Chapter 1: Under Siege

Dave yawned and lent back against the wooden shell of his stall 'Shit things are sure slow in here today'. His half closed eyes watched a fly slowly buzz across the space of the shopping centre, its intention clear. Sure enough, the fly settled on the plump strawberries that filled the punnets at the front of his stall. One swift grab and the fly was trapped in Dave's fist, he smiled 'You have to be faster than that to catch out Dave Green' he thought in triumph. But the high was short lived, the fly was duly squashed, and tedium descended once more.

Ella and Tina walked through the quiet centre, relieved to have so few competitors for the first of the summer sales. Ella turned nimbly on her heels and scooted into Prada, Tina, as always, followed in her friends wake; she knew Ella had a nose for the bargains, it was wise to let her sniff them out.

Sure enough the girls were soon standing in front of a row of designer dresses, spring season wear for sure, but there were some very tempting clothes on offer. The dull thump of a rap song plugged away in the background, unwatched, MTV gyrated on the panel display behind them.

"Ella, we can't afford to even look at these!" Tina whispered.

"Who said anything about paying for them?" Ella smiled.

Tina felt the butterflies tapping against her lower stomach; she loved that feeling - the excitement - when Ella took control.

"Ella! You can't, you'll be caught, they are very security conscious here" Tina warned her friend half-heartedly.

"No I can't, but with my help - you can!" Ella giggled softly.

"Me no! I couldn't..." Tina's eyes widened.

"Listen I've got a plan - it's easy really!" Ella soothed.

Tina felt the rush, almost sexual, sweep over her; Tina bent her head to listen to her friend's idea.

Soon Tina was walking towards the changing room with three dresses and Ella's carrier bag. Her legs trembled, her mind fixed on the adrenaline rush.

"Three items, cubicle four please, madam" chimed the prissy assistant. Tina smiled nervously and disappeared into the indicated booth.

Once inside, she started to snip off the labels, and position them in the same places on the market bought copies. Soon only the security tags remained securely fastened to the expensive dresses. Tina carefully placed each one into Ella's carrier bag, and then hung the copies onto the shops hangers. Her heart pounding, Tina drew back the curtain and strode out, replacing the three fakes on the rack before the self-assured assistant.

"Thank you madam, I am sorry they were not to your taste," she said, with an insincere smile.

Tina was certain she heard a sneer in the practiced cultured tones but ignored it, and headed towards the front of the store. Suddenly all hell broke out - sirens screamed and red lights in the ceiling blinked furiously! Immediately Tina felt a hand close around her upper arm, she glanced into the eyes of the store detective; her heart missed a beat, and then two more.

"No need to panic madam, but we need to clear the shop, fire alarm - please go out through the fire doors over there and make your way to the right out into the esplanade" He advised in a calming voice.

Tina glanced around for Ella, the hesitation earning her a swift rebuke.

"Now madam, this is not a drill!"

Tina raced for the exit and out into the safe hallway, she emerged shaken and confused. A sudden whooping sound behind her made Tina jump.

"Tine it worked, it worked!" Ella cried, dancing around the confused teenager.

"What? Move away Ella, there's a fire in the store!" Tina gasped.

"No there's not, silly! Just a smoke bomb I set off," Ella paused for breath, "No detectors on the fire doors, see?"

"Oh you silly bitch, you frightened me - so much," breathed Tina in relief.

Ella giggled.

"I can see that, you've peed yourself girl!" Ella pointed to the dark stain on the crotch of Tina's jeans.

"Oh that, that's not pee..." Tina stopped mid-sentence, and then blushed deeply.

"You dirty bugger, it gets you going doesn't it? Is that why you are always up for it? Ella grinned at her befuddled friend.

At that moment the store detective emerged from the fire doors.

"You two!" he shouted.

Ella and Tina froze.

"Move away from the fire doors right away, we need room for emergency access!"

The girls moved away willingly, and kept on moving. They left the mounting crescendo of lights and sirens far behind them.

"So Miss sarcastic, are you saying our brush with the law there did nothing for your pulse?" asked an inquisitive Tina.

"It frightened the shit out of me - but it didn't turn me on, you are just plain weird, Tine!" Ella smiled, trying to broker the peace.

"Well sod you Ella Fisher, so what if I gets a buzz; you got your precious clothes - didn't you! Tina grumbled.

"Look I'm sorry, look - I'll get you some of those strawberries and some cream - pretty please - I'm sorry," Ella appealed to her friend's sweet tooth.

"Um, alright then you're forgiven then; but you have to feed them to me - like I'm a queen" Tina smiled, sheer devilment crossing her pretty features.

"Oh, well OK if it'll make you happy," agreed a downtrodden Ella, "but I get to keep all the clothes, deal?"

"Deal" agreed Tina.

The girls laughed, and walked off towards the stall, arm in arm.

Dave Green perked up, 'This is more like it' he though as he directed his best salesman's smile at the approaching girls.

"Ladies, Dave Green's the name, Green by name but not by nature" Dave winked.

"Yeah, sure, whatever - punnet of strawberries, and some cream!" Ella sighed.

"Strawberries, yes me dear picked by me own fair hand this mornin', but no cream sorry; can't keep it cool enough in this place!" Dave replied.

"Forget it then, dork - no cream no sale!" snarled Ella.

"No, don't be mean to Dave, I'll make do with just strawberries Ella" Tina cooed.

"OK then Romeo, big punnet of strawberries for my friend" Ella nodded.

"Sure, £2.85 please, madam"

"That's a bit steep isn't it" Ella protested.

Tina fidgeted, and nudged Ella hard in the side; grudgingly Ella paid Dave.

"And 15 pence change, madam" Dave offered.

"Keep it Davey boy, I'm sure you need it more than me" sneered Ella.

Dave shook his head as the girls walked away, 'God, I'd like to show you a thing or two, you cheeky beggar' he fumed in silence.

--

Malcolm marched along the line of cars with military precision, he tutted at the tawdriness of others. So far this morning he had booked 30 or so cars, and it was getting worse - what the hell was wrong with these people.

They got into that place and lost all sense of reality, buying their crap, and ignoring the rules.

"Idiot, damn idiots" Malcolm muttered into his much-loved black organiser, as he booked yet another offender.

Rules were important to Malcolm, rules and procedures, he had learnt in the Army how they could save your life. The memory of his Army days brought him to a sudden halt in his stride. Twenty years, twenty years of loyal service, and now this - a car park attendant for imbeciles!

His sullen reminiscing was brought to a shattering end, as a teenaged boy raced up to him on his BMX, raised two fingers and shouted coarsely.

"Malcolm the poofter, Malcolm the poofter - can't catch my arse Gaylord!" screeched the spotty youth.

Stoical Malcolm ignored the pathetic teasing, he had put up with it all through his military career, one way and another. Malcolm was not gay, he was controlled, abstinent - it's what mother would have expected of him.

He sighed deeply, part of him was convinced he had been born on the wrong planet; he wasn't like them, the pointers, the teasers, the absent minded. No he had a purpose, and that purpose was to end the chaos, to bring control and discipline to the world. Years ago he forgot about the world, deciding he could only bring it to himself and his life - it was his religion!

Malcolm glanced down at his watch 10:44, time for a coffee; a minute marching and he would arrive at the café at 10:45 - precisely on time - excellent!