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

street.
Cheesey looks at them in confusion until he realises they must be going to Stella's flat. With the colour returning to his cheeks he looks at Graham; “You'd better come.” he says stating the obvious to Graham as they hurry to catch them up.
Steve looks up at Stella's window that overlooks the street as Eric steps back from it, hopefully to go and open the door for them. It would be good to have someone understand him a little, he wryly thinks to himself.
Turning he looks at Dippa behind him; “Do me a favour mate, see if you can find my phone will yer?”
“You really think I'll find it?” Dippa asks in a surprised voice.
“Never know and I could do with some luck right now.”
“Sure, I'll go look.” shrugs Dippa.

Eric opens the door for Steve as he approaches and with a curt nod Steve steps past him into the house as he climbs the stairs. Entering the lounge he can only see Carol; “Where's Stella?” he barks.
Carol stares at him her anger rising, who does he think he is? She thinks as she replies; “Stella doesn’t want anything to do with it, she's gone and wants us gone too.”
Steve looks at her, the harsh tone to her voice makes him realise he has offended her and he also realises as Cheesey and Graham walk in behind him that he needs all the help he can get; “Sorry Love, it's all going wrong.” he apologies in his best voice; “Where's Eric's phone?”
“Probably in his pocket, that sounds like him coming up the stairs.”
Steve turns to look towards the doorway, Cheesey and Graham stand awkwardly just inside the room looking most uncomfortable; “Take a seat for a few minutes will yer?” Steve snaps at them as Eric enters the room.
Cheesey flushes a deep shade of red at Steve's tone of voice and sits down quickly onto the couch. Graham looks at Steve as if needing permission, Steve ignores him; “Ah Eric can I borrow your phone please?” he politely asks holding his hand out.
Eric is surprised at Steve's tone of voice and automatically reaches into his pocket and passes Steve his phone.
“Nice one, thanks mate.” Steve says as he starts to push buttons; “You not got Barney's phone number?”
“Barney? I don't really know him I got Dippa's and only a few others.”
Steve searches through the phone in frustration not finding the numbers he needs and hands it back to Eric; “I will have to go home and get my spare phone.” Turning to leave the room he sees Cheesey and Graham sitting on the couch; “Wait here until Dippa gets back before you leave and stay close. He has your number, I'll get him to ring you, thanks for your help.” he says as he walks out the door and down the stairs.
Cheesey looks surprised and confused at Steve's words and looks to Graham for help; “How long will Dippa be?”
Graham shrugs in reply and stares at the blank screen of the television seeming to hope that someone will turn it on.
Cheesey stares at him and looks up at Eric and Carol hoping for enlightenment. With no words from either he looks at Graham and joins him staring at the television.
Carol is very uncertain of these rough looking characters sitting on the couch, she had only seen Cheesey from a distance before and she does not know who Graham is.
“What are your names?” she asks looking at Cheesey.
Cheesey looks away from the blank television screen seeming to be annoyed at the interruption, he answers gruffly; “I'm Cheesey, and this is Graham.”
Graham nods his head at her and returns to staring at the television, “Cheesey! That's a strange name why do they call you that?”
“I got the name from work, I was having my cheese sandwiches as I normally have for lunch and a fella called me Cheesey; been called that ever since.” Cheesey replies seriously.
Carol is bored by Cheesey's explanation and can think of no answer to give him; Eric interrupts her thoughts as he asks Cheesey if he wants a can of beer?
Cheesey smiles, showing his dirty tobacco stained teeth; “Yeah I'll have one, do you want one Graham?”
Graham looks away from the television seeming not to have heard as he stares blankly at him.
“Yeah, he'll have one as well.” orders Cheesey.
Eric goes out into the kitchen and opens the refrigerator door, reaching in he takes out two cans and slamming the door shut goes back into the lounge; “There you go.” he says as he hands Cheesey and Graham a can.
Cheesey and Graham take the cans with big smiles and with no thanks they open the tins and take a large swig of beer and belch contently; almost in harmony!

“We gotta get out of here.” Stef shouts as he rushes in.
“What, what is going on?” Nicola asks as Stef wakes her from a deep sleep.
“Simon's had loads of trouble; and so will we if we don't get out of here.” shouts Stef as he runs into the bedroom. Emerging a few seconds later carrying the box of money he hurries out to the car and puts the box in the trunk.
“What's happening?” shouts a frightened Nicola from the front door.
Stef shuts the trunk with a slam and runs up the path; “Get that box with the driver’s licences and the important paper work, we've got about five minutes.” Stef tells her as he enters the flat.
Nicola runs in front of him barring his way; “Not until you tell me what is going on?”
“We ain't got time for that I'll tell you on the way, better grab a few clothes.” Stef answers dodging to the side of Nicola he goes back into the bedroom and pulls a huge suitcase from under the bed. Opening the wardrobe door he starts to throw a few clothes into the case as Nicola enters carrying the box of paperwork. Throwing the box onto the bed she shoulders Stef to one side and starts to put her clothes into the case.
“Not too much, we can buy what we need, ready?” asks Stef as he starts to zip the case shut.
“When are we coming back?”
“To be honest Nic, I don't know.” Stef says as he zips the case shut and picking it up starts to carry it out of the room.
“I'll go and lock the back door.” Nicola tells him as she picks up the box of paperwork and follows him out of the room.
Stef hurries out to the car with the heavy case and box as Nicola runs to the back door and locks and bolts it firmly. Shutting the kitchen window with a bang Nicola does not notice the window crack and break as it slams into the cast iron chicken that sits on the window ledge; that had been pushed too close to the window by Stef earlier in the day when he was looking for his lighter. Drawing the curtains as she goes Nicola unplugs the television and electronic equipment as Stef comes back into the lounge; “Ready?” he shouts unnecessarily.
“Yes, I suppose so.” replies Nicola in a sad voice, somehow in the back of her mind she knew this was going to happen; but not so soon!
“Come on then.” he orders as he holds the front door open for her, Nicola looks back sadly as she walks out.
“We've got all our personal stuff and we have more than enough money to replace everything.” Stef says with little feeling.
Nicola looks at him thinking of all the other personal possessions she is leaving behind; the teapot from her mother, the clock from granddad, photographs of times gone by; Stef interrupts her thoughts by grabbing hold of her arm; “We haven't got much time.” he says gently.
Nicola turns and walks out of the flat and down the path without a backward look. She stands by the car door not looking around as Stef locks the front door and runs down the path. Unlocking the car he gets in and starts the engine as Nicola gets in beside him; “Let's get out of here.” he says as he puts the car into gear and he drives out of town.

Steve hurries down the stairs, peering across the road at Simon's flat before he steps out onto the street. Several couples walk along arm in arm on their way home after a night out on the town. One of the girls has had too much to drink; shouting and laughing she acts the fool embarrassing her friends who try to encourage her along the road.
Walking away from them Steve goes in search of Dippa hoping that he has found his mobile phone. Reaching the High Street Steve retraces his steps from the chase earlier looking under cars and along the gutter as he walks. As he reaches the garage Dippa steps out from the big kiosk, arms loaded up with a giant sausage roll, sandwiches and large bottle of beer.
“Did you find my phone?” Steve shouts across at him.
Dippa drops the sausage roll and sandwiches, startled by the sound of Steve's voice. The truth was he hadn't looked very hard as he was more interested in filling his stomach; “No, I looked everywhere.” he lies.
Steve knows by the tone of Dippa's voice that he is lying to him and a feeling of helplessness floods through him. Suddenly he feels very alone and somehow vulnerable, feelings he is not used to; “Look again and then go back to Stella's.” he orders in an angry voice. The feeling of wanting to punch Dippa again and again must show on his face as Dippa turns a shade pale as he stares at him. Steve gets his anger under control and looks at Dippa demanding an answer.
“Yeah, sure I was going to anyway.” Dippa lies again.
“Your friend Cheesey and his mate are there, Cheesey's heart is in the right place but he ain't a lot of good when he's so pissed all the time. Is there anyone else you know who might do a better job just as lookouts?”
“No, not really, Cheesey's all right and he wants to help.” Dippa answers defensively.
The helpless feeling wells up inside Steve again; “Well have a word with him and put him on standby, we'll call him if we need him” he says as he turns his back and walks back up the street.
Keeping his head down and looking everywhere for his phone Steve's head races in a whirl of thoughts; the main one being that not all of the missing money is his. He had yet to pass on this fact to his partners. In effect he is personally responsible for the holdall and to have left it this long before admitting the loss can only look bad on him. Steve hurries his pace home, he needs Curly Pete and some more muscle and his mind races through the people he can call.
Reaching his home Steve unlocks