26.5.2009

TIME AND UNFORESEEN OCCURRENCE.

 

    TIME AND UNFORESEEN OCCURRENCE.

http://www.netsaga.is/media/files/DestinyDesperation.mp3
 

 

    The busiest season came and went and now the Coffee Club was even more popular as it had been mentioned in the Washington Post. At first it seemed freaky how many Americans? found the place and seemed to know it inside out. Then as time went by, the article flashed in front of Sharon and Ben?s face told the tale. The tale was getting a little too thin on the ground as they had to feign enthusiasm every time the article was thrust upon them by a patriot.

    Sharons? pregnancy was progressing along well. Five months and craving for things was the order of the day. She didn?t know if this was right or not. Anyway, there was one thing for certain and that was it was snowing! Unusual is the word that popped into her mind as she peered out at it coming down. She traced a single snowflake before it was lost it in a haze of others on their way down to wet the ground below. Her thoughts were distracted as her husband came into their flat. He looked exhausted from his many trips to the local store. This was his fifth trip in two hours. She couldn?t help it! her taste buds wanted different things. Though he did stop at washing-up liquid mixed with cola.

    "I?ve got your vanilla ice cream with tuna fish." He said as he plopped the items down and took a look out the window where Shaz stood. "Getting thick in places, hope I can get the van out tomorrow, need the money with the sheer amount of food you are tucking away." He noted her lame distant reply. "Everything alright love?"

    "Just watching the snow outside as it settles." She pulled her eyes away from the fascinating snowflake dance. "Are we busy down there?"

    "Not bad. It never ceases to amaze me at just how many people this place attracts. Even on a night like this, we are over half full."

    "You know what I would like, right now."

    "A cuddle with your old man?" The question was a hopeful one as he noted that look of another craving coming on.

    "No, a snowball."

    "A snowball?"

    "Yes, a snowball."

    He sighed, "Okay, just give me a few minutes."

    Ben was gone a good five minutes when he finally walked in with a snowball, drink that is. "One snowball drink. Got Dave to whip one up with his special ingredient you like so much."

    Shaz frowned at him, "No I actually want a snowball. Something round, white and ice cold that I can sink my teeth into."

    "You are weird you know that."

    She grinned, "Can?t help it..."

    Ben finished her sentence, "Just the cravings that?s all."

    "I?ll be back after I have found a cool box or something to keep it from melting before I get it back up here."

    "I really appreciate what you are doing for me." The smile on his face said it all for her as he closed the front door and went in search of her snowball.

    Shaz went back to looking out of the window at the snow. It reminded her of the times when she was a little girl. Just how excited she felt when she awoke. Her father rushed into her bedroom urging her to get out there and have a snowball fight. The fun they used to have! He always built ice houses and big snowmen for her. They would have family fights and mum would always get her to join in a double assault on dad. How often did he get snow down his neck and how often did she get her wellies stolen and filled with cold slush. It was fun, a lot of fun! Sharon often wished that time would stay still or she could go back and recapture those precious days.

    Her mind shifted to her father?s company. He started out as a paperboy and used to read every magazine he delivered with the papers. Or he used to read them off the shelf while waiting for his round to be made up. He made his own fashion magazine at the age of nineteen and was a successful rich man by the time this attractive young lady came along and forced him to give up his life of celibacy. They teamed up, two brilliant minds working together to give the world what they wanted. They sold up when her mother became pregnant. In many ways Sharon possessed both parents outstanding qualities for business and opportunity. She also possessed her father?s desire for hiding when things go wrong. When mother died he ran off. Sharon too went off to her life of drink, drugs and wayward tendencies which almost led to ruin. Until her anchor was found.

    Ben was that reluctant man, all that chasing and in the end she saw in him her father?s qualities. Somehow unlike her dad, he motivated people to do better but whatever he tried for himself, it fell apart. He was best at motivating and helping. She stuck to him because he could help her out of her deep hole. He did just that and now they are reaping the rewards. He had been behind many who were trying to change. Clive and Gloria, who were now buying a flat together and would move in once married. Chang was changing and so was Samantha, though she was still very clumsy. She overfilled a washing machine with powder and looked on in horror as the thing spurted bubbles everywhere. Bernard and Tiffany, little and large were doing well. Both were very business minded and are adapting well together. All had faults, yet all were willing to overlook them for love.

    Shaz looked at her watch and noted her hubby was indeed a long time. What could be keeping him this time?

 

    Downstairs the place was thinning out. Many decided on the advice of Billy Joel to move on. People in London never, no rarely saw snow like this. Ben took a walk over to the bar.

    "Dave, she didn?t want this type of snowball."

    Dave looked a little worried, "What shall I do with it? I?ll have to waste it, don?t like doing that."

    Ben just couldn?t get used to Dave speaking in proper English. After all, it was not long ago he was the pirate at the Skull And Crossbones. Still he was doing a far better job than that Frank character. Even the staff respected him. By the way the old pub is now a bookies.

    Ben took a look at the drink and grinned, "You have it. Just don?t let the customers see you."

    "Don?t worry, down the hatch in a matter of seconds."

    Benny boy left the bar heading over to the love birds.

    "Clive times up, you are on next, wind down this evening real nice like."

    Clive sighed, "Sure, keep our customers happy."

    "Not getting fed up with playing are you?"

    "Hey bro, I love this job!"

    "Good! Otherwise I?ll put you out on the van permanent."

    Clive grinned, he knew the boss was joking. He tapped Ben on the shoulder as he noticed someone coming in, someone he didn?t really like much. "Got company, looks like he wants to talk."

    Ben noted the cooling of one friend and said, "No I?ve invited him, just forgot I had. Shaz is doing my head in with this crazy craving thingy." He left Clive and ran over to shake this younger man by the hand.

    "You called me, what?s up?"

    Ben looked over at Chang?s muscle, "Nothing is up. I just need to speak to you in private. Can you leave your muscle behind please."

    As usual the power this guy possessed allowed him to encourage his minders to spread out and take five. He followed Ben on down to his office.

 

    Up on the platform the comedy came to a close. The Club?s own comedian rubbed the sweat off of his brow. As he came out the back from off the stage he noted the boss and Chang head on down to the office for a secret meeting no doubt.

    As soon as Chang walked in he knew they were not alone. Sam was there.

    "Hi!" was all she could say and visa versa as they rushed into each others arms. This was the first time they had chance to meet for over two weeks, when he came to collect some money.

    After kissing her he came out with, "I?ve really missed you!" He embraced his love and as he opened his eyes he realised that Ben was still there with a soppy look on his face. Pulling away he addressed the guy. "So you wanted to see me. You said it was business. I thank you for allowing me to see Sam again. The thing is, if I return without a decent story, or some form of evidence about this meeting and a business agreement, then you know full well Chino will suspect something. He always asks questions after I have been here. Some of my men are getting suspicious of me and are asking questions."

    Ben listened as he walked on over and opened up his personal safe. "He won?t get suspicious." He pulled out a large sports bag with two carry handles and one long shoulder strap. The type you could keep a couple of footy kits in and still have room for the kitchen sink. "Because by the time he does, you both will be miles away."

    Chang watched as the bag unzipped to reveal wads upon wads of notes! "You are not suggesting what I think you are, are you?"

    "I have it all worked out. I rustled up a nice plain ordinary car, in the car park. You take that along with this cash and do a runner. There is enough in there for you to hide out for donkey?s years. I suggest Scotland, Ireland, or anywhere away from London. I have a second car waiting for you located on the map here. You are the only guys apart from me who knows the details. I have some fake passports in here if you want to flee the country. Our comedian knows a guy who doesn?t know Chino and friends. There are some tickets to the states if you want them. Flight is for tomorrow and leaves from Edinburgh." Looking at all the gawping he asked, "So what do you crazy kids say?"

    Chang was dreaming. This couldn?t be happening though Sam was hugging him and saying thank you.

    Sam turned, "I?ll get packed."

    Chang caught hold of her, "Better make it real light, just in case we have to run for it." He watched her go before turning to his friend. "They will come down on you like a ton of bricks. You won?t get away without a scratch."

    "I?ll just tell Chino, all I know is that she ran off with a former employee. I don?t know who."

    "He will see through that and take it out on you. Sharon will be lucky to have you back."

    Ben pressed the bag into his friend?s hands. "Don?t worry about it. Take your freedom with both hands. Besides Chino still owes me his life."

    There was no arguing with him. "I?ll take this baby and one day I will pay you back."

    "Maybe you will, may be you won?t. I was only going to spend the money on a forest. Better spent on you." Ben grinned and was just about to hug the guy when the door burst open.

    Chang went to go for his piece only to be too slow> "Don?t go for it. You are out numbered and out gunned. Place it on the floor like a good fellow. Oh and the bag full of money."

    "Billy Joel is a mafia man!" Ben exclaimed.

    "You can take a walk over to the wall." Looking over at Chang he said, "I?d feel a lot more comfortable if you were to take that cashmere coat off. I?d hate to ruin it." Billy Joel nodded towards the open holdall. "How much is in there exactly?"

    "A lot of money, enough to start a whole new life and not be cramped for style." Ben replied all muffled because his nose was pressed against the wall. It wasn?t easy standing by a wall, stuck between two cabinets that held a load of useless books he never ever had time to read.

    "You had better put it all back in the safe. I am taking over this joint."

    "Is this your little gift for shopping me in to Chino?"

    "No Chang. I intend to take over this joint and before long take over your father?s operation. Old dinosaurs soon die and become fossils. Your father?s day has come, he will become a fossil in the Thames." Raising a walkie talkie he spoke into it. "Come in boys and introduce yourselves!"

    Upstairs they entered and Chang?s men stood little chance as the place became overrun with the enemy.

 

    Sharon made her way down to reception in search of her husband when suddenly the whole place became invaded with men and their guns.

    "Oh no! I thought Chino had promised he?d never invade again." She along with her staff were pushed through into the dining room where all were pushed into a circle. Standing there with the rest was Ben and Chang, shadowed by two burly men. Stood in a prominent place was her comedian fellow.

    "Now ladies and gentlemen, this is not a colourful joke or a scene out of some dreadful comedy." Okay don?t laugh, this story ain?t that bad! "Now all the staff can stay. Guests, drink up and leave and if you mention to anybody about this night, there will be a pair of concrete slippers waiting for you when you get home." Looking at some of his men, "Shoot any who complain."

    Chang raised his eyes and locked them, "I know who you are now. You are Chino?s secret guy, number one."

    "My name is Phillip. I am a former employee or your father?s. I used to follow him, then he became flawed. Showed this place too much lenience. Showed you too much kindness. I was sent in to keep an eye on things and when I had you all first time round, he listened and stood by and did nothing. Soft. He?s soft on you and this small man and woman (Ben and Sharon as if you didn?t already know) . Time to take control, otherwise all will be lost. Others will move in and take it all."

    "The comedian bit, all an elaborate cover to spy on us."

    "I am the best in my field. I specialize in black comedies."

    Ben looked away from the guy to stare at Chang, "And Chino is your real father isn?t he? Why didn?t you confide in me?"

    "It wouldn?t have made any difference. I?d still pay for knowing you. I don?t love my father, never have. He sure don?t love me, or my brother. I was never proud of what I became. He moulded me into a hate filled man. You showed me how to change my mould. I?ll never forget that." Chang was going to say something else but darkness hit him cold.

    Sharon watched the former bad man go limp and crumple to the floor. She stepped forward and shouted, "You will not get any cooperation from us, even if you shoot us all!"

    "Yeah!" Shouted Bernard followed by the rest as they looked on in defiance as Ben inspected the cut to Chang?s head from a knockout blow. He should have stayed put as a gun levelled it?s cold pressed steel to his head.

    Billy Joel grinned, "Okay, let?s play a game. Bring forth Bernardo and we will play a game called, name that tune."

    Ben along with Bernardo found themselves up on stage with one former comedian and a host of bullies and a limp Chang.

    "Now Bernardo here, has to sing a song which I will whisper into his ear. You all have to guess what it is. You have the whole song to take a guess, if you fail Ben gets it."

    "But he can?t sing properly!" Bernardo?s interpreter called out. Then realised by the evil laugh from the comedian guy that, that is exactly what was intended.

    Chang found himself on the stage and though his head hurt he was able to see he was behind the action and unnoticed. Moving slowly at a few centimetres at a time, he headed towards the stage trap door. Then he noticed Sam hiding in a basket just out back. He mouthed something to her and she was hesitant at first before getting out. He mouthed another few words which looked like he wanted a type of coffee, before pulling out a key ring and sliding it along the polished stage floor towards her. Picking it up she ran away.

    Bernardo started the song and the clock was ticking. Tiffany turned to his interpreter, "You are our only hope, get it right!"

    The poor guy in turn looked all flustered as he had to confess, "He isn?t making any sense, he must be getting the words wrong."

         Sharon went to move and found her hands being held. This was curtains for her husband and there was nothing she could do about it. Now she wished they had stayed on the island and kept away from this crazy idea of a Coffee Club. Her hands were freed as the goon went to sort out another who was protesting. He was man handled and ended up on his bum by Shaz. He picked himself up.

    "Sorry about your table display, I was trying to protect it luvvy."

    "That?s it, table displays!"

    Gordon eyed her up, "Not going to start craving table displays? Washing up liquid and hoover bag insides is one thing, a whole table, no way!"

    "I?m not craving, I just want to turn things over."

    Gordon suddenly understood. Talking cryptic was his speciality. "It?s suicide!"

    "I have to do something!"

 

    Samantha made it in good time, out of breath but the relief she was here made her breathe easy. The little key ring her lover had given her held the address and now she was in and out of the snow. She found the place to be void of life making her feel on edge. Making her way into the depot office she sat down on the corner of the desk and looked about her.

    Down in the basement a monitor clicked to life as a camera upstairs picked up the movement. One man responded by zooming on the object.

    "What shall we do? She has been up there for a few minutes."

    Chino looked hard at the crystal clear image. "It?s that girl from the Coffee Club, um Samantha is her name."

    "Shall we evict her?" Bob asked as he pulled out his piece and took off the safety catch.

    Chino rested his hand upon the gun. "No Bob. She has one of our key rings. Show her down here, I wish to see what she has to say."

    He waited for what seemed an eternity before the girl was before him. "What can I do for you?"

    "Chang has been captured by some guy, I think I heard him call himself Phillip. Plans to take over the whole show starting with the Coffee Club."

    "What? How can I believe what you are saying. Could be a trap?"

    Sam swallowed hard, "Because Chang loves me and I love him. He gave me this to find you and warn you."

    Chino took the key ring and ran it under the x-ray device. It was Chang?s as it had a picture of them both when he was but a little boy. One of the few times he ever bothered with the lad."

    "This Phillip says you are a weak old man, gone soft and he will take over with little resistance." Then she saw him look at her with a glare of anger, "Only repeating what he said."

    Chino smiled as the anger faded, "He is right. I am going soft. Now is the time to get my iron grip back." Reaching down he pressed his communicator. "Bob, summon the hit squad. I want a helicopter on the roof and I want all units to converge on the Coffee Club. We have to go and see an old friend."

 

    Bernardo was into the last line of the song now and nobody had got close to the right answer. They seemed to be passing food about from one to the other, did they want their master to die?. He finished to the cringes of his fellow captives on the stage.

    Phillip moved forwards, "Now can anyone give me the song?" There was silence. Phillip grinned as he gestured for the chef to take a seat. Raising his gun he aimed it at the owner. "Last chance to give me the answer."

    "It?s that old devil called love!"

    Phillip?s anger blazed at the voice from the floor. So Chang hadn?t been out of it at all. "Correct my poor friend. As you guessed it I will still kill Benny boy, unless all decide to cooperate with my wishes."

    "We will cooperate!" Sharon screamed out.

    Phillip just cocked his gun, he ignored her and all she could do was watch as her husband said goodbye. Suddenly in a flash Chang was upon him and her husband was legging it like a chicken to the back of the stage and into the darkness. Sharon found a strong pair of arms holding her allowing her no movement at all, then the power grip went all loose. She turned to find that big Bernard had come up and knocked the burly bad guy out.

    Gordon shouted, "Fire! Then in a big haze of fire, fruit of all types found their targets. This delayed Phillips men in returning fire. Tables were suddenly turned over as both sides separated and went for opposite sides of the room. The Coffee Club employees held the bar side while the bad guys had the waterfalls and a row of tables along with a couple of thick pillars to hide behind.

    Above the madding crowd Shaz heard Tiffany praise her man before ducking for cover as machine gun fire opened up and shot away one prized table.

    Gordon saw his chance and using a silver serving plate like a Frisbee he took out the man with the machine gun. The silver plate knocked the man out cold. He was in his element as he picked up a bottle of wine to throw at another. This guy fired and took out the bottle. Gordon thought he had been shot, only to look on in horror as his best suit was stained with red wine. Still the bad guy was upon him and taking aim. He never got there as Raymond hit him with a hard backed edition of the good book.

    "That?s the best bit of bible bashing I have done all year!"

    Now there was a row of six men who were behind a large table. They had machine guns and were getting organised. Bernard wasted little time as the enemy stood in unison to fire. He ran in from the left, knocked the first and with the momentum took out the six like toppling dominoes. A couple tried to get up, only to be belly flopped from above. No way out for them!

    Dave made it behind the bar and just in time as a spray of bullets hit the glasses behind shattering it everywhere. Behind him and still intact stood a portable wine rack with six bottles of champagne in it. Unwrapping the foil and the mesh that holds the corks, he took one out and aimed the cork in the direction of a bad guy coming in through the entrance. The cork flew and took the guy out.

    "Aha me maties, this give us pirates a good change of repelling the enemy. Team lace up the racks and bottles like this and we?ll have ourselves a good battle." His team laced up the champagne bottles individually and placed them in the racks. Putting them on the bar he pulled the string hard on one of the bottles while his colleague held onto the rack. The cork flew and got the attention of a few behind the table who started firing.

    "Team elevate up a bit, five degrees. Now fire!"

    Bullets smashed into the bar with more glass and wood shattering and splintering everything around the bar team. The corks fired and found their targets. Eighteen corks struck the enemy and three men fell.

    Dave?s team roared with victory before ducking under a hail of fire from another angle. Dave looked at them, "Plenty more champagne where that came from. Once we are out of corks, just throw the bottles!"

    Bernardo found himself being chased as he ran into the kitchen and tried to find a weapon. It was too late as one big very nasty man picked him up and started to throttle him. The poor chef was loosing this one, when his left hand found something. Picking it up to see it was an electric whisk. Turning it on and shoved it into the man?s face. The beaters trapped the guy?s nose and as he screamed and let go Bernardo found a rolling pin and hit him in his family jewels. End of the game for the big malevolent man.

    Clive found himself pinned down under the piano while Chang was trading blow for blow with Phillip when suddenly the two restaurant doors blew open and fell in a cloud of smoke. In came Chino with a locust of armed men. Sam had done her job.

Phillip watched his men give up, like wimps. He faced Chang who said, "Give up now while you still have a chance." Phillip was no ones fool. He pulled out another gun which he kept hidden for emergencies.

    "Chino, your son gets it, if you don?t let me and my men go!"

    Ben observed the chaos all the while deeply hoping Sharon and his child were safe. The situation was grave. His friend was staring down the barrel of a gun. This friend had saved his bacon just a few minutes earlier. It was now he spied up in the technical roof part of the stage a rope that may well help out here. Providing he could overcome his fear of heights.

    Chino replied, "We have every intention of letting your mercenaries go, as for you, that is another matter."

    So Chino knew he had used mercenaries. If he?d more time he could have turned Chino?s men against him. Still mistakes could be rectified once out of here. "Now let me go otherwise your own flesh and blood gets it!"

    Ben from his position could see the hand shaking on Phillip. Time was running out. He made it up there and felt feint as the metal fixtures wobbled. Closing his eyes he jumped off the platform he was on and allowed one rope along with gravity do it?s job.

    "I?m sorry Phillip. If I was a weak man I?d have traded. But I am not that way inclined. You do my son, I do you, a fair trade."

    Sam who was standing by Chino made a last ditch plea, "Do a deal and let Chang live."

    Chino really wanted to, he really did. Then he caught a determined look from his son and knew his offspring would stand firm and understand.

    "Kiss your arse goodbye Chang!" Just as he said this he heard a bad imitation of Tarzan and as he turned to the oncoming object, it hit him hard sending him into the air and out of the fight.

    Ben kicked him with both feet and saw the guy crack his head against the wall. "The wall! umph!" He hit it with such force that his whole body bounced backwards about three metres before collapsing to the floor.

    For a large man, Bernard was quite nimble rushing onto the stage and sitting on Phillip just in case he came round before Chino?s men could refrain him.

    The next thing Ben knew was coming round to the feeling of drowning. "Whaaa what!"

    "Welcome back to the land of the living me matey!" Dave said as he put down the third bottle of mineral water poured onto this hero.

    "Thanks buddy for saving my bacon." Chang said as he took this man by the hand and raised him to his feet. He had Sam by his side, she clutching hold of him like a young girl her father when confronted with an uncertain future.

    Ben got cheers from all except one, "Where?s my wife?" She stepped into his vision scowling. He swallowed.

    "Look what you have done to my Club and as for playing the hero, what possessed you?"

    "The benefit of others and their freedom Shaz."

    She already knew this and her frown broke to a smile, "You softy. I love you now and forever."

    "And I love you my dear."

    Tiffany saw the lovers reunited and whispered in her man?s ear. "I love you too, my hero!"

    Bernard?s face went from a small smile to a big one as no one had said that to him before.

    Ben observed the mess and needed to ask, "What are we going to do now with our Coffee Club?"

    Sharon sighed before looking over at Gordon, "We hire a damn good architect and spruce the place up a bit."

    There was a round of applause before a darkness entered in between them all.

    "Chang, be in my office at nine sharp for a talk about your lack of faith and direction." With that Chino turned and left.

    Sam tugged on her guy?s arm, "We can still leave and get out of here."

    Chang shook his head. "No. Tonight we help clear up and celebrate victory. Tomorrow will look after it?s own worries."

    The celebrations went on into the early hours of the morning and all were allowed the following day off to recover and prepare for a weeks closure for a small refit.