The 16mm Caper

Chapter 11

The buzzer sounded and Mary quickly dried her hands and went to the answer phone hearing the voice of her friend Catlin announcing her presence. "C'mon up, I'm doing dishes so just walk in. I'll unlock the door." She released the lobby door and went back to the kitchen. Several minutes later the apartment door opened and she called out to Catlin. "In the kitchen, you can grab a towel and help out."

Catlin Brewer was Mary's art college roommate and closest friend. Like Mary, she was also in the advertising business but in the production end. Her husband, Dylan was hands on in his own limousine business, meaning he also drove. The Brewers had two small children and lived in a tiny bungalow in a very chic part of town made up of renovated homes that had been built in the forties. Tonight, Dylan was babysitting while Catlin was out shopping; the visit to Mary was a spur of the moment decision.

"I went out tonight so I wouldn't have to do the domestic bit," she said, entering the kitchen and grabbing a towel.

"Geez, Cat, I have to get going. I'm meeting Peter for dinner."

"Swell. Serves me right for not calling." She dried a saucepan and set it on the table and picked it up again. "There's something stuck on this. These aren't dinner dishes are they?"

"No. They're from- from..."

"God, Mary, do I need a HAZMAT suit in here?"

Mary gave her a red-faced glare. "Not funny."

"No, it isn't. I'm glad I didn't bring my kids." She dried another bowl and then tossed the towel on the counter. "Where are you eating?"

Mary drained the sink and rinsed it out. "The Platter. It's a bit of a celebration for Peter."

"If Dylan can get our sitter, would you mind company? I've lost my appetite for kitchen cooking." She saw the look on her friend's face and she grabbed her arm. "C'mon, Mare, I'm teasing. Lighten up."

"If you can make it, great. I have to go now though, Peter's already out of work."

"I'll just make a quick call."

******

Harry had to admire how quickly Douglas breached the lock on the apartment door; the kid was good for something after all.

"No lights. Use your flash and don't touch anything you don't have to." Douglas pulled a face and headed down the hall to the bedroom. "Where are you going?"

"Guys hide stuff in their bedrooms, it's a hold over from hiding things from their parents."

Harry pursed his lips and nodded in the dark. "Okay." What else could he say? It was a logical theory. "I'll do the kitchen first."

When the twenty minutes were up, Harry gave a low whistle and Douglas came back down the hall. "Nuthin'. Bedroom, bathroom, closets, all clean as a bell."

"Whistle."

"Huh?"

"Clean as a whistle."

"Who gives a shit. Did you find anything?"

"Nope, and time's up. We're outta here."

"How do you think Vera got the broad out?"

"I don't want to think about it if she did. I just hope she didn't do something stupid."

"What's she got on the old man anyway? He never seems to get on her case like he does with us."

"I don't know, but I think he might just be afraid of her too."

"Too? What too? Who else is scared?"

"Me, and if you're smart, you will be too. The dame's nuts - completely nuts."

"No broad scares me." Douglas sneered, opening the door of the limo and dropping in behind the wheel.

"I noticed, and I'll remember you said that. Let's get outta here." Harry pointed down the road and turned his attention to the street, dreading the fact that he had to call Vera.

******

The wind rallied for another try as the evening temperature dropped to collar up weather. Douglas turned on the heater in the limo and set the temperature controls.

"That's the great thing about these," he enthused. "Fingertip control of heat and air, even the passengers can regulate their own settings."

"You trynna sell me this thing?" Harry wasn't in the mood for an oral sales brochure. He yanked out his phone and punched in Vera's number.

"Harry, how did it go?"

"Nothing. It isn't in the apartment."

"You're sure."

"I get paid to be sure, Vera. Trust me, it ain't there."

"He has an office at the theatre, we should look there too."

"I don't like this theatre bit, it's too public. I'm gonna take a pass and check with the old man."

"Are you making the decisions now, Harry?"

"I just want to be sure before I- we go off--"

"Make your call, Harry. We'll talk later. Tell Douglas to pick me up at the theatre." The phone went dead.

"Fine. I'll call." He yelled at the phone. Harry punched in a number and waited. Austin listened calmly and told him not to worry, he'd talk with Vera. He snapped his phone shut and stared at Douglas. "Okay?"

"Now what?"

"Drop me off at the hotel and then go get her at the theatre."

"I thought you were calling Austin about that. Is she gonna get on my case because you don't want to listen to her?"

"This the big brave, Douglas I bin listening to?"

"Screw you, Harry." He gunned the engine and sped across town to their hotel, barely waiting for Harry to exit before he roared away from the curb.

"Good luck to you, kid." Harry hunched against the wind and hurried up to the entrance.

Vera climbed into the back of the limo without a word. Douglas caught her eyes in the mirror and tried a smile. "Harry said we were taking a pass on the theatre so he was going back to the hotel."

Nothing.

"He said I should pick you up."

Nothing.

"So now what?"

"Did he call Austin?"

"Not while he was with me," He lied. "Besides, who gives a shit? This whole deal is nuthin' but a- aarrrrgh!"

His entire side went numb and the car veered dangerously across the opposite lane, mounted the curb and came to rest against a thick, hedge that bordered a small park. Vera climbed out of the car and went around to the driver's side. Douglas slumped in the seat staring at the ceiling, his mouth open and his breath coming in short gasps.

"Out." He tilted his head and grimaced. "I said out, Dougie boy." She grabbed his arm and dragged him onto the ground, stepping over him and taking up a position behind the wheel. "Get in now or you're on your own." The engine revved and Vera slipped the gear into reverse.

Douglas grabbed the rear handle and hauled himself up, running alongside as he tried to get in the quickly accelerating car. It bounced down over the curb and rocked to halt. He lunged across the seat just as she floored the pedal and tore down the road to a chorus of angry honks, the rear door slamming shut and just missing his ankles.

"Christ, you coulda killed us you maniac!" He struggled to sit up, rubbing life back into his limp arm. "The hell's the matter with you anyway?"

"Not another word, Dougie. I mean it." She swung the wheel sharply and roared up the street to the front of the hotel, jerking to a stop and staring at him in the mirror. "Out."

"I'm the one responsible for the car." The hand came around in a blur and her fingers rested against his neck. Douglas thought his teeth would explode from the pain.

"I said, out." He opened the door and fell out onto the sidewalk, rolling clear as she gunned away. His mouth felt rubbery and he wasn't sure where his tongue was until he felt it with his fingers. Harry will just love this, he groaned, heading inside.