‘Yes, Sergeant Major.’ Taylor saluted.

Jodi followed Taylor down the stairs. They wished me luck before they opened the front door and disappeared outside. Jodi would wait at home for Taylor’s safe return.

I had cut a miniscule hole in my front blinds. I didn’t want there to be any noticeable movement when I peered through. Right enough, less than three minutes after the girls exited onto the High Street, Arthur pulled down his hat low over his face and turned the collar up on his raincoat. The bastard would get soaked and hopefully would be halfway round the lake before he twigged that the girl he was following wasn’t me.

85

Rebecca

Handy Mobiles in Finsbury Park wasn’t difficult to find. I caught a taxi from the railway station. There was no time to lose. I hadn’t taken my car in case Arthur returned and noticed it missing.

I paid the driver and stepped out into a deluge of persistent rain. The overflow had collected by the edge of the pavement and in my hurry, I missed my footing. Soon I was drenched from head-to-toe and rainwater had seeped through to my socks.

I hurried across the road and sheltered under the awning of a fish and chip shop next door to Handy Mobiles. ‘Back in ten minutes’ was scribbled on a scrap of paper which had been stuck to the front door of the phone shop. The lights were on inside but no one was about.

I checked my watch. It was already ten fifteen. I scanned the area for somewhere to wait. There was a kebab shop, an Asian fruit and vegetable store, and a row of cheap clothes shops. I finally spotted a small café, Berts, on the opposite side of the road.

I sat by the window, and used my coat sleeve to wipe away steam that had misted up the glass so I could see out. I was reluctant to take my coat off in case I had to move quickly. As I sipped my coffee, I started to panic when I realised Taylor would have circled the park at least once and would be well through the second lap. Arthur would still be stalking her unless, God forbid, he’d already worked out what was going on.

I kept checking the time. Fifteen minutes had passed and there was no sign of anyone opening up the phone shop. A group of builders arrived and distracted me for a few minutes with their merry small talk. The fat gaffer ordered fry-ups all round and told Bert to put it on his tab.

Across the road, someone suddenly appeared behind the counter of Handy Mobiles. I fumbled with change, paid my bill and rushed back out. The traffic roared by and twice I had to jump backwards as aggressive drivers tore past, steering through the puddles and soaking everyone in the way.