The Job: Part Ten

~ beetleypete

This is the tenth part of a fiction serial, in 801 words. It may contain some swear-words.

Alan talks to Gloria.

With the .22 and its silencer tucked away in an innofensive jiffy bag, Alan headed back to Gloria’s flat to deal with another of his decisions. It wasn’t going to be easy to get her to leave the country, but it would be essential if the job came off. She still worked two days a week for Ronnie, in his florist’s shop near The Angel tube. Not that she needed the money, as it had turned out Vince had good life insurance. But she didn’t want to let Ronnie down, so covered Saturdays and Sunday mornings during his busy time.

If necessary, he would have a quiet word in Ronnie’s ear.

As usual, she was pleased to see him, and asked no questions except for one. “What do you fancy for dinner tonight, love? I could make us a nice steak and kidney pie. Don’t suppose you have had one of those since you were last here?” He didn’t hang around with what he needed to say. “Yeah, a pie would be nice. But I have to talk to you, Glor. Sit down and have a drink with me”. He lit a cigarette, and started coughing again. His sister shook her head. “You should really pack those up you know. Hardly anyone smokes these days. It’s too expensive, and not good for you”.

Pouring two glasses of Black Label, he looked straight into her eyes. “There might be a job on. A very big job. If I decide to go ahead with it, you are going to have to leave before it kicks off. I have a very nice villa in Spain. It’s got a pool, cleaning lady, near the beach and town. You could fly out and enjoy some winter sunshine. Chill out a bit. It’s not like you have any reason to stay now mum has gone. And before you mention Ronnie, he could easy train up a school girl to help out with the flowers”.

Gloria pulled a face at the whisky. It wasn’t really her drink of choice. “Are you asking me, or telling me, Alan? Sounds to me like you’re telling me, and you know that’s not gonna go down well at all”. He looked across the small table at his sister. Her hair was dyed too black, and her fingers were getting too podgy for all the rings she was wearing. Her double chin seemed to quiver when she spoke, and her small even teeth could do with some attention. Nine years older than him, but looking more like his mum every day.

“There is no reason for you to say no, and I am going to have to insist this time. If I pull this off we will be made for life, and then if you want you can come back to England and live anywhere you like. But you do have to go. Do this for me, please sis”. She slid the glass over to him. “If we are having a drink to celebrate something, then you can finish this. I’ll get meself a gin and tonic”. Alan watched her leave the room, then breathed a sigh of relief.

When they had finished the pie, Gloria was pleased that he had eaten so much. “I am going to have to renew my passport though, Alan. I will go to the Post Office tomorrow to see about that”. As he handed her his plate and cutlery, the doorbell rang. It was Reg and Graham. He showed them into the front room, and didn’t offer them a drink.

Looking at Carly’s boyfriend, he wondered what she saw in him. He had to be a fair bit older than her, and he didn’t have much about him. Too meek and mild for Alan’s liking. He came straight to the point.

“If I do this job, you have to be driving the lorry. I need to know I have an inside man I can rely on. And the coppers will be all over you after. Give you a right grilling, threaten you with all sorts of shit. And there’s a good chance the company will sack you, even if you don’t get arrested. So I will give you two hundred and fifty grand, as long as you promise to be sensible with it, and splash none of it about. But like I said, you have to be in the lorry, preferably driving it. That, or the job’s off and I walk away”.

Reg nodded at the man, and Graham finally answered. “Okay, Mister Gill. Whatever you say”. Alan stood up, giving them their cue to leave. He put his hand on Graham’s shoulder by the front door.

“And if you grass, that will be the end of you. Someone will come for you. You got that?”

27 thoughts on “The Job: Part Ten”

  3. (1) Ronnie appreciated being able to stand on Gloria’s shoulders to dust the Amorphophallus titanum. The problem was that Gloria didn’t want to let Ronnie down, and that caused Ronnie to raise a stink.
    (2) Archimedes appreciated being served a square meal, but he always had a go-around with the cook when it came to pi.
    (3) Pouring two glasses of Black Label, Alan looked straight into her eyes. And then he turned into stone. He should have known to avoid having a drink with Medusa.
    (4) “I have a very nice villa in Spain.” Yes, space is important for “a very nice villain.”
    (5) Gloria pulled a face at the Whisky & Rum. Female Cenobites should not be allowed to hook up with patrons of whisky bars in Norwich.
    (6) Overheard:
    Alan: “How about a toast?”
    Gloria: “Chin-chin!”
    (7) Did you hear about the naked Greek tourist who vowed to get herself a jinn and tunic?
    (8) Overheard:
    Alan: “If I do this job, you have to be driving the lorry. I need to know I have an inside man I can rely on.”
    Graham: “Don’t worry! I always drive from the inside!”
    (9) Alan and Reg, speaking to Graham: “Weed prefer you not grass on us.”

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    1. She has nothing left to keep her there, now her mum has died. And if Alan goes back without her, she knows she will be lonely. As you say, a villa in the sun in Spain with a pool is also an attractive propect, compared to an estate flat in the northern district of London.(She also thinks it will be temporary, like a holiday)
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Yes indeed. I recall a ‘heavy’ of passing acquaintance once wrapping his arm around me and saying, “First rule, trust nobody”. He was drunk, but no less serious for that.
      Best wishes, PPete.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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