Kip gets up on a vacant up-turned wooden fruit box and starts to speak. " I would like to share a story with you if i may. My Pappy told methis a little while ago and it has stuck with me. I hope you enjoy it". With that he starts to read.

The day had started the way it had meant to. Everything was in place all they had to do was as they had been told and painstakingly taught. The only thing they hadn’t considered apart from the weather was the nerves of the new guy Dick. No one really knew where he came from or what he had done in the past. All the guys were wary of him because of the lack of knowledge of him. No one would dare cross or argue with the upper structure or even think about questioning the boss’s decision.

They started to drive to the city. The Midwest bank was around an hour’s drive away, just enough time for the nerves to get buzzing. If anyone tells you they are not nervous before a job, run a mile as they are a liability! They are either inexperienced or stupid. It is always good to have a little nervousness, keeps you on your toes and helps not to make stupid mistakes which could cost you freedom, or worse your life.

 The team consisted of 5 people. Me, Jack, Pauley, Stevo and the new guy Dick. The weather was shit! The snow had not stopped falling all afternoon. There must be around 4 inches lying around. It was a good job the family had provided a good 4x4 otherwise the job would not happen and I wouldn’t want to be the one to have to tell the boss why

. The roads were quite clear as most people had stayed at home due to the weather. I ws beginin to think they had made te right choice. We were making good time. We would be there around 20 minutes. As the weather was bad, it made the job easier as it would take longer for any police to get to the bank. We weren’t expecting them to show up, but there is always that chance.

 We parked up 2 blocks away in a street which looked like a bomb had gone off. The shop fronts were boarded up, the rubbish floated around in the wind and even the fresh snow looked dirty as it settled on the cobbled streets. There were the local wino's and tramps in some of he doorways, but thy were not interested in us.

  Everyone got out of the vehicle and congregated around the tail gate. “Right” I said. “I want everyone to check right now that they know exactly what their job is”. “Now is the time for any last questions, anyone?” There were a few mumblings, but not questions were asked. I guess it is a male ego thing. No one wanted to be seen to be unsure of what their purpose was on this job. That would have made them look bad, and weak in the eyes of others, and that was not a road anyone of the crew wanted to go down.

 It takes a lot to get people to trust you, and all that work and effort can be ruined in seconds. “ I want everyone to check their weapons and equipment now” There was the normal sound of clicking and clanking as they checked the weapons making them ready in case they were needed.” Right, is everyone ready? Ok let’s do this and make the boss and our family proud.” With that they concealed their weapons and started walking up the street. The snow was crunching under their feet as they walked up the deserted side street.

Once they got to the main street, it was quieter than they had thought. What traffic there was was slow and you could see the frustration and stress on every drivers face. Some were pounding the steering wheel with their fist, while in contrast, some of the women were fixing their makeup for the day ahead, there was guy having a shave while the opportunity took him while the traffic ground to a halt again. We made our way to the bank entrance and stopped briefly to take a deep breath and then we moved forward and started the job.

Once inside, four of us went up to a teller window, and asked to make a withdrawal. We had waited until there was space for all of us, thankfully as the day was quiet, we did not have to wait long. I was asked for my account number to which I replied, “I don’t bank with you, but I am going to have to ask you to stay calm and put the money from your drawer and from your back room into this bag” I handed her a hessian kit bag as did the others. We had left Dick on stag making sure that if anyone did come in, he would usher them onto the floor and make sure we were not interrupted.

The teller looked right into my eyes and asked “You sure you want to do this?” I stared right back at him and produced my magnum and said “ yeah I want to do this, now put the fucking money in the bags or you and me and the rest of you pussies are going to have a fucking problem, and that believe me is a problem you don’t want to have.” The teller looked at me and nodded. “Ok ok no problem here”.

 The bags were getting stuffed full of cash when I heard Dick curse. “Shit!” he said, I turned and looked toward him. “What the fuck is the matter with you?” I said “Fucking cop coming toward us. He’s fucking going to walk in on us” “Fuck sake”  I said talking to myself “ Stay fucking calm, and if he walks in, put him on the floor as you would anyone else. You know what to do, stay fucking calm and deal with it” With that I turned back toward the teller. “Hurry the fuck up and tell your fucking dickheads that work with you to do the same. You do not want this to turn bad for you”

 Just then the cop was walking past and looked in. He obviously didn’t like the sight of what he saw, not there was much out of place, but I guess they call it gut instinct or cops nose. He moved toward the door when this almighty bang happened. I knew exactly what had happened, Dick had lost his bottle and had shot the cop. “Dick talk to me, what’s the situation?” I shouted across the room “Fuck man, he was coming in. I don’t want to go to prison. Man he was coming in, what was i supposed to do” with that the rest of the guys and me got what was already in the bags and started to leave.

 “Go go go, let’s get the fuck out of here” We all moved outside and started moving quickly but not to attract any more attention then we all ready had. We got back to the car and got in. Jack tapped me on the shoulder from the back seat. ”We have a problem. Dick is not here” I looked at him and then shouted “Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Why didn’t any of you check he was with us” “If he does not come back with us, there are going to be consequences and the thought of those scares the shit out of me”  "

Well can’t we go back for him” said Pauley  “And get all of us caught” I said “ I don’t think so. Just let me think for a second” Sirens could be heard in the distance. “Ok we will drive past, and if he is there we will pick him up. If not, god help us” We drove out of the side street and past the bank we had just robbed. Dick was nowhere in sight and we continued to start our journey back to the family. The consequences of leaving one of us behind no matter what we thought of him is unacceptable, the punishment that was coming our way for leaving him or for one of us getting caught, well I am sure you can imagine