The journey back to Muswell Hill seemed to take forever. The bus stopped every few minutes to allow sodden travellers on and off. When the bus finally arrived at the terminus on the roundabout, I was already standing with my face pinned against the exit door.

‘Someone’s in a hurry,’ griped an old man from behind, who pushed up hard against me in an effort to get to the front. He leered through rotting teeth.

‘Piss off,’ I muttered and jumped out onto the pavement.

NatWest Bank was located on the corner of Muswell Hill itself. A queue snaked back from the customer service desk and I was forced to stand in line. The CCTV tape and phone receipt were tucked tightly inside the pocket of my raincoat which was zipped up against the elements and prying eyes. I kept anxiously checking the door, certain Arthur would appear at any second.

Fifteen minutes later, I reached the front of the queue.

‘I’d like to put something in my safety deposit box,’ I said to a young female clerk who appeared to have no idea what I was talking about. ‘I’m in a hurry.’

‘Yes, madam. Just a minute and I’ll get my supervisor. Take a seat.’ She pointed towards an empty row of seats outside a glass-fronted meeting room. The bureaucratic cogs of industry carried on, everyone oblivious to my desperation.

After a couple of minutes I pushed my way back to the head of the queue and snapped at the woman who was dealing with another customer.

‘I need to sort this out at once. Not in ten minutes, not in twenty minutes but now. Get it?’ My voice railed against the manufactured calm efficiency.

Adele, whose name tag sat crookedly on the purple lapel of her jacket, blushed and excused herself from the agitated customer whose chequebook had been stolen.

‘Sorry, I’ll be back in a moment.’ She gestured me once again towards the row of vacant seats and turned her back while the elderly lady gave me an icy stare. The relief at being led away behind the frosted glass gave me a brief respite from the overwhelming panic. At least for a few minutes I’d be hidden from view.

‘Yes, how may I help?’ A senior manager finally arrived but already twenty-five minutes had elapsed since I’d got off the bus. It took a further twenty minutes before the tape and receipt were safely deposited at the bank.

88

Rebecca

The flat was eerily quiet when I returned.

I locked and bolted the front door, pulled across the curtains and blinds and checked all the window locks were securely fastened. I then unplugged the phone and turned off all the lights before I switched on the kettle.