Chapter 20

We had been on holiday for three days and, so far, had done nothing but have sex. Exciting and fun though that was, we had come for a more serious purpose. What's more, the ladies, not having Charles's instant refresher cure, were feeling, to put it crudely, shagged out, so there was not much disagreement when I suggested we should start on our 'investment plan'.

The first order of the day was to find out how Euros worked. I had Charles make a couple of hundred pounds and went in search of the nearest bank. While I was doing that, Tonia and Lola went hunting for stationery. Getting the necessary information was not as easy as it had been at home. No-one in the first bank knew anything about the security system that was used when printing Euros and we had to go into the centre of the town to find a larger branch before we were successful. Once outside, I had Charles make another couple of hundred Euros which I used to buy the ladies necklaces. He was suitably scathing about my lack of faith in his abilities.

"It never hurts to be cautious," I thought mildly. "And, besides, I've got a nice present for the ladies."

"Present-schmesent," he muttered. "I really do not understand why you worry so much about these females."

"Watch your mouth," I told him. "We've been through this before."

He subsided, still grumbling.

The ladies thanked me generously for the necklaces, putting far more effort into their 'thank-yous' than I had into acquiring the gifts. I wondered what would happen when I bought them something really expensive. After we had recovered, Charles made several thousand Euros, Tonia wrote bank details on the envelopes which Lola and I stuffed with thousand-Euro lots and sealed.

"Are we ready?" I said.

"I suppose so," Tonia said.

Now the moment had come we were all suddenly reluctant to start. This was it. We were about the break the law in a big way. The instant I handed over the first envelope we were committed and would have to play the game to the end. There would be no retreat; no way back. We would be criminals in the eyes of the law for ever more. Up to now it had been a sort of game but now the magnitude of what we were about to hit us hard.

"Well, I suppose..." I said.

"Yes. Let's..." Tonia couldn't meet my eye.

"This is it," Lola said.

"Yup. This is it," I said.

We stood around indecisively for a few moments then Lola squared her shoulders.

"Look, do we believe in our plan?" she said almost fiercely.

"Of course," I said and Tonia nodded.

"We've thought it all through," Lola continued. "And we've planned it in detail. And we believe it'll work, yes?" We nodded. "Then let's go and do it."

We grinned foolishly at each other then hugged one another tightly.

"Let's go," Tonia cried.

Arm in arm we marched out of the hotel.

"Just like the three bloody musketeers," I laughed.

"One for all," Tonia cried.

"And all for one," Lola responded.

"You know, I read somewhere that they only say that once in the whole book," I said. Tonia and Lola looked at me as if I had gone instantly mad. "I just thought I'd mention it."

They exchanged glances and suddenly doubled over in laughter and, still laughing, we set out for our life of crime. Half way down the street, Tonia suddenly started singing the work song from 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' and that set us off again. At least it wasn't 'The Wizard of Oz'.

Our mood rapidly sobered when we reached the town centre.

"Right, you two find a nice café and order me something long and strong. I'll be back in a while."

"How long?" Tonia asked.

"How many envelopes do we have?"

"Seven."

"Well, I don't know. Fifteen... twenty minutes?"

"We'll be over there," Lola said, giving me a big kiss.

"Good luck," Tonia added, kissing me, too.

I grinned and waved as I left. A foolish gesture, perhaps, but I did feel as if I was embarking on a world-shaking mission. My heart was in my mouth and I'm sure the ladies were equally nervous though it was difficult to tell behind their dark glasses.

"Okay, Charles, it's up to you now. Remember he or she must be local, mustn't be known in the bank and must speak English," I thought.

"You're such a worrier," he said. "I've handled much more complex and delicate tasks in my time. That one."

I looked to see a middle-aged woman coming down the street towards us. She was dressed in a long black skirt and dark blouse with a head-square covering her irom-grey hair. She was carrying a shopping bag. She looked like somebody's grandmother.

"Buenos dias," I said stepping in front of her.

She looked up and, as she caught my gaze, her eyes glazed over.

"Would you do me a favour and deposit this money in the bank, please. The account details are written on the front. Afterwards, destroy the envelope and the receipt and forget this happened."

"Si, Señor," she said, taking the proffered envelope and turning away.

I couldn't help it, I stood and watched her as she made her sturdy way to the bank and disappeared inside. I knew I was supposed to simply hand over the envelope and move on but this was the first one and I had to know if the mental commands would work.

"Of course it will work," Charles snorted. "Why shouldn't it?"

"I know it should," I thought back. "I just want to make sure it does."

It seemed like ages but, in reality, it was just over ten minutes before my messenger emerged. She had the envelope in her hand and, although I couldn't be sure from this distance, it seemed to be empty. She looked round, spotted a waste-paper bin and trotted over to it. She tore the envelope up and watched the pieces flutter into the bin. Suddenly she gave a little start and looked round as if surprised to find herself outside the bank. Then, with a little shrug, she started walking back up the street. I stood where she would see me. This was the final test. Would she recognise me? She passed within ten feet and never even glanced in my direction. I was jubilant.

"Well done, Charles," I thought. "You did it."

"It was nothing." His tone was smug. "I do not understand why you ever doubted it would work."

I was light headed with relief and felt like dancing a jig. This would not have been a wise move and I still had six more envelopes to get rid of so I took a few deep breaths and set off to look for more likely victims

The second was a businessman. In his mid-thirties and dressed in formal trousers, a neatly-ironed short-sleeved shirt with a tie and shiny shoes, he took the envelope without a word and turned aside to find his designated bank. This time I did not wait, although I was sorely tempted to do so. For the plan to work I had to move on and not hang about. My third victim was a harassed-looking young woman, my fourth another businessman, my fifth an obviously well-heeled lady out shopping, my sixth an older man dressed in overalls and my seventh a pensioner. As the final envelope left my hand I had to suppress a whoop of triumph: €7,000 in just over half an hour. It was incredible; unbelievable! I wanted to rush back to my women and dance around like a mad thing. I did nothing of the sort, of course, but strolled casually around until I was back at the café they had indicated.

Lola spotted me and waved. They had a jug of Sangria on the table and Tonia poured me a large glass.

"Well?" Lola demanded.

I did my best to keep a straight face and shrugged. "No problem."

"What do you mean 'no problem'?" Tonia, looking as if she wanted to slug me. "What happened? Give, buster, or else."

I couldn't maintain my air of indifference any longer. "It worked like a dream." I beamed. "Exactly as planned."

"Details. We want details," Tonia demanded.

I gave them the details and, as I did, their smiles got broader and broader.

"I almost can't believe it," Lola breathed. "We're going to be rich as easy as that."

"May I remind you that some of us have done a lot of hard work to make it as easy as this," Tonia said with some asperity.