The 16mm Caper

Chapter 16

Harry shrugged and shook his head, popping the cap off a beer from the mini bar and making himself comfortable on one of the double beds opposite the TV. Cheryl sat on the edge of the second bed, coat still on, his credit card clutched in her fingers. He shook his head again as the screen lit up and the film began.

She wasn't as bright as she thought if she was counting on that card for protection; he could cancel that with one quick phone call. He turned his attention to the screen and watched silently as the movie played out.

An hour later Harry stopped the player and grunted up off the bed. "That was the worst piece of crap I've seen in some time."

"It wasn't very good was it?" Cheryl smiled weakly.

"Fortunately, I'm not the one that wants it." He stood his empty bottles on the desk and slipped his coat back on. "Okay, missy, here's the deal. Five grand, cash, here and now and a signed guarantee that there are no other copies."

Cheryl sagged inside. She new the film to be worth a lot more than five thousand; Harv had speculated in the twenties at least. And as for copies, well she also knew that this wasn't the only one.

"Well?"

"That's not enough." She said.

"Even you said it was crap." Harry offered.

"It's not the material, it's the age and rarity of the piece. I think- I think it's worth thirty-thousand." She winced at his expression, expecting outrage but instead he laughed.

"You know what I think, Sweetheart, I think you got more balls than most guys I know." He laughed again and slipped the disc from the player. "See this? See where it's going?" He slipped it into his pocket.

Cheryl stood up and pointed his credit card at him. "See this," she aped his sarcasm. "This is the thirty- thousand."

"Good luck with that, sweetie." He pushed past and opened the door.

"Hi, Harry."

"Jesus!" Harry stumbled back, his face red with angry surprise. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Just monitoring the events." Vera strolled casually into the room giving Cheryl an appraising glance.

"Does Aust--?"

Her hand shot out and gripped his arm with such force he could only expel a noisy lungful of breath. "No names, Harry." The command and the blatant use of his own name weren't lost on him as he felt his body go limp. She released his arm and steered him toward the door. "On your way, I'll finish with Miss Barber."

Hearing her name caused Cheryl's jaw to drop and she looked pleadingly to Harry who simply staggered from the room, hauling the door shut behind him.

"Wh- who are you?"

"A friend, Cheryl. A friend." Vera strolled about the room, looking out at the view and taking in the décor. Harry choose this, or you?"

"What do you want? I have to go." She started for the door but in one quick move, Vera beat her to it and leaned back, one leg bent, heel flat on the wooden panel and her head tilted to one side.

"I think you have something that belongs to Harry."

"It's my- it's the money we agreed on."

Vera laughed nastily. "Agreed on? I don't think so, Cheryl. Whether you give it to me now or not, Harry will have cancelled it within the hour. You didn't think that would really work did you?"

Cheryl stared at the card and then at the woman, and then sank down onto the bed, crying.

******

Douglas stood smirking by the window as Harry related his tale of woe to Austin. The meeting had been successful insofar as retrieving the disc but his tirade against Vera was an Oscar performance. When he finished, Austin remained staring at the carpet for some time before speaking. His face seemed to sag and his features appeared to age perceptibly.