Neuron Thief

By George G George

Anamnesis
Lenny Bell or Bell End as some people call him is just a small time burglar, having met a girl Sharon who after a brief sexual encounter wants him to break into a laboratory and steal a green case. Having completed this she turns on him and there meeting changes his life forever, but the consequences mean his old life is gone and now he has to start a new one. Being dragged back to the laboratory by a London gangster and his two sons, because he is paid to protect the place and takes great offence to what he'd done. He'd been tied and beaten he's strapped to an old Victorian headpiece and as a lightning storm hits he's shocked by one million volts. Having stopped is heart briefly they dump his body off Rochester bridge, he survives and is now looking for revenge on both Sharon and the Yorks. This search for revenge starts an unstoppable chain of events, and as he learns the shock has given him a new skill he calls Absorbing and one he must somehow control. While in search for revenge he meets and befriends Kevin Bishop a world class hacker and computer geek. Then he finds out that Sharon isn't really Sharon and she works for a government team called the Works, and to get to her he has to break into the super secure London Silver Vault.

• Language: English
• Publisher: George G George
• Release date: Jun 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463966112

George G George

Born Gary Richard Hagger in the East End of London in 1958 and having a standard school education, he left school and completed a three year apprenticeship in bricklaying, after which he joined the British Army, spending three years in the Royal Green Jackets 2nd Battalion, serving with Andy McNab in Armagh, Northern Ireland in 1979. After serving his time, Gary went back to bricklaying and then started running his own small company, leaving in 2000 to become a site agent for various companies, in that time he designed and built his own skis and bindings why? "simple I could not buy what I wanted so I designed and built them myself and still use them today" and at the age of 54 he retired and started writing.

Book preview

Neuron Thief

Bell End.

Lenny Bell or as he's sometimes called Bell End is 26 years old. 6' tall medium build with a small button nose, thin lips and soft green eyes he has dark ginger hair and he could charm the hind legs off a donkey, with an easy going nature. Lenny would call himself the reverse Houdini, he could break into anything while Houdini could only break out. Not exactly true but close enough for him. He is one of the few thieves that moved seamlessly from hard locks to digital, spending hundreds of hours working on hardware and software. If he couldn't buy what he needed he'd make it, it helped having an IQ of 159. Although his headmaster at school had called him. The great underachiever. Another talent he had is languages and accents, he is able to talk in every British accent perfectly and speaks German. Russian. French. Spanish, Japanese, Arabic and Mandarin.

He has a liking for expensive clothes, jewellery, cars, and women. While he has a dislike for honest work so he steals for a living, in his mind as he only stole from companies, factories and not people he is a good guy, in fact, he hated people who nicked someone's personal stuff, the scum of the earth he would call them. Coming from a military family and as his dad had been the army middleweight champion, he had been taught to box doing quite well as a boy. Later he joined the army but unlike his dad who did the full 25 years, he was dishonourably discharged. It seems that he and the army just couldn't get on. That and the fact he'd stolen the regiments silver and sold it didn't help, they couldn't prove it but they knew he was the thief. Lenny for all his earners as he called them had never been caught by the police, he'd watched all the TV police shows and learned what not to do. The main reason he'd probably not been caught is that most of the earners he did were so small that they never bothered investigating most of them. If you go big then you attract a lot of attention, stealth is his preferred method of operating. He'd worked alone for years now, ever since his one and only time he partnered up with a bloke they almost got caught because of the bloke was a complete amateur and he vowed never again. Born in Colchester Barracks and having spent his younger years there, he now lives in Stepney London. Lenny knew all the main faces in the city, he's well known to the fences and other criminals. Never married even though every one of his age either is or had been. Kids, maybe he wasn't sure not that he cared as he never wanted kids. His one Achilles heel is women and one that has got him into more trouble than everything else he knows, sometimes he wished he was gay.

Women. Nothing but trouble.

Just the slightest of sounds tells Lenny that the lock is open, gentle he eases a gap in the door and silently slips in closing it after him. This is a first for him as he'd never broken into a laboratory before, he'd never known there was anything worth taking until now. The smell of spirits and cleaning fluid filled his nostrils, he knew there would be animals as this lab used them for experiments.

The cages he passed had mainly rats and other small rodents in, he stopped at the only one that had a small black long-haired puppy inside. Lenny smiled as it came up and whimpered, he cared little for humans but dogs that's different. They locked eyes for a moment and then he moved to the office a few yards away, the door is ajar and he heads to the metal cabinet where he knows the safe is. On the top of the cabinet is a weird and frightening piece of head gear, the piece reminded him of the type Victorians used in mental asylums, the leather skull cap has a long thick wire coming from the centre. There are ceramic discs around the edge and in the mouth of the dummy's head is round leather and wood roll which is attached to the head gear by a chain, he guessed is for biting down on. He couldn't resist trying it on, but quickly removed it as inside the helmet is a copper cone which hurt his head. Lenny thought whoever this bloke is he's a real freak nut to want something like that in his office.

The safe is a standard Burton Brixia Uno, nothing he couldn't open in a few seconds, placing what looked like a small calculator on the door he pushed the red button and waited. Moments later on the screen came a series of numbers, smiling at his little box of tricks Lenny punched them in and opened the door. He'd been told what to steal and against his better judgment he left the cash and took the green case out, opening it he checked the contents and closed everything up. Inside the case are 6 tiny glass bottles full of clear fluid and a hypodermic syringe. Suddenly there's a sound at the door, he freezes holding his breath as someone outside tries the handle. He waits not wanting to move and what seemed like hours but is only seconds, the sound of footsteps moving away allow him to breathe again. That was close, he thinks. What this woman wanted this shit for he had no idea, but as she is to date the best fuck he'd ever had and there is more to come it didn't matter to him. Lenny is just about to open the door and leave when the puppy whimpers sadly, taking a deep breath to steady himself he opens the door. A quick look through his thermal scope, which it showed nothing time to go, he's just about to close the door when the pup makes a pathetic sound. Zipping back in he grabs the pup shoving it inside his jumper, three minutes later and he's in the stolen van heading for some serious sex. Lenny looked at his phone as it lit up with a text, he pulled over and read the message. This is not what he'd agreed with Sharon, they were to meet back at her place and after a few hours of sex, he'd leave her with the case and a sore knob. Or at least that was his plan, but now she's changed it and he's not happy. The message said to meet her at Epping Station in two hours, she promised he'd be paid in full after the case had been given to her. It explained that the contents had to be carefully stored and that is more important than anything. As far he is concerned shagging is important not a few glass bottles in a green case. Still, he will get her to do some special things for this change in plan and he smiled to himself at the thought. Driving to the meeting point, Lenny started to get a bad feeling about this and as if she had some kind of psychic powers his phone rang.

Lenny babes everything alright? She purred like a cat on heat.

Yeah...yeah no worries on my way should be there in twenty mins Doll. Just then the pup growled.

What the fucks that? The panic in her voice made him stare at the phone before answering.

A dog, a small puppy dog that's all.

Oh...okay see you soon babes...and have I got a surprise for you. She giggled. Not as big one as I have for you. He said to himself.

With his mind at easy Lenny put some music on and sung along as he drove, heading down Bower Hill he turned in to Hillcrest Way and stopped at the back of the station. From behind a bush Sharon walked and she had a hard almost scary look on her face and what is that in she's holding? every alarm bell in his head went off at the same time.

Then he noticed the lights of a car coming up behind him and he saw the gun in her hand. Lenny, grabbed the pup and shot out of the driver's door, he crashed into the tree line scaled the fence and ran as fast as could. He crossed a small drive and then through more trees across another drive into a wooded area. Stopping to get his breath back he listened and heard nothing, he had purposely left the green case thinking that if they had that they'd not want him. Making his way towards Epping town he stayed at the back of all the gardens, it's late and he knew the police would stop him if seen. And that at the moment is his plan, he has nothing on him except the pup and let's face it everyone loves puppies even coppers. Lenny's simple plan is to use the law to protect him until he could get back home, he never took girls to his place. He used to until a girl's boyfriend found out they were shagging and came to his flat, he never got in but that was it for letting girls know where he lived. Sharon had only known a flat he rented for shagging, so he guessed they'd go there.

Epping being a posh area Lenny is sure there would be coppers prowling the town centre and he wasn't wrong as he watched a police car head his way. If he is to pull this rouge off he needed to smell of drink and luck is with him. In a shop door front, someone has left half a pint in a glass, not thinking about what he could catch he downed the contents. The police car is closing in as he sees Sharon and another bloke in a car heading towards him in the opposite direction. They are some hundred meters or so away as he locks eyes with her and she smiles, but not in a nice way. The car speeds up as Lenny staggers into the road right in front of the police car, he stands there and gives them the finger. They pull up in front of him as he turns to face Sharon smiling, she and her driver coast past and he hoped its the last time he sees her.

Problem sir? The policeman asks.

Me. Cunt..sto..ball. Lenny slurred in a Glaswegian accent.

Been drinking Jock? The other policeman said and smiled.

Just the one...officeeer. Which is in fact true.

Where you heading for mate?

Colchester. He lied.

The two policemen walked away talking softly, he isn't sure if they are going arrest him or just drive away which would be bad for him. He'd watched Sharon's car stop a few hundred meters away, they are clearly waiting to see what happens. Lenny overheard the two policemen discussing what to do with him, the first one wanted just leave him with a warning. The amount of paperwork to arrest him just didn't seem worth it, the other thought that it was. As they are talking Lenny notices the policeman pull up his shirt sleeve and he has a small Parachute Regiment tattoo on his arm. He can use this he hopes, they turn back to him and he starts his fake story.

I am heading to Colchester to an old army mate's funeral, not the same man since coming back from Afghanistan. They both looked at him and the para he could see had some sympathy for him.

Don't suppose you could give me a lift?

Do we look like Uber mate? The first police said, the other he thought is thinking about it.

You never served then, boys? Lenny staggered back hoping it would help.

We'll drop you off at Shenfield, you can get the train from there. The first copper shook his head at his mate but opened the rear door.

Lenny pretended to fall into the car as the first copper turned to him, you throw up in here son and I'll make sure you lick it up...got it? Lenny nodded as they past the parked car with Sharon in he watched them slowly pull out, for a moment he's safe but if they follow them to the station then he is back to where he started. He needed a plan and quick, his brain went into overdrive. It was then that the puppy made an appearance which caused both policemen to jump, and turn to face him.

Where the hell did that come from? The driver asked.

Present for my mate's wife something for her to care for as they ain't got no kids, hoping it will give her some comfort. He could lie at the drop of a hat and make it very plausible.

They drove for about ten minutes and as Lenny looked back, Sharon is still behind them. He made a point of looking back and making sure the man in the passenger seat saw him, he did it a couple more times before the policeman spoke.

Problem Jock?

Don't know...I don't come from around here but...But where I come from strangers don't follow police cars, in fact, they do the exact opposite...not this one though, hey but what do I know. He laughed drunkenly and slipped down the seat, he'd sown the seed.

Moments later and the policeman not driving used his rear view camera to get the license plate and put it through his computer system. Lenny acted like he is asleep, but he had his eye on the screen as the information came up. The policeman read it twice and then looked into the rear view camera again, as he whispered to the driver which Lenny heard.

Seems the car is owned by a lady of 84...that driver is no lady and one in the passenger seat is no way 84. The driver nodded.

You contact Steve and Martin, they are normal plotted up not far from here, if they're at the shops we can drive past and let them pull the car over. You never know it could be stolen.

With the call placed the two men sat back, the driver changed course to pass his colleagues while Lenny waited. Moments after they passed the police car pulled out behind Sharon's car and put on its blues and twos, he grinned to himself job done. Or so he thought, he couldn't have been more mistaken as he'd find out later.

What a shocking time.

Lenny is sitting in the King Edward VII on the Broadway a short walk from his flat, he's having a quiet pint thinking about his next earner. It's been four weeks since Sharon had tried to follow him and as he'd not heard a bean from her or anyone else, so he presumed it was a done deal. Wrong. A Bentley pulls up outside and he instantly knows who's it is, the number plate reads BY 1. The owner is none other than Big Bill York, head of the criminal gangs in this part of London and has his fingers in many pies. Bill is 58 years old, 6' 6" tall. Heavily built with hands the size of hams, grey thinning hair and a flat nose. His pride and joy are his teeth which are all his, he reminded everyone of Arthur Mullard and even spoke like him. Liked by a very few people due to his bad temper and hates everyone, he has two sons who are the image of him in looks and nature.

Watching the car Lenny is slightly surprised when the front door opens and Jonny York, Bill's eldest son gets out. This pub is not the place you'd expect to find Big Bill, still, he hadn't anything to worry about he's only met Bill a couple of times and they'd gone well. Lenny had taken a bag of stolen industrial diamonds for him to fence, he'd taken a hit on the price but they were just to hot for anyone else. Jonny barged in and headed straight for Lenny, now he is worried but doesn't know why yet.

In the car Bell End. Growls Jonny in a less than pleasant manner.

Why?

Get in the fucking car...Now. Lenny knows he has no choice but to go. What are you lot fucking looking at? Jonny shouts as every eye in the pub looks away.

Lenny walked to the car like a condemned man facing a firing squad, this must be bad if Big Bill York himself has come for him. He had to think fast, what could he have done to upset the Yorks? He drew a blank as the back door opened and he is shoved in and Jonny followed, driving is Steven York.

Jonny York is 39 years old. 6' 7" tall, he's fat and well overweight a foul-mouthed man who like his brother is living off there dad's reputation. Not endowed with a great brain, in fact, he is more like a Neanderthal. Slow but strong.

Steven, on the other hand, is the younger brother, he's 31 years old. 6' 9" tall. Very lean and hungry, he sees himself as the next big thing in London. Truth be known he is worse than his dad, a proper nasty bit of work he has no known friends. Strangely even his dad and brother do not like him that much. Not that it bothered him at all, he's the apple of his mum's eye and is going to make it to the top by any means fair or foul and if that pisses people off, not that he gave a shit.

Lenny tries to strike up a conversation to sound out the potential trouble he may be in, all he gets is shouted at by them both. The car moves away in complete silence and he is starting to really worry, normal known for his calmness in a tight spot. This, however, is not your normal tight spot, this is the fucking Yorks and they don't do nice. The route is becoming very familiar to Lenny as they drive along, then he knows where and when the last time he was on this road. Its the road to the laboratory, no it can't be that earner was weeks ago they must be going somewhere else. Then they turned in to the drive leading to the laboratory, he had to wipe his hands on his jacket as they are covered in sweat.

Lenny jumped in his seat as a bolt of lightning struck somewhere close, he has been scared of thunder for as long as he can remember. Bill is standing by the door as Lenny is pushed out of the car, he's really scared now, but hiding it well for the moment. Steven is constantly shoving Lenny forward, he did turn and stare at him the first time and a slap around the face stopped him doing it again. He's pushed into the same room he'd stolen the green case from and standing next to Bill is a man in a white lab coat and a hard face.

Tie him to the chair. Bill says sharply.

Bill, Bill what have I done...what have I done? Lenny asks pleading.

Jonny next time this fucker talks without me saying so, hit him, Bill replied. Will do dad.

Lenny watches as his arms and legs are duct-taped to the chair, next is his torso is taped as well, then the man in the lab coat steps in front of him. He's desperate to say something, normally he can talk his way out of most situations but kept quiet. The silence seemed to Lenny to last forever, then the lab man spoke in a slow precise manner which Lenny found extremely worrying. Suddenly the room lit up as a thunderbolt flashed again and Lenny never moved this time, his situation to him is far scarier and he knew the storm is getting closer.

Mr. Bell my name is Doctor Carson...you took a small green case from my safe...I want it back...NOW He shouted the last word.

He instinctively lied. Don't know what your talking about mate This is a bad move as Bill nods at Steve and Jonny who start to punch him in the face. The beating lasted about three minutes and by the time they'd finished his face looked like two pounds of chopped liver. They'd also broken some of his ribs and fractured many more, he's finding it hard to breathe as Bill puts his face less than an inch from his.

Bell End. He hissed and then shouted. WHERE'S THE FUCKING CASE YOU CUNT.

I don't know Bill, I really don't. Lenny slurred out of his busted mouth and teeth.

Steve and Jonny are just about to resume the beating when Doctor Carson stopped them. He looked deep into Lenny's eyes, which are barely open and swelling shut fast. Taking the strange leather headgear from the cabinet, Doctor Carson handed it to Steve.

I need to show your father something gentlemen, slip this on Mr. Bell and plug it in here. Every time you hit this switch 240 volts will shoot through the headgear. Mr. Bell should tell us what we want to know very soon...Have fun. Doctor Carson grinned evilly, Lenny shakes involuntarily. Oh, gentlemen by the way it works better if you wet his head. Doctor Carson's laugh sent shivers through Lenny, as he and Bill left the room. Steve is looking around for something to wet Lenny's head, he looks up as Jonny sniggers like a five-year-old. He's holding two bottles, one is bright orange and the other is a shining silver.

What about this bruv? Jonny says while laughing.

Dump the lot on em, make sure there're no dry bits. Steve says grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Lenny feels the fluid cover his head and to him, its like treacle running slowly down his neck, next the leather headgear is slid over and after its secured a leather mouthpiece is forced between his teeth.

What's really frightening Lenny is that he's told them the truth and doesn't know where the case is, if he did he would have told them at the start. No bird is worth this sort of treatment, not even the best sex he'd ever had. Due to the beating his still not really sure what's going to happen next, the waiting is making him sweat like a pig.

A sharp pain shoots into his head and his mouth clamps down tightly on the mouthpiece, for a moment and then stops. Now he knows what's going to happen and as the next sharp pain hits his head, he pisses himself which makes the two men laugh. Steve is just about to belt Lenny again when the sound of thunder hitting the building makes both men dive for cover. The bolt of lightning which has around one billion volts sends it's power into the wall, through the building's wiring and straight into headgear on Lenny's head. He's shaking and foaming at the mouth for a second or two as the fluids bubbles on his head and then collapses, it's only the tape that's is holding him up.

The high voltage had sent Lenny's body into spasms, so bad that he'd dug his fingers through the chair's material and ripped the foam underneath.

DAD...DAD. Jonny shouts in a panic, killing Lenny wasn't what they were supposed to