Scrap 93

SCRAP 93
Everyone seems very subdued with all the bad news coming in from all directions. Somehow the pals can’t seem to summon up any Christmas spirit. That is until Buddy Flowers tells them that they will be working on one of his haulage contracts for the next few weeks, delivering export strength lager from the factory. Happy days are here again.
Buddy’s warning not to even try nicking anything from the loads is a challenge to distract Frank from the gloom and he follows Scotty to the South London brewery, his brain buzzing with ideas.
Security at the site is remarkably lax and they are waved in by the guard at the gate and directed to the loading bay, where there are already several lorries being loaded. ‘You’re the Flowers blokes aren’t you?’ calls a sturdy looking man in his mid-fifties; ‘come with me and I’ll show you where to pick up your trailers.’
They follow Derek and are disappointed to be shown two box trailers, which they hitch to their tractor units and drive back to the loading bay. Derek sees them back onto the bay and gives them their instructions. ‘All loads are checked and the doors sealed before you drive off,’ he explains, ‘just so there are no misunderstandings along the way. The seals are checked at the other end before unloading. The good part is that you don’t even have to touch the goods: it’s all pallet on, pallet off, so it’s an easy job. Any questions?’ The men do not have any questions they can put to Derek but Frank is working on how to move a few crates of lager in the direction of his cab.
They finish loading and Frank studies the fixing of the door seal for later reference. He figures there must be a way of opening a lead seal and re-sealing it without detection, but where to do it without being seen? One of the office workers hands them their delivery notes and they set off, both fortunately for the same destination. Derek has told them not to stop on the way, not for anything. There has been some trouble lately with hijacking and the last man to get done ended up in hospital because he fought back.
For once the pals do as they are told and the deliveries go smoothly. ‘Doesn’t look like we have any chance of some freebies after all,’ moans Scotty, as they stop for a cup of tea on the way back to the brewery. ‘There must be another way,’ says Frank, ‘maybe one of the loaders is open to negotiation. I’ll sound out one or two on the quiet once they get to know us.’
Derek is right about it being an easy job and the pals manage to shift three loads each before their hours are up. As they are waiting for the doors to be sealed on the last loads, Derek approaches, careful not to seem suspicious. ‘Buddy reckons you are up for a bit of freelance work,’ he says, ‘if you know what I mean.’ Frank is surprised to hear this from a man who at first meeting seems to be as straight as a die. ‘Depends what you mean,’ he replies, ‘wouldn’t want to get involved in anything dodgy now, would we?’ Scotty confirms that this is the case, but their reputation has preceded them and Derek continues. ‘I’ll make sure you get an extra pallet or two and give you a spare seal. My lads meet you at a certain rendezvous and take off the goods, you fit the new seal and Bob’s your uncle.’
The men consider for a few moments before Frank asks: ‘how do we get our share? And how do we know we can trust your men?’ Derek smiles, ‘Buddy and I have been doing this for years,’ he assures them, ‘how do you think he can afford all his little luxuries?’ Frank has to admit that Buddy is never short of a few bob. He has some of the most up-to-date lorries on the road, drives an expensive car and goes on foreign holidays at least twice a year. ‘We’ll have to think about it,’ says Scotty, unhappy at involving a third party in any of their scams. ‘Let me know in the morning,’ says Derek, ‘it will be a nice little earner to pay for Christmas.’
Later at Scotty’s house the pals are discussing Derek’s proposal. ‘We don’t know a thing about this bloke,’ warns Frank. Scotty agrees but reckons that if he and Buddy have a long-term arrangement that’s good enough reason for him to get involved. ‘Anyway, we won’t be on this job for long, so the risk is minimal. We can always say we are just obeying orders.’
Next day Derek’s well-tried scheme is put into action and the men take a diversion to a run-down industrial estate where two pallets of booze is fork-lifted off each load before the new seals go on the doors. They make their deliveries without any comment and return for a second load. It all seems too easy to Frank but he is happy to pocket an envelope full of fivers at the end of the day.
They stop for a meal on the way home and open their envelopes. ‘Crikey, look at all this lot,’ exclaims Scotty, ‘and that’s just one day’s work.’ Frank is pleased with his share but he is glad they will not be working for Buddy for long. It all seems suspiciously easy.