'That'll Be The Day' (Chapter 9)
Serialized Crime Fiction: A Power Pop Heist
CHAPTER 1 • CHAPTER 2 • CHAPTER 3 • CHAPTER 4 • CHAPTER 5 • CHAPTER 6 • CHAPTER 7 • CHAPTER 8 • CHAPTER 9 • CHAPTER 10 • CHAPTER 11 • CHAPTER 12 • CHAPTER 13 (THE END)
That’ll Be The Day: A Power Pop Heist
by S.W. Lauden
Chapter 9
Forty-five minutes later, the Sharp brothers had two guns and a dicey plan. Patterson had The Quarrymen single at his plantation outside of town, but was having a couple of his bodyguards move it to the downtown warehouse that night. Snagging the record in transit was their only real shot since the warehouse was wired up with the most sophisticated security equipment money could buy. Pulling a job like that would take a highly specialized crew and several months of planning. Jamie and Jack had neither.
“Thing is, these two bodyguards are no joke. There’s no way in hell they’ll let you take Patterson’s prized possession without a real fight. He’ll have their heads on platters if they lose it.”
He emphasized his point by looking both of them right in the eye. First Jamie, and then Jack. Jack held his stare a little longer than felt comfortable. There was something a little off about Chaz, but Jack couldn’t figure out what it was.
“If this record is so rare and valuable, why are two guys dropping it off? Shouldn’t there be an armored car and a whole army of goons?”
“Because the only two people outside of Patterson’s inner circle who know about the transfer are you two. Far as everybody else in Memphis is concerned, those two guys are running a routine errand for their boss.”
“What about security guards at the warehouse?”
“Not tonight. I made sure there was a scheduling error. It’ll just be the two bodyguards. Get around them and you’re home free.”
Jamie nodded along as Chaz spoke, but Jack had a follow-up question.
“Tell me something. If you hired these guys, why are you so willing to put them in danger?”
Jamie handed Chaz the envelope full of cash. Chaz tucked it into the breast pocket of his suit jacket.
“First of all, I’ve known you longer.”
Jack’s smile was fully intended as a fuck you. “You don’t seem like the sentimental type.”
“Second, smart ass, like I was about to say, I have my reasons for why I’m letting you do this job on my home turf. But that’s none of your business. And make no mistake, you two would already be dead if I didn’t have a soft spot for the good old days. I had more fun playing with Jamie & The Jaxx than anything I’ve done since, and I’ve done plenty.”
Chaz turned for the door, talking over his shoulder. “Good luck tonight. I’ll send flowers to your funeral if you fuck it up.”
The Ford Ranger was pointed back toward downtown Memphis. They passed several billboards and neon signs for King’s Chicken Shack as they cruised down the interstate. Neither of them spoke. Chaz’s dire warnings recycled in their minds. For the first time since getting out of prison, Jack was happy to have “Please Please Me” to concentrate on.
Jamie played something familiar on the stereo, but Jack couldn’t place it.
“Who’s this?”
“Seriously? You turned me on to these guys in high school.”
Jack searched his mind. Music was the only thing he cared about back then. Well, music and girls, but the two always went hand in hand for him. He stole his first guitar from a girlfriend’s older brother and taught himself to play. That cheap Japanese Les Paul knockoff felt like a rocket ship in his young hands, like it could take him anywhere. And for the first few years it almost did.
“Are you going to tell me or not?”
“It’s ‘Solar Sister’ by The Posies, jackass.”
Jack smiled involuntarily. “Frosting on the Beater, right? I haven’t heard that record in forever.”
“You must have played this song for me a thousand times. We even covered it at a few shows toward the end of the band. You remember that?”
“Yeah. I don’t remember much from that last year, but I do remember playing this song. Chaz was always rushing the beat.”
Jamie steered the pickup for the off ramp. They were only a few blocks from the location, but still had thirty minutes until the bodyguards were scheduled to roll up with the 45. They squeezed in between two delivery vans along the street across from the front gate of Patterson’s warehouse. Jamie killed the engine and the music went with it. They sat smoking in the dark.
Once Patterson’s goons opened the electric gate for the warehouse parking lot, Jamie and Jack planned to slide in on foot. That would keep them off the street and out of sight of prying eyes. Not that many people were around at this time of night. Since the bodyguards had no reason to suspect an ambush, the whole job relied on the element of surprise. If done right, they’d be out of there in five minutes or less. Done wrong, both of them could end up dead.
“You ever miss playing?”
Jack studied the tip of his cigarette, pretending to consider the question. Truth was he’d been waiting for Jamie to ask.
“Nope.”
“Too bad. Whatever happened to your Strat, anyway?”
“Shit. I pawned the last of my gear years ago. Never looked back.”
“You pawned a couple of my basses too, if memory serves. And Chaz’s drums.”
“Yeah, well, they were collecting dust in the rehearsal studio after we called it quits. And I needed cash. I’m just glad all that little kiddie bullshit is behind us now.”
“Speak for yourself. I’ll play music until the day I die.”
Jamie opened his window a crack to let the smoke out. It wasn’t long before they saw headlights reflecting off the rearview mirror. He pulled the gun from his jacket pocket. Jack did the same. They both double-checked their weapons were loaded.
“You ready?”
“Not yet.”
Jamie reached across to open the glove compartment. He pulled out two black ski masks, handing one to Jack.
“Just in case these guys are Jamie & The Jaxx fans.”
“Good thinking, little brother. Good thinking.”
A late model Cadillac rolled by the Ford Ranger without slowing down. The driver punched a code into the mounted keypad. The slow-moving electric gate rumbled to life while Jamie and Jack looked on. They waited until the Caddy slid inside before opening their doors.
Jack came around the front of the pickup, catching Jamie by the shoulder.
“Stay behind me.”
“You think I can’t handle myself?”
Jack trotted across the street, Jamie right behind him. The gate was already starting its return trip as the Sharp brothers scrambled through and into the darkened parking lot. It was about seventy-five yards from the street to the front of the building, where the Cadillac idled. They kept close to the retaining wall along the driveway, tucked into the shadows.
The bodyguards took their time getting out of the car. The driver swung his door open, but sat tapping on his phone. The passenger climbed out and raised his arms in a slow stretch. Neither seemed like they were in a hurry to get back to Patterson’s plantation.
Jamie and Jack were about twenty yards away when the driver finally slammed his door shut and went around to the trunk. The lid swung open with a soft humming sound as the brothers crept forward. The driver pulled a briefcase out while his partner opened the warehouse door. It was now or never.
Jack slapped Jamie on the shoulder and they bolted forward. Jack barked out commands as they approached, guns raised.
“On the ground! Now!”
The driver tossed the briefcase over to his partner.
Jamie ran up to shove the gun in his face. “On your knees!”
It looked for a split second like the driver might fight back, but he quickly surrendered. Something about having the barrel of a gun pressed against your head has that effect. He dropped to his knees, hands in the air.
Jack kept his sights on the passenger. He was partially obscured from view behind the Caddy, giving him enough time to grab the briefcase. The passenger pulled a gun from his shoulder holster and squeezed off a couple of shots at Jamie. Jamie dropped to the ground to dodge the bullets, giving the driver the chance to pounce. They traded blows near the rear bumper while Jack followed the passenger into the open door of the warehouse. He wasn’t sure how long his little brother would last in a fistfight, but he knew he had to get that briefcase.
A couple more shots echoed down the hallway. Jack managed to duck them. Locked doors lined the walls on either side, but Jack saw his target up ahead. He was racing deeper inside, toward a pair of double doors. Jack was only a few yards behind him when he heard a single gunshot out in the parking lot. He briefly considered going back, but knew that whatever happened was said and done. If Jamie was still breathing, he’d be right behind Jack in less than a minute. If not, they’d both be dead before long.
The double doors were still swinging when Jack pushed through. He entered into a vast, pitch-black space. Footsteps thundered away to the right, so Jack gave chase. His own footsteps echoed endlessly around the warehouse as he ran almost blind down what appeared to be an aisle. “Please Please Me” played on repeat in his mind louder than ever before.
A glowing exit sign hovered in the air up ahead, and the bodyguard’s footsteps stopped. Jack froze, preparing for the next volley of gunshots. He was relieved when a door swung open, letting in light from outside. He caught a glimpse of the bodyguard as he bolted into the side parking lot. A gun was clutched in one hand, but it looked as if the briefcase was gone. Jack was too disoriented to be sure, so he kept moving forward. The door slammed shut and the world went black again. Jack heard another gunshot outside.
His heart raced as he barreled through the door. Mixed emotions fueled his growing panic. Had his brother survived the first gunshot only to run out of luck a few minutes later?
Nothing prepared him for what he encountered when he emerged on the side of the warehouse.
That'll Be The Day: A Power Pop Heist
CHAPTER 1 • CHAPTER 2 • CHAPTER 3 • CHAPTER 4 • CHAPTER 5 • CHAPTER 6 • CHAPTER 7 • CHAPTER 8 • CHAPTER 9 • CHAPTER 10 • CHAPTER 11 • CHAPTER 12 • CHAPTER 13 (THE END)
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