The 16mm Caper

Chapter 24

When Austin's cell phone rang he gave a disappointed grunt because Julia pulled away and got up from the bed. He watched her stroll to her dressing table and slip on just the dressing gown portion of the set, leaving enough revealed to stir him once again. The ring insisted and he leaned across to his jacket and fumbled it out of the pocket.

"Yes?"

"Unhappy news, father." Vera sang into the receiver.

"What happened, Vera?"

"We were about to enter the bank and retrieve the film when a band of robbers stole our hostages and made off."

Austin threw a worried look toward Julia. "Vera, please put Harry on the phone." He covered the mouthpiece and waited. Julia gave him an inquiring peek. He smiled.

"Harry? Talk to me."

Austin listened with fading heart as Harry explained what happened and that they had no idea where to find any of them. He said he was checking on the married friends of the guy because they had kids and sooner or later they'd be back to check on them. The kids were in a small day care not far from the couple's house.

"Do not involve children, Harry - in any way."

"Don't worry. I hate the brats. Just give Vera a bit of the same advice would you; she's acting way too calm about this and it makes me worry."

"Put her back on." Austin wiggled over as Julia crawled back onto the bed carrying her nail polish bottle. "Vera? Listen, baby, I know this is a bit of a setback, but we can work around it by being calm, smart and patient. Do you understand?" He listened to her teasing voice accept his fatherly advice and promised to be a vewy, vewy good giwl. Austin sighed and smiled wanly. "Please, Vera. For me. Just this once?" He nodded absently and hung up.

"Problems?" Julia focused on applying polish to her big toenail.

He waffled for a moment and then decided on the truth. If he had any expectations of a relationship with her, it was best not to start by lying. "Our plan hit a snag. I'm afraid it might not be tonight after all." She continued applying the polish but he saw her jaw tighten. "It seems our friend was rescued by a band of supporters just as we were about to get the film from a bank down on Queen. They made off, but my people are following a new lead and should have more news a little later."

"Today?"

"Oh definitely today."

"I know you're a clever man, Austin but you didn't make this up just to get me into bed with you now did you?"

"On my honour as a gentleman, Julia. This is as upsetting to me as Ralston is to you."

She canted her head at her paint job and screwed the cap back on the bottle, setting it on the night table. "You are telling me the truth now, Austin? Today?"

"We will hear more today, I swear."

"Very well." She opened her gown and lay back on the large pillow and fastened her eyes on the ceiling mirror. "Don't disappoint me, Austin - in anything."

"You have my undivided attention, and devotion."

Julia watched the mirror with critical appraisal.

******

"Boy oh boy this is some place! You say this one is for rent? What does he want a month?"

"We're not here on a real estate seminar, we're here because of this damn film of yours." Harv fumed.

"What. So you didn't want any part of it?"

"I didn't say that." He pursed his lips. "Where is it anyway? If we're all gonna be targets we should at least know all the facts."

"I don't agree." Peter crossed the kitchen and leaned on the counter. "It's better this way; less chance of leaking the information." Cheryl made a mewing sound and hung her head. "I wasn't accusing anyone, Cheryl. I just think it's smarter."

"What if something happens to you? How do we get the film then?"

"Hey! What's more important here? The damn film or our well-being?" Mary stood from her chair and stomped off to the living room. "I can't believe you wouldn't just take the money they offered and end all this nonsense."

"It's good business." Harv insisted. "Since we're in it anyway we might as well get the best deal."

"I'd still like to know what your friend wants for this place."

"Jesus, Peter will you forget the rent and concentrate on our problem. What are we going to do?"

"I'll call Ralston Hughes and ask him to up his offer for everything."

"Everything?"

"Of course not. I'm gonna keep a copy for myself but I won't tell him that."

"What about the rest of us? I wouldn't mind a copy." Dylan piped up, surprising everyone. "What the hell, our necks are out just as far as yours, Peter."

"So would I." Cheryl raised a hesitant hand. "I think I deserve one in spite of what I did."

"Well why don't I just have a garage sale then!" Peter lashed back.

"Look, Peter," Harv said. "It was your film that got us all into this spot in the first place. It's more than just a money thing, Christ, Catlin was faking a gun for God's sake. That's a chargeable offence. And I physically disabled those two mugs in the limo--"

Peter started to protest. "AND. . . the others here are all accessories so let's stopping playing dog in the manger and develop some kind of strategy."

The group fell silent; all sneaking timid looks at one another. "Now calling this guy sounds like a plan and even lying about the copies is okay with me. I don't see any of us rushing it onto the market if we all get a share of the buyout."

"It was Peter's film originally." Mary offered.

"I didn't say equal share. I'm sure we can agree on how to divide it. First of all, we have to get it."

It was obvious to Peter that his personal ownership was a thing of the past, and he silently admitted that Harv was right; he had brought each of them into their current predicament. He wiped his mouth and held up his hands. "Okay. You're right, this is our dilemma and we are all in it together. I think a start would be to call Ralston, offer him the works and negotiate the best price. Worst case is we go online and tell the world it's up for auction."

"That might net us a far better payday," Dylan observed.

"Let's try the interested party we know first before getting greedy on the net." Mary said.

"Well you people will have to decide. Dylan and I need to get home and pick up the kids."

"Be real careful, Catlin. They probably know where we all live."

Her look was scorching as she took in Peter's warning. "Are you saying we might be in danger? That our children are in danger?"

It took a few more minutes of angry debate and accusations before cooler heads prevailed, and the discussion returned to a sensible progression of ideas. Apologies were tendered and accepted, and the Brewers left to pick up their children. Harv suggested they follow along a little later and make certain things were okay.