“Well, give it ’ere, then, an’ get outa ’ere.”
Eric handed over the tray then flipped it into the man’s face.
“Why, you…!” The big man stepped out fast, reaching for Eric, and Ernie hit him hard on the back of his head with his cosh.
“Gotcha,” Eric said, catching the falling brute. He grinned at Willie and added, “Let’s get ’im back in ’is ’idey ’ole.”
Working quickly, they lifted their victim into the small chamber, placed him in a chair and secured him with a length of thin cord. They’d barely finished when the man groaned. Eric quickly wound a large kerchief round his mouth, gagging him.
“Make t’ signal, Ernie.”
On the roof, the hatch opened, slamming back against the tiles, and the head and shoulders of a man appeared. He emerged cursing at the noise he’d made. He froze when he s
