Faisal took a sip of his pint. ‘It sounds like a lot of people knew Mel.’242

‘What do you mean?’

Darren raised his eyebrows. ‘She was a stupid slut.’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘She was fucking that lecturer behind Xander’s back for a start,’ Darren said. ‘God knows who else she was shagging.’

Hannah looked from one to the other. ‘Were either of you sleeping with her?’

Faisal shook his head. ‘Bros before hoes. It’s the mates’ code. No way we’d do that.’

‘But she was pretty, right?’ Hannah said. ‘You probably flirted with her. Tried it on a little bit. Maybe when she knocked you back you got angry. Maybe you’ve been jealous of Xander all along.’

Faisal laughed and nudged Darren. ‘She thinks she’s a cop, Daz. It’s so cute. Xander was right, you are a sad twat.’

Darren scrutinised her more closely. ‘He never said how hot you were, though. Sure I can’t get you a glass of wine?’

Faisal shook his head. ‘Don’t bother, mate, she’s one of them, remember?’

Darren looked her over again. ‘Oh yeah. Shame.’

Their eyes drifted back to the screen behind Hannah. She looked at them for a second. There was something here, but she couldn’t work out if it was bog-standard misogyny and homophobia, or something else.

‘You two are a piece of work, you know that?’

Faisal glanced down and shrugged.

‘I’m going to make sure the police investigate you properly.’

Darren put his pint down on the bar. ‘Do what you like, bitch. Now fuck along, there’s a good girl, we’re trying to watch the football.’

Hannah imagined smashing the pint glass off the bar, pushing the jagged edge into Darren’s face, then Faisal’s. Boys her own age with the attitudes of fifty years ago. How was that possible?

She turned and left the bar as a penalty claim was denied on the screens.

‘Fucking men,’ she said under her breath.

243

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JENNY