Marius Phoned on Thursday afternoon, Dave signed out of his Uber app and drove over to Birmingham. Under his seat was the cash to reimburse the cost of the guns. They met at an old industrial complex, Dave had been there several times before, at the gate he announced he was here to see Marius, he was told where to find him and drove through once the gate was opened by the security guard. This time Marius had three thugs with him, one stayed in the Range Rover with the engine running, another stood beside him. The third was pointing a gun towards Dave as he got out from his car. “Don’t you trust me?” “I don’t trust anyone, that’s why I am still here. You can stop pointing the gun now.” The tailgate on the Range Rover was opened up, lying on the floor were two cardboard boxes, one small, one long and flat. “Show me what I have bought then.” The small box was opened, Dave took out the Glock 17, he checked that it was unloaded before examining it. The serial number had been roughly filed off with a Dremel or similar electric hand tool. “This is shit, it’s an old gun, well used, the barrel looks worn, as does the handle. The mechanism is OK. I wouldn’t want to have to depend on this to save me.” He opened up the long box that contained the SA80 standard issue rifle. He looked at the ammunition first, more old stock, “these are over five years old.” The rifle was in the same condition as the Glock, worn out but just usable, the serial number had also been roughly removed. “Marius, if you tried to sell me these, it would be the last deal we ever did. The prices are low because they are shit, however, they will still kill.” Dave handed over the money and shifted the boxes into his car. “Don’t you want to try them out?” “No chance, they should be scrapped.”
“What was the process in buying them?” “My man rang the number, there was a message saying to leave his email address and he would be contacted. Within an hour, he had a message asking what he wanted to order and which area the goods were to be delivered to, he asked for the items you wanted, and stated the price from the flyer. The next email was on Wednesday night saying the order would be ready for collection on Thursday morning at 10:30. The meeting place was in a supermarket car park. He had to give the registration, make, model and colour of his car. He was there with a friend at 10:15 and parked as far away from the shop as he could. At 10:30, a car pulled up beside him, another car already in the car park moved to be closer, there were four inside. The two in the first car got out and opened the boot. They motioned for my two to come round and see the goods. The boxes were opened, and examined. Only then did one of the two speak, ‘we will put the boxes on the ground, you will give us the money, we will count it, if it is correct, we will drive off, if you are trying to cheat us. You will be killed.’ He nodded towards the second car. That’s it.” “Very efficient, did they have an accent?” “Liverpool.” “Can you do something about this?” “I might be able to, but it won’t be for you I’m doing it.” They shook hands and both left, Dave’s feet were beginning to feel the cold, he wanted to be in the car with the heater on.” Driving home up the M42, a plan was forming, snow was falling, it was wet and melting as soon as it hit the ground, the traffic had slowed to a crawl, eventually stopping. It was fifteen minutes before the car in front moved, he took the time to call Trevor, “any luck with your forensics man?” “He needs chemicals from the labs, it’s not something he has on his van. Hopefully he can do it on Saturday morning.”
There was nothing to be done on Thursday, with the Uber signs on the car, he logged on and waited for work to come in. It was a slow day, there were too many people chasing too few jobs. He sat inside one of the ‘greasy spoon’ cafes chatting to other drivers. They moaned about the weather, the lack of business and football. Dave chipped in to the conversation every now and then, drivers came and went, but Dave continued sitting where he was, he wasn’t sure whether it was the warmth, or his mind searching for the next move, or the constant supply of coffee and hot bacon rolls. At 15:00 he left, Sally would be home soon, with a bit of luck they would arrive together. She asked how his day had gone, “I’ve spent most of the day in a café, I couldn’t be bothered, my head isn’t working today. Upstairs changing, Dave sat on the side of the bed, he was only wearing his boxers, Sally was in the en-suite bathroom, she came out naked, “maybe some time spent in bed might help, pushing him back on the bed, she pulled off his boxers. It was 19:00 when they woke, Sally climbed back on top, “shall we stay here until morning?” “No, I’m beginning to feel hungry.” It was agreed to order an Indian for delivery. Downstairs, Sally was wearing a dressing gown, Dave had pulled on tracksuit bottoms and a sweatshirt. An hour later, the food had been delivered and eaten, sitting with coffees they talked about what to do tomorrow, Sally said there was shopping to be done for Saturday night, but nothing else. “Shall we lie in, have a pub lunch and then go to Tesco’s for the food.” With a plan agreed, it was back to bed.
The next morning there was a frost on the ground. Once up and dressed they didn’t do much until it was lunchtime. With coats on, they drove to the pub, there was a log fire blazing away in the bar, it was warm and cosy. They found a table in the restaurant near a radiator. It was Sally who ordered the food and drinks at the bar, she returned with a glass of white wine for herself and water for Dave, over lunch, they discussed the menu for tomorrow night. During the meal, it was decided, as it was cold, to start with soup, pork loin with an orange and apricot sauce, new potatoes and green beans, apple crumble with either custard or ice cream for dessert. “Dave suggested making the soup and crumble tonight, “that way there will be less to do tomorrow afternoon.” It was Friday afternoon and Tesco’s was busy, he hated it, hopefully Sally would know where everything was and they would be out quickly. “Find the wine and anything else we need drinks wise while I do the food.” It took an hour before they were in the car and on the way home. The kitchen table was full of food and drink. With it all stored in cupboards they set about soup and crumble. Three pork fillets were in the fridge. By 20:00 everything was done, Dave picked up his phone, he had missed a text message from Trevor. ‘Tomorrow morning 09:15, layby down from park and ride £150.00.’ He replied saying he would be there. “I have to go out tomorrow morning, I will be back by lunchtime, probably earlier.” “Make sure you are, I am at the hairdressers from 15:00.” Later as they were sitting watching TV, Sally asked what he was doing tomorrow, “Hopefully, I will find out the serial numbers of the weapons, there is a process using acid which will show them even if they have been ground off. I am seeing a forensics expert.”
Dave was there at 09:00, he waited for Trevor, he arrived exactly at the time agreed. Without getting out of his car, he mouthed at Dave to follow, ten minutes later, they were parked outside a large modern detached house. He waited as Trevor knocked on the door, it was answered by a slim bearded man, Dave thought probably in his late forties, dark hair with grey starting to show. The man smiled at Trevor and motioned for Dave to reverse up to the garage. The front door was closed and moments later the garage door rolled up, “bring them in here quickly so I can close the door again.” Trevor brought the small box in, with Dave carrying the box with the rifle. They were placed on the floor next to a workbench with a stainless steel top. “Let me see the first one,” the Glock was placed on the workbench, he examined where the serial number had been, “is the other one the same?” “Yes,” “good, this won’t take long, do you have the money?” He checked the contents of the envelope, putting it in his back pocket when he had finished. “Bring the other one out, I will do them both together.” Putting on a mask, he took a small bottle down from a shelf, with a built in dropper he carefully put drops over the area where the serial numbers should have been. “Now we wait, it shouldn’t take too long, whoever did this was either not very good, or in a hurry.” Dave took out a notepad from his fleece pocket ready to write down the numbers. “Can you see, the numbers are becoming clearer.” They both looked as the acid ate away the metal around where the serial number had originally been stamped on the weapon. Due to the metal being compacted when stamped it was eaten away slower than the softer metal around it. Dave wrote down the numbers as they were read out, “Will they remain visible?” “For a time, after I have squirted neutraliser on the acid, it may still be legible.” The whole process had taken less than forty minutes. The boxes were placed back in the car. “Where’s my money?” Trevor wanted to know as he closed the boot. “Let me get everything sorted, stop at the end of the street, then I will pay you.” Dave stopped behind Trevor and waited for him to get out from his car. He stood by the window, it rolled down and he was handed the envelope. “Trevor, stop being such a money grabbing bastard, see you again, goodbye.” He mumbled “fuck off,” in Dave’s direction as he walked back to his car.
That afternoon while Sally was out, he took the pork, and marinated it in olive oil, salt and pepper. The potatoes were scraped ready and left in a pan of water, two bottles of white wine were put in the fridge, everything was coming together. He laid the table in the dining room, Sally had vacuumed through the house while he had been out. With everything done, he sat with a lager watching the football results as they came through. He desperately wanted to check on the serial numbers but it would have to wait until tomorrow. Sally was impressed when she saw how much he had done, “I’m going to have a bath shortly, you need to be showered and dressed by 19:00 in case anyone arrives early. Make sure everything is ready in the kitchen.”
The first to arrive were Olivia and Michael, she was Sally’s best friend, Michael and Dave had become friends, he was aware of some of Dave’s background and had said to him, that if he ever needed someone to talk to or let off steam then he would do his best to help. “I’m doing the cooking tonight, so it will be the men in the kitchen and the girls sitting in the lounge.” Michael asked if he had met Sam’s new boyfriend. Dave shook his head, Sam was in the process of divorcing her husband, and had only recently started going out again. “His name is Aaron, I understand he is an electrician.” By the time the door went for the second time, Sally was downstairs, as usual she looked stunning. Sam came in with Aaron a couple of paces behind, Dave said hello to Sam and thanked her for coming. He shook her boyfriend’s hand then introduced Michael, Olivia and finally Sally. I’m doing the cooking tonight, once you have a drink, we will head into the kitchen and leave them to talk.” The three of them were on lager. In the kitchen Michael asked Aaron what he did, “Dave drives an Uber, I have my own business in Leicester.” Aaron confessed he had never been to a dinner party and wasn’t sure what would be happening. As Dave cooked, Michael explained that it was a group of mates who get together, have some drinks, eat good food and chat. If you’re not sure about anything, ask, or watch what everyone else is doing and do the same. We all had a first time doing this. “I thought you would all be posh and I wouldn’t fit in.” Dave asked how long he and Sam had been going out, “a couple of months, I knew her from school and met her again when I did some work at her mum’s house, we got talking about school and the people we knew there. I asked her out and she agreed.” “Has she told you how she came to be living at her mum’s?” He said she had told him everything. “Look after her and make her happy. I’m nearly ready to serve up, do you want another one, or will you wait for the wine?” “I’ve not drunk a lot of wine before, but I will give it a go.” Everyone except Dave made for the dining room. Sally asked Michael to open the wine. Dave came into the dining room with a tray laden with six soup bowls, as they were having the soup, Dave poured wine for everyone. After the main course they all said how good it was and that Dave was an excellent cook. The three men and Sally had dessert. Two jugs of coffee were brought in and the six sat chatting. They made sure Aaron was not left out, Sam kept looking at him to make sure he was OK. Eventually Sally started to clear away, they all moved into the lounge where there were more drinks. The women were now in the kitchen loading the dishwasher and carrying on their chat. When they came back in the conversations carried on. Sam and Aaron were the first ones to leave at 01:00, it was 02:30 when Olivia and Michael climbed into a taxi. When they had gone, Dave slumped down on the sofa, his arms stretched across the back. Sally climbed on top of him, she held his head in her hands and kissed him. “Thank you for this evening and making Sam’s boyfriend welcome.” “Come on Miss Fellowes, time for bed, I have work to do tomorrow, or should I say today.
© 10210ken 2024
