A Day at the Races (11 page)

Walter and Harry you are with me at Ayr in Scotland so we have an early start as well about 6.30 a.m. Linton you Brian and Colin are at Wincanton in Somerset, so you have a long drive, so you will need to leave about 5.30 a.m. Any questions or does anyone think they would prefer a different venue?”

They all shook their heads.

“Right we all assemble at Skippers on Boxing day to pickup our coats and cash. There will be two route maps for each of you to each racecourse so that you don’t get lost, but most of them are well signposted so you shouldn’t have a problem.

Linton has also typed out three sheets for each of you with your direct routes on and expected travel time to each of your venue’s. He has also listed Hotels and B&B’s in your area should you need to stay over, also there will be three copies of the racing paper the Sporting Chronicle.

I think that’s all, any questions?”

Fisher spoke.

“Well I just want reiterate, that you can continue to store the money at Skippers in the top security vault after Boxing Day and as you know we have a large incinerator that we can dispose of the everything afterwards.”

“That’s great Fisher, I appreciate all your help in doing this, it wouldn’t be possible to pull this off without everything you are doing for us. That goes for all of you, I owe you all a huge debt of gratitude and I cant thank you enough.

I think assuming we get away with this, that we keep the money in the vault until the end of January, and think of a way to introduce it into the fund, probably by anonymous donations.

As I said at the outset I just want enough to cover Rachel’s treatment, and that you should share the rest out amongst yourselves but wait a period of time, because they might be on the lookout for any big cash spenders.

I expect to get a visit from the Flying Squad as they usually pay us a visit when there is a flood of forgeries, but it may be some time after, so we need to bide our time and not rush into flashing the cash. I didn’t get any visits after our trial run, but that doesn’t mean they have not been alerted.

I have nothing further to add, I need to get home to my family, so you all have a great Xmas and I will see you all at Skippers on Boxing Day, and remember keep a tight lip we don’t want to cock things up at this late stage.”

They all wished one another a great Xmas and left the Old Duke.

Chapter 13

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It was a bitterly cold morning on Boxing Day, as the first of them arrived at Skippers Dairies.

Fisher was already there in the canteen, he made sure that each van had a full tank of diesel, that all the coats had been filled with cash and that the spare £250,000 was hidden in a separate compartment in the van.

He had laid on fresh hot toast, bacon sandwiches and coffee just in case anyone had missed breakfast.

One by one each group arrived by car at their allotted time, and Fisher went through the final checks to make sure they had everything, including their route maps and instructions and mobile phones.

Once everyone had departed Fisher, and his two sons left separately Fisher in the van, Maurice and Ian in their car.

Moxie parked his van at Wetherby racecourse, as his two cousins Peter and Stuart parked their old navy blue Jaguar Mark X a short distance away. They all donned the overcoats, Moxie beaconed them over.

“Don’t do anything stupid, keep your eyes peeled and remember what we rehearsed. Stuart you place only £500 bets on the first race, Peter your bet is £10.00 and I will place £5.00 bets. Then we alternate for the next race and so on as we have rehearsed. Place as many bets as you can, especially on Happy Larry’s if he is here and don’t forget lay some on the Tote, because if any outsiders come in, the payouts are usually higher.

Right we will go in and once inside don’t acknowledge one another at any time and assemble at the van no later than fifteen minutes after the last race, and they have called winner all right and the bookies have paid out.

You have both got keys for the van and the box under the seat. Just put all the kosher money out of the right side of your coat into the locked box and place the overcoats including the duds, folded into the compartment on the left hand side. We are trying to make it as easy as possible to do the counting and sorting. Don’t wait for me if you are there before me, just dump the stuff into the box and head home, I will check to see you have left your stuff before I leave. Any questions?”

They both shook their heads and they split up, as they walked towards the entrance and went their separate ways.

On the first race Moxie, was able to place a bet with every bookmaker on the course, some even twice and was able to stand in line at the tote on at least two windows to place a bet.

He felt comfortable that he was able to get around quite quickly, but it was early in the afternoon and he knew it wouldn’t be so easy as the crowds grew larger.

He noticed his two associates as he scurried between the rows of bookies, but didn’t acknowledge them at any stage. He felt more confident as the afternoon passed, as things seemed to be going to plan, and wondered how the rest of the team were doing at the other courses.

After the third race he had done particularly well, he felt that he was beginning to bulk up, and didn’t want to alert anyone. He got a pass to leave the course, made it back to the van and dumped all his genuine money into the box under the seat. Jesus he thought, there must be a hundred grand in there easily, but he was eager to carry on with the bookie bashing. On his way back into the course, he met Peter on his way to the van, but they just winked at one another, Moxie assumed that Stuart wouldn’t be far behind.

It was a similar story at Ayr in Scotland, Mike had arrived by van and his two nephews Walter and Harry by car, apart from getting a puncture on route the boys got there on time. They had a brief chat with Mike, to make sure they were familiar with what they had to do.

Again they all had the same game plan, placing a spread of bets and varying it to avoid a pattern.

“Have you got keys for the van and the box?” They both nodded.

“Right once inside split up keep your eyes peeled, place your bets as we agreed including the tote and don’t speak or acknowledge one another at any time. After the last race, as soon as you have collected your winnings, make your way back to the van, put the money and coats in the separate compartments in the locked box under the seats, then make you way home ok? If I am back after you, I will check the box to see if you have both left your stuff.”

The boys nodded and they all went inside.

Mike placed his bets on the first race trying not to feel nervous whilst all the time keeping one eye over his shoulder, but as time went by he felt more confident.

As the afternoon went by he had been able to place a massive number of bets without any cause for concern, and why should the bookies be conscious that something was going wrong they were after all taking in a serious amount of money and their bags would be full.

He was able to place a lot of bets on with the Tote as well, and knew he had done particularly well on the first two races as big priced outsiders had come in, and he hoped that all the other teams were operating well without any problems, but only time would tell.

After the fourth race he decided to go back to the van to unload the money from the right side of his coat and replenish with some more forgeries. He did this in the shortest amount of time, not wanting to miss out on placing bets.

Kenny and his team arrived at Kempton Park about half an hour before the off, they did their pre-sting run through then went inside.

Frank and his team had an uneventful trip to Market Rasen; apart from heavy traffic into the racecourse they did it on time.

Derek and his two brothers made it to Hereford ahead of schedule, had a coffee in their van, before going inside the course.

Linton and his team made their way to Wincanton without too many problems, although they had been held up for about thirty minutes due to a serious accident on route.

Once inside Linton laid a bet with every bookie on the Course. Brian managed to visit every bookie and the tote as well. Colin was a bit nervous but as time went by, he got more adept. In a short time he was moving around the bookies like an expert, placing bets on the Tote as well.

Lastly, Fisher and his two sons made it to Sedgefield, apart from taking a wrong turning made it into the racecourse on time. Once inside his team moved with precision, varying their bets and visiting the Tote as well. Fisher placed a large number of bets with Happy Larry’s. The clerk was mocking Fisher on some of his selections, even offering him better odds than quoted on his board. What a smug bastard thought Fisher, we will see who is smiling at the end of day.

Fisher and the rest of his team had taken a lot of money, and they started to bulk up so they made quick trips at different stages back to the van to lessen their load and pick up some more money.

It was about 3.30 p.m. when Moxie still shaking, got back to the van and loaded his loot into the box under the seat. Shortly after there was a knock on the rear door and Peter and Stuart climbed inside.

“How did it go boys?”

“Like a dream,” said Stuart “I have an absolute fortune in the good stuff.”

“And you Peter?”

“Great I think I did very well I could hardly move in this bloody coat, despite emptying it twice. I thought I had been sussed at one stage, because Happy Larry’s was a bit dubious accepting my bets, but I think it was only because they had taken a hammering on the previous race when the favourite won. He seemed to be taking all the layoffs from other bookies, so it serves the bastard right.”

Moxie looked at him.

“I don’t like the sound of that, I suggest we get the hell out of here pronto, just in case. You get back to your car right away and I will see you back at Skippers.”

They loaded the money and coats into the secure box under the seats and locked the lid shut. The boy’s left the van and as soon as Moxie saw them get into their car and head out of the exit, he started up the engine and headed out of the car park for home.

The rest of the various groups had performed admirably with no incidents to report, by degrees they made their way out of the various racecourses, and headed home in their mini convoys.

Chapter 14

˜

The traffic was very heavy leaving Wetherby racecourse, so Moxie decided to pull off the A1, then take a route that he knew that would eventually put him on the M62 near Leeds, so he would be able to make up lost time.

Just as he was just pulling off the A1, he spotted two girls thumbing a lift, both wearing skirts that didn’t leave anything to the imagination. He pulled his van over. Both of the girls were quite tall, one blonde and the other kind of auburn coloured hair.

“Hi girls, how far are you going, because you are going to catch pneumonia dressed like that?”

“How far do you want to go Mister?” and they both fell around laughing.

“That’s really up to you, but if Manchester is any good jump in.”

“Jump in, you say all the right things you naughty boy.”

The two of them hitched up their skirts the last remaining inches and climbed into the van. Moxie couldn’t help looking at all the flesh on view from his new travelling companions.

“I am Moxie, what are your names?”

“I am Vera, my friend is called Alice.”

“Its nice to meet you girls, what are you doing out here?”

“Well we have been to a hen party in Wetherby, but our car broke down just as were leaving, so we have had to leave it in a garage for repairs and it wont be ready for about a week, it’s a big end or something.”

“Yes I have one of those.”

The girls looked at one another and then the penny dropped and they smiled at Moxie.

He thought these two are a couple of prick teasers let’s see how far they will go.

“There is a small hotel just up ahead and they have a great restaurant if you girls are hungry.”

“That sounds great, we haven’t eaten since breakfast, but you wont take advantage of us will you?” Said Vera.

“Not at all, I am a Monk on day release from Whitby Abbey and we are totally celebrate.”

Alice looked a bit confused.

“What’s that mean?”

“He doesn’t screw, stupid.” Said Vera.

“We’ll see about that.” Said Alice.

Jesus thought Moxie these girls are something else, he was feeling a bit horny and these two girls seemed really up for it. Although a bit thick as they didn’t realise Whitby Abbey had been a ruin for several hundred years.

However he had been living like a Monk for the past six months, apart from his near death experience in the Pink Gardenia, he hadn’t been near the opposite sex.

He was feeling the pressure and these two girls were a couple of nice looking individuals, and he wouldn’t kick them out of bed.

They arrived at the hotel and got a table in the restaurant.

“Would you girls like a drink while you study the menu?”

“Yes please, we will have two pina colada’s.” Said Vera.

“Coming up.” Moxie called the waiter over and ordered a round of drinks.

They had a wonderful meal, and then afterwards retired into the bar for the rest of the evening drinking.

The girls told Moxie that they both worked in a supermarket as check out girls. They had been to one of their old friends hen party just outside Wetherby. There had been forty of them in a night club in the town, but some of them got very rowdy through drink so they were asked to leave, but not before grabbing one of the bouncers and removing his pants.

Jesus thought Moxie, women they are all the same, they are far worse than men, they are pure animals with too much testosterone, or whatever the female equivalent is. He thought about his narrow escape at the Pink Gardenia, when it had been a close call, so he pitied the poor bouncer getting stripped by these wild animals.

“Look girls its getting late, I don’t want to drive because I have had too much to drink, and by the way you have both been knocking them back, you must be feeling tipsy.”