“Lunch With Dob”

“Thanks for the ride, mate,” Colin told Adam, as he climbed out of the car in front of Richie’s office. “I shouldn’t be too long. Perhaps I’ll meet you at Andy’s when I’m done.”

“Sure, no worries, Col,” Adam replied, casting a nervous glance in the rearview mirror at the black SUV parked behind him. Dob had opted to drive his own car and follow them into town, something Adam was glad about, but still made him nervous to think about what the man might be planning for him once Colin was no longer by his side.

Colin noticed his brother-in-law’s nervousness, leaned in the car, “Look, everything okay? You want I should just go with you to lunch?”

“No, no,” Adam replied a little too quickly, “you go on, I’ll be fine. Dob and I just have a bit of catching up to do.” He managed a slight smile and added, “I’m just tired is all. I’ll be fine. Long day, ya know?”

Colin nodded, shut the car door and headed into Richie Roberts’ office, leaving Adam to head off to Andy’s with Dob.

Adam waved, as Colin headed through the office door, then his face fell into a grimace. Why the fuck didn’t he just tell Colin? Warn him or... something? He glanced into the rearview mirror again and saw Dob’s angry face staring back at him. He gritted his teeth, put the car into gear and drove over in front of the boarding house to park. Dob pulled up beside him and was quickly out of his car within seconds.

“What ya waitin’ for, mate?” Dob snarled at him, “Get the fuck outta that car before I drag yer arse out.”

Adam quickly did as he said, knowing better than to cross Dob. “About last night...,” he began, but Dob cut him off before he could finish.

“We’ll talk about that later,” he said, gruffly, “right now, you’re gonna buy me lunch. So let’s get movin’.” He shoved Adam towards the door.

Adam stumbled a bit, caught himself then cautiously made his way through the door to Andy’s Restaurant – Dob following closely behind him. The place was busy this time of day with the local lunch crowd. Adam managed to find a table for them in the back corner where they could talk quietly without being heard. He glanced nervously around the room, noticing a few faces he recognized and nodding to them. “Good,” he thought to himself, “witnesses... just in case.”

Once they were seated, a waitress came over, took their orders, then quickly left them for the kitchen. Adam fidgeted nervously as they quietly waited for their food. Finally, he couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke up, “Dob, look mate, Colin could be here any minute, so if you have something to say to me, get it said now please.”

Dob grinned a toothy grin at him, “Oh, so you think you’re calling the shots now, then? Oh ho ho, ain’t you the big man... sittin’ there thinkin’ you’re holdin’ all the cards.”

Dob leaned in close over the table, glaring into Adam’s eyes. Adam didn’t flinch but only glared back at him. He’d had a shit day and wasn’t in the mood for any of Dob’s intimidation tactics; he just wanted this to end here and now.

“Alright,” Dob said, finally, “So, tell me this, mate... how is it that you just happened to disappear last night at that pub right when the cops showed up? Huh?”

Adam swallowed hard, trying to keep his cool. He didn’t want Dob to know that Hando had in fact tipped him off ahead of time, giving him the opportunity to duck out the back door before the cops got there.

“Just luck, I guess,” he said, evenly. “I was in the loo, heard the ruckus, ducked out the back door. I tried to motion to you, but it was too late, they were already headed your way. But I see you managed to evade them... as usual.”

“Hmm... good thing for you... and that fuckin’ skin-head... I carry a permit for my gun or you’d both already be dead by now. Speakin’ of which...,” he grinned eerily, then continued, “That’s a mighty fine wife you got yourself there, mate. Sure would hate for somethin’ bad to happen to her.”

Adam narrowed his eyes, “You best fuckin’ leave her outta this, Dob, if you know what’s good for you.”

“Seems to me like you ain’t in no position to be threatenin’ me, mate, seein’ how I’m the only one that knows where your little wifey is right now. Yep, if I don’t check in with my mate in the next half hour, you ain’t never gonna see her again... well, in once piece, anyway,” he chuckled.

Adam tensed up, made a quick move to jump across the table and grab Dob by the neck, but thought better of it when the waitress appeared again, carrying a tray of food for them. He sat back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Dob’s, as he waited for the waitress to leave again. Once she was gone, he leaned in close across the table, his eyes blazing with anger, “You fuckin’ touch even one hair on her head and I’ll fuckin’ rip you apart right here and now.”

Dob just smiled, picked up his burger and took a big bite of it, then licked his lips. “Now, you listen to me, you little prick,” he told Adam, quietly, “you are gonna do exactly what I say and Raine will be returned to you... unharmed,” he grinned, then added, “well, mostly, anyway.”

“Motherfucker!” Adam yelled at him, jumping up out of his seat and lunging towards the man seated across from him. He stopped just short of grabbing Dob around the neck, looked up and noticed all eyes were on him.

“Everythin’s fine,” Dob chuckled, “ain’t it, boy,” he sneered at Adam. “the lad here and I just had a bit of a disagreement, is all.”

Adam gathered himself, nodded, then sat back down. The diners were still looking at him for a moment longer, then went back to their own food and conversations.

“Now, if you’ve calmed down, mate, I’ll tell you what you need to do in order to get your little sheila back,” Dob said, quietly.

Adam nodded, his arms folded in front of him. “Go on then, I’m listening.”

“Good. Now, I got another shipment coming in tonight. I need you to pick it up, take it directly to your shop, where I’ll have a customer waiting. Don’t fuck it up, mate, or not only will we fuck you up but your little sheila as well. You’ll need to follow him with the shipment to the location he gives you, do whatever he tells you.”

“He’s taking the whole lot then?” Adam asked, curiously.

“If he likes what he sees, yeah. This is a special order mate, just like in Sydney. You don’t ask him any questions, just do what he says, then give me a call when it’s done.”

Adam cleared his throat. Shit. This was big time, he knew it. Dob ran more than just drugs... much more. He looked down at his food, his appetite now completely gone. If he told anyone about what was going down, Raine would die – and not quickly, either. Dob would see to it that she suffered, just like he did with Adam’s family years earlier. Adam had just been a kid then, barely 16 at the time, when Dob had made him watch while he tortured his family to death. The image of his little sister crying out to him to make it stop still haunted his dreams at night. He wasn’t going to let that happen to Raine, he’d do everything in his power to get her back safely.

“Now, if we’re in agreement here, I’ll take my leave of you,” Dob told him, shoving the last bite of burger into his mouth.

“Yeah, fine,” Adam replied, all the color drained from his face.

“Good,” Dob said, getting to his feet, “I’ll be expecting your call when its done, then.”

Adam watched in silence as Dob walked out of the restaurant and drove away.

“Everything okay, luv?” the waitress asked him, noticing the sick look on his face.

“Where’s the loo?” he asked, not looking up.

“Just through there,” she pointed.

“Ta,” Adam replied, then quickly made his way to it, and threw up what little contents were in his stomach.