Ewan sucked on the skunk-laden cigarette. His shoulders immediately felt numb and the warm sensation spread through his body. He smiled at Natalie, who giggled. He’d never really been this close to her before, but now, armed with the courage of chemicals, he pulled her nearer. She held on to his hand and Noah looked over his shoulder and smiled.
‘Come on,’ he said to them. ‘It’s around this corner.’
The weather was cloying and even the teenagers, up to date in their fashion and swagger, took it slow.
They walked through an upmarket neighbourhood, dotted with luxury properties. Noah stopped outside one that Ewan recognised. It was Tony and Monika’s house. His dad called them filthy rich and Monika a ‘gold digger’.
Ewan didn’t agree with many of his father’s opinions. He liked Monika. She had read him bedtime stories when he was smaller, and she’d sung him songs to get him to sleep, which his dad never had. Even at twelve years old, he’d found comfort in somebody sitting with him at bedtime.
Dad called Tony a ‘ballsy high flyer’, but Ewan thought him fake. He’d caught him looking at his mother the same way he saw in movies, during scenes that made him feel uncomfortable. It was the same way he sometimes looked at Natalie. There were different kinds of lust, though, and the type he felt for Natalie fell into a category that was kind of harmless. There was also the kind he watched on YouTube, and that’s how his dad looked at Monika.
‘Woah, what are the cops doing there?’ Noah sped up, past the two squad cars. Ewan and Natalie caught up.
Maybe Tony was in trouble. Ewan hoped the sight of the cops might put an end to Noah’s plans, but it didn’t.
Rich people don’t care. That’s what Noah said to justify breaking into their homes and robbing them.
They wandered around for another hour or so, but time was lost in a haze of Natalie’s perfume.
‘This one,’ Noah said.
Ewan’s heart sank as he was reminded of the last time they’d entered the same property, looking for stuff that was valuable. Anything really, as long as it looked expensive. Noah knew people who could get rid of high-value stolen goods, such as jewellery and fine silver. It was paraphernalia that meant nothing to Ewan.
‘There’s no one home,’ Noah said.
‘How do you know?’ Ewan asked.
‘I just know. Besides, she lives on her own,’ Noah said.
Ewan looked at Natalie, who smiled encouragingly, and Ewan realised that, to impress her, he had to be brave. Courage came in lots of forms, and all he cared about was exciting her.
‘It’ll just be the same as last time, we’ll turn the alarm off,’ Noah said.
‘You’ve been here before?’ Natalie asked.
Ewan nodded. ‘It’ll be all right,’ he said, more for himself than for her.
They walked into the driveway and their feet crunched on the gravel. Ewan could tell that Natalie was thrilled by the risk. He didn’t know where Noah learned how to disable alarm systems, not ones that looked so expensive anyhow, but he didn’t ask. He watched as his friend went to a box at the base of the wall facing the side gate and opened it. He took a tool out of his trousers and began fiddling with wires. It was Ewan and Natalie’s job to look out for trouble. There was no doubt that the woman who lived here was rich, and that provided some kind of comfort: she wouldn’t miss anything. He’d seen it for himself last time, the paintings, jewellery, fancy crystal, electronics and fine handbags. They didn’t get a lot for it, and Ewan wanted none of it, but that wasn’t the point. Noah seemed to be addicted to getting his hands on other people’s stuff.
Ewan was more than willing to bail Noah out with cash, but he didn’t want handouts. Something that was acquired legitimately wasn’t worth losing sleep over; this was. Ever since Noah’s dad lost his job, Noah had become obsessed with rich people.
The cannabis was still hanging around in Ewan’s bloodstream and his senses were dulled, the edge of danger smoothed out. He and Natalie hovered about, alert to unwelcome attention, while Noah worked on the alarm. It didn’t take long, and they were soon unlocking the back gate and sauntering down the side, along the wall, and into the back garden. The place was immaculate, like last time.
‘She installed a new alarm, but it’s a piece of shit like the last one,’ Noah said. They all laughed. Natalie held on to Ewan’s arm and he placed his hand over hers to reassure her, and it felt good.
Noah led them to the rear door which in turn led to the utility room at the back of the house, and he held the tool in front of him. He tried the door and they breathed a collective sigh of relief as it opened. Noah put the screwdriver away and they entered the property. There was soft music playing in the background and they tiptoed into the kitchen. They paused for a moment as they looked around and took in the grandeur of the place. They noticed the signs of affluence everywhere: the state-of-the-art fridge, with a digital control, the polished floor, a huge flat-screen TV on the wall and fresh flowers in expensive vases.
‘Fuck! This place is amazing!’ Natalie said.
‘She’s the bitch who sacked my dad,’ Noah said, leaving the kitchen.
‘Shall we leave her a little present then?’
Ewan and Noah looked at her questioningly.
She took a second bag of blue pills out of her pocket and held them up.
‘Wouldn’t it be hilarious if she reports a robbery and they found some gear? It would be revenge for your dad, Noah.’
Natalie stared at Ewan for support, and he shrugged, his heart pounding out of his chest.
‘Right, then, that’s settled.’
Noah led them straight through the back and up the stairs. Ewan held on to Natalie’s hand, but she let it go as they went up the polished oak structure, quietly, hardly breathing as they glanced around. Noah seemed possessed and Ewan felt a knot of concern form under his ribcage. They watched as he opened a wardrobe door and a large metal safe sat there, beckoning them to take a look. They looked at each other and Noah was the one who stepped forward first.
He knelt down and fiddled with the handle. He tapped a code into the digital keypad.
Natalie and Ewan stared at him when it clicked open.
‘How did you do that?’ Natalie asked.
Noah smiled at them.
‘Okay, there was a four-digit code written on the fridge board downstairs,’ he said.
Natalie and Ewan looked at him. ‘That’s dumb,’ Ewan said.
‘What’s in it?’ Natalie asked. Ewan noticed that her chest was rising and falling as she breathed and her skin glowed like polished ivory in the late evening light, flowing through the upstairs landing.
‘Fuck!’ Noah said, standing up quickly.
‘What?’ Ewan asked.
Noah stepped back and Ewan moved forward to have a look at what had taken his friend by surprise. He put his hand into the safe and felt a cloth. He brought it out and unwrapped it as Natalie watched.
‘Don’t touch it,’ Noah said. But it was too late. Ewan stood back, holding the item in his hand.
‘What’s she doing hiding that?’ Natalie asked.
Ewan stared at his hand and Noah said they should go.
‘Put it back,’ Natalie said.
‘Wipe it first,’ Noah said.
Ewan wiped it with his t-shirt and his hands shook.
The knife was something that didn’t belong in any respectable woman’s house. It was long, perhaps the size of a school ruler, and the handle had finger indents, making it look like it should be used for hunting. Ewan leaned over and looked inside the safe, not knowing what else he was looking for. He felt around and brought out a fat envelope, which was stuffed with cash.
‘Let’s take it,’ Noah said.
‘Are you crazy?’ Ewan asked. ‘We don’t want anything to do with this.’
‘But she’s hiding it for some reason,’ Noah said, grabbing the envelope. ‘She’s loaded. She has all the money she needs, so this is extra and hidden for a reason. She’ll never admit it was there, and so we can take it,’ Noah said, staring at the money. ‘Put the knife back,’ he told Ewan. Who did as he was told, after wiping it a second time, more thoroughly.
‘She won’t report this,’ Noah said, putting the money in his pockets. ‘Let’s go.’ In some kind of warped sense, Ewan hoped that with this kind of money, Noah might stop burglarising houses for a while and give them all a break.
He banged the safe closed, and the door sprung back open. He backed away and Noah was the first to make his way out of the room. He watched as Natalie opened a drawer, pushed clothes aside, and left the bag of pills in there.
Ewan’s heart raced.
They left the room quickly and headed down the stairs, just as a car pulled up outside.