Three Steps to Hell by Mike Holman Page A

securely into his shoulder holster. The discomfort from the shoulder holster paled into insignificance when compared to the feeling of power and invincibility it gave him. He always remembered being allowed to wear his father’s shoulder holster at times of play at home in his early years. Even then he dreamt of one day having his own. He checked the pockets of his thick black rainproof overcoat to ensure that he had all he needed.
    His Jeep Cherokee made easy work of the pothole ridden back roads between his main home and East Point. He approached the gates to Colmar Grounds and called Maria Peterson’s mobile. He heard Maria’s voice.
    “Who is it?”
    “It’s me Maria, I’m approaching the gates.”
    “Okay, go straight to Rashid, don’t come to the house, drop the crates off then put your car out of sight by one of the cottages. Don’t let Rashid fuck up on this Carlos, it’s got to be moved tonight and is just as important as unloading what’s coming in.”
    “Don’t worry it will all get done, the water’s calm tonight and the moon is good and clear. If Rashid fucks up you won’t see him again.”
    “Fine, whatever but it’s got to be out of here tonight.”
    “Go to bed Maria, it’s as good as done.”
    “Thanks Carlos, you’re a great comfort to me.”
    Carlos drove to the old farm buildings and parked adjacent to Rashid’s office. He got a small leather bound cosh and a powerful hand torch from a compartment under the driver’s seat and put both in his coat pockets. He was a man who did everything slowly and surely like a lioness quietly stalking its prey. But, when action and speed were needed his reactions to a situation were usually fierce, instantaneous and conclusive.
    Rashid sat in an office adjacent to Maria Peterson’s in the older of the renovated barns awaiting Carlos’s arrival. He had an immense fear of and dislike for Carlos. Rashid had mixed with, and sometimes fought with, the hardest of men but Carlos unnerved him and he sensed that Carlos knew it. He immediately recognised the aggressive knock on the office door, opened it and let Carlos in.
    “Turn the main lights off Rashid.”
    “Why?”
    “Don’t fucking argue, just do it.”
    Rashid flicked one of the light switches leaving one small desk lamp lit.
    “I need my eyes to accustom to the dark so that I can watch every move you make tonight Rashid.”
    “Look, you don’t even need to be here Carlos, it will all be okay. What’s so important about this shipment that she wants put on the boat anyway, she told me that it’s bad powder to be dumped well out to sea, what’s the big deal in that and why metal crates instead of wood?”
    “Far too many questions Rashid. You don’t get paid to think, just do as you’re fucking told!”
    “Okay, okay, I just couldn’t believe it when she told me that we had some bad powder. I had no idea there had been a problem. I can’t check every case, I can only do random checks as it’s unloaded, I was worried that she might blame me.”
    “Perhaps one of your crew has been swapping good for bad eh Rashid!.”
    “No, I can’t believe that, they know what their fate would be.”
    “People get greedy Rashid, sometimes temptations overtake common sense, perhaps you got tempted and made a swap,” he intimated, enjoying watching the fear grow in Rashid’s eyes.
    “Hey, listen man, I work hard for the Petersons and I know where I stand. They pay me well anyway, I don’t need the sort of grief that would come from stupidity like that. Give me a break, Carlos, I’m on the same side remember.”
    “No-one will know of my presence tonight other than you and the boat crew, okay Rashid?”
    “Yeah, fine.”
    “Unless of course things aren’t done properly and I have to take control. Remember I’ll be near enough to hear you and see everything, but you won’t see me and don’t look for me. Just do a good job.”
    “She told me you would tell me where the cases were. I