at each other, smirked, then pulled on their balaclavas. The girls and the driver followed suit.

  “Any doubts, now is the time to pull out, once we’re through that door, there’s no turning back.”

  Everyone was silent. Sasha pulled the balaclava up above her mouth and drank some more beer.

  “It’s simply an in and out job. Scare the guy with the guns, tie him and his girlfriend up, get the case, and leave. They have no idea we’re coming. We have the upper hand. They’re still gloating over their recent win. They’re completely vulnerable. They don’t have no heavies with ‘em at all. They think they’re indestructible. Well they’re not, we’ll teach ‘em a lesson.”

  “Can’t wait,” Mia gasped, excitedly, nervously. “We’re actually doing this.”

  They all looked at each other’s eyes staring out of the black hoods. Jack had a flash, some kind of residual memory, from who knows where. This had happened before. Mia’s eyes looking at him like that. Had he dreamt it? Had he imagined it long ago, willing it into existence? He remembered the smell of Zach’s aftershave. Sasha sipping the beer like that. He knew this was meant to be. He just knew they would win. He was finally becoming the warrior he always wanted to be. This was his moment.

  “I’m ready… Let’s go,” Jack said with perfect calm.

  The driver set the car in motion, and they headed towards the door.

  Twenty-one
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br />   The red lights that had been shining so brightly out of the rear of Ashley’s hidden car had long faded into the black of night. Sadie was following the direction the lights had been beckoning her in, vaguely. Her feet were guiding her with light footsteps; she was walking slowly, absent-mindedly, staring up at the yellowy, orange full moon. In the dark doorways, as she passed, she could hear the rustlings of people, of strangers, and the laboured breathing of the lost. She knew, somehow, that in darkness this profound no one would approach her, she was the predator now. They would think that only a madman would dare walk streets like this alone. And maybe she really was a little crazy, but only because they had made her this way. It was their plan all along, to create something more than human, or perhaps something less. Even though the cider was beginning wearing off, the fear from earlier was not perturbing her, she was becoming more herself. They could sense fear. That was why. They had learned to smell fear on people, trace elements of it in amongst all the other smells. In fact, anger was rising within her, in place of the fear. She gripped the handle of the knife in her pocket and squeezed it tighter and tighter. She wished she had taken the pole from Dwayne and broken the old woman’s face. She wished she had asked Dwayne to impale the old man through the heart. But she didn’t, she wasn’t that depraved yet, but, slowly she was becoming like that. In time, she knew she could do anything. She let go of the knife and blocked the thoughts from her mind as she stopped and stared upwards. She stretched her neck this way and that to relieve the pent-up anger that was disturbing her. She squinted into the sky and tried to look for the constellations they had learned about in school. It was useless, no one on Earth could see stars anymore, it was a futile exercise, everything was futile. Yet tonight the futility of her existence was going to mean something, tonight was going to be her night to make a change.