Maeve Binchy - Evening Class

Lou wondered how Robin had managed it, and where he stashed what he stole. He must have premises somewhere. He had gone up in the world since the time years ago when he had come into their shop. Lou had only been fifteen. Now he was nearly nineteen. And in all that time he had only done one job for big Robin.

He met him again unexpectedly at a disco. It was a noisy place and Lou hadn't met any girls he fancied. More truthfully he hadn't met any girls who fancied him. He couldn't understand it, he was being as nice as anything, smiling, buying them drinks, but they went for mean-looking fellows, people who scowled and frowned. It was then he saw Robin dancing with a most attractive girl. The more she smiled and shimmered at him the deeper and darker and more menacing Robin appeared to be. Maybe this was the secret. Lou practised his frown as he stood at the bar, frowning at himself in the mirror, and Robin came up behind him.

'Looking well, Lou?'

'Good to see you again, Robin.'

'I like you, Lou, you're not a pushy person.'

'Not much point. Take it easy, I always say.'

'I hear there was a bit of trouble in your parents' shop the other day.'

How had Robin heard that? 'There was, kids, brats.'

'Well they've been dealt with, the hide has been beaten off them, they won't touch the place again. Small call to our friends the Cardai telling them where the stuff can be found, should be sorted out tomorrow.'

'That's very good of you, Robin, I appreciate it.'

'Not at all, it's a pleasure.' he said. Lou waited. 'Working at the moment?'

'Nothing that can't be altered if needs be,' Lou said.

'Busy place here, isn't it?' Robin nodded at the bar where they stood. Ten-pound notes and twenty-pound notes were flashing back and forward. The night's takings would be substantial.

'Yeah, I'd say they have two guys and an Alsatian to take all that to a night safe.'

'As it happens they don't,' said Robin. Lou waited again. 'They have this van that drives the staff home, about three in the morning, and the last to be left off is the manager, who looks as if he's carrying a duffel bag with his gear in it but that's the takings.'

'And does he put it in a safe?'

'No, he takes it home and someone comes to his house to pick it up a bit later and they put it in a safe.'

'Bit complicated, isn't it?'

'Yeah, but this is a tough kind of an area.' Robin shook his head disapprovingly. 'No one would want to be driving a security van round here, too dangerous.' Robin frowned darkly, as if this were a monstrous shadow over their lives.

'And most people don't know this set-up, about the manager with the sports bag?'

'I don't believe it's generally known at all.'

'Not even to the driver of the van?'

'No, not at all.'

'And what would people need, do you think?'

'Someone to reverse in front of the van accidentally, and-prevent the van leaving the lane for about five minutes.' Lou nodded. 'Someone who has a car and a clean driving licence and a record of coming here regularly.'

'That would be a good idea.'

'You have a car?'

'Sadly no, Robin, a licence yes, a record of coming here but not a car.'

'Were you thinking of buying one?'

'I was indeed, a second-hand car… thinking a lot, but it hasn't been possible.'

'Until now.' Robin raised a glass to him.

'Until now,' Lou said. He knew he must do nothing until he heard from Robin. He felt very pleased that Robin had said he liked him. He frowned vaguely at a girl nearby and she asked him to dance. Lou hadn't felt so good for a long time

Next day his father said that you wouldn't believe it but the Guards had found every single thing that had been taken by those young pups. Wasn't it a miracle? Three days later a letter and hire purchase agreement form came from a garage. Mr. Lou Lynch had paid a deposit of two thousand pounds and agreed to pay a monthly sum. The car could be picked up and the agreement signed within the next three days.

'I'm thinking of getting a car,' Lou told his parents.

'That's great,' said his mother.

'Bloody marvellous what people can do on the dole,' his father said.

'I'm not on the dole as it happens,' Lou said, stung.

He was working in a big electrical appliances store, carrying fridges and microwaves out to the back of people's cars. He had always hoped it might be the kind of place where Robin would come and find him. How could he have guessed it would be in a discotheque?

He drove his car around proudly. He took his mother out to Glendalough one Sunday morning, and she told him that when she was a young girl she always dreamed that she might meet a fellow with a car but it never happened.

'Well, it's happened now, Mam,' he said soothingly.

'Your Da thinks you're on the take, Lou, he says there's no way you could have a car like this on what you earn.'

'And what do you think Ma?'

'I don't think at all, son,' she said.

'And neither do I, Ma,' he said.

It was six weeks before he ran into Robin again. He called to the big store and bought a television. Lou carried it to his car for him.

'Been going to that disco regularly?'

'Twice, three times a week. They know me by name now.'

'Bit of a dump though.'

'Still. You've got to dance somewhere, drink somewhere.' Lou knew that Robin liked people to be relaxed.

'Very fair point. I was wondering if you'd be there tonight?'

'Certainly I will.'

'And maybe not drink anything because of breathalysers.'

'I think a night on the mineral water's very good for everyone from time to time.'

'Maybe I'd show you a good place to park the car there tonight.'

'That would be great.' He asked no other details, that was his strength. Robin seemed to like him wanting as little information as possible.

About ten o'clock that night he parked the car where Robin indicated. He could see how it would obstruct the exit from the alley into the main road if he pulled out. He realised he would be in full view of everyone in the staff van. The car would have to stall.

And refuse to start despite his apparent best efforts. But there were about five hours before that happened.

So he went into the disco, and within fifteen minutes he met the first girl that he ever thought he could love and live with for the rest of his life. Her name was Suzi and she was a tall, stunning redhead. It was her first time at the disco, she told him. But she was beginning to vegetate at home in her flat, and she decided she would go out and see what the night brought.

And the night had brought Lou. They danced and they talked, and she said she loved that he drank mineral water, so many fellows just stank of beer. And he said he did drink beer sometimes but not in great quantities.

She worked in a cafe in Temple Bar, she told him. They liked the same kind of films and they liked the same music and they loved curries and they didn't mind swimming in the cold sea in the summer and they each hoped to go to America one day. You can learn a lot about other people in four and a half hours if you are sober. And everything that Lou learned about Suzi he liked. Under normal circumstances he would have driven her home.

But these were not normal circumstances. And the only reason that he had a car at all was that the circumstances were so very far from normal.

I'd offer you a lift home but I have to meet this guy here a bit later.' Could he say that, or would it be suspicious later when he was questioned? Because questioned he would be. Could he walk her home and then come back? That might have been possible, but Robin wanted him to establish his presence as being on the scene all night.

I'd really like to see you again, Suzi,' he said.

'Well, I'd like that, too.'

'So will we say tomorrow night? Here, or somewhere quieter?'