Daddy!
It was a name she hadnt called him since she was nine years old. That, and the sheer panic in her voice, jerked Nurses attention away from the Weeties packet on the table in front of him.
His daughter was coming into the kitchen from the back porch, a shoe-cleaning brush in her hand, and there were three men with her. They were masked, they looked hard and competent, and his guts churned.
The first one pushed Mignon gently between the shoulder blades. She ran across the kitchen to Nurse and stood close to his shoulder, trembling. She was wearing her blue and gold uniform. Her hair was damp, uncombed; her feet were bare. Nurse put his arm around her, crushing her against him.
The first one spoke. He wore a cheap dark suit and his voice was low, mesmeric, uninflected. We dont want to hurt you or your family, Mr Nurse.
Nurse was to realise later that the man called him Mr Nurse throughout the whole ordeal.
Where is your wife, Mr Nurse?
Mignon chose that moment to do something stupid. Nurse felt warmth and flexing in her little body as she opened her mouth, drew in a breath, screeched, Mummy! Run!
She might have gone on screeching but the second man, small and quick and also dressed in a suit, came behind her and locked his forearm against her windpipe. The cry strangled in her throat and Nurse felt his bowels loosen. He started to get out of his chair but the first man said, Dont, very quietly.
He had a revolver to back it up. He said, Mr Nurse, your wife?
Shes asleep. She gets migraines. Dont disturb her.
Nurse could see the mans eyes, nothing else. They were brown, steady and unimpressed. I cant do that, Mr Nurse. He turned to the man behind him, nodded once.
Nurse was starting to take in more about them. The third man was bulkier than the other two and he wore jeans and a T-shirt. He went out and came back a moment later, pushing Joyce ahead of him. Her face was creased and swollen with sleep. She was wearing a scoop-necked nightgown and the freckled tops of her breasts showed. Nurse felt an obscure shame and disgust, as if she had bad morning breath. Danny? she said.
The leader said, his voice a soft, patient rasp: We dont mean you any harm, Mrs Nurse. Please sit down at the table with your husband and daughter.
Behind Nurse the small man eased Mignon away and into the kitchen chair at the end of the table. Joyce chose the chair opposite Nurse. They were like a family at breakfast, except who was hungry anymore?
Is it money? Joyce demanded. Danny, give them your wallet.
Nurse reached into his pocket automatically. He tossed the wallet onto the table among the crumbs and sugar grains and spilt jam. No-one moved to pick it up.
Then Joyce sneered at him. I bet its the horses. She turned to the man with the gun. Is that it? He cant pay what he owes you?
The man turned to her and said softly, Shut up and listen.
His words washed over them soothingly. We wish to rob your bank, Mr Nurse. A few minutes from now you will take myself and the man behind you to Logan City in your car. We will wait there until the time locks open, we will load up, and you wont see us again. There is no reason why this shouldnt be smooth and easy. Were not violent. We dont hurt people for the sake of it. And the bank carries insurance, so there will be no need for you or your staff to protect the money. Do you understand me so far?
Nurse felt the blood drain from his face. They knew everything. He didnt believe the mans claim to non-violence. The three of them were practically dripping with itthe guns, the balaclavas, the silent menace of it all, the way they filled the kitchen.
Joyce dug a long fingernail into the corner of each eye. Whatever she dislodged there she wiped on her thigh. Theyll get you. They always do.
Nurse hated to think what they thought of her. Why involve my family? You could have waited at the bank.
Joyce snorted. Use your brains. She gestured. Count how many there are. He goes to the bank, so does he. That leaves one left over.
The answer came to Nurse and his head pounded. No, no, you cant do that. Leave my wife and daughter out of it.
Too late, wouldnt you say?
Shut up. Im not having you and Mignon
The leader picked up Nurses cereal bowl, dropped it on the floor. The porcelain smashed, shooting grey spurts of milk and sodden wheat flakes over the quarry tiles. It was a simple act, like a domestic accident, but it spelt terror to Nurse, as though his spine had snapped and splinters would slice Mignons feet to ribbons. He flinched, putting a hand over his eyes.
Nothing. The man was still and patient again.
Mr Nurse, your wife and your daughter will stay at home. My colleague here will keep them company. He wont harm them; thats not what were about. Do you understand?
It wont work. You
I said, do you understand?
Nurse muttered yes.
I have a portable phone. As soon as we get in the car you will call your wife. Do you understand?
Nurse nodded. He was looking at the table. There was fear mingled with excitement on Mignons face and he hated that. His wife had found some sort of rude courage, sitting there like a tart. Most of all, he hated the mans eyes searching him to his core.
We will maintain the telephone link to your family from the bank as well. We intend to be in and out quickly, but Im sure youd like the continuing reassurance that your wife and your daughter are all right. On the other hand, if you cause trouble at the bank and my colleague loses contact with us, he will kill your family. If we lose contact with him, we will kill you.
Scum, Joyce said.
Do you understand, Mr Nurse?
Nurse said clearly, overriding his wife: I understand.
The last thing he saw before they took him out the back way to the car was the phone extension on the kitchen table, Joyce and Mignon roped to their chairs, the bulky man spooning Nescafe into a cup. Prints! he thought. No, they all had latex gloves on. He tried to exchange a look with his wife and his daughter but, typically, they were too involved with their own feelings to think about him.