Uncommon Thief

by William Manchee

Chapter 6

  Santa Claus

  The next day when Fred reported to work, Jim told him he had been assigned to a new route. Of course, he was expecting this to happen, so he wasn't surprised. Jake, however, still angry and a bit vindictive, was shocked and excited by what he perceived as a demotion. "Hey, Fuller, I heard you got bumped off the north beach route already," he said gleefully. "What happened? Couldn't follow Jim's cute little map?"

  Fred looked at Jake coldly, not knowing exactly how to respond. "No, I can read a map fine, but they may need me as a witness on that Venice Beach heist, so they didn't want me having any contact with Mr. Clifford. . . . But you know what was interesting? When the FBI questioned me they were sure interested in you and what you've been up to."

  "They were?" Jake asked suspiciously.

  "Yeah, you wouldn't know why, would you?" Fred asked, enjoying Jake’s discomfort.

  Jake gave him a thoughtful stare for a moment and then said, "No. You're lying to me Fuller, aren't you?"

  "No. I swear to God. They were very interested in you, Jake, for some reason. I don’t know why."

  "Well, I don't believe you. You're full of shit!"

  Fred shrugged. "Fine, I don't care if you believe me or not. It’s your hide, not mine. Catch you later," he said as he walked off.

  Fred’s new route took him all the way to Palm Springs with eight stops in between. It was the longest route of them all and covered some 200 miles.

  Palm Springs was not a strange town to Fred, as he’d traveled there many times with his family as a child and teenager. It was the gateway to the wonderful desert. In school and the movies, the desert is often portrayed as a vast wasteland, but Fred’s experiences in the desert were quite to the contrary. Fred figured it was because they’d always had plenty of food and water and survival was never in question.

  Up ahead, Fred saw a single-story, glass-faced building with a large sign that read, ‘Bank USA’. The design of the building was similar to dozens he’d seen before. Fred conjectured that Bank USA management didn't want to make any architects rich, as all of the branches were nearly identical.

  Fred walked in at 5:20 p.m. A pretty blond teller was closing the bag. She looked up at him and smiled. "All ready," she said cheerfully.

  "Good timing," Fred replied, noticing her incredibly hot body. He swallowed hard and thought immediately of Marilyn Monroe.

  "My name is Candy.”

  Of course it is, Fred thought. "Hi, Candy. It’s nice to meet you," Fred replied eagerly.

  "Are you going to be our permanent messenger?”

  "I certainly hope so," Fred replied with a big smile.

  "We've had so many different messengers lately,” she complained evenly. “I can't keep track of them anymore."

  "Well, I hope they keep me on this route,” Fred said as he gazed into her sexy blue eyes. “I mean; I really prefer to drive on the open road rather than in the city."

  She smiled at his awkwardness, then asked, "Do you work for the bank full-time?"

  "No. I am student at UCLA."

  "Oh. A college boy. I’m impressed. What's your major?"

  "Political science. I’m going to go to law school."

  "Oh wow! You're going to be a rich lawyer, huh?"

  "Well, actually, what I really want to do is go into politics."

  She gave Fred a hard look. "Hmm. I could see you as a congressman or senator, perhaps."

  Fred raised his eyebrows, astonished that she would make such a bold statement when they hardly knew each other. Fred wasn’t used to girls flirting with him. Dating in high school had been sparse for him, and Maria was only his second serious relationship. Candy had certainly gotten his attention and made him forget about everything else in the world, if only for a few moments. He was enjoying his flirtations with Candy so much, he lingered as if he had no place to go. Candy seemed to be enjoying herself as well.

  "Are you planning a career in banking?" he asked, fumbling for things to say.

  Candy let out a snicker and replied, "Are you kidding? No way!"

  "Oh, okay, then what are your plans?"

  "To be an actress," she said as she gave him a glowing smile.

  Fred returned the smile and added, "I could see you as an actress. . . . Definitely."

  "Well, it's all yours," she said as she handed him the bag.

  "Oh. Okay,” he said disappointed that she was dismissing him. He took the bag from her and turned to leave.

  “Nice talking to you,” she said. “See you tomorrow."

  Fred nodded without looking back and left the bank in somewhat of a daze. What a cool girl and so friendly. I wonder if she really likes me or does she treat everyone like that? He felt a tinge of excited just thinking about Candy. Oh, I’m really going to love this route!

  As his encounter with Candy began to fade in his mind, he turned his attention to his next stop, Banning. To get to Banning, he had to traverse a small mountain pass of about 5,000 feet. This was great because it was such a nice change from the boredom of the freeway. The scenery was enchanting, too, with tall pine trees, grassy hillsides, and rushing streams. He picked up the bags at Banning, right on time at 6:15 p.m. From Banning, he went to San Bernardino, where he had to meet the driver from Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead and get their bags to add to his load.

  Fred arrived at San Bernardino at 7:10 p.m. Jim had warned him about the driver from Big Bear. His name was Sam Stewart. Sam was in his mid-fifties and had apparently served time many years prior for some unknown offence. He lived up in the mountains and was pretty much a hermit, according to Jim, and his large stomach, long white hair, and white beard made him the spitting image of Santa Claus. Jim warned Fred not to bring that up, however, if he valued his teeth.

  They were to meet at the San Bernardino branch at 7:15 p.m. The bank was in a strip shopping center on the outskirts of the city. When Fred pulled up to the bank, it was closed and the lights were out. He went inside, retrieved the bag, and came back out and waited. A few people were wandering in and out of the Savon Drug Store that was situated next to the bank. After two or three minutes, a red Volkswagen Beetle drove up quickly and stopped with a screech. The door opened, and out popped Sam. He wasn't wearing a red suit (which would have suited him) but instead was outfitted in a plaid shirt and blue jeans.

  "Hi, I am Fred Fuller," he advised.

  "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Fred. I'm Sam Stewart."

  Sam went to the trunk of his car and stuck his key into the lock. It popped open.

  "That's a good-looking VW,” Fred observed. “I've got a friend whose got one just like it."

  Fred’s best friend Randy swore by his bug.

  "Oh really? Does he like it?"

  "He loves it."

  "Me too. You know, this little rascal is the best car on the road."

  "How does it do up in the mountains?"

  "Great, especially in the snow. When everyone else is stuck, my VW and I are moving right along."

  "Huh. That's great."

  "Yeah, it's a pretty slick piece of machinery,” he said, handing Fred the bags. “Well, here you go, Fred. Nice to meet ya."

  "Likewise. Thanks. . . . See ya tomorrow."

  Fred went to his car and was just about to get in when a little girl and her mother came out of Savon Drugs. The little girl took one look at Sam, and her face lit up. She pulled on her mother's dress and said, "Mama! Mama! Look, it's Santa Claus!"

  "No, I don't think so, dear," her mama said.

  The little girl broke free of her mother and ran over to Sam and asked excitedly, "Are you Santa Claus?"

  Sam gave the little girl a dirty look and growled, "No! Leave me alone." The girl’s face fell, and tears began to well in her eyes. Sam shook his head and then got in his bug and tore off toward the mountains. Fred chuckled as Sam drove away. The mother looked disapprovingly at Fred and he shook his head apologetically.

  When Fred got back to LA, he unloaded the bags an
d then went straight to Maria's dorm. They had plans to go to Griffith Park Observatory, as they often did, to look at the nighttime skyline and make out in the moonlight. It was quite peaceful, and he felt so happy with Maria in his arms. "I couldn't imagine ever being separated from you," he said as he looked into her big brown eyes.

  "Don't worry. We'll always be together," she promised.

  Fred slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her lips gently to his. They kissed with great passion, and then Fred slid his hand gently under her sweater across her flat stomach and inched upward farther than he had ever dared go before. She offered only nominal resistance as he felt her warm, supple breasts for the very first time. Thank you, God, for bringing Maria into my life. Is tonight the night we consummate our love? Having felt her breasts, he thought for a moment that she was ready for more. He retreated momentarily from her breasts and started to slide his hand down into her pants, but she reacted quickly, grabbing his hand and sitting up abruptly.

  "I told you I wouldn't make love until my wedding night," she said angrily.

  Feeling very guilty, Fred said, "Right. I’m sorry. For a moment there, I just. . . . well . . . I just got carried away. You know what you do to me, don’t you? You are so beautiful and incredibly sexy, and it feels so good to touch you. I lose all self-control when I am alone with you."

  "Oh sure, I've heard that line before."

  Maria folded her arms and stared out stone-faced at the city lights. After a minute, she abruptly turned to Fred and sighed. "Okay, I'll take care of your problem. I know men have needs."

  "Huh?" Fred said, wondering what she meant.

  She scooted over to Fred’s side of the car and snuggled up close to him. Then, much to his shock, she slid her hand slowly down into his pants. Her touch felt so amazing he could barely stand it.

  "Is this what you want?" she said as she began rubbing him into a frenzy.

  "Yeah. . . . Oh yeah! That’ll work.”