by Andy McNab
Gemma jumped in. ‘Why didn’t you tell them, whoever caught you, to fuck off? Or just do a runner?’
I took a breath, about to tell the truth, but she got in there first. ‘Who are they? And why us?’
She raised her hand and was about to jab a finger at me, but I silenced her. ‘I can’t – I won’t – tell you. It’s better you don’t know. Better for you and for me … and I can’t just refuse the job, or run. They threatened to hurt Pip and the boys. I can’t take any chances. I’m here until the job is done, no matter if you’re with me or not.’
I hadn’t heard the door open, but it was Charlotte who broke the silence. ‘I’m with you.’
42
Warren followed her into the room and took his seat by the desk. I continued as if he’d never left. That was always the best way with Warren. He’d always been the same, and even as a kid I understood why. His parents were arseholes compared to ours. As far as they were concerned, Warren was never good enough at school, at sport, or even at just being a kid. Everything he did was shit – even a drawing, the kind my kids had sent me, would be put in the bin rather than on the fridge. Surely he could have done better.
I used to ignore him when he threw a wobbler, and would continue with whatever it was we were doing or playing. I knew he would eventually realize he was being a dickhead and would join back in as if nothing had happened, and I would let it stay that way. I had no idea how Jackie coped with him, but that was love, I supposed.
‘I don’t know what’s in the ledger. Just billionaire stuff. Industrial secrets, who knows?’ I checked over to Charlotte and she nodded.
‘There’s no one to get hurt, no one to avoid. The house is unoccupied. We just make our way in, take the ledger and go. The end.’
Warren had to rejoin quickly. It was his tactic to make himself feel better, to confirm everything was back to normal. ‘If it’s that easy, why are we here?’
‘Because, mate, I need masters of form – and that’s you three. Believe it or not.’
They weren’t ready for jokes and it missed the mark, but I pushed on. I explained about the house, the outbuilding, the tunnel between them, the bung, the void, the tiled wall – and, critically, that we must leave no sign of ever having been there. ‘That’s why you’re here. Tony: electrics. Gemma: getting past the bung. Warren: restoring the wall tiles but from the rear of a stud-wall. At first I thought that would be impossible. But then I thought, Maybe I know a man who can …’
Warren still wasn’t onboard. His eyes were fixed on his boots. ‘It’s not for me, James. I have family to think about – it’s not worth the risk. Besides, I’m not a thief.’ He looked up and stared at me. ‘And neither were you.’
He was right. We locked eyes. At least he was back in the room.
‘What was I supposed to do, mate? Sit back and blame karma for what happened? I wanted to get some payback from the people who took it from us. The same people who took it from your families. What can I say? I steal, but I don’t feel like a thief. You know me better than that, mate.’
Charlotte was by the bathroom door, one shoulder leaning on the frame. She concentrated on Warren. I couldn’t tell who she agreed with on this one – maybe both of us. It didn’t really matter: when it came to the crunch she was on my side.
Warren stared, like he was wondering what had gone wrong with me.
My eyes turned to the other two. Tony sat cross-legged on the chair. Elbow resting on his thigh, he put his chin in his hand. He looked sort of lost or bored but, then, I never had been able to tell what was going on in his head. He was so laid-back he was almost horizontal. But that was why I liked him so much, maybe even loved him. All my life there had been this caring, calm consistency about him. I’d noticed it even more when Dad died, and his kindness had really helped me to take the pain. Warren could have done with an Uncle Tony.
It was Gemma who came back, with enough spark for all three of them. ‘I’m with Warren. What the fuck you doing, James? It’s far too risky. It doesn’t matter what you’re nicking. I don’t know about here, but that’s jail time back home. For fifty grand? Really? Come on, for fuck’s sake.’
Now was the time. I chanced a grin. ‘What about two million, then? Two million pounds each.’
I looked at each of them in turn, but avoided Charlotte. I didn’t know why I’d upped the amount by a million, but it felt right. Anything to get them onboard. It certainly got raised eyebrows from Warren and Gemma. From Tony there was no reaction, no way to determine what was going on inside his head.
‘Two million each. That’s what you walk away with. The fifty was part of the lie to get you down here. Think about that. Think about what that would mean to your life, and to your kids’ lives. Isn’t it time we got something back from the people who took it all from us? Isn’t that worth the risk?’
I was finding it hard to judge the mood. But I was hoping it was boiling their brains just a little.
‘Look, if you don’t want to help me, and you hate me for lying, think about Pip and the kids. Charlotte? Me? We’ve got no choice, they’re family. We have them to think about, but you can just think about the money. That’s what I do. I have to think about the upside on this. And I want to share it with you.’
Tony still didn’t look interested, let alone convinced. ‘How do we know the money exists? It sounds too much. It must be worth so much more to him, to be offering that sort of reward.’
‘You’re right. But that’s not our concern. What I can tell you is that we already have the cash – it’s in an account, and it’s safe. It can’t be handed out, though – it’s far too much to go unnoticed by the banks. We’ll have to find a way of dealing with that. But the money’s there, ready and waiting.’
I kept my eyes from Charlotte: I still didn’t know if she had been refused at the ATM.
Warren looked up at me. No words. I hoped he was thinking about how the money would change everything. I hoped he wanted to be dragged into this screaming.
‘It’s a risk, mate, there’s no doubt about it. But what about your girls’ future? Maybe worth it. It is for my kids.’
Then it sounded like I was losing Gemma again. ‘I’m up for anything, but going to jail? No way. No matter how much the system fucked us up. They are the man with the plan. We’re nothing to them. We’re just dust. A click of the fingers.’
Tony sat there, brooding.
Charlotte pushed herself off the doorframe and faced us. ‘Okaaay … what I think is this. I think it’s payback time for everything we’ve all been through. All our families’ work, our labours, fears, the stress and the sheer bloody anger at these people. Yes, there’s risk for us all. But you have risk every day, don’t you? Getting out there, working, making ends meet, trying to recover some dignity and pride – you take risks all the time.
‘And these people, you’re right, Gemma, they don’t care. But why should they? They always get what they want. So what I think is, we give them what they want – the ledger – and we get their money. Dignity, pride, security. What’s worth more?’
She was on a roll and no one could look at her. All eyes were focused on the wall, the window, a croissant, anywhere but Charlotte. It was a good sign? I was hoping.
‘We’re not like these people. Even the world isn’t big enough for them now – they all want to go to the moon or build communities on Mars. It’s like now they’ve defeated the earth, they want to control the entire universe. They’ve got the ultimate God complex. But so what?
‘I don’t care how they want to spend their money. Because one of them has chosen to spend it on you.’ She looked around the room. ‘Look at me. You need to take on board what I’m going to say.’
They did as they were asked. She had something about her that had always commanded the field when it was needed.
43
‘It’s not two million. It’s fifteen. Fifteen million pounds each. And it’s real.’
She stopped for effect and looked ac
ross at me with a shrug. Fair one: we needed something to get them across the line.
‘I already control fifty per cent of the cash. We were worried that if we said exactly how much was on offer it would blow your minds. It did ours!’
The room fell silent, but Charlotte wasn’t going to let that happen for long.
‘Fifteen – million – pounds – each.’
She let it hang for another few seconds. ‘I’ll organize some of it to go to you today to cover your debts, the things that keep you all awake at night. But after today they will not exist. I’ll make it happen if you come onboard. And I’ll do it even if you just walk away now. But, please, the risk … fifteen million pounds each? It’s got to be worth it, hasn’t it?’
Gemma didn’t give Charlotte enough time even to lean back on the door. ‘Fuck it, what if we just take whatever’s there now and run?’
I shook my head, but Charlotte made the answer. ‘With their money and their power? We’d never get away with it.’
Gemma gave a shrug, but thankfully there was a smile along with it. ‘Fuck it, then, if Captain Calamity’s in, I’m in.’
Warren wasn’t quite there yet. His question was for me. ‘What happens if we get caught? Or fail? We don’t get the book? What happens then?’
‘Look, mate, if we get caught, we maybe go to prison. Simple as that. But what are we stealing? A book, bits of paper. Breaking into a house. This isn’t an armed bank robbery. But what I do know, half of what you’d get is already there waiting for you, no matter what happens. The kids sorted for ever.’
He was getting there.
‘Look, the guy who wants the book has faith in me – and he has faith in Charlotte. So if we finish the job, the remainder of the cash will be there. I’ve looked at the job and it’s doable. If not, I wouldn’t have asked you down here.’
Warren finally gathered his thoughts. ‘But what happens if I just go home now, not taking any money, but knowing what I know?’
With Richard and the Filipino in my head, I’d been hoping no one would ask that.
‘I really don’t know. It’s the same …’ I searched for the word ‘… forces that threaten Pip and the kids. They may do the same. But just think, if we pull it off …’
He was looking angry. I had put his family at risk, and I felt a shit for that. I understood. I left him to it for a while.
‘What do you think, Tony?’
He nodded slowly, as if he was accepting a late-night cup of cocoa. ‘I’m in.’
My relief must have been plain to see, and in case it wasn’t, they would have heard my little gasp of delight.
Tony uncrossed his legs so he could lean in to Warren. ‘I was in from the start, boy. I don’t care, now that Maureen’s gone. I’ll do it for you lot. Our generation worked their fingers to the bone to try to make your life better than ours. And for what? To be treated like serfs. More setbacks, more tax, then put on the scrap heap once no longer suited to requirements. So it’s your turn now to make a better life for your kids. This is an opportunity, a risky one, mind, but aren’t they all? Besides, Kiwi prisons might have a lot more going for them than the UK’s. If we get put inside, I might finally get to take up watercolours.’
He squashed his nose, which covered half of his face, then let it go. ‘And I might finally get this big boy sorted out.’
It got a laugh, like it had done since we were kids.
That still left Warren.
Charlotte hunkered down beside him. ‘Tell me how much you need now to clear all your debts and I’ll work out a way for that to happen. The problem is, Jackie mustn’t know, not yet. No one must know.’
She placed both hands on his arm and at that very moment my head started to burst. What I had said to everyone about Parmesh’s faith in me … It suddenly hit me: I really did have faith in him. I really did believe him. Was this how these connections, commitments, happened? Was I really having my road-to-Damascus moment, now, in a hotel room in Queenstown? Maybe I was. It felt like it.
Now wasn’t the time to dwell, but it changed the way I thought about everything.
‘I identified you three, not just because you’re so good at what you do but because you’re just like us. Just normal people, screwed over. But out of our nightmares, maybe something good comes for all of us. It’s the only chance you’ll ever get at doing something that will change lives.’
I really was having my road-to-Damascus moment. I wasn’t just saying this for the good of my friends and their families, but for the good of the world. I actually believed it.
Tony got up and patted Warren’s shoulder while clearing his throat of pastry. ‘I’ll look after you, son, don’t you worry. I’ll get you home for Christmas.’
He made a show of checking with Charlotte, now on her feet, and finally strode over to Gemma, who was gagging to know more. ‘So how the fuck are you going to sort this money?’
Charlotte was on it. ‘I’ll organize an account for each of you that you control, today. And I’m going to put two hundred thousand in each account. And, remember, tell absolutely no one about this. Our safety depends on no one knowing. You’ll have to lie, and I know it’s hard, but it’s for everyone’s good.’
Tony laughed. ‘Lie? Fifteen million lies, more like. No problem here, my girl.’
Warren still wasn’t in any mood to laugh.
Tony squeezed his shoulder again, just like he’d done to me so many times over the years. ‘That’s right, sonny – stealing back from the bastards who stole from us. They’re all as bad as each other. Just a couple of billionaires fighting over a few pages of paper. Fair game, I say. Don’t worry, it’ll be okay. Your family – it’s your job to provide for them. That’s what you’ll be doing. If you were my boy, I’d be proud of you.’
Tony gave me a wink that said, ‘It’ll be okay.’
Warren nodded slowly, though I wasn’t sure who it was for.
I tried not to betray too much relief in my voice. ‘Thank you, all. Back at five?’
It went quiet until Gemma brought things back to earth. ‘Right – fuck it, then. I’m out to have a good look around. Anyone up for it?’
The other two stood up, and as Tony dusted icing sugar off his jeans he closed up to Warren. ‘I could do with a pint. You?’
Gemma turned to Charlotte. ‘That lunch you promised is binned. You two have got that shitload of cash to sort out. Yes!’ She pumped the air, then grabbed Charlotte and planted a big kiss on her cheek. She turned to me. ‘Resistance would be futile!’ She grinned as she wrapped her arms round me and crushed.
They left after we’d agreed to meet up that evening. Charlotte would have some news about the cash.
The room was suddenly quiet. There weren’t even any thrill-seekers out on the lake. All I could hear was the hum of the air-conditioning.
44
Charlotte and I stood staring at each other for what felt like an eternity, before she broke it with exactly what I was thinking. ‘Shit! This is really happening, isn’t it?’
‘Think so … Warren?’
‘Not sure.’
She shrugged, knowing we just had to wait and see.
Reaching into her jeans back pocket, she pulled out a wad of notes and handed me a hundred-dollar bill. ‘One each. I’m framing mine.’
I folded the polymer note with its translucent window into my jeans, trying hard not to think of all the bad things that might lie in store for us.
She slumped into a chair, like all the air had left the balloon.
‘Charlotte?’
She kept staring at the wall. Eventually she snapped out of it. ‘Yessss?’
‘I believe Parmesh. I really do believe what he’s doing is right. It just happened. I’m going to do it, not just for the boys and Pip, and even if Warren or any of those three change their minds. It just sort of happened. I have hope, and I don’t know why.’
She turned to me and leant closer. ‘You can be so thick sometimes. Come on, he’s a
strong leader in a very likeable way. He wants to do the right thing, he wants to love, he wants to guide. He’s just like …?’
She waited for me to fill it in, but all I had was a blank. Charlotte rolled her eyes and the look on her face took me straight back to our childhood. It felt so comforting.
‘Dad, you idiot.’
‘What?’
‘When Dad died we all felt the pain – but you, Parker, you’ve been in a vacuum ever since. Lost, no guidance, no point of reference. And all this cat-burglar stuff makes it even clearer to me.
‘I know you better than you know yourself, thick boy. Hey, it’s not a problem. If it works for you, it works for me.’
We sat back in our chairs, staring out at nothing in particular.
‘What did Simon say about you coming down here?’
She exhaled long and slow and stretched out her legs. ‘Not a lot, really. I didn’t give him time to get worked up. I took the dogs to the kennels and didn’t go back.’
‘Oh. Sorry.’
‘Don’t be. He was a crap partner and even crapper painter. I mean, he couldn’t even finish the hallway, let alone morph into the next Picasso. Even your boys’ drawings are better than his.’
It was true and funny, but we were both too exhausted to laugh.
‘Anyway, at least I don’t have to worry about my half of the rent. You know he got me to sign an agreement when I moved in, the arsehole?’
Now that did get a laugh.
‘What did you ever see in him? I mean, he was always being a dickhead.’
She thought for a couple of seconds. ‘We were just two lonelies, I guess.’