Say Hello and Wave Goodbye Page 24
I nod seriously to show I agree with him but really, I just want this meeting to end so I can go back to my desk and hide.
Before he remembers who I am.
‘Yes. I think that’s what we’ll do.’ He stands up then turns to me. ‘You’ve been very helpful Ms Russell and I’m afraid you’re going to have to bear with us for a while longer.’
I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say so I nod seriously again and follow him and Simmons out of the tea room.
The next three hours involve a lot of standing around while various police techie types arrive and do things with the telephones. For some reason it’s been decided that I will have the recorder on my phone which means I’ll be lumbered with all incoming calls. When the techies are satisfied that the voice activated recorder is working they finally
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I’m glad to get home. After all the excitement this morning, the afternoon turned into a big rush and it was hard slog to catch up on all my work. Also, the phone never stopped ringing either but the Scottish lady never rang back.
I pull up outside my house and parallel park my car badly in the street. I love my little old terraced house but I hate parallel parking, no matter how much practice I have I just can’t master it.
Before I pick up my dog from Linda’s I decide to go in and get changed. Sprocket goes to Linda’s every day when I’m at work, which he loves as he has Linda’s dog, Henry, to keep him company. Linda’s house is only two streets away from my own house and what started as a business arrangement has turned into a strong friendship. I quickly run upstairs and change into jeans and t-shirt. As I open the front door to go out again I nearly fall over my brother, Nick, who has his finger poised to press the bell.
‘Hello you,’ he says, wrapping his arms around me in a bear hug as he comes in.
I let myself be hugged. ‘Hello yourself. I didn’t know you were coming - you never said.’
‘Well, I hadn’t planned to, but to be honest I’m a bit worried about Dad. And anyway,’ he says, ‘I was on a promise with a model from Mayfair but she’s getting a bit serious so I thought I’d make myself scarce.’
‘Did you tell her you wouldn’t be seeing her?’
‘Ummm. Might have forgotten to...’ he says with a sheepish smile.
‘God, Nick you’re such a shit.’
‘I know.’ He laughs.
I’ve just closed the door when the doorbell rings again and this time it’s Linda with Sprocket. I immediately feel guilty as she does so much for me and I should have gone and got him straight away. Sprocket comes bounding through the door towards me then sees Nick so veers towards him and launches himself at Nick’s knees. He jumps around, ears flapping, and whimpering until he gets some attention.
‘Just remember who feeds you, dog,’ I say. Sprocket ignores me and rolls over onto his back so Nick can kneel down and rub his tummy. Linda steps past Nick and hands me Sprocket’s lead.
‘Hey, Nick, meet Linda, Linda, meet Nick, my brother.’
‘Ah, so you’re the dog-lady,’ says Nick with his most charming smile. He offers his hand.
This is when the ‘Nick effect’ usually happens and most women turn into simpering messes. He’s a bit of a looker my brother. Open any upmarket, glossy magazine and chances are that the handsome man advertising aftershave or suits is my brother.
So, with something like boredom I wait for the simpering to begin.
And then the strangest thing happens.
The Nick effect doesn’t work, at all. It’s a complete fail.
‘Hello Nick,’ says Linda coldly, shaking Nick’s hand ‘Nice to meet you.’
I can tell this has taken the wind out of his sails; he’s not used to this non-reaction. He tries again. ‘Have we....’
Linda has already turned her back on him to speak to me and totally ignores him. ‘I’m going out so I thought I’d drop Sprocket off, must dash but I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.’ And with that she’s out of the door and gone.
‘Well, that was awkward,’ says a very put out Nick. ‘Do you think it’s because I called her dog-lady?’
I think about it for a moment. ‘No, I don’t think so, she wouldn’t care about that.’ I know that she wouldn’t. ‘Not everyone has to fancy you, you know.’ I can’t help laughing at his crestfallen face. ‘Welcome to the real world. That’s what it’s like for the rest of us most of the time, you’re just not used to it.’
‘Hmm, do you think I’m losing my looks? I mean, I am forty-two.’
‘Of course you’re not. You know you look as good as ever so stop fishing for compliments.’
‘No, you’re right.’ He puffs his chest out. ‘Is she gay?’
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