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

Steve ignores him as he puts water in the kettle, turning it on to boil he gets a large white mug from the cupboard and still with his back to his visitors prepares his coffee.
All at the table are silent as they look towards Barry for him to make the next move, Barry watches Steve as he makes his drink; “You want to tell us what has happened to our money?”
Steve turns around towards the table and stares at the muscle they brought with them; “Who's your friend, aren't you going to introduce me?”
Barry stares back at Steve, the look in Steve's eye makes Barry realises his error in bringing Dave. When Barry heard about what went wrong and that the money had gone missing he had reacted in anger and phoned Dave to come along to get it any way he could. If that meant hurting Steve, so be it, he felt no loyalty, this is business and he wants the money he has invested or goods to the value.
“Sorry Steve, how rude of me this is Dave, thought you might need some extra help.” he lies.
Steve keeps staring at Barry not believing him and Barry shifts uncomfortably in his chair until Steve takes his eyes off him and looks at Dave with a false smile; “Yes, could do with a little help on this one but don't think you'll fit the bill.”
“What do you mean mate?” asks Dave in a threatening voice.
“Need brains rather than brawn, I got all the muscle I need.” answers Steve sternly. Taking his eyes off Dave he stares at Barry effectively ignoring everyone else at the table.
Dave's face turns a pale shade of red, the colour deepening as he starts to stand up from the table; “You calling me stupid mate?”
Steve stares back at him his anger rising, looking Dave up and down he again locks eyes with Dave; “By the looks of your muscles it looks like you work out, and use them muscles to get what you want?” Steve asks, more demanding than asking.
“I get asked to do some work now and again.” Dave angrily replies, the force of Steve's will making him answer and adopt a submissive role.
“You didn’t get asked along to do some work on me then?” Steve demands again forcing his advantage.
Everyone at the table seems at a loss what to do and they all stare at Steve and Dave; “Dunno if it's you I've been asked to come down for, but you are going the right direction if you want to?” asks Dave in an angry voice as he stands up from the table, his face starting to flush red.
“Sit down will yer.” Barry shouts as he feels the situation is getting out of control.
Surprisingly Dave sits back down and stares at Steve; “You'd better change your tone of voice mate, you don't sound very friendly.”
Steve stares back and smiles broadly; “Can't blame me for that fella, this is my house after all.” Taking his eyes off Dave he stares at Barry and Rob and Phil, they all shift uncomfortably in their chairs, Rob picks up his coffee and sips noisily.
“Calm down will yer Steve? we are all here to help you sort this mess out.” lies Barry in a soothing voice.
Steve knows he is lying and decides to wait for reinforcements before forcing the issue, taking a drink of his coffee he looks down at his 'guests'; “Anyone want more coffee?”
Swigging the last of his coffee Dave extends his empty mug towards Steve; “Yeah, I'll have another one please mate.” he asks in a polite voice.
“Sure,” replies Steve as he takes the mug from his hand; “Anyone else?”
“No, not for me, would prefer you telling me what happened?” asks Barry in a stern demanding voice.
“Thought you knew all about it?” replies Steve his anger once again rising, the thought of one of his friends informing on him makes the anger within him stronger, flushing his face with a shade of red.
“Maybe you can tell me your side?” asks Barry reflecting Steve's anger.
Steve tells them of the botched meeting with the boat and of Dippa and Cheesey getting stopped by the police as Barry interrupts; “I thought it was you who met Ingrid and checked all was good, why these two other fellas?”
Steve holds his hand to his jaw; “Had a filling come out and had to go to the dentist. Dippa's been with me every time so he knows the score. In fact if it weren't for Dippa's quick thinking the Old Bill would have it all now, he saw them coming and hid the bag in the reeds. Lucky he did as they searched him and Cheesey's gear and made them move on. It was an hour before they could get back and by then these other people had taken it.”
“What other people?” demands Barry.
Steve tells them of Simon and the killing of Razor Mick, the chase after Stef and of being met by a shut door on his return to Simon's flat. All at the table listen intently; shocked by the death of Razor Mick they respectively wait for Steve to bring them up to date.
“What happens now then?” asks Phil when Steve stops speaking.
“As I say, we've got the place staked out and he's barricaded the door, anyway he ain't going anywhere; sure you don't want any more coffee?” asks Steve with a confident smile.

Simon is awoken by the ringing of his phone; it feels like he has only been asleep for a few minutes instead of hours. Angrily he stares at the screen, it is Stef calling;
“Morning Dude, what you do wet the bed?”
“Thought you needed waking up,” laughs Stef “You got that package ready?”
“Yeah all sorted Dude best you ring CJP Couriers to pick it up as every day the van calls down the road to some bird, I think she got a catalogue going or something. Anyway you can set your time by the van as it calls on her every morning at ten past eleven, make it better for me Dude as I can be ready for him.”
“Sounds good, don't know their number do you?” asks Stef.
“No, not a clue mate you'd better get on it before the van leaves.”
“Yeah, no worries I'll call you when I've sorted it, what's the parcel weigh?”
“Well it's only a rough guess as me bathroom scales aren't the best but it said 25kg.”
“That'll do, call you back soon as.” says Stef as he disconnects the call.
Simon stares up at the ceiling, the excitement of the coming day making him wide awake. Throwing back the cover he gets off of the couch and makes his way towards the shower.

“That's brilliant.” says Stef into the phone as he writes the name down of the young lad who he is talking to; “I got your one hundred percent guarantee on that have I?” Stef listens with the smile on his face broadening; “Thanks mate, really appreciate it.” he continues in his friendliest voice and disconnects the phone.
Dialling again he listens to the ringing tone as it continues until the lady on the answer machine starts to ask him to leave a message. Disconnecting the call he dials again, and again with still no answer, now very worried he puts the phone onto the table and rolls a cigarette.
Halfway through the cigarette he dials again and slams the phone back onto the table in frustration when the call is not answered. Stef stands up and fills the kettle from the cold water tap and plugs it in to boil. Preparing two mugs with coffee and sugar he goes back to the table and picking up his phone dials again; still no answer!
The water in the kettle boils and Stef turns it off and pours the water into his mug, not wishing to wake Nicola he leaves her prepared mug and gets milk from the refrigerator. Making himself a wonderful tasting coffee he sips appreciatively and returns to the table. Putting the mug of coffee onto the table he picks up his phone and dials again. On the third ring, Simon's cheery voice answers with an 'ello'.
“Where you been Dude? I have been trying to ring you for ages.”
“Was in the shower Dude, what's occurring?”
“Shower? You must have been really dirty you've been ages, thought something had happened to you.” says Stef in an agitated voice.
“Big day ahead of me gotta be clean.” laughs Simon.
“Yeah, you are all sorted for pick up on this morning’s van.”
“Nice one Dude and when that's sorted you can come and get me.”
“Come and get you, are you mad there's an army out there waiting for you.” answers Stef in a scared voice.
“No worries Dude,” laughs Simon “I got it sorted.”
“It better be good Si”
“Yeah, I've thought about it, be real easy if you can get hold of a different car Dude.”
“What you got in mind?” asks a worried Stef.
“Give it a few hours after the money has been picked up then you can come and get me, wear a big hat or something. If we time it right you can ring me on your mobile when you are driving up the street and I can be out of this door in a second. They are watching me but they are a good four or five hundred metres along the street; by the time they realise what's happening you'll be speeding up the road.” Simon finishes triumphantly.
Stef is not so convinced; “Let's see how the parcel pick up goes first and what happens after.”
Simon laughs with confidence; “It will work Dude, no way are they gonna try and rob the van driver, hey I gotta put some clothes on I'll ring you after the pick up.”
“Take care Dude.” answers Stef as he disconnects the call.
“What's happening?” asks Nicola in a worried voice from the doorway.
“Simon's all ready for the pick up, but he wants me to go get him afterwards.”
“Are you mad Stef? You’ll get killed.”
“When's your sister home?”
“If she's on the night shift they finish at eight so about twenty minutes.” answers Nicola looking up at the clock on the wall.
“I'm gonna need to use her car.” Stef says with a thoughtful expression on his face.
“Don't think she will agree to that if you are going to use it to get Simon.”
“Can't think of anything else at the moment, do you want a coffee?”


Chapter Eight

“Hello the house.” shouts the female voice as the sound of the front door opening reaches Steve and his guests.
“Come on in, we are in the kitchen.” shouts Steve in reply as he reaches for the kettle and starts to fill it with water.
“Hi Steve.” says Natalie as she enters the kitchen with Sheila following closely. Natalie