Then he takes off for the night?'
'Only if I'm not going out. And only since he sorted the tabloids. First few nights, he patrolled about just to discourage the local paparazzi who thought I might be into stripping off without drawing the curtains. Not necessary any more since he found a couple and spoke to them sternly. But if I need him, I just ring him on his mobile and he's here in no time.'
'He knows how to use a phone?' said Joe. Then added guiltily, 'Sorry. That was stupid.'
'I noticed. OK, time I was on the road. Busy day ahead. Abe's promised me a real going over. Then I promised Doug I'd give him an hour ...'
That'll be an hour and six minutes,' said Joe.
'Sorry?'
'He's an agent, isn't he? He'll want his ten per cent.'
She gave him the rather tired smile of one who'd heard all the agent jokes and said, 'Anyway, Joe, what I'm saying is, what with knocking hell out of my body and knocking hell out of Douglas, I'm going to be too tied up to keep you company
That's OK,' said Joe gently. 'You see, not much use me hanging around the only person I don't suspect, is there?'
'What? Oh yeah. Sorry. Now it's me being stupid.'
'But I'll see you safe to the Plezz,' he added.
'Great. With you in a sec.'
He heard her run upstairs. He went out into the hall and started to get into his donkey jacket. Then he paused, thought, took it off and hung it up again.
Zak came down the stairs a couple of minutes later looking unhappy.
'You've been talking to Mary?' Joe guessed.
'She thinks you're some sort of perv, after our Eddie,' said Zak.
'I don't think so,' said Joe. 'But she knows I'm not a baggage handler.'
He stooped to pick up Zak's holdall which lay in the hallway and gave a little stagger.
'See what I mean?' he said.
That brought the smile back to her lips and they went out together.
Starbright didn't make such a meal out of getting into the back of the Mini this time and they were quickly on their way.
After they'd been going a few minutes, Zak said, 'Joe, your coat! You've forgotten it. You'll catch your death.'
'Couple of laps with you will warm me up,' said Joe. 'I'll drop by and pick it up later.'
It was, he thought, about as insouciant as you could get without flaunting an ebony cigarette holder and calling yourself Noel, but his gaze met Starbright's in the rear-view mirror and he read deep distrust in those sharp little eyes.
At the Plezz he insisted on carrying Zak's bag through to the changing rooms where Starbright said, 'I'll take that now,' and plucked it from Joe's sweaty grasp with one finger. Then he went into the changing room.
Joe said, 'Is he an honorary lady or what?'
It's OK,' said Zak. 'I'm the only one using this place in the mornings. The Spartans don't get in till late afternoons, early evenings. Starbright just likes to make sure everything's clear.'
The Welshman emerged.
'OK,' he said.
'See you, Joe,' said Zak.
'Same time as yesterday?' said Joe.
'I'll be ready at the same time,' she said. 'Hope you might make it a bit earlier.'
Crack goes the whip, thought Joe. But, shoot, a man would have to be mad to object to being whipped by such a cracker!
He nodded at Starbright and walked away. He'd just reached the end of the corridor when he heard his name called.
He turned and saw Zak emerging from the locker room.
She was holding a red envelope between the thumb and index finger of her right hand.
'I didn't want to mess up fingerprints this time,' she said.
'Good thinking,' said Joe, wondering what the shoot she imagined he was going to do with any prints he found, even if he had the faintest idea how to set about finding them.
He took the envelope with exaggerated care, inserted a pencil under the flap and tore it open. Then, still using the pencil, he extracted the postcard inside. Unfortunately as he got it out, the card slipped and fluttered to the floor which rather ruined the Great Detective routine.
Avoiding looking at Starbright he stooped and picked it up. It was another cat postcard, showing five of the creatures gnawing at bones on a platter. The message was written in the same neat round hand.
