Page 104 of Seven Days

‘Six.’

‘I’m going to give him a call. Check what he’s doing.’

‘Don’t make him feel bad. It’s not a problem if he doesn’t want to come.’

‘I won’t. But I’d like to know where he is. Just in case.’

Four Years Earlier: July 2014

James

1

‘I’m not sure about this,’ James said. ‘We might get caught.’

He didn’t really want to do it at all – it seemed unfair – but that wasn’t something he thought Davo and Carl would care about. Getting caught, though, might be.

Davo sniffed. He had a permanent cold, his nose constantly running.

‘It’ll be easy money,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry. Carl’ll look out for anyone coming while me and you get it done.’

The plan was to mug a window cleaner Davo had noticed. He had seen him working and come to the conclusion that it would be simple to relieve him of his takings. He’d be in the back garden of some big house, hidden away at the end of the day when no one was in, walking around with a load of cash in his pocket.

He was also in his late sixties, and about five foot six, so he wouldn’t put up much of fight.

Davo grabbed his elbow. His grip was stronger than James expected, given how thin he was.

‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Let’s go.’

They were standing on a quiet road opposite a large detached house. The window cleaner was working around the back. Davo tugged him towards the driveway.

‘Go on,’ Carl said. ‘I’ll keep an eye out. You hear me whistle and you leg it, OK?’

James followed Davo around the side of the house. There was a gate but it was unlocked. Davo shook his head.

‘People make it easy for you, they really do,’ he whispered. ‘They deserve whatever they get.’

He walked slowly along the length of the wall, then peeked around the corner. He looked at James and gave a thumbs up, then beckoned him to follow.

They stepped out on to a wide patio. The window cleaner was working on the patio doors, his back to them.

They watched as he slowed. He looked at their reflections in the window and turned to them.

‘All right, lads,’ he said. He had neat grey hair and glasses and small, precise features.

‘All right,’ Davo said. ‘You can make this easy or hard, mate. I know you’ve got money, so hand it over.’

‘I haven’t,’ the window cleaner said. He was calm. ‘I’ve got about forty quid on me. It’s not worth it.’

‘You’ve got more than that,’ Davo said. ‘You must have. You’ve been at it all day.’

The window cleaner laughed. ‘I don’t get cash, mate. This is the twenty-first century. I use apps. You think I want to walk around with a load of cash when there’s scum like you about? So why don’t we call this a day? You leave me to my job and go on with your life, and no hard feelings?’

Davo shook his head. ‘We’ll take the forty quid,’ he said. ‘And whatever else you’re hiding.’ He took a step towards the window cleaner. ‘Hand it over.’

James did not have much experience with this kind of thing, but he knew he wasn’t supposed to stand behind his friend – accomplice – doing nothing. He stepped forward.

The window cleaner shook his head.