The Great Train Robbery

Dom was on the edge of a cold, not unwell but not completely healthy either. His throat tickled and needed constant soothing with hot drinks, while tiredness hung over him like a damp, grey mist. He dragged himself onto the train found an empty compartment and flopped down into the seat clutching his hot tea and throat sweets. He loosened his tie, kicked off his shoes, put his feet up on the opposite seat and made himself comfortable for the two and a half hour journey home.

Despite his tiredness the day had gone well, the meetings were all positive and deals were in the pipeline. Now he just had to write up the report, email it to his boss and then he could relax.  

It was no more than 10 minutes into the journey when Dom gave in to the inevitable, his eyes were too tired to look at the screen while his fingers felt too heavy to type. He shut the lid of his laptop and allowed himself to drift off into the land of nod.

It was a delicious sleep, as deep as the deepest ocean. He snored contentedly as the train’s motion comforted his exhausted body. To any outsider he must have looked like a little baby but to one opportunist he was a sitting duck.

As the train jolted to a halt, Dom jolted awake. He smiled as he stretched, he’d only been asleep for 20 minutes but it was the quality not quantity that counted.  He’d give himself a few more minutes and then he’d be able to get on with that report. But…

Where was his laptop? Had he put it away when he fell asleep? He checked his bag, he checked the floor, ridiculously he checked his pockets but there was no sign of his PC. He checked his bag again and down the side of the seat, then he got up and went to the other compartments asking breathlessly if anyone had seen the thief. But no, no one had seen anything. Someone must have taken it from his lap when he was sleeping, how hadn’t he heard or felt anything? The compartment door sliding open, the footsteps, the lack of weight on his leg. He continued down the train looking for his computer or for the guard so they could phone the police.

The guard was a big smiling woman and she was walking towards Dom now. ‘You’ve got to help me,’ Dom said panting with panic. ‘Someone’s…’

‘Taken this?’ The guard beamed as she held out his computer towards him.

‘Oh god thank you, thank you. where, what how?’

‘Had my eye on the little toe rag, knew he was no good. I saw you sleeping then saw him coming down the train having a little nose around. I put two and two together and was waiting for him as he was making his get away.’

‘Oh thank you.’ Dom hugged the woman then returned to his seat.

Back in the guard’s room the female guard was talking to her male colleague.

‘See I told you I could get away with it.’

‘Fair play.’ Said the man handing over the money and honouring the bet.