‘But he wasn’t threatening,’ said Erica. ‘He was very calm, very level about it all. It was almost as though he were selling insurance…’ She heard the words coming out of her mouth.

‘Which, of course, he was,’ said Tiger. ‘Maybe you’ve hit on it.’ Then, softly and quite deliberately he said, ‘Bloody hell! Who’d have thought it? I mean, here in Hampshire.’

‘But he looks so mild,’ said Erica. ‘Seedy, but sort of…mild…I mean, look at him.’

They turned to where the man had sat. But his chair was no longer occupied. He had left the restaurant, and neither of them had seen him go.

At a quarter to eleven Gary and Sarah decided to call it a day.

‘Pity. But I think we had to do it,’ said Gary.

‘Yes. I suppose it was a long shot,’ admitted Sarah. ‘Nothing exciting at the kitchen table? You could see it better than me.’

The kitchen table–the one nearest the kitchen door–was the one most frequently occupied by ‘management’ who could then slip in and out of the restaurant.

‘Not really. A few comings and goings. The odd shifty character, but since when has being shifty been a criminal offence?’

‘In your case it’s borderline,’ quipped Sarah.

‘You’re perking up.’

‘Yes. Just a bit. Thanks for tonight.’

‘That sounds as though you’re bringing the meeting to a close.’

‘Yes. Well, I suppose I am.’ Sarah reached down for her bag.

‘No coffee round at my place then?’ Gary asked with a glint in his eye.

‘No. Not tonight. Thanks all the same. If I get my skates on I can catch the last train home.’

Gary sighed. ‘If you must, but I can always offer you a bed if you want one.’

Sarah looked at him levelly. ‘Oh, I’m sure you can, Mr Flynn. It’s probably got notches carved on the end of it.’

‘Ow!’ he said.

Sarah looked apologetic. ‘Sorry. Below the belt. I feel a bit sensitive at the moment, a bit bruised. Two years is a long time to be in a relationship and then have it crumble around you.’

‘I wouldn’t know,’ confessed Gary. ‘The most I’ve managed is three weeks.’

‘Really? And I thought you had staying power.’

‘Not where love is concerned.’

‘Love? So we’re talking love are we?’ asked Sarah looking startled. ‘Not just a bit on the side.’

‘Slip of the tongue,’ said Gary. Then he got up from the table and went to pay the bill.

‘You are putting this on your expense account I hope?’ Sarah asked.

‘Of course,’ he said.

But he didn’t.