Our New Home: Our New Home, #3

By Richard Sheppard

Dick receives his new mode of transport and his new home is eventually completed. All that remains is for him to fetch those people from around the world, who he has chosen to ensure the suevival of the human race, before an intergalatic war breaks out. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard Sheppard
• Release date: Sep 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386349648

Book preview

Our New Home

Book Three

by

Richard Norman Sheppard

Contents

Warning

Chapter

One - (a) The Lucky Thirty-Four

    (b) Sword of Damocles  

Two - (a) Training Days

    (b) Dick’s Next History Tutorial

Three - First Airborne Squadron

Four - (a) The Scottish Connection  

(b) Further Knowledge

Five - (a) The Holiday

(b) Organised Punch-Up

Six - (a) The Search

(b) The Argentine Area 51

Seven - (a) The Party

(b) Security Concerns

Eight - The Great Anticipated Delivery  

Nine - Mid-Air Refuelling Personnel  

Ten - (a) The Final Drawings  

- (b) Dick’s Squadron

Eleven - Their First Ever Air-show

Twelve - The New Zealand Encounter

Thirteen - (a) The UFO Escort

(b) Food For Thought

Fourteen - (a) The Final Push

(b) Whirlybirds

Fifteen - The Pickup

Sixteen      - The Decisive Conflict

Climax  

Epilogue

Warning

Authors suggested age restriction – 15

This trilogy contains some:-

violence,

blue language,

sexual connotations,

and religious references throughout,

which some people may find offensive.

Our New Home – Book 3

Chapter 1

(a) The Lucky Thirty-Four

COMETH THE DAY, cometh the hour, cometh the delivery of the motors for the four Airbus A400Ms at the Airbus factory in France. Early that morning both Dick and Phil flew down to Maitland Airport to collect the sixteen motors for the remaining Airbus aircraft Dick was waiting for. Mick had organised two of his best mechanics to travel with him to not only help install the motors but to train the Airbus mechanics for any further installations which may transpire. After loading the sixteen motors, Dick spoke with the rest of Mick’s staff and made sure Deon was there.

Right guys, remember I said to you to enjoy yourselves while you can because once the other aircraft are here your holiday period would be over? Well I’m glad to say your relaxation period is almost at an end. What you guys must do is to organise the relevant space required in the hangars to accommodate all five aircraft.

How you go about doing this is up to you because it’s your workspace and, therefore, up to you how you plan the floor space. All I want is five operational A400Ms. If, however, that does not happen, you will have to answer to Mick and should I feel he does not get the necessary required response from you, you will have to answer to me and gentlemen, you do not under any circumstances want that to happen for I'm not joking, he said, and pondered for a while as he scanned those who were there.

He continued Work with me and you will reap the benefits, but if you work against me… now remember what I’m about to say… but work against me, I assure you, you will regret the day we ever met. Now you can take this advice as if it were from a loving father or, you can go down the road and take advice from some or other arsehole but, once again, that's up to you.

Should you not like what you hear from me or if you don’t like how I express myself,... then please, hand in your resignation and go work for that same arsehole down the road who will be a million percent worse than me. If it's contentment you seek and if you feel you'll be better off there, then go and work for him, he rebuked Now I need you to bear this in mind. In a few shorts years, and if you still work here, you will reap the benefits. Questions?

Yes, Mr Shepherd. What are those benefits? a voice asked.

I cannot let on what it is, but I can assure you it’s something no one else anywhere on this planet can offer or give to you. However, I guarantee you, you will not be sorry. So please, for the moment all I ask is you trust me on this matter and you work with me… not for me, but with me… Okay? Right, any more questions?

There weren’t any and the only thing he heard was the odd shuffle of the shoes on the concrete floor with a cough here and there.

During Mick’s absence, Dick continued if there’s anything you require, but I mean anything, just ask. Should you be unsure who you should ask, please go to the reception desk and they will point you in the right direction. Now I believe Mick has put someone in charge while his away. Correct?   

Yes, that will be me, Mr Shepherd.

Good, and what’s your name?

It’s William, Mr Shepherd.

Now that’s a good name. That was my late father’s name, so you and I might get on well together.

I hope so, sir.

Dick thought for a moment whether he should correct William about the ‘sir’ part, but decided against it for he had been harsh on the poor guys. Better that approach than the one the government adopt regarding the onslaught of the so called refugees from certain unstable states and other countries. No point in pussyfooting around like they do. Show them up front who the boss is and there will never be a problem. Simple and effective.

Will the government ever learn by this approach? Dick thought Never,... well not by those who are running the country.

He didn’t worry about it too much for he realised those boneheaded politicians would not be around for very much longer, anyway. Would they be around to see out their own current term? Once again, Dick didn’t care, however, the sooner they were no longer on the scene, the better for everyone.

Mmmm… perhaps planet Earth would benefit more without them, he said to himself.

As there was more than enough space to load two small cars into the loading bay, Dick instructed Mick they were there for them to get around with which would give them independence. As he decided they would travel back to Maitland Airport after making the delivery, he invited the rest of the mechanics to travel along. Everything loaded on-board and strapped down, they prepared for their take-off run, to start their journey to France. Julia, Mick and Helen sat up front in the cockpit while the others sat in the cargo bay area.

Although the skies were clear it was, however, bumpy on the way. Once they had landed there were plenty of ground crew to help them off-load and store the motors in the correct hangar. When Mick had completed overseeing this, he got their luggage and popped the cases into one car while the other two mechanics did the same.

When finished, Dick and company were back in the air on their way to Maitland Airport because although John and Allan weren’t there, he could not hold back any longer in hiring co-pilots as they would need them soon. By doing this it meant William and the remaining mechanics could give the plane a once-over thus easing their boredom.

Back in the office, Dick and Phil pored through all the paper trails John and Allan had created and they came upon a substantial list of probables. So armed with names and numbers, they phoned the likely candidates to hopefully plan an interview date with them, provided they were still interested in the job.

So how many are we going to hire right now? Phil asked I mean, we should have a complete complement of pilots and co-pilots once the VC10s are here.

Yes, I think we must hire all of them now to take over the realm of the Airbus once we, that is you, me, Kerri Ivan, John and Allan move across to the VC10s. So for the moment, we would have an extra co-pilot on board each A400M, but that’s no problem.

Okay, if my calculations are correct, Phil said we will need four jet powered engine co-pilots for the eventual transition to the VC10s. Also, we will need to hire five turboprop specialist pilots and co-pilots,... correct?

Mmmm… well according to my calculations, you and I have come to the same conclusion so yes, that’s sounds like our complement.

Phil continued I'll rummage through some of this paperwork and see what I come up with.

I’ll join you. Why don’t we sit at the meeting room table and spread everything out?

Good idea, Phil agreed.

They scattered the mound of paperwork around the meeting room table and scrutinised each sheet in search of potential employees. As they identified a particular person with their particular qualifications, they put it on one pile, and this they did until they ended up with five different piles in all. This took them some time to accomplish.

Shouldn’t we only have three piles? asked Phil.

I would have thought so, but hey-hoe, let’s see what we’ve got and start the elimination process.

They continued to handle the paperwork identifying those who were best suited for the available positions on the aircraft and this too took a while to accomplish, but at least they had the three piles they were hoping for. Pile number one represented co-pilots for the VC10s, while pile number two were pilots for the A400Ms and pile number three were co-pilots for the A400Ms.

Bloody hell, what a process, Dick said We've turned an easy task into one almighty headache.

Yes, Phil replied with a smile but at least we are closer to a final closure.

How many are in that pile?

Ten candidates for the VC10 co-pilots seat.

Well compared to these two piles, your quantity is much lower. I’ve got twenty one pilots and thirty nine co-pilots.

And what’s that pile over there? asked Phil.

Those are for file thirteen but I don’t have a waste paper basket here, so I’ll discard them later.

Perhaps we should hang onto them for a while in case we discover someone not suitable in amongst what we've got. If that happens, we may just find our man in amongst this lot.

Yes, I agree.

As they shared the quantity between them, so began the long tedious task of contacting the hopefuls. This took them the rest of the day, plus the next two days as well for it didn’t just happen each time they dialled a number they got through, and if they did, it didn’t mean the person they wanted to speak to was there. However, at the end of the long marathon, they put their heads together to find out what they had accomplished.

I’ve got all ten candidates for an interview for the co-pilot position on the VC10, Phil said plus I’ve got, what seems to be, a good seventeen out of the twenty-one pilots you gave me and one out of four co-pilots. What about you?

Well for me, only eleven out of thirty-five candidates for the co-pilots position look okay, but I suppose it’s better than having that huge amount we started off with.

Fantastic. I take it for the purpose of interviewing we are still going to ask all seventy to attend?

Yes, Dick affirmed for information on a piece of paper is one thing and face-to-face is a different scenario. So we take it from there and whittle away at what we don’t want.

When are we going to start the interviews?

We should have all of them here on the same day, Dick replied and all of us can have a turn in interviewing them. Also, the stronger candidates must have a go in the simulator, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

Pass over your lot. I take it they’ve all got e-mail addresses?

Yes they have.

Okay, I’ll set up an e-mail with all their names entered and when you have a date for the interview, I’ll send them on their way.

Oh… ermm… let’s see. A good day would be in three days’ time, the fifteenth, that is.

Good, shall I send the invitation e-mails off to them now? asked Phil.

Yes please, and after the interviews, and once we've sorted out who we will hire, with the left overs, I’ll get someone to send them a letter to say they weren’t successful but we’ll keep their info on file for a few months.

Agreed,... sounds like the decent enough thing to do and more than what most businesses do today. They ignore the unsuccessful candidate altogether.

Yes, despicable behaviour that but, typical corporate world practices, Dick replied Okay, let’s get our arses into gear because we must collect that other mob in Reykjavik tomorrow.  

What time are we leaving? Phil asked, and Dick said The boat docks at midday, so they may be off by one, one thirty, and be at the airport by two, so we’d better leave here by no later than ten o’clock tomorrow morning.

Okay, are we going to call it a day?

Yes, but first I’m going to inform Deon about tomorrow, after which I’ll be off.

Right, I’ll see you here tomorrow at what, eight bells?

Yes, I’ll see you then. Cheers for now and thanks for all your help, said Dick.

By 8:00 a.m. the following morning they were both there and as Mick’s staff were also there, they pushed the plane out of the hangar and once parked, Dick thanked them and did the outside checks. Satisfied, he entered the cockpit and the two of them did the inside checks together and by the time the ground crew were happy, they handed the aircraft over to Dick and Phil. Dick left the cockpit for a moment, stepped off the plane, and while looking at the ground crew, he motioned them over.

What’s your itinerary for today?

While you are away, William replied we'll carry on with clearing the space we need once the other aircraft arrive, although there isn’t much left to do.

Okay, if you like you guys can jump on-board and come with us, but before we go, I’d like to give you some advice. You don’t have to take it but if you do, I’d like you to pass it on to the other chaps when they get back and any new staff Mick hires, said Dick.

He continued. Always aim high and believe in yourself. Use your brain and be ready to go, and finally. Never quit and always expect to win. If you remember this and put it into practice, you’ll go far. Okay, shall we climb onboard? We should be back by four thirty, so enjoy your day, Dick said, and without so much as a hint of hesitation, and as they did a few days ago, they were all on-board.

William, pick one other person and the two of you can join us in the cockpit. However, on the way back that won’t be possible, so be wise with your choice.

Where are we going to, Mr Shepherd? asked a voice.

Reykjavik, but we won’t be touring around; we're going there to fetch a few people, so sit back and enjoy yourselves and William, when you’re ready, come up to the cockpit but don’t be too long as take-off is only in a little while. The rest of you, when we at cruising height you can walk about, even pop your head in at the cockpit, but not all at once please.

Thanks Mr Shepherd.

By the time he had set his seat belt, the other two entered the cockpit. These blokes didn’t have much to do, so I invited them along.

Hello you two, Phil said buckle up as we are about to leave.

Wheels up was after 10:00 a.m., but Dick wasn’t too fazed. They took a little under two-and-a-half hours to get there, and as they parked the aircraft, onlookers surrounded them because when they spoke to the control tower, the manager in charge spread the word and many enthusiasts had to come and view the aircraft.

Dick immediately said to William he and the boys were to converse with as many of the people who were there and to answer as many questions as they could, and to the best of their ability. If they got stuck, they were to send the person to either Phil or himself.

When the intrepid sailors arrived, a sea of people surrounding the plane greeted them and they had to battle with their luggage in and out of the crowd to get onboard. Once they were on, Dick found security people and asked them to move the enthusiasts away as they were ready to depart.   

Dick closed the ramp, all the while waving goodbye to the crowd, secured it in place and found he had the chance to say hello to the new arrivals. Once the tower gave them take-off clearance they trundled down the runway, and when airborne, Dick flew the aircraft back over the airport and noticed the big crowd watching and waving them goodbye at the same time.

Who’s in the mood for flying?

I am daddy.

Dick got up and vacated his chair for his daughter to take over and he left Phil in the P2 seat. He made his way down to the loading bay area because that’s where John, Allison, Allan and Emma were downing a beer, remnants of the last major trip.

Hey, I didn’t realise we had leftovers? Dick said and Allan handed one over. Ta,... cheers and welcome back. Have the other boys got one?

Dick turned and beckoned the six mechanics over to help themselves, which they did, and told them to stay as he wanted to advise them what had transpired in the last few days and what would happen within the next few days.

The reason I need you guys to know this as well is because once those pilots and co-pilots are here; you too will work with them as you do with me, and everyone else, for that matter, Dick said to the mechanics, and they clinked bottles.  

He turned his attention to the intrepid sailors, and asked Have you four overcome your nasty ordeal from two weeks ago, for which I apologise?    

Yes we have, John replied Kerri spent quite a lot of time with us, as did Joel and they’ve put us at ease as we now understand what’s going on. So I don’t suppose it matters anymore, does it?  

Well in that case, I’ll drink to that, Dick said I take it the Three Must Have Beers are looking forward to the rest of their trip?

They are, replied Allison.

For the rest of the flight they all spoke to each other about the new aircraft, and Dick was glad about that because it meant the ground crew had a good old chinwag with some pilots. Dick didn’t have another beer, but the others did, and touchdown at Maitland was 5:35 p.m. where the outside temperature was seven degrees Centigrade.  

Put the bird to sleep and let’s start afresh tomorrow, Dick said, and there were no objections.

The following day both Dick and Phil spent almost all of it recapping the interviewees who would be there the next day. They hired seating plus a board on which to write, just in case, and the place where they erected all and sundry was close to the simulator. There would also be enough supply of bottled water, tea, coffee and biscuits for they had no idea how long it would last. That night, Dick decided he would see if he could get pissed, however, he consumed as much as he liked, it didn’t happen.

The next morning they, together with Kerri, Ivan, John and Allan, were please because everyone they spoke to turned up, and on time. It was also a pleasant surprise for them for although most of them did not work with one another they did know each other from the past, be it the RAF or commercial or even private. The main thing was most of them knew each other.

Dick started the interview session at 7:00 a.m. sharp and by 8:00 a.m., Phil stood up to give them an insight to his designed motor. Afterwards, Dick invited John to come up to introduce himself and, on behalf of himself and Allan, to inform them how they ended up with Dick and his band of fly-boys. John’s information was not without its humour.

After spending one hour with the interviewees, they split up into smaller groups. Eleven people would be with Kerri, Ivan, Phil, John and Allan while Dicks compliment was fifteen, and because of all the office space, Dick instructed them to grab their chair and follow the person they were assigned to.

Once in the offices, the interview continued and because Dick had the larger amount, but because he was the boss, he used the simulator first. As his preference was to give all the interviewees a chance, he decided each one would have only eight minutes. Although the time seemed little, it would be more than enough to give him an idea how good each individual was.

Dick needed fourteen as an immediate fulfillment quantity, however, he would need thirty-four in total to allow for two competent crews for all the long haul journeys. Towards the end of a long tiring day, he had whittled down the original quantity of seventy to forty-nine and asked them to be there again the next day. All the others he thanked and said he would keep their names and contact details, together with their score, for the next year.

At seven o’clock the following morning everyone was there and after a cup of hot brew, Dick and the gang were into the hopefuls once again but this time they could afford them more time in the simulator, twelve minutes each to be exact. Although it was only a few extra minutes each it was, however, more than enough for Dick and company to decide who the actual final thirty-four would be.

At days end he, once again, had to inform the unsuccessful candidates about the bad news while informing the lucky thirty-four to be there at seven o’clock in the morning. They would spend time getting to know the company and what they were about. Once hired, which would take only three days, the hard graft would begin.

Daddy, I don’t care what Ivan thinks but I want two of the females on my watch, she said and upon hearing this, everyone seemed to chuckle at Ivan’s downfall. This was not the first time something like that had happened to the poor lad.

Although Dick found himself to be busy he did, however, get restless for he thought everyone he had out there running the Company for him might rebel and put him out of business, but as the silly idea entered his mind, he discarded it. Where the hell did that idiotic notion come from? he asked himself.

(b) Sword of Damocles

Dick once again got bored, and couldn’t understand why, so he decided it was time to visit the drugs boss and his family, who lived in Ukraine. His reason being he wanted to get to them before they could yet again get to his family for who knows, perhaps this time they might get lucky. That was something he wanted to prevent so to crush his boredom, he toyed with the idea for a while and wondered if he should involve his daughter with this pursuit and decided to get the advice from his trusted friend. In a flash, Joel arrived in a way only he can.

Yes, get Kerri involved with your pursuit. No point in splitting up the dynamic duo, is there? May I suggest you get there first, deal with the one main boss and once you have, I’ll bring Kerri to support you.  

I knew there was a reason I should get your opinion. Okay, let’s do this.

And when do you want to do this, as you say? Joel asked Dick.

For me, now is as good a time as any.

Okay, assume the position.

Pardon, Dick exclaimed by trying to be funny.

You know what I mean.

Dick understood what he meant and so with holding his little friends hand, in no time at all he found himself in a hallway of a rather large house and Joel pointed to a door as he disappeared. Dick understood the cue, opened the door and, behaving like a church mouse, walked in. He entered a large and plush room which could only be an office for there was no way any family anywhere in the world would use it as just another room in the house for all and sundry to use.

The furnishing was of most expensive wood and leather and, if not stolen, looked like they purchased the chandeliers from Christie’s Auction house. Crystal glasses and decanters were on top of pure silver trays and the trays placed in perfect alignment with everything around them in the room. In some cases they were placed on top of a few rather large mahogany chest-of-draws or wall units.

The attention to detail was beyond comprehension for this was something Dick never expected to find from a major drugs dealer living in a country such as Ukraine. He realised one should never underestimate the power of these people, the drugs cartel, or whatever they referred to themselves as being, or what they were capable of, or how they lived.

Because he entered the office on the quiet side, he did not disturb the lone person sitting behind the desk at the far end of the room and the desk was so huge; he worked out if he put it in his office, he could only have one visitor at a time in there with him.

Now that’s not a bad idea, he said to himself and had a quiet chuckle.

Dick stood there for a while absorbing the layout of the room and for whatever reason, he didn’t know, but he stood there and gazed at the person. Age wise, he guessed if he was older than him, it couldn’t be by many years, maybe one or two perhaps, but no more. He had a rather large head and although clean shaven, he tried ever so hard to have a Hitler type moustache. He also had a definite receding hairline and Dick couldn’t help notice the size of the bloke’s hands for they were enormous.

I wonder if the Neanderthal plays cricket, he thought.

His eyes were drawn towards the artefacts which hung on the walls, among them were many a stuffed head of various animals, something Dick was more than opposed to. For the first time in his life; he saw a design of a Sword of Damocles hanging on the wall behind the bloke and wondered if he used it as a sense of foreboding engendered by a precarious situation, especially one in which the onset of tragedy is restrained only by a delicate trigger of chance,… or not.

Mmmm… uneasy lays the head that wears the crown, Dick mused.

Dick’s eyes were once more drawn towards the huge desk and he noticed a pistol which was within easy reach of the blokes enormous right hand. So he decided he’d better play his cards right otherwise this bloke might be trigger-happy, although he didn’t allow it to bother him to much. He made his move and walked towards what he could only think was… the head of the family.

Stupid cliché, he mumbled to himself.

As he approached, the bloke looked up in astonishment and immediately went for the pistol and sat there while sizing up the situation. He asked the first question in a heavy, deep throated English accent but from where, Dick could not work it out and even wondered why the bloke spoke in English.  

Who the fuck are you and how the fuck did you get into my house?

Easy now with that gun and give me a chance to explain myself.  

Why the fuck should I? the head of the family barked.

Come, let us reason together, Dick said for if we don’t, you’ll never know who I am, why I’m here, or how I got into your house. So will you at least give me a few minutes to explain myself, after all, you are the one with the gun?

You’ve got two minutes… then I kill you.

Thank you, Dick replied while remaining all calm and collected. I need you to understand I’m not a frightened man and I always tell the truth and always will. I’m not a bad man, and never have been, but what you and your family have been doing to me and my family, well… you have turned me into a bad man,... a terrible man.

What the fuck are you on about? said the furious so-called head of the family.  

Please allow me to continue and all will become clear and I also need you to absorb what I’m about to tell you. I see the pistol you’re aiming at me is a forty-five Beretta. It’s a powerful hand gun, and from that range you cannot miss.

If you pull the trigger, and I know you will, I advise you I can control the trajectory of the bullet. Also, while on its journey towards me, I will turn it into a tumbling motion and guide it on a course towards your forehead. As it reaches your forehead, it will crack open your head to make an entry into your skull's cavity area and before it exists on the other side, and because of its tumbling motion, it will take a sizeable amount of your grey matter with it, causing your instant death.

Fuck you; I’ve had enough of your shit, he said, and with that, the so-called head of the family pulled the trigger and as he did so, and because of the angle at which the bullet exited the back of his skull, the blood and grey matter immediately splashed all over the Sword of Damocles.

Wow… what a shot, Dick said out loud, and because he couldn’t contain himself he jumped up and punched the air with his right fist.

As he marvelled at this new found act, at the same time he watched as the blokes head reeled backwards and because of the amount of force, and the angle at which the blokes body was in, it flung itself forward again and smashed onto, what Dick thought to be, a lovely desk.

As this happened, Joel appeared with Kerri in tow. Oh hello you two, you missed a brilliant shot. It’s the best billiards shot I’ve ever played in my life.

Okay calm your excitement. The trouble is about to enter that door, so get ready, Joel said and disappeared.

Before father and daughter could exchange niceties or etiquette the door burst open and in ran five Ukrainian body guards and before they could work out what had happened to their boss, the fifth guy stood there as he watched Kerri and her father dispatch his comrades to never-never-no-return-land in a split second. Kerri grabbed the fifth bloke by the throat and threw him towards her dad and he stood there aghast, and while shitting himself, wondered what the hell he had witnessed and what his fate would be.

Not all that long ago one of your family members was attacked in England and sent home in only his trousers. Do you know this person? Dick asked in a civilised manner.

The chap stood there, trembling, and because of this he found it hard to answer the question. Kerri joined in on the fun and unceremoniously grabbed him by his family jewels and squeezed. Although he could feel the increase in pressure she did, however, do it slowly.

You’d better answer my father’s question, otherwise you might end up having your quail egg size balls for breakfast.

No, no, no, no, wait… I’m… please… no… please... stop. I’ll… I’ll tell you what you want to know, he said, and Kerri removed her hand from his balls and stood back. Yes I know him. His name is Igor.

Blimey, now that’s a name, Dick mused.

That’s his uncle and his name is Alexander.

Pointless… that means nothing, Dick thought.

You mean... was, said Kerri.

What? he asked in a nervous voice.

Never mind, she replied.

Is he the boss of all bosses? Dick asked the shaking body standing in front of him.

Errmmm… I… ermm… I…, he mumbled but before he could carry on with his ‘erm-ing’, he let out an almighty scream as Kerri grabbed hold of his balls and squeezed, but only just enough.

Nooooo… his brother is the big boss… pleaasssseeeee, he squealed as he doubled over with pain. Once again, Kerri released her grip from the terrified body guards balls.

And where does he live? Dick asked the ever trembling weasel of a man.

I don’t know the address but I can take you there.

If you don’t know the address, how the hell can you take us there? Kerri asked, and he said I… please… I only know how to get there… I don’t know the name of the house… or number… I don’t even know the name of the road… please… I know it sounds stupid but it’s true.

Okay, who else is in this house, and don’t bullshit me otherwise I’ll ask my daughter to squeeze your balls until they burst… зpoзyMiTᴎ?

Yes sir, I understand. There’s Alexander’s mother, daughter, brother and his wife. That’s all sir, I swear.

I don’t want you to swear, I only want you to tell me the truth.

That’s the truth, sir.

And where in the house are they?

They’re all in the dining room, replied the squirming idiot.

What about servants or housekeepers?

No sir, they’re not here tonight as it’s their night off, sir.

Good… you want to do the honours? Dick asked his daughter.

Kerri didn’t need a second invitation for she accepted her father’s offer and snapped the chaps neck before he even knew it.

They cased the joint and came upon a rather large safe. I wonder what’s in there? asked Kerri.

Open it and find out.

I don’t know… she said but stopped for she remembered what had happened before, so she opened it.

All right, what’s in there? her father asked as he carried on casing the joint.

It's money and,… diamonds, yes diamonds. Wait a moment,... there’s Krugerrand in here. A shit load, but I mean... a shit load.

Right, when we’ve done with this crappy family, we’ll come back here and take the lot. How’s that sound?

Ohhhhh… wonderful, daddy. Let’s get going, shall we?

Okay, it’s the dining room first, then we go to the other house.

How are we going to get there? she asked her father.  

By car.

But the chap is dead, and he knew how to get us there.

Not to worry sweetie-pie. Your old man read his mind, so we can go it alone.

You read his mind? How did you manage to…? Oh never mind, let’s go.

They found their way through the home and true to form, the family the dead body guard said would be there, were. So they, saying nothing, went about their business and in no time at all, more death roamed the inside of the house, or was it a mansion? Whatever it was, they would be back to collect their spoils.

Outside, they found their way to the huge garage and inside, found old and new cars where all of them were in excellent nick.

Now that’s what I want in my collection, Dick said to Kerri as they stood at the open doorway.

What’s that daddy?

That over there. That GTO.

GTO?

Yes, a 1967 Pontiac GTO convertible and it’s painted in, what looks like, Brandy Wine red, and having plush Light Tan expensive leather upholstery,… what a pleasure. Now that bloke upstairs, no matter what he did for a living, he sure had a good taste in motor cars. Let’s find the keys, he said, and they searched the garage.    

Kerri found what looked like a key safe hanging on the wall. Daddy, look at this.

He saw the key safe and without a word, punched it and the door flew open. It displayed a host of keys on key rings, and for the newer cars, keys with their fobs. The two of them tried to identify the right key for the car and through trial and error, they found the right set. But to their disbelief, there wasn't any petrol in the fuel tank.  

The utter bastard, he retorted He did that to stop people like us from stealing the bloody thing.

Okay, so now what?

All right my child, I don’t care how long it takes but we are taking that car. So find a jerrycan and a hose pipe and we can siphon out the petrol from the other cars and Bobs your aunty, we’re on our way.

Oh, as simple as that?

Yep, as simple as that. Shall we get cracking?

Although they found a pipe, they only found a five litre plastic container, and as it would take a while, Dick offered to do that if Kerri would rifle the spoils from the safe. So not having to suck on a dodgy bit of hosepipe to draw the petrol out from the tanks of the other cars, Kerri was more than willing to do so, even although she took a little longer than it did for her old man to put in enough petrol in the GTOs tank.

Shall we put all of this in the boot? she asked her petrol smelling father.

Yes, the less the people see, the better for us, he replied and on completion, asked Are you ready? and Kerri replied Yes and I can’t wait, so let’s go old man.

Mmmm... from what I can recall, that’s the first time she’s called me an old man. Yeah… I can live with that, I suppose, he said to