Coasting Chapter Four

Tuesday

Dave and Paul spent Tuesday morning in a similar fashion to the previous day; Paul surfed and Dave watched. They had breakfast on the Esplanade at Surfers, and at just after nine Gavin drove past the café in his truck and reluctantly Dave had to go to work. Gav had a couple of piano’s to move; both were to be picked up at Elway’s in Chermside, one was to be delivered to a place out towards Toowoomba, the other was to be taken to Beaudesert, that would be the rest of Dave’s day taken up. Paul was going back to the surf. They went their separate way and agreed to meet at the Surf Club later that afternoon.
*

Paul spent the rest of the morning in the surf and then returned to his flat for a shower and change, but there was a nasty little surprise waiting for him when he open the front door and found two blokes watching his telly.
“What’s this?” Paul demanded to know.
“Paul, Dolly wants to see you.” One of them said standing up.
“Who the fuck are you and how did you get in?”
“I’m Dolly’s brother, Gary, and I walked through that door same as you did.” Gary told him.
“Well you can fucking go straight through it again and take this cunt with you.” Paul said.
“This is Dolly’s flat. You work for him the same as we do.”
“I did work for him. Not anymore.”
“He wants to see you tonight. Be here if you know what’s good for you.”
“And if I’m not?”
“Just be here.” Gary said and he the other fellah made for the door and left.
“FUCK!” Paul was livid, he owed Dawson nothing and he’d tell him tonight he can have his fucking flat, but I need the car for another few days. Do a runner, he thought take the car and dump it. Then he’d have Dawson on his arse.
“FUCK!”

Dave and Gav arrived at just before four o’clock. Paul bought the boys a beer, Gav just stayed for the one and left.
“I’ve got the truck for Sunday; pick it up on Saturday afternoon.”
“Good.” Paul said vaguely.
‘What’s wrong?” Dave wanted to know.
And Paul told his brother about the meeting with Dawson planned for later that evening.
“Fuck him,” Dave said, “don’t go.”
“I’ve got to, besides it might be a drink.”
“Why didn’t Dolly come over and give it to you if it’s a drink? No he’s got something lined up for you. I told you he was going to have you in his pocket.”
“I’m not in his fucking pocket.” Paul argued, but he wasn’t convincing anyone.

*

Paul did manage to convince Dave to stay at the club and went back to his flat on his own to confront Dawson. Peter ‘Dolly’ Dawson was a small time hood who was born and raised on the Coast, he was mainly into stand over, and protection, every now and then someone would give him a job that was a step up a division, the whiskey heist had been just that, but that had been a set-up and was meant to put him away, the people behind it thought whoever got caught behind the wheel would dob Dawson in and get him out of the way, but Paul said nothing, done his time, and Dawson was eternally grateful, unfortunately for Paul eternity for Dawson was about a week.
“Paul. How have you been?” Dawson asked offering his hand, the two men shook, but Paul was guarded
“I was doing alright until this morning when these goons turned up. What do you want Dolly?” Paul wanted to know he wanted this meeting out of the way as quickly as possible.
“I want you to do a little job for me.”
“No Dolly, the last time I done a little job for you I spent a year in Woodford, its still reasonably vivid, seeing as it was only got out last week.”

“I know, I know, and I appreciate what you done and I wouldn’t normally approach you after such a short time unless I was desperate for someone with your qualities.”
“What do you want Dolly? And the answer is no.”
“You don’t know what it pays.”
“The last job I did for you paid ten grand of which I never saw a penny by the way, so it doesn’t matter what it pays ‘cos I never get to spend it.”
Dolly looked at his brother Gary and he threw an envelope on the table.
“This time I’ll pay up front there’s ten grand there and there’s another ten when it’s done, and this time they will be no fuck ups; I promise.”
Paul looked at the envelope. “When?”
“I’ll let you know, possibly this weekend.” Dolly knew he had his man
“How d’you know I just won’t scarper with this?”
“Where are you going to go where I can’t find you, Paul?” Dawson asked, as he and his two offsiders went to the door.
“I’ll be in touch.” Dawson said and Paul closed the door behind him.
“FUCK!”
“FUCK,” was exactly what Dave said when he heard what had just transpired.
Paul walked back to the Surf club and found Dave playing pool with a young blonde woman who couldn’t play to save her life, but she had fantastic tits. Dave let the blonde win and went to the bar and listened to Paul’s line on what Dawson wanted.
“Oh well done. So where are you going to spend the next couple of years?”
“He’s paid me half up front.”
“That’s what he owes you for the last fucking job. Jesus Paul.” Dave was exasperated.
“He reckons this one going to be sweet; he promised.”
“Oh, he promised; well that’s OK then. Fuck.”
There was a silence between them as Dave took in what he had just heard.
“When are you going to do this little number?” Dave wanted to know.
“Maybe the weekend.”
“What about the other business we have planned for the weekend?”
“I know, I know….FUCK!”