Suddenly there is a firm fast knock on the door and they both stop dead in there tracks, Eddie raises his finger to his mouth while Julie just nods. He nimbly walks to the bedroom window like a tightrope walker and turns the plastic stick to alter the blinds view slightly.
-Eddie who the fuck is it? whispers a tense Julie.
-I can't see fuckall other than that Red Alpha which was down the street, now its parked outside the front door. The door goes again and he notices a medium build, middle aged man wearing a Blue coat with energy plus on the front.
-Fuck me it's the gas meter reader Julie.
-Thank fuck for that Eddie, i was proper shitting it.
They hear the car door shut, the engine start and the vehicle shoot off down the street. -Julie go downstairs and look after Dylan while i bring the stuff downstairs.
-Ok Eddie.
He drags two Black bags and a rucksack downstairs and joins Juile in the front room as she wakes up Dylan. Eddie throws Julie the car keys to the Audi RS4 and then goes to the window, making sure it's all good outside.
-Julie everythings boss outside go and get Dylan secured up in the motor, while i make sure were all done here. Julie hesitantly goes outside but does what she has to do. He follows her to the motor his heart beating like a kettle drum; he opens the boot, throws the bags in and slams it shut. he runs back into the house for one more check, then turns around and slams the front door after him. Eddie jumps into the drivers seat and starts the engine ; he looks at Julie then glances at Dylan in the mirror and then speeds off down the street with his indicators flashing.
They have been driving for two hours on the motorway before he decides to pull into a service station, -Julie wake up c'mon wake up.
-What's the matter Eddie, where are we.
-Service station sweetheart, we can fill up, freshen up and get something to eat and chill for a while.
-Ok Eddie, i'll sort me and Dylan and get the scran, i'll meet you back at the motor. Eddie stays in the car while he watches Julie carry Dylan to the entrance and thinks how could he be so selfish to put his son and partner through all this bullshit. He manoeuvers the motor to a vacant fuel pump, fills up then goes inside to pay and also buy some bits and bobs. On the way out the cashier says, -Nice car you must have a good job too afford that? Eddie turns around and gives the cashier a look to say if only you knew smiled and replied,
-Rather be doing what your doing mate. To the amazement of the cashier, then heads back to the motor.
As he sits in the motor waiting for Julie to return, he starts rummaging through his pockets; he pulls out his Nokia and checks to see if there's any message, luckily there's not, it will only be a matter of time before the lads will contant him. His inside jacket pocket has a few names and numbers on pieces of paper, which he rips-up and tosses out the window. His jeans pockets contain about Two Hundred quid and some loose change, also a his lucky Dunhill lighter which he took from a unlucky client.
Eddie looks up and notices Julie and Dylan on there way back with some McDonalds, he gets out to help Julie.
-Sorry about that Eddie the queue was massive and Dylan started playing up.
-No worries Julie, just get in. While Julie sorts Dylan, Eddie goes into the glove box, reaches right to the back and pulls out his Rizla's, cigarettes and weed. -Eat your food first Eddie and smoke that after.
-I will sweetheart i'm just going to role it for now. As Julie and Dylan tuck into their nosebag, Eddie acts like a surgeon going into theatre and prepares to build his spliff. With all the food eaten and Dylan now nodding off nicely, he decides to light up the spliff and kickback and chill. -Houston we now have lift off, Julie says jokingly.
-Your not wrong Julie. As Eddie does an impression of being brethalysed by the police and exhales. I flick a switch and the radio comes on, playing Red Hot Chilli Peppers Californication, very Thelma and Louise moment he muses. He passes the spliff to Julie, - Nice one Ed. As she takes what looks like the longest drag ever. -What's the plan of attack Ed when we leave the services?
-I was thinking just getting to Cornwall first and taking it from there, what do you reckon?
-yeah no problem i can live with that. Julie sounding like the most chilled person ever. He relieves Julie of the spiff take a long drag but for some reason he exhales hurridly.
-Julie get out the motor and check the boot.
-Ed what the fucks the matter.
-Check the fucking boot. Julie scrambles out of the motor in shock and panic and makes her way to the boot and lifts the lid.- What am i looking for Ed your scaring me?
-Is the Brown leather holdhall in there? Julie searces through like a sniffer dog at the airport. - I don't see no leather holdall Ed what the fuck. Holding her face in disbelief.
-Bastard, bastard, i've left the fucking bag in the kitchen like a twat, banging his fists on the dash.
They sit there motionless in the motor like two garden knomes, while cars come and go from the services. Eddie tries to say something too minimise the damage but his mouth is stuck like a difficult cryptic clue to a crossword. -Ed you went back for a final check, why didn't you remember the bag you fool? Just as he is about to respond his mobile come to life, he scans the name it's Danny the organiser in the gang. -Don't answer Ed wait for the message, Julie says nervously. The beep indicates one been left, Eddie adjusts the mobile so the message is on loudspeaker, too paranoid to hear it on his own.
-Eddie where are you we've been looking for you all over the gaff you ok? Me , Johnny, and Baz are going to sort some business and then were taking the ladies for a slap up meal at Romano's. We'll meet you and Julie there later on, give us a ring to let me know your sound. Before i forget the Donnelly's have paid us that money they owe us for that job we did for them, so i'm gonna put it in the safe, it's a nice wedge for us all. See you later. -Eddie they haven't sussed it yet we can go back and return the money, Julie intensely staring at him waiting for a response.
-Didn't you hear what Danny said, he was going to put a nice wedge in the safe. Were two hours away from Manchester, we won't make it in time Julie.
-Eddie regardless of that, we need to go back because we don't have the money to do fuckall, so c'mon lets get the fuck out of here.
On that note Eddie takes the last drag of the joint, flicks it out the window then inserts his seatbelt. Starts the powerful 4.2 V8 engine and roars out of the services like Nicki Lauda, M6 northbound straight ahead. Is it a trap? can he get the money or return it? What business are they gonna sort? Vivid thoughts run through his head, as the powerful Audi starts to devour the motorway.