Coasting Chapter 7

Sunday

The boys prayers had been answered, the rain that had threatened the whole operation blew out to sea during the night and as Dave and Paul were packing the Jag a watery moon shone through the light cloud and a few stars appeared, they drove out of the motel and went back to Alex were the truck was parked. Dave fired up the truck and as they waited for the air to come up a pink blush slowly appeared on the Eastern horizon.

“It’s going to be a good day Dave.” Paul said rolling his first cigarette of the day.

“I’ll just be glad when it’s over,” Dave replied feeling a touch of nerves

They left Maroochydore following the river to the highway then headed to Coolum and took the David Lowe Way up to Noosa keeping the Ocean to their right; the sun slowly broke over the horizon, and for the first time Dave believed Paul might be right; it was going to be a good day.

*

Charlie was up at first light he took a cup of coffee into Lynne, fired up the computer and read the electronic newspapers.

*

Just outside of Noosa and only a two minute drive from Charlies house is the brand new estate of Noosa Cove, a multi-million dollar development designed to lure more of the rich and famous to the area. The development wasn’t finished and it resembled a building site, the roads were in but the blocks hadn’t been marked out and the canals were still being dug, in a year or so it would be a very upmarket estate but on this particular Sunday morning a big green truck didn’t look out of place at all. It was just after seven when they parked it. Dave got out of the truck and jumped into the Jag beside his brother and they headed back into Noosa and to Quay Drive and waited.

They didn’t have to wait long; if nothing this was a bloke of habit.

“Well he’s regular I’ll say that about him,” said Dave, watching as the doors of the garage opened.

“I’ve just had a thought; if this is successful I might come back here next week and do it again.” Paul laughed. From the end of the road they watched as Charlie pulled out the Bentley and Lynne’s Peugeot and started his weekly ritual; he turned on the hose and rinsed the Bentley filled a bucket and started to wash the cars.

“I think its Show Time, Dave,” Paul suggested and Dave pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to his brother, Paul started the car and started to ease up the road as he punched in the numbers.

“It’s ringing.” It rang twice and then a woman answered.

“Hello!”

“Mrs Jennings? Is Charlie there please?” Paul asked.

“Yes one minute.” She didn’t ask who it was or ask any questions, he heard her call for her husband and, Paul accelerated as he heard Charlie called.

“He’s coming.” She said. They were less than fifty metres from the house and saw Charlie throw the sponge into the bucket and head inside. A couple of seconds later Paul pulled into the drive behind the Bentley just as Charlie picked up the phone.

“Hello”

Dave was out of the Jag and opened the door of the Bentley the keys were in the ignition; as expected, whenever anyone washes their car they always, always, leave the keys in, this was Paul’s gem gleaned from sharing a cell with Mahesh for twelve months. Dave hopped in and turned the key.

“Hello.” Charlie repeated.

“Hello, Charlie Jennings?” Paul asked. The Bentley started, Dave selected reverse Paul was already out into the street and pulling away, Dave was right behind him.

“Yes this is Charlie Jennings,” Charlie said growing agitated.

“Hello Charlie, its Paul. How are you?” Paul said, not knowing what else to say, He drove through the deserted streets and headed out towards Noosa Cove the Baby Bentley right behind him.

“Who is this?” Charlie demanded to know his ire rising, Paul gunned the Jag towards the Noosa Cove Estate, Dave followed.

“I’d like to talk Charlie, but I’ve got things to do.” And Paul hung up just as he entered the estate.

“Charlie looked at the phone for a second. “Fucking idiot!” he snapped and slammed the phone down into its cradle.

Paul parked the Jag beside the truck, got out of his car and opened the back of the truck, he pulled down the tail gate and Dave drove the Bentley up the ramp and into the back. In a couple of minutes, the two brothers had the car secured, the tail gate up and the back doors locked not a bad day’s work and it wasn’t even seven thirty.

Charlie went back outside to continue cleaning the cars and it took a few seconds before he realised something was missing.

Dave and Paul drove down the Bruce Highway and stopped at the BP Service Centre in Caboolture for breakfast; Paul phoned Mahesh from the car park and arranged a meeting. Dave had bought breakfast and Paul joined him as soon as the details with Indian Arab had been ironed out.

“This afternoon at two o’clock in Morningside,” Paul told him.

“I don’t trust him Paul, I know that he only wants to deal with you but I’m not sitting around twiddling me thumbs, I’m coming.”

Paul wasn’t in the mood to argue; the euphoria of the earlier success was waning as another confrontation appeared over the horizon.

“Just let me do the talking. Ok?”

“OK”

They got to Gordon Street on Morningside at about one thirty; it was a deserted wharf, with a couple of old buildings that had seen better days, the early fine weather had skidded away and another shower looked imminent.

“I’ll be glad when its tomorrow,” Dave said mirroring both of their feeling as they waited. Dave opened the back of the truck and walked inside to have a look at the Bentley.
Paul followed him in, “What’s it like to drive Dave,” Paul asked.

“To be honest I don’t remember, the whole fucking trip was a blur.” Dave recalled he had the keys in his pocket and unlocked it, it was in perfect condition, just a few grand on the clock, he ran his hand over the gleaming paint work, and flicked the boot, there was a subtle click and Paul lifted the lid and saw the two holdalls

“Hello, what have we got here” Dave said to himself as much as his brother. Paul opened the one on the right. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Holy fuck!”

Dave opened the other one.

“What have we stumbled across here Paul. FUCK.!”

“FUCK!” Paul agreed

They closed the bags and picked them up and quickly transferred them to the cab of the truck just as Mahesh and his crew appeared.

Paul closed the driver’s door and went to greet Abdul, Dave as agreed stayed out of the way and away from the negotiations, they disappeared into the back of the truck and inspected the car. It took only a few minutes, the car was the genuine article albeit red hot.

“I’ve been told to go no higher than 15 Paul, and this is a good unit I’ll try and get some more.” Paul didn’t give rats he would have taken $15k he just wanted to get away.

“15’s good mate, I’ll take that.” Trying to sound nonplussed.

“I’ll try and get a few grand more.” Abdul promised. He walked down the ramp Paul followed him and they walked across to Abdul’s truck.

“Can you transfer it into our truck?” Abdul asked Paul. And Paul gave Dave the nod.

As Dave was reversing the Bentley out of the back of the truck the phone rang, Dave allowed the car to roll down the ramp before he answered.

“Hello.”

“Who’s this?” Charlie demanded to know.

“Who’s this?” Dave replied.

‘This is Charlie Jennings that’s who this is; you little fucking, cock sucking scroat, I’m going to find you, I promise. I know a lot of people and we’ll find you and when I do I’ll be using your nuts as golf balls, I promise you, and then we’re going to feed you to the crabs, bit by bit. NO ONE FUCKS WITH CHARLIE JENNINGS!”

“Well do you know who I am? Asked Dave.

“No,” said Charlie.

“Thank fuck for that.” And Dave threw the phone into the Brisbane River.