by Adele Abbott
“You’re not a girl. You’re old.”
“Even better. Come on, let’s get going.”
This time, I went with them in the lift, but not before I’d taken a huge breath, which I managed to hold until we got out on the ground floor.
Once in the park, Luke let the dog off the lead, and was soon on poop-scooping duty. His business finished, Rexy made for his favourite spot behind the bushes at the far side of the park. Luke followed him, but I stayed put, close to the gates.
Twenty minutes later, I was just about to call Luke, to tell him it was time we went back, when—
“Hey, you! I want a word!” The man was standing next to the little toerag who had attacked Rexy. They looked like two extremely ugly Russian dolls.
“Are you talking to me?”
“Your dog bit my lad, and I want to know what you’re going to do about it.”
“And your name is?”
“Charlie Beale.”
“Well, Charlie, first of all, the dog didn’t bite your boy, although no one would have blamed him if he had, seeing as how that little snot was poking the dog with a stick.”
“Who are you calling a little snot?” he growled.
“Sorry, my mistake. He’s clearly a very big snot.”
“I want compensation.”
“For what? Being ugly and stupid? I’m not sure they pay out for that.”
“You think you’re smart, don’t you?”
“I have my moments. Now, was there something else I can help you with?”
“Where’s the dog?”
“I left him at home.”
“That’s him, Dad.” Toerag Junior pointed down the park. “The black one.”
“Right.” The man pulled out a small metal bar, which he must have had hidden down the back of his trousers.
“No, you don’t.” I stepped in front of him to block his path.
“Get out of my way!” He put out his hands to try to push me away. That didn’t quite work out for him because moments later, he was on his backside, looking slightly startled. When he’d recovered, he reached out to pick up the metal bar that he’d dropped, but I kicked it away, and put my foot on his hand. “Ouch! Get off me! That’s assault. I could have you arrested for that.”
“Why don’t you call the police? I’m sure they’d be interested to hear why you were carrying this weapon.”
He got to his feet. “You haven’t heard the last of this.”
“Aren’t you going to get the dog, Dad?” Toerag Junior bleated.
“Later. Come on.” The man grabbed the kid, and the two of them hurried out of the gates.
Moments later, Luke came charging back up the park; Rexy was doing his best to keep up with him.
“What happened, Kat? I saw the man on the ground.”
“He tripped.”
“He’s not going to have Rexy put down, is he?”
“No, of course not. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“Does that mean I can take Rexy for a walk by myself next time?”
“I might just come with you for a few more days.”
“Why?”
“Here’s a tip for later life. When a girl says she wants to spend time with you, you don’t ask her why.”
“Girls are stupid.”
***
On the one hand, this was the first ‘date’ I’d been on for ages, so I thought maybe I should get dressed up. On the other hand, it was at the Gerbil, and no one ever got dressed up to go to the Gerbil.
Except for Graham, apparently.
“You look very grand, City Boy.”
“Thanks. It’s not too late to go somewhere else.”
“What? After I got dressed up specially?”
“You were wearing those same clothes earlier.”
“I see you made an effort. Where did you get the aftershave from? The seventies store?”
“Don’t you like it?”
“Yeah, it’s okay. I reckon my granddad used to have some just like that.”
He led the way inside and found us a quiet table—it wasn’t difficult—most of them were vacant.
“I’ll go and get a couple of menus,” he said.
“Okay.” Good luck with that.
Moments later, he was back. “They don’t have a menu.”
“Really?” I grinned.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think you’d believe me. I’m going to have the scampi.”
“I was hoping for pasta.”
“You’re bang out of luck, then.”
“I’m not sure that bird should be allowed in here.” Graham clearly wasn’t impressed by Billy, the parrot.
“It’s okay, he’s had his claws clipped. Have you made up your mind what you’re having yet? I’m starving.”
“I suppose I’ll have the same as you. Will someone come over to take our order?”
“What do you think?”
“Right. I’d better go to the bar, then.”
While we waited for the food to arrive, Graham did his best to make small talk.
“Tell me about your work,” he said. “Isn’t it dangerous?”
“Not really. Most of the time, it’s pretty boring. How was your day?”
“Same old, same old. Being a lawyer can be pretty boring.”
“It made a change not to see you in the park earlier.”
“How come you were in there? Was Luke AWOL again?”
“No, but I thought I ought to go with him in case Little Toerag’s dad showed up.”
“Little Toerag being the kid who attacked the dog, I assume? Were they there?”
“They were. And not a brain cell between them.”
“What happened?”
“We had a friendly little chat.”
“And?”
“He said he wanted compensation for the kid’s chewed arm. And I told him to do one.”
“What did he say to that?”
“Nothing really. He tripped in the mud, and then the two of them went home.”
“Why do I get the feeling that you aren’t telling me everything?”
“Because you’re a lawyer, and lawyers don’t trust anything anyone says.”
“You’ve had a lot of experience of working with lawyers, have you?”
“Enough to have seen them help a lot of nasty people walk away from the courts scot-free, when they should have been locked up.”
“Better ten guilty people are set free than one innocent person is wrongly convicted.”
“Try telling that to the old lady who got mugged, and saw her attacker walk away on a technicality.”
He took a deep breath. “Maybe we should change the subject.”
“Sure. What about those Hammers?”
“Are you a football fan?”
“No, I can’t stand the game. You?”
“I prefer rugby and cricket.”
“Of course you do. And tennis, I bet. Or squash.”
“I don’t know where you get the idea that I’m posh. What sports are you into?”
“I used to do judo when I was a kid, and I still go kick-boxing when I get the chance.”
“Remind me not to upset you. What about team sports?”
“I played for the local darts team once back in Leeds. Does that count?”
“Are you ever serious about anything?”
“Not if I can help it.”
Our sparkling conversation was interrupted when Kenny brought over the scampi and chips.
“I’ve not seen this young man of yours in here before, Kat. Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
“No. Where’s the salt and vinegar?”
“It’s over there.” He huffed. “Help yourself.”
“You were a bit rude to him, weren’t you?” Graham said, in a hushed voice.
“You should be thanking me. If I’d given him an opening, he’d have pulled up a chair, and we’d have been stuck with him for the next half-h
our.”
“These are hot.” Graham was trying desperately not to spit out the chip that was melting the skin off the roof of his mouth.
“Sorry, I should have warned you. Becky cooks them in a blast furnace.”
By the time we’d finished our meal, the pub was much busier.
“I didn’t realise this place did so well.” Graham glanced around.
“Most of them are here for the card games. And I don’t mean Bridge.”
“Is that legal?”
“Always the lawyer.” I grinned. “You can’t help yourself, can you?”
“I was just thinking out loud. Do you ever play?”
“No, I’ve got better things to do with my money. Like pay the rent, and on a good week, buy food.”
“Things can’t be that bad, surely?”
“There’s no monthly salary, medical insurance or pension in my line of work.”
“If it’s so bad, why don’t you change jobs?”
“Because I love what I do. I could never work in a shop or an office. I’d be climbing the walls before the first day was out.”
Chapter 16
One of the things I hated most about first dates—not that I’d had that many of them—was the awkward ritual that inevitably followed. To kiss goodnight or not to kiss goodnight.
I’d enjoyed Graham’s company, and unless I’d totally misread the signs (it wouldn’t be the first time), he’d enjoyed the evening too. But now we were standing outside the Gerbil, both of us waiting for the other one to make the first move. Or not, as the case may be.
Then, out of the blue, he did something totally unexpected: He yelled, “Kat!”
It seemed like a strange thing to do, seeing as I was literally three feet away, looking straight at him. Even stranger, he put his hands on my shoulders and threw me to the ground. Now, I have to be honest, I’ve been out with a few weirdos in my time, but none of them had wrestled me to the ground in the street.
If I’d seen it coming, my judo instincts would have kicked in, and he would have been the one on his back. But seriously, who expects their date to act like that?
Before I could ask him what he was playing at, I realised he’d thrown himself onto the ground too, but not quickly enough to dodge the car that had mounted the pavement. It clipped him on the leg, throwing him against the pub’s doors.
“Graham!” I leapt to my feet, and rushed over to him. “Are you okay?”
Yes, I do realise it was a stupid question.
“I’m okay,” he said before losing consciousness.
“Graham!”
By now, several of the Gerbil’s customers had come outside to see what was happening.
“I’ve called an ambulance.” A woman with a glass of beer in her hand stepped forward. “Is he okay?”
“I don’t know.”
He was still breathing, and the only injuries I could see were those to his right leg, which looked broken, and a gash on the side of his face. But who knew what internal injuries he might have sustained? Graham must have seen the car, and pushed me clear of its path.
The car? Where was the car?
I looked down the road, but there was no sign of it.
***
I wasn’t allowed to travel with him in the ambulance, and by the time I’d flagged down a taxi, the blue sirens had long since disappeared. He could have been taken to any one of three hospitals, and as Sod’s law would have it, I drew a blank at the first two.
“Are you a relative?” The fearsome woman behind reception at the third hospital barked at me.
“Err, yeah, I’m his sister.”
She checked the screen. “He’s in surgery.”
“What for?”
“According to this, he has a broken tibia and fibula.”
“Anything else?”
“Concussion. That’s all I have down here.”
“When will I be able to see him?”
“If you take a seat over there, someone will call you. What’s your name?”
“Kat Royle.”
Hospital waiting rooms are the worst. Three hours and four cups of what masqueraded as coffee later, I was practically climbing the walls.
“Kat Royle?”
“That’s me.” I hurried over to the nurse who’d called my name. “How is he? Can I see him?”
“He’s okay, but he’s still quite drowsy. It might be better to come back in the morning.”
“I’m going away tomorrow,” I lied. “Could I just see him for a few minutes now?”
“Okay, but it’ll have to be very quick.”
She directed me to Pullman Ward, which was on the second floor. Graham’s leg was in plaster, but other than that, he looked okay. He appeared to be asleep.
“One minute, and then you have to go,” the nurse reminded me before leaving us alone.
I waited until she had left the ward. “Graham, are you awake?”
“Kat?” He opened one eye. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, thanks to you. How’s the leg?”
“It feels okay at the moment, but I suspect it’s going to hurt like hell when the happy juice wears off.”
“What about your head?”
“A bit of a headache but it’s nothing.”
“You saved my life.”
“Did I? I don’t remember very much about it.”
“If you hadn’t pushed me out of the way of that car, I’d have been a goner.”
“Does that mean you’ll go out with me again?”
“Not if it’s going to end like it did this time.”
“What happened to the driver of the car?”
“He didn’t stop.”
“Was it an accident?”
“I don’t know. Probably some kid, joy-riding, who lost control.”
“Time’s up!” The nurse was back. “You have to leave now.”
“Couldn’t she stay a little longer?” Graham said.
“Sorry, no, but your sister can visit you tomorrow.”
Graham gave me a puzzled look and mouthed, “Sister?”
“See you tomorrow, bro.” I gave him a peck on the cheek, and then started to follow the nurse out of the ward. Suddenly, something occurred to me. “Graham, what about Miles?”
“I’ll call my Dad. He’ll pick him up and take him to Canterbury.”
“I can see to the dog if you like?”
“It’s okay. I’m going to be out of action for some weeks. Dad loves dogs. Miles will be spoiled while he’s there.”
“You have to leave now!” the nurse was rapidly losing her patience.
“Sorry. Coming.”
Despite what I’d said to Graham, I didn’t think the incident had been an accident or joy-riders. Someone had tried to take me out, and if it hadn’t been for Graham’s prompt actions, they may very well have succeeded.
A pattern was beginning to emerge. First Roy. Then Westy. And now me. This had to be related to one of the cases that Roy and/or Westy had been working on, but to figure out what that might be, I needed to find those accounts.
By the time I left the hospital, it was almost two in the morning. The tube and buses weren’t an option, so I took a taxi back to my flat. Between the two taxis that day, I’d spent another hundred pounds of the cash that Vi had given me.
***
It was almost eleven o’clock the next morning when I finally found the energy to drag myself out of bed. Good thing it was Saturday.
Once I was dressed, I called at the Widow Manning’s.
“You look terrible,” she greeted me.
“Thanks. I just wanted to check that Luke didn’t have any trouble in the park this morning. I had planned to go with him, but I overslept.”
“He didn’t mention anything to me.”
“Did he seem okay?”
“I think so. That young man never has much to say for himself.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Back in the flat, I called the hospital. Graham had
apparently had a comfortable night, and was expected to be discharged later that afternoon. I said I’d be there to pick him up.
In the Gerbil, Kenny seemed unconcerned that Billy was nibbling at his ear.
“How’s that boyfriend of yours, Kat?”
“He’s got a broken leg, but he’ll be out of hospital this afternoon. Graham isn’t my boyfriend, though.”
“If you say so. Nasty business that yesterday. I had the Old Bill around here this morning. Have they caught up with you yet?”
“No, but I suppose they could have called while I was still in bed. I doubt I’d have heard them. What did they have to say?”
“Not much. It was a young copper, still a bit wet behind the ears. He wanted to know if anyone had seen what happened.”
“That’s what I came in to ask you. What did you tell him?”
“That I didn’t think so. First we knew about it was when we heard your boyfriend—sorry—your friend crash into the door. Didn’t you see who was driving?”
“No, I had my back to the car. If Graham hadn’t pushed me out of the way, it would have been curtains for me, I reckon.”
“You must have got a look at the car when it drove off?”
“Only a glimpse. It was small—red. A Corsa maybe, but I couldn’t swear to it. I didn’t see the plates.”
“The copper asked me to stick up a notice in case anyone saw anything. Becky is going to get some printed on the computer. What do you reckon, Kat? Joy-riders? There’s been a few of them around here recently.”
“Yeah, probably. Do me a favour, would you, Kenny? If anyone comes forward to say they saw something, get them to call me.”
“Sure.” He took a notepad and pen from underneath the counter. “Scribble your number on here.”
Once I was back outside, I called Bruce Layne.
“Bruce, it’s Kat.”
“Are you feeling okay?”
“How did you hear about it?”
“Hear about what?”
“You just asked if I was okay, so I assumed you must have heard about my little incident yesterday.”
“I asked if you were okay because that’s the first time you’ve not called me Batman. What little incident are we talking about?”
I told him what had happened outside the Gerbil, and of my suspicions that it may not have been an accident.