Steve returned to his grubby apartment building as the sun set, and parked his blue pickup on the street. He climbed the stairs with their frayed edges while holding his breath, due to the unpleasant stench that rose from the old carpet. Still, he did not dare to take the creaking, groaning elevator. His room was on the fourth floor, and he unlocked the door and threw his keys on the table.
The first thing he did was open the window in an effort to clear the musty aroma that seemed to develop as soon as the window was shut for more than ten minutes. Then he helped himself to a cold drink from the fridge and sat on the lumpy sofa.
Steve turned on the television and flicked channels, but he couldn't settle to watching anything. He rubbed his neck and then the inside of his shirt collar irritably. It itched. Heaven knew where Cheryl had come up with these clothes from, but they were not comfortable.
His gaze was drawn to the phone, and he sighed. He knew it was no good expecting a call from Carter yet, but he was eager to get on with his assignment and learn more about the organisation. So far, he had learnt nothing much more than he knew before he started. And I've spent three days in this hole for the privilege, he thought grumpily.
On an impulse he reached forward towards the phone, meaning to call his father, but he checked himself quickly. This gang were known to use quite sophisticated technology in some of their stings. They may well have bugged his apartment. He would never do anything that might put his father in danger. I wonder what he's doing, Steve thought.
X X X
"I wonder what Steve's up to right now," Mark said, during a well earned coffee break in the staff room with Amanda. "I find it very odd not having him around."
"I know," said Amanda. "I'm used to him appearing in my pathology lab at least once a day. It must be stranger for you to go home to an empty house. But you know he's fine."
"I suppose he must be," Mark said, settling onto a chair. "Cheryl would tell me if anything was seriously wrong. He wasn't really looking forward to this assignment though. And I just want to know how he's getting on, how much longer he thinks it might take."
"Yes, not knowing is the hardest part," Amanda agreed. "But Steve knows his job. He'll be careful. Why don't you come and have dinner at mine tomorrow? I'd ask you tonight but I've only just started my shift. The boys would like to see you I'm sure."
"That would be great, Amanda, I'd love to," said Mark, recognising that Amanda was just trying to make sure he wouldn't be lonely, but knowing that his beach house would feel just as vacant when he returned to it later. He stood up and stretched. "Ah well, I finish in an hour."
"Me too!" announced Jesse, coming into the staff room and grabbing a cup of cold water from the cooler. "And not a moment too soon. Today has been long." He drank deeply.
"Jesse, would you like to join us at mine tomorrow night?" Amanda asked.
Jesse pulled a disappointed face. "Much as I hate to turn down the offer of free food, I promised to make a house call after work tomorrow. A friend of mine, Nathan, he's not very well. I said I'd call in, save him the trouble of going to his doctor."
"Why aren't you going tonight?" Mark asked.
"Ah, tonight, my friends, I have a date." Jesse threw his cup in the bin and left with a wave
"Anyone we know?" Amanda asked, but Jesse had gone.
X X X
Bored with the same four walls, Steve held his breath again and left the apartment as the sun was setting. He walked a couple of blocks away and sat down on a park bench, where he pulled out his cell phone and made his daily call to Cheryl.
"I hope I did a good job," he told her. "I worked hard enough in the library. Felt like I was back in school."
"Well, I guess you better get back to your pad and wait for the call," Cheryl said.
"Yeah," Steve said. He hesitated a moment, wanting to ask after his father, but he didn't want Cheryl to think he was preoccupied and not concentrating on the job, so instead he said goodbye and headed back to his apartment.
X X X
As he went along the corridor towards his room he heard the telephone ringing. He dashed forwards, thrust the key in the lock and rushed to answer the phone.
"Barber," he said, giving the surname of his alias. As he had hoped, it was Carter.
"Come back to the warehouse. We got a job for you." And he hung up.
Glad to be doing something, Steve grabbed his keys and a jacket and headed back out.
X X X
Carter and Greg were sitting in the little office off the main room. Carter handed him two envelopes.
"Mr William Haughton-Handley," he said. "Even the name sounds rich, doesn't it? Post one in his mail box. Put the other one under the wiper on his car. To make sure he gets it. Don't be seen."
"What's in it?" asked Steve.
"Our demands," Carter said, not elaborating.
Steve decided to push. "You've told me what you are doing here, what this is all about. Why can't you tell me what you've got on this guy?"
Greg looked at him coldly. "Hey man, you can't just saunter in here and expect us to tell you everything about us."
Carter nodded in agreement. "Once you've shown you're willing to get your hands dirty, then we'll let you get more involved. Hell, we've only known you a few days. Curiosity killed the cat. Stop questioning us and get on with it."
"Sorry," Steve said hastily. "I'm just nosy to know what dirty laundry this guy has I guess." He grinned apologetically, and was thankful to see Greg and Carter relax. "I'll do it now," he said. "What then?"
"Then," Carter said, with an unsettling smile, "we wait."
X X X
Steve was itching to open the envelopes and see their contents, and was considering pulling over on his way to the address and taking a peek. He decided against it though, and was glad he had when he observed a dark car a little way behind him that seemed to be taking the same route as he.
He parked at the end of the street where Mr Haughton-Handley lived and walked casually along until he reached number 235. It was dark now, but the street lights illuminated the house numbers. The residences on this road were all very large and obviously belonged to rich people. Number 235, like many of the others, had a large gate across the entrance. Steve could see the house at the end of the drive about a hundred yards inside. There were two Mercedes parked outside the garage. The house was dark but Steve's observant eyes noted security cameras attached near the side of the drive and on the house.
Don't be seen, Carter had said. It wouldn't do for Steve to be caught on camera and have a warrant put out for him. Sighing, he left the gate and walked round the side of the wall to where a tree grew close on the other side. Tucking the envelopes into his waistband, he jumped up and reached the top of the 10 foot high wall, and hauled himself quickly over. As he swung over the top, he glanced around. At the far end of the street, near to his own pickup, he saw the dark car and caught a glimpse of its occupant watching him. Then he dropped down out of sight.
X X X
Five minutes later he was back at the wall, confident he had been able to deliver the envelopes without being spotted by cameras closely enough to identify him. He hauled himself back over the wall, and landed softly. A voice in his ear made him jump so much he almost lost his balance.
"Good work. You took care to do it properly. We appreciate that."
"Who are you?" Steve said gruffly.
"Max," he man said, holding out his hand.
Steve shook it. "Steve Barber. Max…?"
"For now Max will do," the man said. He had dark, curly hair and a rough moustache.
"You were following me!" Steve said.
"You certainly are observant. I took care to hang back. We will benefit from your help. Come to my car, we mustn't be seen here."
Steve followed Max back to the dark car parked near to his. He guessed Max was part of the gang he was investigating. He didn't know who else it could be. He was acutely aware of the gap on his hip where his gun usually sat. He felt uneasy without it, but couldn't wear it for the purposes of his disguise.
Inside the car, Max spoke again. "I was asked to follow you to observe how you did the task you had been set. I was impressed, you were aware of the dangers and took care to make sure you went undetected. My report on you will be favourable."
"Your report to who?" Steve asked.
Max smiled. "All in good time. I understand from Carter you are keen to get more involved."
"Yeah, I can see the money potential. And I am keen to get the wealth in this city shared out a bit. It's not fair that a few rich guys have it all."
Max shrugged. "I agree. It's unlikely the people we hit will even miss what they give us."
"So what can I do next?" Steve asked.
"You do the same as the rest of us," Max said. "We wait for Mr Haughton-Handley's response."
