The 16mm Caper

Chapter 35

Dylan held up a hand and shook his head. "No way, Peter. This is getting way too dangerous for Catlin and the kids."

"Not just me, Dylan. Don't make me the reason for your exclusive concern in this." She set her jaw and stared at her husband.

"I'm not, but we're more vulnerable because of the kids. All I'm saying, if you would permit," he shot her a glare, "is that we should execute some kind of strategy to cover our collective asses."

"What do you have in mind, Dylan?" Peter asked. "We only have a few hours."

"I don't know. But it has to be something that protects my family. They already came here once."

"First thing," Harv interrupted. "We need to get Mary over here right away."

There were a few minutes of haggling while Peter pleaded with Catlin to make the call. He felt she would have more success than him and after allowing herself to be pushed into service and a long harangue on the phone she finally hung up and nodded. "She's coming right away, and I wouldn't want to be you, Peter."

He put to one side the grief he would endure and checked his watch. "A plan? Anyone?"

Mary arrived and stomped into the house shooting daggers at Peter. "This is the last time, Peter Rabb. My boss is ready to not only fire me but revoke the holiday I won!"

"I'm sorry, but after this deal is done I'll take you on a holiday whether he does that or not." He smiled weakly under her glare.

"And you all might like to know that the limo is parked at the end of the street with those two men again."

"Holy shit, Mary! When were you gonna tell us that?" Dylan ran to the window and peered down the road.

"Okay, people," Harv called. "Here's a plan." Over interruptions and protests, Harv's idea was finally edited and approved and suddenly there was an air of excitement as the group went into action, the promise of a handsome share of half a million dollars pulling them onward.

Cheryl and Freddy left the house first, carrying a large flight bag out to Mary's car. They made a point of looking about furtively and then, with Cheryl behind the wheel, they left the house, drawing the limo, at a safe distance, after them.

"Yes! So far so good." Peter cheered. "Okay. Dylan and I next in Harv's car." He tried to give Mary a kiss goodbye, managing a skid off of her cheek and heave a mighty sigh. "Make sure you wait until it's safe to move." He grabbed Harv's good arm. There was a flurry of good lucks and goodbyes and the two men left. Peter wheeling out into the street awkwardly and bouncing to a halt as the big car stalled. Harv closed his eyes and leaned his forehead on the wall.

"Are they gone?"

"It's okay, Harv, he did fine."

They all took different windows and watched to see if the woman was anywhere about, and it was Catlin who called excitedly as a taxi rounded the corner, slowed in front of the house and then sped off down the street.

"It was her! I saw her in the back!"

"Right. Let's move, people."

There was a scramble to gather the children's clothes and toys and other bags of necessities and then a quick dash to the garage and into the car. Mary waited outside in the cover of the hedge in case the cab returned and then shut the garage door and hopped into the front beside Catlin, and they drove away in the opposite direction.

******

"Where is this place they're headin'?" Douglas asked, following the Camry's doddling pace through town.

"We'll know when we get there." Harry sat slumped in the seat, pleased that finally he could just do his job, get paid and bugger off.

"They're heading into that mall parking lot."

"So? Follow them. Maybe the guy has offices in here."

"I'm not so sure, Harry. This is a real big shot according to Austin."

"Look we met in a bar last time, so maybe they've set the deal up the same way. Don't overthink, just follow."

Douglas pulled into an empty slot several cars down, and they watched as Cheryl and Freddy, still looking nervous, hurried hand in hand with their bag to the mall entrance.

"Let's go. We'll brace them inside, grab the bag and scram-fast." Harry climbed out of the limo and took off with Douglas in his wake.

Cheryl stopped by the candy store at the corner of the entrance and the main gallery while Freddy stood watch for the men following. When he saw them he motioned to her to hand him the bag and pretend she was going into the ladies room.

Douglas nudged Harry and pointed, and the two men closed on Freddy, pausing while a troop of women with strollers pushed by, then surrounding Freddy and warning him not to make a move.

"What is this? You can't do this!"

"Shut up or I'll show you what I can do." Douglas snatched the bag from Freddy's bandaged hand and moved away. Harry leaned close and whispered in Freddy's ear then followed Douglas as the two men hurried back out of the mall. Cheryl stepped out of the doorway and ran to Freddy. "What did he say?"

"If I made any trouble at all, Vera would be on me like syrup on a waffle."

"Oh God!"

"Don't worry, we're not going to make any trouble at all. You and I are going to the show." He took her arm and they quickly made their way through the mall to the cinema, bought two tickets and settled in the darkest corner of the theatre they could find.

******

"Son-of-a-bitch!" Harry roared, staring into the flight bag. He shoved his hand inside and pulled out a handful of dirty laundry and old magazines. "Son-of-a-double-bitch!"

"It isn't the film?" Douglas asked, looking at the laundry.

"Does this look like film, you moron?" He hurled the bag into the back of the limo and climbed back out of the car, leaning on the roof and burning the horizon with a fiery glare.

"We gonna go find them?"

"Fat goddamn chance for that. We were suckered." He pounded the roof with his fist. "Get Austin on the phone and find out where this Hughes place is."

Austin could barely contain his anger. He spelled out his displeasure slowly and with emphasis to Douglas then banged the phone down so hard Douglas felt the vibration right inside his head.

"He's upset."

"You think."

The limo screeched off the mall lot and into traffic without a pause.