A Question Of Honour: A Harry Royle Thriller by PR Hilton Read Free Book Online Page B

lurking on your stairs, didn't mean to startle you."
    The room's tension eased a degree. The men slowly lowered their hands and Harry lowered the gun. Pete turned swiftly on his heel and addressed the others, and in particular, the stranger.
    "See what did I tell you? Impressive, or what?"
    The tall stranger in the good quality suit took a step forward and offered Royle, his hand. The two men shook hands and Pete introduced Harry to Mr Green. Harry wasn't impressed with the obvious use of a false name but gave no indication of his feelings on the matter. Pete explained that Mr Green was the money behind the ironworks venture and that he had wanted to see where his hard earned was being spent. Green seemed suitably impressed, and the men spoke for an hour or so, their voices never rising above a murmur. Eric remained standing at the door with his ear pressed against it the whole time Pete explained the plan.
    Tomorrow would see the ironworks robbed of its Thursday wages. Green made a point of telling the group that they would have to remember that every single worker at the place would want their pay and so would try anything to stop the men in their tracks if given half a chance. That was why Harry had been brought in, a man used to carrying a weapon, used to giving, as well as obeying orders, and who would see a mission through.
    Mr Green explained that he wanted Royle not just to be the wheel man, but also to take the money. He said that the others would act as fend offs, like you'd see at a rugby match. They were to clear the way for Harry. Once clear, the money would go in Harry's car and the others, using a second car would make certain no other vehicles could follow. He was to drive to Great Ancoats Street and hide the vehicle in a lock-up garage there and then go home and wait to be contacted later that day. Once everything was agreed, the men left. On his way out, Pete lightly slapped Harry on the arm, in an almost fatherly gesture.
    The night was dark and empty, too dark for Harry to settle and too empty for any sensible thought to come. He walked the floor in his stocking feet, so as to not wake the house, smoking endless cigarettes. Pete had dropped twenty woodbines on the bed, as a parting gift. The ale was by now flat and tasted sour. The other bottle lasted less than five minutes, as it was drunk with nervous contempt for the work ahead.
    Royle wanted to find a way out of the nightmare, wanted desperately to go to the police and get the obviously dangerous gang off the streets. Dangerous was certainly something Harry considered Mr Green. During the long conversation, the man had told Royle not to hesitate using the gun and to make sure it was loaded. After that, Harry had liked the man even less than he had at first sight. Green had been altogether too cool about the whole thing. He hadn't talked about people, simply money, cars, guns and no mention of the human perspective.
    Harry stubbed out a cigarette angrily in the ashtray and lit up another. Human was not a word he would use for Green, whoever he really was. The man was a menace. Royle knew that he was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. He could no more go to the police than he could walk away. Come the morning at half past ten, he, Harold Royle would be doing his best James Cagney impersonation for the second time in twenty-four hours.
    As soon as it was decent, he washed and shaved, then left the house taking the car out to get it filled with petrol, and grab a morning paper. He couldn't face food, and so had steered clear of the cafe. He didn't like Ancoats, but could see the sense in hiding close to the city centre. Anyone looking for the car and the money would expect him to go in the opposite direction to the city. But it was still too close for comfort, and what of the car? He knew he wouldn't be able to risk driving the thing. He just hoped Green had that part of the plan worked out as smoothly as he had the first part.
    After driving