Killing Time by Stephen Leather

Author:Stephen Leather [Leather, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-10-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

Archie rolled out of bed and started his exercise regime. Press-ups, sit-ups and some stretching, then he shaved and showered and pulled on clean clothes. He sat down on the bed and picked up the wooden box. He opened it, emptied the contents out on to the bed and then clicked open the secret compartment. His jaw fell when he saw that it was empty. He frowned, unable to believe what he was seeing. The velvet bag was missing. He rubbed the back of his neck. He’d opened the bag the previous morning and the bag had been there then. He had emptied out the rings and they had all been there. ‘Bastard,’ he muttered. He replaced the compartment, put the items back in the box and placed it on the bedside table. ‘Bastard,’ he repeated.

He headed to the dining room. Everton was just putting plates down in front of Charlie and Billy. Scrambled eggs and wafer thin slices of cooked ham. Archie sat down and smiled up at Everton. ‘Eggs florentine, my man,’ he said.

Everyone frowned. ‘Say what now?’

‘Spinach and poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce served on a fluffy English muffin.’

Everton grinned behind his face screen. ‘You kill me, Archie.’

‘That could be arranged.’

‘Scrambled eggs?’

‘Just toast, mate.’

As Everton headed to the kitchen, Archie leaned towards Charlie and Billy. ‘That bastard Connolly has stolen my rings.’

‘Your trophies?’ asked Billy.

‘No mate, my cock rings. Yes of course my fucking trophies.’

‘You’re joking,’ said Billy.

‘Well if I am you’ll have a long wait for the punchline. They were there yesterday afternoon. He must have taken them when he started his shift and we were having our tea.’

Charlie swore. ‘I knew that Mrs Woodhouse wouldn’t do anything. She doesn’t give a fuck.’

‘We should tell the police,’ said Billy.

Archie looked at him in disgust.

Billy looked down. ‘Sorry.’

‘We have to do something,’ said Charlie.

Archie nodded. ‘Tell me about it.’

‘We can get them back,’ said Charlie.

Archie grimaced. ‘How? He’ll have taken them home and we don’t know where he lives.’

‘We can find out.’

‘How?’

Charlie grinned. ‘I have a cunning plan.’

They finished their breakfasts and headed out to the garden. ‘There she is,’ said Charlie, nodding towards Mrs Woodhouse who was sitting on a bench talking to one of the residents. ‘Looks like she’ll be there for a while. Come on.’

They went back inside and along the corridor to Mrs Woodhouse’s office. As they reached the door, Sally came around the corner in full PPE, holding a mop and bucket. Billy flashed her a beaming smile. ‘Sally, I was looking for you,’ he said.

‘What do you need, Billy?’

‘I’m out of toilet roll. Can you give me a new one?’

Sally frowned. ‘You had plenty this morning.’

‘I’ve had the runs. And I’m going to have to go again.’ He jiggled from foot to foot.

Sally grinned. ‘Okay, come on.’

Charlie waited until Sally and Billy had disappeared around the corner before opening the door to Mrs Woodhouse’s office and ushering Archie inside. ‘Keep a look out while I open her staff records,’ said Charlie, walking over to one of the filing cabinets.

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