The Scroll

Chapter Ten

Flat Top drove into the car park and parked in the corner furthest from the pub's front doors. It had been a quiet, at times awkward drive. Despite his best intentions Flat Top had been unable to keep up a conversation with Bonnie, who had been either unwilling or unable to join in. As a result they had spoken only of what must be done. Flat Top had gone over the plan several times to make sure that Bonnie understood. She had resented having it repeated to her as if she was a child but had decided, after that morning's events, to keep quiet. "Twenty minutes, max. Then we leave, score or not." Flat Top looked Bonnie in the eye as he spoke.

"Yes sir!" Bonnie replied, her voice somewhere between boredom and humour. She thought of saluting Flat Top until she saw the look on his face. "Twenty minutes." He repeated. "Clock's running." Bonnie climbed out of the Transit. He's probably queer she thought, which was what she felt about any man who did not respond to her.

Flat Top watched her saunter across the car park and enter the pub. The Old Thatch Cottage was about two hundred years old and named for it's roof, although it was bigger than any cottage that Flat Top had ever seen. If you ignored the car park you could almost imagine yourself back in a bygone era. The pub was almost hidden by the oak trees that surrounded it, a sentinel at the beginnings of suburbia and the end of the forest. The Old Thatch Cottage was popular with tourists, which was why Cue Ball and Flat Top had chosen it. People were constantly coming and going so they should not arouse too much interest.

Flat Top checked his watch. Bonnie had been gone for ten minutes. He reached under the drivers seat for the First Aid kit, checked the contents then closed the lid again. The car park was empty as he climbed out of the white, non descript Transit. Quickly he removed the number plates revealing a second pair beneath, the letters of which did not match.

Flat Top froze at the sound of a car entering the car park. He waited, hidden from view by the Transit, while the new arrivals chose a place to park close to the entrance. The buzz of conversation drifted across the car park when they opened the pub door. He waited for it to close then moved away from the van into the cover of some rhodhadendrum bushes at the car park's edge. Flat Top checked his watch. Five more minutes and he would have to go in and get Bonnie, a course of action that he wanted to avoid as it risked drawing unnecessary attention to themselves. Calmly he waited, two more minutes. The pub door opened again and Bonnie came out with two young men who, Flat Top guessed, were about the same age as her. They laughed at something that Bonnie said as she led them towards the Transit. The taller of the two youths draped an arm over her shoulder, letting his fingers work their way under the top of her T-shirt. True to form Bonnie laughed but didn't object. The second youth walked behind them happily watching the exaggerated sway of Bonnie's hips, an undisguised look of anticipation on his face. Flat Top studied their approach and wondered idly just what Bonnie had promised them. He would prefer not to take them both down at the same time if possible although Flat Top was confident that he could if the need arose.

Bonnie stopped next to the Transit, smiled and slid open the side door. If either of the two youths noticed that the door had not been locked the chose not to mention it. Flat Top guessed that they probably had other things on their minds. Although she had no need to Bonnie hitched up her skirt to climb into the van. She paused with one knee on the van floor and the other leg dangling off the ground to glance over her shoulder at the youth who had been admiring her ass. "Why don't you give us a few minutes to get comfortable then come an' join us?" Bonnie asked, licking her lips slowly. "Sure, sounds good to me. Don't get too comfortable and fall asleep though!" He laughed.

The van door slammed shut leaving him standing alone. He hesitated for a minute, starring at the door as if he could see what was happening inside. Flat Top took a small syringe from the First Aid kit he had brought from the van his movements slow and measured. The youth looked up to the sky giving thanks to a God that he did not believe in then took two steps backwards. Bonnie giggled inside the van causing the youth to step back again; guilty that his friend would think he was listening. As he did so Flat Top made his move. The youth heard the leaves rustle, but before he could turn around a strong hand clamped over his mouth pulling his head back and he felt a sharp sting in the side of his neck. His arms flayed widely seeking his assailant but Flat Top was moving backwards quickly, easily keeping the struggling youth off balance. Flat Top backed into the rhododendrons, the youth a deadweight in his arms. Quickly he lowered him to the ground and looked around.