Indefensible (DI Sara Ramsey Book 12), M Comley [world of reading TXT] 📗

were encouraging people to go over to online banking. He and his new partner had been making a killing lately, careful how they went about their business to avoid being captured by the police. So far it had worked out well, but he had always planned things methodically in the past—he regarded himself as a professional in his field. That was before he’d teamed up with his partner.

He jabbed a finger in his partner’s thigh. “Come on, time to go. Remember what I said, keep your head down low. Take your hoodie off once we’ve reached her front door, though, got that? The last thing we want to do is make her suspicious.”

“All right. You’re beginning to sound like a broken record, repeating yourself over and over all the time.” He jabbed a finger at his temple. “I ain’t got shit for brains, no matter what you think.”

Debatable at times. “Of course you haven’t, I was only going over the plan—”

Adam slammed his fist on the car door. “Again! For the seven hundredth time.”

“Slight exaggeration.”

“All right, can we get on with this now?”

He swallowed down the acid which had lodged in his throat and got out of the vehicle, pressing the key fob as he took a few steps towards the woman’s house. He cautiously glanced over his shoulder, to check the coast was clear. They stepped onto the path that led up to the woman’s front door.

After he rang the bell, he motioned for his partner to remove his hood and they both straightened their hair. “Ready? Don’t go steaming in there, right? She seems a feisty one.”

Adam grunted. “I’m going to leave it all to you, as planned.”

The door opened and immediately closed to a couple of inches. The woman, already on guard, peered around it and demanded, “What do you want? I’m not buying anything.”

“Hello, love. We noticed you’ve got a few slates missing on the roof. Hear me out, we’re trying to do you a favour. We’ve stopped off and helped a few of the old dears on the street in need of assistance.”

“Is that right? Well, my son happens to be a roofer and he gets up there to check it out regularly. So bugger off!” She began closing the door, but Adam thrust his foot in the way and shoved it open. The woman stumbled backwards into the hallway. “I’ll scream if you don’t leave this instant.”

Adam raised his fist and threatened her. “Do that and you won’t live to spend another Christmas with your family, Grandma.”

“Oh my! What do you want? I don’t want any trouble. My husband is on an errand, he’ll be back soon. If he catches you here, there’ll be trouble.”

Adam took a pace forward, getting right in her face. “Don’t bullshit us, we know you live alone. Where do you keep it?”

Her hand shook as she placed it on her cheek. “Keep what?”

“The money. Hand it over and we’ll let you get on with your day.”

“I don’t have any. I’m a very poor pensioner. I’m telling you, he’ll be back soon.”

Adam gave the woman a backhander and knocked her to the floor. “We know you ain’t got a husband, so stop lying to us.”

“I do. He’s gone out to the shops, he’ll be back in a few minutes. Leave while you’ve still got the chance.”

The older one remained with the woman while Adam took off, searching her home. Drawers could be heard opening and banging shut again at the end of the long hallway. “It would be better if you told us where the money is, sweetheart. We don’t mean you no harm.”

“I won’t. If I give it to you, then what am I supposed to live on? You need to both get a life, and more importantly, a job. Go on, jog on. If I get to my feet, I’m going to ring the police.”

“We’ll be out of your hair soon enough, providing you tell us where you keep your loot.”

“Nope, it’s not going to happen. Did I mention my other son is a copper? See that camera up there, he’s watching my every move. I bet you didn’t know that, did you?”

His head shot around to the equipment sitting on the wall and he laughed. “Nice try, old lady, that’s a smoke detector, nothing more.”

“It’s a camera made to look like a smoke detector, dimwit. He’ll be here soon, mark my words. Not all old folks are incapable of looking after themselves, you know. You’ve picked on the wrong pensioner this time.”

Adam appeared at the end of the hallway with a bundle of notes in his hand. “Any more of the readies anywhere else, bitch?” he demanded.

“No. You put that money back, I’ve put it aside for my funeral. You take that and my family will have to bear the burden.”

“Tough, it’s ours now.” Adam came towards them. “Is this all of it?”

“Yes, that’s my life savings in your hands. Mine, not yours. Why don’t you get a proper job instead of robbing elderly folks who have worked hard all their lives and have a pittance to show for it?”

Adam leaned down and sneered in her face. “This is so much easier than working for a living. Stop messing with me, lady, tell me where the rest of it is. I know you oldies prefer to scatter your funds around the house. Hand it over, or suffer the consequences.”

“Hey, hurting her wasn’t in the plan. Let’s take what you’ve found and get out of here.”

“What’s the rush? I’m having fun. She’s got more stashed away, I just know it. Hand it over, Grandma.”

The woman held a hand up, guarding her face. “I haven’t. I’ve told you, that’s all I have. Take it and get out of my home.”

“Ain’t gonna happen. We’re not in any rush. We’ll stay here all night if we have to.”

“Adam, come on. She’s got a son in the police, let’s get out of here.”

Adam bent down again, his nose almost touching the old