CHAPTER - 11

11 

 

 

Moving closer to the window I leant on the sill and frowned right back at Take Six. This fella was now starting to really bug me big time. It was obvious he would keep showing up. One thing was certain, this business needed to get sorted. My mood was right so now was a good time. Did I need help? Not in my present frame of mind. Besides, if the guy wanted to do me harm he wouldn’t be waiting outside my house. That would’ve happened by now in some dark corner. He wanted something. I was convinced of that. 

Grabbing my door key and with my teeth clenched, eyes focused on the car, I strode across the road. As I approached the passenger door swung wide and Take Six leant over, “Get in,” he grinned. 

I took a moment. There was no benefit in being hostile until reasons were known. So, making an effort to cool down I slipped into the passenger seat and took stock. Dark eyes, smiling face and that snappy suit but this one was pale grey. Neatly groomed hair. Conclusion: a confident someone who was nowhere near skint. I had a feeling this fella was slick and I might need a bit of a head start. I noticed the signet ring on his left hand index finger with the initials CW.  

Take Six said, “I’ve been looking for you.” 

Those initials… his name… something tough sounding maybe. I could only think of Charlie, Craig… or Chris maybe… nope, but then again what about Yul Brynner in the Mag Seven… Then there’s Clive? A quick glance said no way. 

Keeping it cool I smiled back at him, “Saturday… I saw you outside the burger place.” Thought, how about Chris… then, nope… he’s no Chris.  

“Yeah, I watched you and your mate… neat trick that. Did you scam much?” 

“Enough.”  

Smiling, he said, “I’ve got a proposition for you.” 

I heard him but paused a moment struggling with names beginning with C. Plenty of weird ones went through but I couldn’t match this fella with any of them. Certainly nothing like Cuthbert. I could only think of one other that I would call normal. I glanced at his face and thought, Colin but Charlie still lingered. Charlie was a good name for a villain. I glanced at the smiling face. Fifty, fifty, nothing to lose so I took a punt, “It’s Colin, isn’t it?” That did it. That made him stop and think. So I said, “So, what’s this proposition then Col?” He was sure to be called Col by his mates.  

“How…” 

“Does it matter?” 

Col paused, “I suppose not… I want to meet with you and your mate.” 

“You’ll need to tell me more than that, Col,” I replied, rubbing the name well in. 

Col’s tone changed. Slipped a couple of octaves just like he was selling me a pair of shoes, “I need something, shall we say obtained, and I think you and your mate are the guys to get it.” 

“Say it however you like,” I replied, "Tell me what you want and I’ll tell you if we’ll be interested.” 

“Can I trust you?” 

“I could say for sure but then you would most likely think, can I trust that, so in reality the question is a bit of a non-starter, don’t you think, on the basis that most people offered said question would reply in the affirmative even if they didn’t mean it. It’s the consequences that are important. How about you tell me the consequences and I’ll tell you what I think then you can decide how the consequences of what I think affect you and if they are worth the risk of employing me and my mate. As far as said mate is concerned we are equal partners in all our endeavours thus, by our close association, the consequences that he might inflict upon you and those that I might inflict, should they be different, would, of course, carry mutual liability.” 

Col stared for quite a few moments before he answered and I knew I had taken over the initiative. Eventually he replied, “My lawyer says fewer words than that to say the same sort of thing so I’m now thinking that maybe my lawyer is not quite up to the required standard.” 

“In that case he has missed an opportunity. Like Dickens some lawyers like to get paid by the word so, if you’re happy with the advice he provides I’d leave well alone rather than risk an escalation in costs if he were to realise you required more words. Then the floodgates might be opened. One more thing. To find me I realise you must know my name and probably quite a lot more about me and probably my partner. So… Colin W…” 

“Wilson.” 

“So, Colin Wilson, nice to meet you. Now we’ve got that out of the way, please continue outlining the consequences.” 

“Okay but I’m not sure exactly what you’ve just said so I’m assuming you're up for a bit of effort and reward. I’ll put it simply. I want you to obtain a key for me” 

“Is that a me or a we?” 

“A we. My mate and I are in a similar position - equal partners.” 

“Good, only two of you to worry about. So far so good as far as consequences go. This key opens…” 

“It turns off an alarm.” 

“A shop?” 

“Sort of.” 

“I guess jewellery and a workshop… why can’t you just steal it… I take it that’s your line of work.” 

“Sort of. The key’s on a keyring that lives in a man’s pocket. Short of mugging him or trying to break into his fortress of a house there’s no easy way to get it…” 

“Without sounding alarm bells.” 

“Exactly. For our plan to work we need the key without the man knowing we have it.” 

“And the only way that will happen is if it’s copied.” 

“You’ve got it and that would be your job.” 

“I take it you’re thinking of the fake accident scam?” 

“Yeah, I’ve been pondering the problem of how to get the key for a while and then there you were interrupting my breakfast.” 

“You always have a cheeseburger for breakfast?” 

“Why not, it’s a sign of affluence.” 

“Really?” 

“In my circle, definitely. It’s like builders and a full English.” 

“I’ll remember that everytime I see a fella in a snappy suit eating a burger. Okay, we’ve had the sort of chat I like and you seem like an all right sort of guy. I understand the consequences and they seem acceptable depending on the remuneration. Job details to be sorted later, of course. So, to put it bluntly, what do we get?” 

“A grand.” 

“Each.” 

Col thought for a moment then said, “That’s too much.” 

“Is it?” I replied. “How much is in this for you and your mate? A jewellery place… Quite a few thousand I would think.” 

“It’s still too much. A grand for a sixteen-year-old is too much” 

“What’s age got to do with it? You said it earlier. Effort and reward. We make the effort so that you get a big reward. A grand each and nothing less.” 

Col stared out of the windscreen, “Okay,” he finally said, “That’s a deal.” And he offered his hand and added, “No spitting.” 

“You know, you’re the second person in three days to say that…” 

“The thought’s disgusting… so…” 

“All fine with me on condition Monkie does not object.” 

The deal sealed as I started to open the door, Col said, “You know for a near seventeen-year-old you're pretty street wise.” 

“You know the score, I’m sure. When needs must and all that.” I replied. 

“Yeah, I know, and for what it’s worth you’re a consequence worth the risk… one thing, though, how did you know my name?” 

“Just a simple guess, nothing else… You know it was the spitting thing that did it. It added a certain layer of confidence… One more thing, I don’t want to know your partner’s name or meet him unless it’s essential. Better all round don’t you think. Now, I've got to go. I’ll run this past Monkie. I’m busy the rest of the week so come by Monday morning and we can firm it up. By then we’ll have worked out a plan… Nice to meet you Colin Wilson.” 

I checked the road, opened the door, slammed it shut and walked casually back to the house. Stood in the porch watching Colin drive away with a whole heap of thoughts filling up my head. First I needed to phone Monkie. The conversation with Marge had given me a burning desire to visit my uncle.  

I had use of the hall phone so calling Monkie was not a problem. I asked him if he was busy the next couple of days. Having replied he was free I suggested a bag with the contents for a night’s stay and gave him the address of my doctors and said for him to pick me up there… I looked at my watch, near ten… to pick me up there at eleven-thirty. 

“Where are we going,” he asked. 

“To visit my uncle.” 

“That’s a great idea. I can listen to the two of you use up a year’s supply of words.” 

“But you might learn something.” 

“You’re right, I’ll probably learn the art of selective deafness. Anyway, why the visit to the doctor. Is anything wrong?” 

“I’ve just had a chat with Take Six.” 

Monkie didn't seem surprised and just said, “That’s interesting. So, have you got dents? Is that the reason for seeing the doctor?” 

“Nope, that’s something else. I’ll tell you when you pick me up but it involves blonde wavy hair. Colin, that’s Take Six, Col seems an all right sort. He’s got a proposal for us.” 

“Anything interesting?” 

“Might be… we need to talk it through…. There’s one more thing.” 

“You do lead a complicated life, don’t you… Go on, tell me but I think I can guess. Don saw you Saturday.” 

“Yup, my mum phoned and told me my father was looking for me.” 

“Hence the trip to your uncle’s place.” 

“Partly, although I do think you’ll find him interesting.” 

“Maybe I will if he’s as complicated a character as you… Okay, it seems like I’ve got to pack. I’ll pick you up at eleven-thirty.” Monkie hung up with me thinking I was lucky to have met him. 

Next a quick call to my uncle. Aunt Viv answered. There was no problem with us going but she said Ralph would be out until late afternoon. She started to ask if everything was all right but stopped and just said we would talk when I got there. She knew I’d left home, of course, and I suspected that she was not at all surprised. Hanging up I put a shilling in the elephant money box by the phone. That was the arrangement. Sixpence per call unless it was long distance. Then I wandered into the kitchen to find Marge. 

She looked up from cleaning the cooker. She didn’t say anything, just smiled. I gave her a big hug and said, “Thanks, Marge.” I didn’t need to say anymore, the look on her face was enough to tell me she was relieved.  

“What are you up to today?” she said. 

“That’s what I was going to tell you. I’m going to my uncle’s for the night if that’s okay.” 

“Of course it is, Aubrey. You don’t need to ask my permission for the things you want to do.” 

“I know, but I like to anyway… I’ll be back tomorrow evening but I won’t need dinner… Tommy’s coming with me.” 

“That’s nice, he seems like a nice boy.” 

“He sure is,” I replied. “Anyway, I’ve got to pack then I’m off so I’ll see you tomorrow.”