Trying Not To Love You

Part Forty One

Chapter Forty One

Where had it all gone wrong? Sonny’s heart was racing as he cut through the pitch black night on the motorbike he’d acquired for the night. He had Johnny riding pillion behind him and could tell that he was shaking too. This was more than Sonny had signed up for, and poor Johnny; he was even less likely to be involved in this. He’d been in prison for a fairly petty crime, Marcus’ world and the events of the evening were nowhere near his remit, not that Sonny was comfortable, but he knew the calibre of the people he was dealing with. Which was the exact reason he was desperate to escape, when he cared about nothing, no one, not even himself then the risks, the danger were part of the attraction. Now though, the thought of the Sullivan family, even Lucy was becoming endearing to him, he owed it to them to throw this lifestyle, lose it completely.

Pulling into the lane that led to the farm, he relaxed for a moment; they had to get an alibi, that was why he’d brought Johnny back with him. He cut the engine and the lights before nearing the house, and wheeled the bike around the back of the farm, hiding it in some foliage; he’d get rid of it later when there was less to feel frantic about. . Then they both jogged into town.

In the Oak, they did two things, firstly acted very drunk, it was important that people presumed their stop in the pub was the last in a long line of drinking establishments that the two had visited, then once they were there, ordered several drinks, rapidly. The alcohol helped calm their nerves, but also helped keep up the pretence that they were both on a mission to get very drunk.

After their third round of drinks, Sonny shoulder barged Johnny, picked a fight with him. They hadn’t planned that, but Johnny instantly took the bait understanding Sonny’s plan. Within seconds they were at each other’s throats grimacing and snarling. It took Eamonn rushing over to pull them apart. Sonny wasn’t stupid; they needed an alibi and what better way for people to remember you being in their company than to bring attention to yourselves. And that was what they’d done.

                “Stay at the farm,” Sonny insisted as they finally left the pub ‘friends’ again. He wanted Johnny close to him, partly to keep the alibi going, but also because he feared what would happen if Johnny went home alone. He’d been jittery earlier on, which was understandable. The alcohol had mellowed him, but he needed him close in case he started to panic. It wasn’t every night that you faced a disaster as they had.

                “What about Oldbury?” Johnny asked as they approached.

Sonny sighed, “look let’s not talk about it, not at the moment. Let’s get back, have some food and relax. We can go somewhere tomorrow, dissect it then. Ok?”

As they walked into the farmyard, Sonny was relieved to see the kitchen light on in the farmhouse, Martha. She would calm him.

It had all been going to plan; Johnny and Oldbury had been seen in various places, gaining their own attention, an alibi of their own. Then their contact via Marcus called to give the location of the security van. It was an armoured vehicle, Sonny didn’t know the circumstances that meant it was parked in a quiet lay-by thirty miles away, but it was. Oldbury had driven them there in a car that he’d picked up from a contact earlier that day. Sonny had been camped out in the safety of the dark a few metres from the road, the motorbike he’d also acquired ready to go. He’d seen the car approach; Oldbury had a bit more about him than Gripper and had had the decency to park the car discreetly away from the van.

From his view point he watched them both approach the van, subtly try the doors. Marcus had assured him that whilst it would be locked, it would be easy to break in to. But Oldbury wasn’t used to doing his own dirty work and Johnny was playing dumb. So Sonny watched with much amusement as he tried to break the window to a security van. A bullet proof security van - virtually impossible. But if it had been too easy then Oldbury may have smelled a rat, so that worked out for the best.