A Good Find by Gary L Beer (chrysanthemum read aloud .TXT) 📕

than last time, but where he can still see who comes in and out, he picks up a newspaper and pretends to read.

Simon looks cautiously out of the window; all appears calm with no dodgy looking characters hanging about on the street corners and he suddenly decides to go out. He does need a drink he admits, which he can get from the shop on the corner and not have to go into the centre of town. Assuring himself that he has been over reacting by staying indoors he puts his jacket on. Going back into the bedroom he reaches under the bed and pulls the holdall out. Unzipping it he reaches in and takes two twenty pound notes from one of the bundles and puts them in his pocket. Zipping the holdall shut he pushes it back under the bed and closing the bedroom door firmly he goes out the front door and heads for the corner shop.
Keeping his head down he doesn't see the curtains move from an upstairs window on the other side of the road. Walking quickly he soon arrives at the shop, thinking it would be a good idea to get some food as well he picks up a wire basket and walks over to the freezers. Subconsciously he looks at the expensive prices and then laughs and shakes his head. Choosing two of the most expensive microwave meals; Bombay Duck with all the trimmings and a Roast Turkey Dinner he approaches the counter to pay.
The young girl assistant greets him nervously but manages a smile as she starts to add up Simon's shopping on her cash register putting them in a carrier bag. Interrupting her he asks for two bottles of Jack Daniels; she totals these and asks for Simon's money, not giving him the bottles of whiskey which are behind her.
Simon hands over his twenty pound notes and she looks at him expectantly; realizing that he has not given her enough money he reaches into his pocket and hands her a five pound note. Taking the money the girl gives him his change and reaches behind her for the bottles of Jack Daniels; handing them to him Simon puts them in his bag and leaves the shop.
As Simon walks along the road he looks at the people around him. There are not many about this late in the afternoon and he sees no one he recognises. A young couple stand and argue near his front door and keeping his head down he ignores them as he reaches it and puts his key in the lock. Unlocking the door he walks in and shuts it firmly drowning out the arguing couple.
Delighted with his success he hurries up the stairs and goes into the kitchen, putting the food in the freezer he gets a large mug from out of the cupboard and fills it to the brim with Jack Daniels. Picking up the mug he drinks half in one go and refills the mug to the top, taking it into the lounge Simon sits down on the couch and turns the television on.

As Simon enters his flat Eric and Carol continue the argument for a few more moments until Eric holds up his hand for Carol to stop. Reaching into his pocket he takes out his mobile phone and pushing buttons holds it to his ear; “Yeah man we found him, you coming down?” he asks. Listening to the voice on the phone he nods his head a few times and with an 'Ok' pushes a button and puts the phone back in his pocket.
“What's he say?” asks Carol.
“We gotta go back to the flat and wait for him there.”
“For how long? I'm getting fed up with this, all day we've been hanging around in that smelly flat.”
“Whose friends are they, yours aren't they? They are not mine.”
“They are not mine either, but Stella is a good customer with us.”
“Yeah your right there, Dippa said he won't be long he wants to see Steve first but he said we gotta wait 'till it's dark anyway so we still gotta few hours; and he said to make sure you stay straight!”
“Me, what about you?” Carol shouts back.
Eric smiles; “Me too.”
“Come on then let’s get off the street.” says Carol grabbing hold of Eric's arm she pulls him along the road to Stella's flat.


Dippa's face changes as he hears Eric's words on the phone, the smile that forms on his face is rare as Dippa hardly smiles or laughs unless someone is getting hurt. Dialling his phone he talks briefly, merely giving orders to whoever he is speaking to. He disconnects the call and dials again; giving the same orders he adds 'bring the tools' and hangs up. Starting the engine he drives away and heads for the towns seafront. Parking the car in a large car park he grudgingly puts money into the meter and takes his parking ticket. Laying the ticket on the dashboard he shuts and locks the door. Pulling his baseball cap down he walks through the back streets looking downwards so that the peak of the cap covers his face until he stands outside Stella's flat.
Dialling his mobile phone he barks into it that he is outside and hangs up. Impatiently he waits and when Eric finally opens the door Dippa walks in quickly pushing Eric aside, hard!
Eric hits the wall with a thump and his head moves sharply backwards hitting the wall with a crack; Dippa stands in front of him with fists clenched; “Where you been? I've been standing out there for ages, I pay you to do a job and that is to keep an eye on the street.”
“Sorry Dippa, I was in the toilet and Carol's in the kitchen making the tea.”
“Get up there now.” Dippa orders in a very unfriendly voice.
Eric, rubbing the back of his head says nothing and climbs the stairs quickly, one day he thinks; he is going to hurt him back just as hard!
Dippa follows slowly behind and reaching the top of the stairs looks into the kitchen to see Carol standing in front of a boiling kettle. Entering the front room that overlooks the street he sees Eric sitting at the window and, he assumes, it is Stella laying on the couch snoring softly.
“How long you been away from the window?” Dippa demands.
“Only a few minutes, anyway he ain't going anywhere. He bought two bottles of Jack Daniels a little while ago and he's probably getting pissed.”
“You'd better be right, Curly Pete and Razor Mick are on the way and they won't be happy with you if that fella's not there when they go pay him a visit.”
Eric turns pale; Razor Mick got his nickname because he carries a cut-throat razor sewn into a pocket that is in the lapel of his jacket. Razor Mick, though tall and skinny, looks what he is, a nasty piece of work. He had been stopped and searched by the police many times; and not one of them had ever found the vicious blade.
The favourite use of the cut-throat by Mick is to cut the cheeks of the unfortunate victim. He could pull out his blade in a split second and with two swift swipes the jaw would hang open. With an enormous amount of blood pouring out, the victim has no choice but to hold their jaw closed as best as possible.
Curly Pete's speciality is brute force; he is a stocky individual about 1.8 metres tall and weighing a hundred and thirty kilos, that is comprised mainly of muscle and bone. Working out in the gym everyday he is a force to be reckoned with, never using any kind of weapon and by the use of muscle alone he is able to snap an arm or a leg in an instant. Eric knows that Steve only uses these two when the odds are stacked against him and he does not look forward to what trouble is going to come!
“If I knew you were gonna bring them two into this I wouldn't have volunteered; Mick don't like me.” says Eric in a scared voice.
“Yeah, and I heard why as well, you should have kept it in your trousers.”
“I didn't know she was his misses; she came onto me!” answers Eric in a shaky voice.
“Don't antagonise him, this job is more important than your petty squabbles.”
“Petty?” exclaims Eric; “It's likely he'll cut me; he said he would next time he sees me.”
“We'll find out soon, they should be here in about half hour.” says Dippa with a big smile.
Eric stares at Dippa wishing he was somewhere else; “You don't need me now, anyway the fella's at home and I'll show you which one it is and you can do whatever.”
Dippa laughs; “We need you on this one.” he says, the tone of his voice indicating that there is to be no argument from Eric.
Carol comes in from the kitchen carrying two steaming plates of spaghetti bolognèse, seeing Dippa she smiles; “Hi Dippa, do you want some supper?”
“Hi Carol, yeah thanks that smells great.”
“He can have mine, I ain't hungry.” offers Eric generously.
“Why not? You hassled me to cook this.” says Carol indignantly.
“He's had some bad news and lost his appetite.” laughs Dippa reaching out for Eric's plate.
“What's that?” demands Carol looking Eric in the eyes.
“Razor Mick's on his way.” he answers staring at the floor.
“Oh, but he's not coming to see you is he?”
“Well he will do when he walks in the door.” answers Eric in a scared voice.
Dippa laughs around a mouthful of spaghetti, enjoying Eric's discomfort.
“I'm glad you think it's funny.” says Carol angrily to Dippa.
“Don't worry about it, he won't do nowt, well not until the jobs finished.” he laughs.
“You bastard Dippa, I've a good mind to take that supper back.”
“No, don't do that this tastes great.” laughs Dippa putting a huge forkful of spaghetti in his mouth.
Carol looks at him in frustration, her man might get seriously hurt when that nut-case gets here; and Dippa thinks its funny!
Dippa eats quickly as he'd had nothing since breakfast. He wasn't worried about what would happen to Eric when Razor Mick and Curly Pete got here. Mick had been suspicious of his wife for a long time and had finally caught her with another fella in bed together months ago. Razor Mick had tortured them both, so the story went, before cutting their throats and dumping them out to sea. Dippa knows Razor Mick's attitude to Eric is not going to be what Eric expects. He laughs at Eric's discomfort as he cleans his plate and asks Carol where the coffee is?
Carol looks at his laughing face; “Make it yourself.” she snaps.

Dippa stands up and carrying his empty plate into the kitchen he refills the kettle with water and turns it on. Standing in the doorway to the lounge and with a put on polite voice asks if anyone would like more coffee?
Carol