The Reluctant Villain

by James Williams

  Gerry visibly relaxed but wanted more assurance from Ernie,

  “Did you try and blackmail Sally in the same way?”

  Ernie smiled,

  “I wouldn’t have bothered trying Gerry, Sally would have called my bluff. And besides, what could I blackmail her with, slapping Philipps for trying to grope her?”

  Gerry tensed up again,

  “I’ll do more than slap him if our paths cross!”

  “I’ve got a more fitting punishment for both those men. Leave it to me, my method is more long term. Now, I have a big favour to ask you but it will also benefit us all”

  Sensing some kind of trap Gerry asked warily,

  “What does it involve?”

  “I would like Mark to move in and share the flat with you. You get on a lot better these days and I would feel happier if you didn’t spend a lot of your time alone. It will also supplement your rent and I can help you draft a letter to David Evans to explain your reasons”

  Sitting motionless for a while Gerry gave great thought to the request and finally agreed, with one condition.

  “I need a few days to move my stuff into Gran’s room first. But I will also have the final say if it doesn’t work out to my satisfaction”

  Ernie stood up,

  “That’s only right you have the final say, but Mark will still have to pay an equal share of costs. Take your time sorting the rooms out, then we can get back to work as a team once again”

  Gerry understood the meaning behind those words but now he wasn’t daunted by the path he would be following. Being honest and hardworking had only bought him grief so let’s try the other way he decided, what do I have to lose now.

  The two men shook hands and as Gerry left his house, Ernie decided it was time to increase the momentum and spread his web a lot wider.

  Over the next year Ernie’s security scam would bring in tens of thousands of pounds, either in cash or goods. He was careful in his selection of potential victims and restricted his genuine security offer to those owners who had influence within the community.

  The local police would make several attempts to apprehend the culprits but their plans failed on each occasion and they began to suspect someone within their ranks of collusion. But Councillor Fred Barnes was never one of those under suspicion.

  Ernie had also taken over the running of a youth club at the leisure Centre for youngsters from poorer backgrounds. He set up activities on most evenings along with daytime sessions during school holidays. He convinced the local council to give a fund to supply sportswear and other items for those who could not afford to pay.

  However, what the authorities were not aware of was that Ernie was winning all ends up. He, along with Gerry and Mark raided a large sports store and helped themselves to the latest designer sportswear. They delivered the stolen goods to the Market Man who substituted them for cheap Far East replicas with bona fide receipts. The stolen items were taken onto the continent and sold in other markets. And Ernie also made a small profit on those items sold to the Market Man.

  The clientele who received the clothing and footwear didn’t care if they were the genuine article or not, officially paid for by the council.

  Gerry and Mark helped with some supervisory duties over the attendees at the Centre and Ernie made sure none of those youths got into any trouble with the threat that one moment of ill-discipline on one person’s behalf would mean an instant barring from attending for them all. This, in effect, meant that they policed themselves and kept each other in check.

  As the Centre was the closest thing to heaven these youths had experienced, they would have been foolish to stray off the straight and narrow laws Ernie had laid down. He was their idol as far as they were concerned and followed his rules to the letter.

  Ernie knew he could have quite easily convinced a few of these youths to join Gerry and Mark in his other ventures but felt that keeping them on the right side of the law would be a better cover to safeguard his own activities.

  For their parts in this deception Gerry and Mark regularly quizzed their charges about any new shops or businesses that had opened recently, especially those selling designer goods or the latest technology.

  The incriminating tape highlighting Abigail’s performance was duly sent to her boss’s wife and Ernie later admitted to his two companions that he couldn’t have planned a better outcome.

  He had kept his promise to Gerry to make other people pay and as a result Percy Matthews lost the control of his business in spectacular fashion.

  Mrs Matthews found a package addressed to her on the doormat when she came down stairs one morning. Thinking it was something her beloved Percy had ordered as a surprise present for her she ripped open the package. Most of her days at home alone were spent watching television or going through her mountain of film videos she had accumulated over the years.

  Assuming it was the latest film her husband had ordered for her she went into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee, toasted and buttered four crumpets before going into the spacious lounge to watch her new present. The daily cleaning lady wouldn’t be coming for at least two hours so she anticipated there would be enough time to watch the film and get dressed before she would be disturbed. Percy had left for work as usual at 7.00am and would not be home until early evening.

  Ernie had edited the clips on the video so that Abigail was on screen most of the time and the film lasted less than fifteen minutes. Mr and Mrs Matthews had not had sex together for at least two years so on the first showing of the film Mrs M thought her husband had sent the film to help re-kindle their relationship and was more than a little flushed at the end of the first showing. She had not paid much attention to the features of the cast, such were the distractions on view.

  She ate three of the crumpets and drank half of the coffee before replaying the video. There was something familiar about one of the women but she couldn’t remember where she had seen the face before. Retrieving the packaging she searched for any clues to the identity to the cast. There was nothing apart from a short note which read:

  ‘All play and no work at the boss’s demands. We recommend you investigate’

  Mrs Matthews was in the middle of finishing the remains of her now cold cup of coffee as she read the note and almost choked on the drink. She spat out the coffee over the expensive thick pile carpet and dropped the cup on the floor as recognition of one of the females dawned on her. It was that tart who works for Percy!

  She was about to pick up the phone to order her husband to return home immediately, then a better idea came to her. Confronting the two of them at work would be far more satisfying and he could demand that Percy fire the bitch on the spot. The shop had recently taken delivery of some tele-recorders so she could show him the evidence without giving him the chance to use his usual delaying tactics.

  Before going upstairs to get dressed she phoned for a taxi to collect her in half an hour by which time the cleaner would have arrived.

  As she got into the taxi the driver was instructed to put the bill on Mr Matthews’ account and to wait for her to finish her business and return home. That would be the smallest amount he would pay if he didn’t do her bidding.

  Abigail was serving a customer when Cynthia Matthews walked into the shop, swept past the counter and headed straight for the Manager’s office. Harry didn’t recognise this rather large lady marching through and asked if he could assist her. The tone of her voice should have told him that trouble was brewing,

  “Is my husband in his office?”

  Harry nodded and tried to at least, delay her advance but Cynthia was not going to be held up by no pot-bellied individual and entered her husband’s office without knocking and waiting for a response.

  Percy sat in his chair, feet up on the desk while he idly rubbed his crotch, anticipating the liaison he and Abigail had planned when the shop closed for lunch and Harry had been sent out on some minor mission.

  “So, this is how you run this busine
ss I fund, lounging around and dreaming of that tart you call a sales executive!”

  Percy almost toppled backwards out of his chair, was this some kind of nightmare? His wife never came into any of his shops, let alone charge in like an enraged elephant without first being announced. He managed to get to his feet, smiled feebly at his wife and closed the door behind her to try and lessen any further damage to his reputation. However, it was too late.

  Abigail had turned a bright crimson on hearing the taunt directed at her and the customer who had been more interested in her cleavage than the item she was demonstrating suddenly decided he wasn’t in the market for the product, apologised and left the shop.

  Harry looked on slightly bemused, first at Abigail and then in the direction of the manager’s office. He noted the glare directed at him as the door was closed by his boss and instinctively knew the blame would be entirely his and nobody else!

  Meanwhile, Percy Matthews was trying to placate his wife by offering her a seat, still not sure if his dearly beloved had lost her mind.

  “Cynthia, please have a seat, can I get you a cup of something dearest?”

  Ignoring his remark, she looked around the room and spotted what she required, the combined monitor and recorder. She pointed at the screen and said curtly,

  “Switch that thing on and play this tape!”

  The first feeling of a major disaster started to envelop Percy’s mind as he shakily followed his wife’s instructions. The last time he had used the player the volume had been left on high and the first sounds from the video vibrated around the office and could be clearly heard in the shop. The overwhelming sound was that of Abigail’s moans of ecstasy. Percy quickly moved to reduce the volume and then his attention was drawn to the screen and he stood open mouthed unable to comprehend what his eyes were witnessing. To his relief he knew he was not one of the participants so she couldn’t accuse him of that crime.

  When the video had finally ended he tried to speak but the words wouldn’t come out. All he could do was gesticulate at the screen with a look of utter confusion on his features. Cynthia spoke on his behalf,

  “Where has that come from? At first, I thought it was a present from you to rekindle something between us”

  At that suggestion he broke into a coughing fit and made gestures to be given a drink of something. Cynthia ignored his request and continued,

  “You have a very simple choice to make Percy. Get rid of that tart you call a sales executive or I get back all the money I have invested in this business. Quite simple really, what’s it to be?”

  Matthews managed to stop his coughing for long enough to protest,

  “For God’s sake Cynthia, I can’t just fire Abigail without good reason. She is the best sales person I have had and she would sue me for wrongful dismissal. Please Cynthia, let’s talk through this sensibly. When did this tape arrive and was there any message with it?”

  “It was on the doormat when I came downstairs, this note was with it, nothing else” and she passed the crumpled note to her husband.

  Percy read the note and he suddenly found possible escape route. He stood up and said to his wife,

  “I think I can solve the mystery of who sent this filth. Wait here one moment dear”. Still holding the note, he strode out of the office, closing the door behind him. He called his assistant to him,

  “Harry, your little scheme has failed. Get your stuff and get out of my shop. You’re fired!”

  Harry stared back at him, uncertain if he had heard correctly. When he didn’t move, Matthews held up the note for him to read. Staring at the message that still did not register with him so his boss said,

  “I warned you after you and that dam kid came back early that if a word ever got out about what you saw, it would be the end for you. Now, shift yourself or I’ll call the police”

  Some form of comprehension dawned on Harry but he wasn’t about to go quietly. He grabbed the lapels of his boss’s jacket and head butted him on the nose. Matthews had instinctively guessed what was about to happen and partially managed to move backwards to decrease the impact. Nevertheless, the blow sent him sprawling, his nose seeping blood. But harry was not finished. He stepped over the prone body and entered the office and confronted Cynthia Matthews who sat transfixed as he made his sudden entrance.

  “I don’t know what this is all about lady but if he thinks I told anyone about the time me and the kid caught your husband and that slut having it off, he’s effin wrong!”

  He turned to leave but Cynthia asked the question.

  “Excuse me, Harry isn’t it? What happened and when?”

  Realising they were both in the dark about the mixture of events that had led to this showdown Harry explained in graphic detail of what he and Gerry had witnessed some weeks earlier

  Far from being shocked at the news Cynthia smiled and said,

  “I heard my husband say you were fired, I can’t do anything about that but if you leave me your details I’ll make sure you get at least a month’s pay in lieu”

  For the first time Harry noticed what Cynthia had started watching again and said quietly,

  “I think it’s worth more than one month, how about six?”

  Cynthia could see the direction of his thoughts and said firmly,

  “Three, and that’s my final offer. Take it or leave it!”

  Harry thought for a moment and hastily wrote his address on a piece of paper, nodded and left the office, followed by Mrs Matthews. They found Abigail kneeling by Percy with his head on her lap as she wiped the blood from his face. On seeing Mrs Matthews, she quickly pushed her boss’s head away with more than a little force.

  Harry retrieved his belongings and on his way out deliberately stepped on Percy’s hand which bought a yell from the injured man.

  As Harry reached the door the taxi driver pushed his way in and called,

  “Here Mrs Matthews, how much longer, my dispatcher is doing his nut because I’m stuck here waiting for you”

  She had forgotten all about the taxi in all the excitement so she told him to leave, add an extra £10 onto the fare as his tip and order another cab for thirty minutes time. He nodded and left. Cynthia turned her attention to Abigail.

  “Your services, whatever they constituted, are no longer required here so grab your belongings and leave. The money you are owed will be sent in due course”

  Abigail looked at Percy for support but none was forthcoming, all the fight had been knocked out of him. He lay on the floor still in a daze, watching his little empire crumble all around him.

  Giving Percy one final look of disdain she stood up and said glumly,

  “My coat is in the office along with my handbag and other things, I need to fetch them”

  Cynthia nodded and allowed her to pass. On entering the office Abigail saw the last few moments of the video and understood the whole situation in an instant. It was obvious to her who was the blackmailer but she kept that to herself. Abigail walked out of the shop without a second glance at either her boss or Mrs Matthews who locked the door behind her and then returned to the office, leaving her husband to sort himself out.

  Turning the recorder off and retrieving the video Cynthia made a phone call to her son.

  “Quentin darling, I need you to come straight over to daddy’s shop in the High Street, I’ve had to sort out an urgent problem and there is nobody left to secure the shop and close it. Be a poppet and get over here as quickly as you can please dear”

  There was a slight moment of protest from Quentin but she won him over with the mention of the word promotion.

  20

  Harry watched the shop from his vantage point in the pub across the road, slowly drinking himself into a deeper rage at the injustice that had befallen him.

  Abigail had been the first to leave as he finished his first pint, she didn’t look too unhappy, more with a look of intending vengeance on her mind. And she wasn’t heading for home either.

  A younger
man whom he didn’t recognise at first arrived at the door of the shop and after he knocked a couple of times Mrs Matthews let him in. Only then did he remember the name of the person, it was their son, Quentin.

  A second taxi arrived some twenty minutes later and the driver was told to wait in his car until he was required. Harry then discovered he didn’t have enough money for another drink so he called off his vigil and went home to make his plans. It must have been that kid who had sent the note to Percy’s wife but what was the connection with the video he had seen? He couldn’t work that one out.

  The Matthews trio left the shop about an hour later, Mr & Mrs Matthews in the taxi and Quentin driving his father’s car. He would return to collect his own vehicle later.

  Gerry was walking home alone after closing the Centre for the night, Ernie and Mark were on a regular security patrol but also with the intention of checking out the potential for extortion of another business one of their young attendees from the Centre had mentioned.

  He was so deep in thought he never heard the vehicle pull up alongside him. A woman’s voice called out,

  “Gerry? Can I have a word please?”

  He turned to see a police patrol car had stopped by the kerbside and the passenger window was open. He recognised the wife of his former tutor Lee Bradley. He lowered his head to be on a level with her and replied,

  “Oh, sorry I was miles away, is there something wrong?”

  “Nothing wrong Gerry, Sargent Proudfoot told me about your friend in Matlock. I just wanted to pass on my condolences”

  She hesitated before speaking,

  “Get in the car Gerry, we can talk while I drive to your place, it’s on my route to the station, I’m just coming on duty”

  He got into the front seat and the car pulled away from the kerb.

  Gerry asked,

  “I thought you and Lee were moving away from the area”

  Shaking her head, she replied,

  “It’s been delayed for a month”