The 16mm Caper

Chapter 31

Dylan recounted the entire episode to a rapt audience while Peter sat morosely in the corner avoiding Mary's scornful stare. Harvey Ballantine had known Efrom Bleeker from his days in the service. Both men had been in Special Forces training at the same time and had crossed paths once or twice before during their enlisted period. Harv refused to detail the occurrences except to note that Bleeker was a mean, sadistic bully with apparently no memory for faces.

Catlin slapped him on the shoulder and lauded his surprising talents while smugly, Freddy and Cheryl sat together on the sofa. When Dylan was through Cheryl looked at Freddy and announced her own news. The group was blown away, particularly when she said that she wanted to share it with them.

"But it's yours, Cheryl." Caitlin said.

"It wouldn't be if none of this hadn't happened in the first place. And Peter and Harv have been pretty fair and understanding considering what we did." She turned to a pale looking Freddy.

"Well I think that's down right generous, Cheryl." Peter took the opportunity to get out from under Mary's bombardment of dirty looks. "Now next up is arranging the screening. Any comments?"

"I think it's time for the police." This brought groans and sighs from the rest as Mary made her stubborn contribution. "Now we have more gangster types showing up and making threats and praising Harv for being tougher is not my idea of an intelligent approach to all this."

Catlin stood and walked over to her friend, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Mary, you are my best friend, but I have to say, this corseted view you have of every move we make is getting tiresome. For Pete's sake, loosen up!"

"For everybody's sake," Peter added.

"That was a figure of speech, Peter." Catlin rolled her eyes.

"Oh."

Mary stared angrily around the room. "Is that what you all think? That I'm corseted?"

"Not me," Harv smiled. "I think you look very natural." The response brought a laugh, but Mary stood, fists at her sides, and before she could speak, tears burst from her eyes and a whine from her lips.

"Jesus, Mary! What's wrong?" Peter grabbed her and hugged her close. "What is it? Harv didn't mean anything by that."

The next few minutes were spent listening to Mary vent her feelings and her reasons for behaving the way she was and in the end the entire episode finished with more advice and more reassurances being given than was necessary. It was a confidence issue for Mary and when it was all over she had been soothed, coddled and babied back into the group's common mindset.

"Okay. We set up the screening at my lab and we make sure our collective asses are covered." Harv clapped his hands together.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?" Dylan grinned.

"Brings back memories." He held up his hands. "Listen up. Peter and I will meet with the buyers for the screening. Dylan, Catlin, Mary and Cheryl will be situated around the area out of sight as our back-up."

"What about me?" Freddy raised a bandaged hand.

"If Cheryl says we can trust you, you can be our lookout."

Everyone looked at Cheryl who made a querying face at Freddy. "Well?"

"Shit, you know you can trust me. I know I what I did but then so did you." He accused back. 

"I'm the one that probably started this whole mess." Peter emphasized.

"We'll wait for their call." Harv said.

******

Efrom sat humbled in front of Ralston listening to his career emphatically come to a fiery end. His report on the mystery assailant and the subsequent failure to retrieve the film sent Ralston into a paroxysm of verbal abuse that went on endlessly. When he also learned that the negotiating party was Austin and Efrom's conclusion about Austin and Julia, he shattered the screen of his monster plasma TV and broke the shaft of his five iron.

Efrom was banished forever and Ralston immediately got on the phone to his lawyer, his banker and his accountant.

******

"Don't argue with me, Harry. Vera is back on the job and this time it will be her way if necessary." Austin considered his small group and decided this what he should have done in the first place.

"I don't like it. It exposes everybody to the cops if she- Vera goes on one of her-" He stopped immediately as Vera entered the room with Julia.

"Tales out of school, boys?" Vera said, joining Julia on the sofa, instantly vacated by Douglas.

"Just getting things straight, dear, nothing to be concerned about." Austin raised his eyebrows at Harry.

"Yeah. Nothing." Harry sighed.

"Good. Get hold of Mister Rabb and set a time and place. When we have that we'll make our contingency plans."

Vera leaned forward and touched her father's knee. "Remember our conversation, father." He gave her a pleading look but realized he might as well have been invisible; Vera would not be deterred.

"At least stick to your word on this. I won't make any more fuss if you do."

She smiled her feral smile. "Not that it would matter." She sat back again and put a hand on Julia's. "He's so serious sometimes, are you sure you like that quality?"

"It has a mature ring to it that appeals to me, yes." Julia removed her hand and watched the young woman's jaw ripple.

"You should both be very happy together then." Vera rose like a wisp of smoke and moved to the window.

"I'm glad to see your leg is better, dear." Austin tried. "Do you need another dressing?"

"No thank you. It's fine. You did a very good job - a mature approach."

"Vera don't make things so difficult. We are arranging the screening. We'll confirm the authenticity and if we can't get it for what we want, you will be right there to extract any payment you feel you are owed. I am approving the use of extreme measures."

She turned and rested her hands on the window ledge. "Honestly, father?"

"Honestly, Vera."

"And what about after?"

"If you are referring to the clinic, I would still like you to consider that as a further step to improving your condition, but I won't insist. When this is over, dear, you may not see me for some time. I will of course be in touch but face to face may be a rarity."

"I can live with that. As for the clinic, that will depend upon the outcome of this mission." She pushed off the window and ambled toward the dining room. "I will honour my word." Austin released his pent-up breath and sagged back in the chair as she left the room.

"Is that what I think it is... extreme measures?"

He nodded and Julia leaned back, inhaling deeply. They stared at one another and finally she flipped a hand. "In for a penny, I guess."

"In for a penny." He reached over and took her hand.