The Secret Life of Haans Gerhardt

Untitled Part 7

Chapter 8

The morning of the robbery dawned beautiful, as any Autumn morning might have. The birds, continuing their flight south, twittered playfully in the trees. Geese could be heard honking to each other as they passed overhead. The breeze blew gently, sending dried leaves cascading to the ground in swirls of color. Sabrina Dunn quietly kissed her grandmother in the cheek before slipping out of the little apartment they shared. 

"I'll be home for lunch, Granny." she said as she closed and locked the door behind her.

After she locked the door, Sabrina walked around the corner toward the Hillside Coffee Shoppe, where she worked. As she turned the corner and walked down the street, she froze at the sound of a familiar voice from behind her. 

"Hey there, little sis." said the voice. 

Sabrina's blood ran cold at the sound. 

"Neil." she said, a hint of resentment evident in her tone. "I thought I told you I never wanted to see you again." she said to him.

Neil feigned a hurt tone as he retorted, "Why, Sabrina. What a way to talk to your only brother." 

At that, she turned to face him. 

"What do you want, Neil?" she asked, annoyed by his persistence. 

"Oh, nothing much, dear sister," he replied, grinning impishly. "Just to talk." he added. 

"Is this about The Boss?" asked Sabrina. 

Neil nodded in response as he watched an expression of anger flash across Sabrina's face. 

Struggling to remain calm, she looked at Neil and said, "You bastard. How dare you come here, thinking you could drag me back into your troubles like this!" 

Sabrina turned away, as if she was going to walk away, but whirled back around, eyes blazing with anger toward her brother. 

"I'm trying to lay low and take care of Grandma." she said.

 Neil shrugged and turned to walk away.

"Okay, sis." he said over his shoulder as he took the first step. "Have it your way. But don't expect to ever see Joe alive again." 

And with that, he strode back down the street, whistling "Dixie".

Later that day, Sabrina called Neil. 

"I'll do it." she said, after allowing him to explain what he wanted. "I don't like it, but I'll do it. After this one, though, Joe and I get our cut, and we're done, Neil. Joe and I have both already told you that we want out." she told him. 

"Oh sure, sis." replied Neil, as he hung up the phone. 

But Joe and Sabrina were already in too deep to get out. The coffee shoppe would be only the beginning for the couple. The Boss still required payment.