THE BODY

THREE SAFECRACKERS FIND THEMSELVES IN A TOTALLY UNPLANNED SITUATION WHILE ON A JOB

THE BODY

'' I’m trying to break into this safe, will you keep quiet?’’ Adam hissed in frustration through clenched teeth.

‘’Well sure but �"‘’ Brandon began before getting cut off.

‘’I said, shut it!’’ Adam slammed the chisel loudly against the lock, glaring hard at his accomplice before realisation dawned in his eyes when he saw what Brandon was holding out to him.

‘’I’ve been trying to tell you…I’ve got the key you prat!’’ Brandon hissed triumphantly, waving the large silver key in Adams face.

Tommy quickly stepped between them. Yanking the key from Brandon’s grasp, he quickly began tackling the safe.

Adam and Brandon crowded close behind, eager to see what they would be getting for all their hard work.

‘’For God’s sake back up the pair of you, I can barely move!’’ Tom shot over his shoulder at them. Reluctantly they shuffled their feet back while keeping their heads and upper bodies as close to Tom’s shoulder as possible. None of them wanting to be the last to see what was inside.

‘’Gunna be big this one…I can feel it boys.’’ Brandon was practically dancing with excitement, a grin similar to that of the Cheshire cat lighting his face up.

‘’Shush you fool. You’ll get us caught!’’ Adam responded, just as loudly.

A click from the safe silenced them both as they watched, wide eyed with anticipation, as Tommy swung the heavy door open. Silence descended over them as they took in the scene before them. This was not what they had been expecting.

Cash, jewellery… maybe even drugs; but a body!

‘’Holy s**t, is that real?’’ Tom squeaked.

‘’Smells it!!’’ Adam gagged, putting large hands over his mouth and nose.

Brandon just stood, eye’s glittering with…was that excitement? Without thinking he began to step forward into the make shift tomb. Tommy and Adam quickly stepped forward to stop him.

‘’What are you doing you Fanny, there’s a bloody corpse in there!’’ Tommy was pale, his normally deep voice had taken on a high pitched quality that he couldn’t seem to shake. This was not a part of the plan!

‘’Obviously…I just…you know, wanted a closer look. We’re gunna need to report this boys.’’ The look of excitement was still plastered all over Brandon’s face.

‘’Tell the police?’’ Tommy repeated, shock evident in his voice as he looked at Brandon as though he had never seen him before.

‘’Have you forgotten, Brandon, exactly how we found this body?’’ Adam hissed, eye’s wide before continuing, ‘’Well Officer, me and the lads was just minding our own business, burgling this rich fella’s safe, when we ‘appen to find a bloody body… Could you kindly remove it for us so we can continue on our merry way please!’’ Adam was pacing the room, sweat beading on his forehead despite the chill of the night.

‘Oh s**t..yea..hadn’t thought of that. So what we gunna do then?...Maybe we should look who it is?’’ Optimistic as ever, Brandon waltzed into the safe before anyone could stop him.

‘’Bloody ‘ell…I think it’s �"‘’

‘’O’Brien, quite right young man.’’ A fourth voice popped up unexpectedly. They all froze, hearts hammering.

‘’What the f -.’’ Began Tommy in shock.

‘’Now,now lad’s. No need for vulgar language…have some respect for O’Brien there.’’ The jovial voice castigated them, as a rotund man stepped into the room, Gun raised.

‘’Mr Daws…what the hell are you doing?’’ Adam as shakily, never having had a gun pulled on him before. His mind whizzed. The gun bearin,g homeowner’s large round frame blocked the only way out of the underground room.

‘’Asks the man burgling my safe.’’ Drawled the newcomer sarcastically.

‘’Well yes’’ Stammered Tommy, ‘’but you have a corpse in your safe..what the f**k?...you were an English teacher…what the hell you doing with a body?’’ Tommy’s nerves came tumbling out in shocked amazement, unable to stop himself. After all, this man had taught them in school before going into the civil service.

‘’Well yes I do have a gun but that’s easily rectified, I don’t have a corpse however. Adam, go over to the boxes in the corner, there should be a gun under one of them, off you go, there’s a good lad.’’ Daw’s pointed his gun in the direction of the boxes, totally at ease, which was strange under the circumstances.

Adam walked to the boxes, he hadn’t noticed them until now. Shifting them about he eventually found the gun. Confused he picked it up tentatively.

‘’I’ve never fired a gun before..what do you want me to do with it Dawes..I’m a safecracker not a killer. I have morals you know!’’ Adam stated quite proudly.

‘’Well if your shooting skills are as great as your safecracking skills then you still will be at the end of this.’’ Dawes muttered, starting to look excited.

Tommy and Brandon had slunk into the shadows as though they could somehow protect them from any potential, ricocheting bullets.

Dawes was now openly smiling, just like he had when he had taught these very same boys English, just a few years ago.

‘’Now Adam, I’m afraid it appears you’re the killer, how about that! ‘’ Dawes proclaimed smugly.

‘’Huh…what do you mean Dawes!’’ A look of alarm crossed Adams face.

‘’Well let’s look at the facts shall we boys…your finger prints are all over, not only the safe, but the gun..the murder weapon. Which is empty by the way.’’ Dawes smug smile couldn’t have got any smugger if he tried.

‘’You don’t really think I would have let a known safecracker anywhere near my key accidently do you? Fools! ’’ The smugness had been replaced by a look of sheer contempt for these miscreants that he saw as beneath him. Adam took a threatening step forward.

‘’ your gun is empty, mine however is not. I would back up if I were you boy! ’’ Dawes growled in a threatening manner, stopping Adam in his tracks.

‘’You b*****d. You set us up!’’ Adam was scared but so angry he couldn’t stop himself. His body quivered with anger.

‘Well of course…you don’t expect a man of my position and integrity to get done for this, do you! When it’s so easy to get the blame put on idiots like you, that are a disgrace to society! ’’ Dawes was getting worked up, speaking through small, clenched teeth as his round cheeks reddened, and froth began forming at the corners of his thin lips. It was easy for the safecrackers to see how he had ended up killing someone. He was unhinged. Truly not seeing what he had done as worse than these small time crooks. In his world it was all somehow justified.

‘’So what now? ’’ Asked Tom, Stepping from the shadows, trying to break the tension that was palpable in the air.

‘’Well lads..you can leave and I ring the Police, you can stay and I ring the police. Or there’s the third option. You dispose of the body and we never speak of this again.’’ Mr Affable was back. The tension began to dissipate.

Adam sighed deeply and hung his head.

‘’Not much of a choice Dawes but I’ll take the third. Give us a sheet. We will dispose of him immediately.’’ Adams face was tight with anger and frustration at knowing how backed into a corner they were. Not a place he liked to be. The other boys looked at him. They would go with whatever he decided, he knew that.

Dawes smiled, tension leaving his body.

‘’Excellent choice Adam. I always knew you were a good decision maker, hence I chose you! ’’ Stepping smartly from the room, he left to get the sheet.

 

Between the three of them they easily wrapped and placed the body in the car they had arrived at Dawes home in, hoping to leave with a pile of cash. Instead the odour of death seeped through every crevice of the car. They had been driving for about fifteen minutes in silence. Each going over the unexpected and precarious events in his mind. Tom nervously worrying at the frays on his cap.

Suddenly Adam stopped the car in a quiet lane. The backs of what appeared to be offices showed dimly in the night. Dark windows staring down on the car.

‘’Why we stopped here for?’’ Brandon asked nonplussed.

‘’You’ll see. Come on lads!’’ Adam replied, a look of determination set hard in his eyes.

‘’We going in there?’’ Tom inquired. Still not understanding just what plan Adam had in mind.

We crack safes for a living. These flimsy doors ain’t gunna be a bother are they!’’

Tommy and Brandon shared a look of confusion but immediately set to work on the back entrance door.

 

They had carried the body into an office and wedged the body into a semi-empty work cupboard. On switching their torches on it became obvious where they were. Pictures of Dawes with important people were placed everywhere; David Cameron, George Osborne and the like. This was his place of work. Blue was everywhere, it couldn’t have been more Torified if it tried. The boys looked around in wonder.

‘’It’s why he killed O’Brien lads. Biggest competition wasn’t he no doubt!’’ Adam said as he secreted the gun in the big expensive desk that dominated the room.

‘’But Ad…the prints…’’ Brandon said, a worried expression creasing his features.

Smirking, Adam began pulling off the transparent latex gloves, smile getting even bigger as the others cottoned on.

‘’yea of course..you can’t see these buggers can you. Even I had forgotten we were wearing ‘em. Come on, let’s get gone!’ Brandon was back to his optimistic self, grinning from ear to ear.

‘’Yea, time to get shot of the car I’m afraid boys. Can’t keep that now, but never mind. Better to lose a car than our freedom right?’’ Adam carefully closed all the doors correctly, making sure no damage had been done.

‘’Oh yea, can I have the pleasure of the anonymous call to the police?’’ Tom asked, an edge of excitement in his voice.

‘’Yea, why not…cheeky b*****d. Trying to set us up. That man’s got no morals at all! ’’ Laughed Adam as they drove off to the lake.

Author's Note

FIRST TIME I HAVE TRIED SOMETHING A TAD BIGGER WITH MORE CHARACTERS AND MOVEMENT, DIALOGUE ETC SO PLEASE FREE TO LET ME KNOW OF ANY COCK UPS IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT. THANK YOU :)

Reviews

[Workvio]

A very cutely ingenious, action packed, bit of a mystery and crime gone awry for the bad guy type of story that is penned exquisitely well, holding the reader's attention from first line to last, with dialogue that flows ever so smoothly, and narrative the causes the reader be swept away within your imagination envisioned as a movie theater in his mind's eye ... Excellent story, well done ...

[hcarson]

Thank you so much marvin, your comments are extremely appreciated, glad u liked it :)

[Wolf_Lord]

Awesome Barry... I love the twist at the end. Length is perfect. Not too much, not too little. It grips you from the first and carries you all the way to the end.
Wolf_Lord ,'', ^@@^ ,'',

[hcarson]

aww thank you wolf_lord, im glad you liked it, thank you so much for your response, much appreciated :)

[Wolf_Lord]

My friends call me Wolf :)

[hcarson]

as i just accepted your request does that mean i get to call you wolf :)

[Wolf_Lord]

Of course, or Anthony as the spirit may strike you... But I prefer Wolf. ,'', ^@@^ ,'',

[Wolf_Lord]

By the way... The thing I really loved most about this story, was the Karma... Lol... I love a good Karma story. ,'', ^@@^ ,'',

[hcarson]

oh yea...they may have been thiefs but he was a tory...thats way much worse...ooh and a murderer ;) i have a few karma stories, a wiah come true is another one :)

[Robert Parlange]

Lately, on this website, I've been chastised as being “too positive” (I didn't think such a thing was possible), but I'm going to risk the wrath of the prima donnas here and say this was a very good short story. All of the elements are there: the hook, the beginning, middle, and end. The characters were interesting and true-to-life. You handled the dialogue well. You might want to work on the speech tags a little more. Dialogue is tricky. Remember dialogue is for character development and for advancing the story.

I liked the ending. The bumbling thieves was a good idea and the notion that they had their own set of morals was funny.

Good work. Oh, yea, don't worry about putting stuff on the website. This is a good place to get things out. Take advantage of it. No one is judging. Well, maybe some people are, but just ignore them.

[hcarson]

Thank you Robert...like you, I'm a tad confused at being too positive..if you like a worknthen why not express it and vice versa...thasts what I'm here for anyway. I want to know the good and badin my writing and idead as i want to improve it.as they say, honesty is the best policy :) is there any advice you could give me on the speech tags? No probs if not i still very much appreciate what you have written. I hadjt done one before in this manner..usually it is one or two people..sometimes the second not actually even in it so i was unsure of how to go about it kinda just hoped for the best lol.thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment very much apprciated :)

[BookWorm]

Awesome! Could totally be blown into a full book. I absolutely love it, it has the wheel turning in my head for my own story. You should continue this on!!!

[hcarson]

Thank you bookworm....you have my cogs turning now....we should do a chapter each and see where the story ends up :)

[Inject Positivity]

1) the descriptions about situations were very perfect for the reader understand
2) the characters seems alive in whole story
3) the dialogues are indeed made the story catchy and easy to understand
4) the whole plot of the story was brilliant
5) nicely thought out and beautifully presented

i found it very enjoyable and the story caught my eyes.... the twist at the start was brilliant. im glad that you posted it. clappings!!!!! full ratings dear authoress....

[hcarson]

Thank you, your comments are much apprieciated :)

[Sir Drift & Mr. Pulse]

Evil nasty Dawes, I like! I like alot! sure a little more playing with the characters, you have about 4 of them, when having a large cast in a short story they have to stick out with something they say or do that readers will know who they are without needing to say he said or she said, out of all I really liked it.

[hcarson]

Thank you for your comments :) i really wasnt sure if i should upload it or not to be honest. Your right about the charactors def need a bit of work...should have fun doing it tho.once again thsnk you :)