‘Nothin’ beats a fry-up.’ Clifford spluttered, his mouth full.
‘Go dry yer hair, Ma,’ John said, and as Renee left the kitchen he got up and kicked the door closed behind her.
Despite being pleased when Clifford had said he’d take over from David, John felt his father hadn’t done a very good job as lookout. His dad had stunk of brandy when he picked him up, and John was afraid of him falling asleep on the job because of the booze.
‘Mum says David’s still pretty bad so I can’t risk takin’ him as lookout. You’ll just have to fill in again, Dad, but lay off the brandy this time.’
‘Bollocks to that, it’s freezing up there at night and the brandy is the only way to keep warm. In fact get Danny or Silas to be lookout and I’ll help out in the café.’
It was something John had considered, but the last thing he wanted was his father looking over his shoulder all the time and nagging him.
‘Your guts are too big for the hole we dug and Silas has to be at the café as owner in case anyone comes calling. Danny’s younger and fitter, plus he’s kosher with the electrics and will check for any alarm system we might have overlooked. If we start earlier today I reckon we’ll be in the vault by late evening.’
‘Are you sure of that? Seems a bit quick after where you left off this morning.’
John was certain they would break through into the vault, and because the area was quiet at the weekend they would have more opportunity to use the Kango drill without being overheard. He knew that once the job was done the break-in would not be discovered by the manager until the bank opened for business on Tuesday morning, after the Monday bank holiday.
‘I told Silas and Danny I wanna work during the day as it’s a Sunday. All the shops round there are closed and there’s very little foot or vehicle traffic.’
Clifford looked surprised as he gulped down a mouthful without chewing it properly. ‘I’ll stand out like a spare prick at a wedding in daylight.’
‘No you won’t, only if you stand up all the time. Did you not notice the gaps in the wall for the rainwater to drain away? Just look through them till it gets dark.’
‘Fuckin’ brilliant and what about daytime security, or anyone who comes up to the top floor to park?’
‘Don’t worry about it. According to Silas, because that patch borders the City, all the local businesses are closed at weekends so it means there’s nobody to use the car park and no attendant on duty in the pay kiosk. If anyone did drive in there’s loads of room on the ground floor so why go all the way to the top.’
‘I was thinking that now I’m the lookout, as well as one of the persons who put the job up, I deserve a slightly bigger cut than I’m getting, don’t I?’
‘You’re a greedy old sod, Dad. OK, I’ll slip a bit extra on the side for you.’
‘Shake on that, son,’ he said, putting out his hand.
‘But don’t say anything to the others or they’ll start kicking off,’ John said, shaking his father’s hand.
Clifford laughed, coughed up some phlegm and, pulling a dirty handkerchief from his pocket, spat into it.
‘If we finish the job by early Monday morning there’ll be plenty of time to stash the stolen goods. I’ve already rented another lock-up nearby in Dalston to count out the proceeds.’
‘Good thinkin’, son, the filth will be crawling all over the place.’
‘I know, and Silas is likely to be the first person the police will be looking for. I’ll give him his cut of the cash so he can make his getaway and fly out to Greece.’
Clifford smiled. ‘Make sure he’s loaded with the dodgy fivers.’
John laughed. ‘There’s a secluded area in nearby woodland where I’ll bury our cut of the money for a few days while the heat dies down, but I’m not sure yet what to do with any jewellery we find.’
‘Don’t worry, I know a good fence who can take it off our hands. What you gonna do with the van, son?’
‘Take it to some wasteland and set light to it, along with anything else that might lead the police to any of us.’
Clifford patted John’s back. ‘Good lad, looks like you thought of everything.’
‘Well, I was taught well, wasn’t I, Dad?’ John pushed his chair back and checked the time.
‘OK, we go in half an hour at just after eleven.’
Clifford nodded and poured himself another mug of tea.
‘I’ll be ready, son, just finish me breakfast and then put some long johns on under me jeans and shirt and a couple of jumpers on top as well.’
John left the room to speak with his mum. Clifford took the opportunity to quietly fill his hip flask with the remains of the bottle of brandy, sticking the flask into the inside pocket of his donkey jacket which was hanging in the hallway.
Renee had changed into her dress and was in the lounge drying and brushing her hair in front of the electric fire when John walked in. He told her that he and his dad were off down the bookie’s for a flutter and then the pub. She asked when they’d be back and he said he didn’t know and she wasn’t to wait up.
‘What you want for tea? There’s some stew left over,’ she said, as she sprayed lacquer on her hair, making it stiff.
John replied that they’d get something from the chippie and as he turned to leave he stopped and looked at his mother.
‘What you all dolled up for?’
She pulled on her white gloves and put on her hat, looking at John in the mirror as she adjusted it.
‘Ma Phillips is burying her grandson today. Half the estate is going and everyone’s given money for flowers and beverages.’
‘On a Sunday? You are fuckin’ havin’ me on. Besides he was a pitiful waste of space, and what have I told you about not going out the flat?’ John shouted.
Clifford heard them talking and walked in with his donkey jacket slung over his shoulder.
‘Leave it out, son. It’s always good to show respect.’ Clifford turned to Renee. ‘But don’t you go on the lash or blabbering with your bingo mates, you come straight back home, right?’
‘I heard you the first time, Clifford. It’s sunny out, so what you want your big heavy coat for?’
‘Because, you nosy cow, we might be doing some night fishing for carp on the Lea tonight. Me mate Chaz has invited me and John along.’
She laughed and took another look at herself in the mirror. She’d even put a bit of lipstick on. She wanted to see how David was doing before she left for the funeral, so she went out across the hallway and popped her head around his bedroom door.
‘How are you feelin, son?’
‘Not so good, Ma. I’ll try and get up later.’
‘I won’t be gone long, love.’
‘You look real nice, Ma. That’s a very pretty dress and hat you’re wearing.’
He gave a sad smile and blew her a kiss as she said she’d see him later and closed the bedroom door.
After a minute John looked in on David who was lying with the eiderdown pulled up to his chin.
John spoke quietly and told him their dad was going to be filling in for him again.
‘I’m sorry to let you down, John, but I’m still feelin’ really rough.’
‘Yeah, well, it’s sorted. But he’s gonna take your cut of the wedge for the two nights,’ he said, and moved a little closer before continuing. ‘I reckon we’ll get through to the vault by midnight and have the divvy-out done by morning. Come Tuesday the whole of the Met will be turning over London lookin’ for who done the bank so I’m gonna torch the van and bury our cut in the woods till things die down.’
David looked worried. ‘They won’t catch us, will they, John?’
‘No bloody way. They haven’t got a clue what’s going on or they’d have nicked us by now. By this time tomorrow we’ll be fuckin’ rich.’