Season casualties. Bound to be some lushed-up comedian hits the skids and needs replacing.'
I shook my head.
'Always the bridesmaid.'
'They also serve who only stand and wait, William.'
'Christ, if I ever end up as a waiter I’ll saw myself in half and disappear up my own jacksie.'
'If you learn how to do that get in touch but in the meantime…'
'Cheerio?'
'You always did catch on quick.' He picked up the phone. 'Rozena, Mr Wilson’s on his way out now. Don’t let him chat you up, he’s got no money and fewer prospects.' He put the phone down. 'My accountant’s daughter, I promised him she wouldn’t lose her virginity on the premises.'
I said, 'You’ve nothing to fear from me.'
'It’s not my virtue that I’m worried about, son.'
I closed the door just as his phlegmy laugh descended into coughs.
Rozena put an arm over the file she was reading but too slowly for her to hide that it was mine.
'Interesting?'
'It confirms what Mr Banks said. No job, no prospects, but reading between the lines I’d say you know your way around.'
'Only because I’ve been around for a long time.'
'Long enough to give a girl a guided tour?'
It was the kind of offer that only comes once or twice in a lifetime. She smiled and I saw how even her teeth were. A lot of book balancing had gone into making that perfect smile. I lifted the file, looked at my own grinning face clipped to the right-hand corner, slid the photo from the folder and put it in my pocket. If I ever came back to the office I’d replace it with one that looked like me.
I said, 'There’s a tour bus leaves Marble Arch every half-hour, I’ve heard they give a good commentary.'
And went out into the sunshine.
Back out in the street my phone beeped. I flipped it open and read the new text.
Gt yr arse up2 Glesga by 25 June you’ve got a wedding 2go2 — Johnny I texted back A OK and replaced the phone in my pocket. I wasn’t the best man but that was all right, when was I ever?
I caught the underground to Tottenham Court Road then walked into Soho. I was making a new life. That meant no avoided streets and no-go areas, and that meant facing up to the past.
Maybe I was half aware of the clatter of high heels and the scream of giggles gaining on me from behind as I approached my destination. But if I thought about it at all I probably imagined it was the sound of a couple of teenage shop-girls released from the prison of their counters and making the most of their lunch hour. Then someone hooked my left arm in theirs and an instant later a second person put an arm around my shoulder, hugging me into a squeeze. I jarred to a halt.
Shaz giggled.
'Remember us?'
It was a moment before I regained enough breath to reply.
'How could I forget?'
Jacque looked at me.
'Did we give you a fright?'
'Maybe a wee bit.'
The girls laughed. Jacque’s hair was cut short and streaked three different shades of blonde. Shaz’s dark curls were perhaps a trifle longer. But otherwise the Divines looked unchanged from when I’d seen them last, except of course that they had their clothes on.
'You’re both looking great.'
They chimed thanks. Nobody complimented me on my weight loss, but perhaps they hadn’t noticed.
Jacque let go of my arm.
'That was one weird night wasn’t it? You know Bill was shot?'
'Yeah, I heard.'
'Lucky we were well clear by that time.' Shaz shook her head. 'He always was an oddball.'
'Was he?'
'Oh for sure, way out in cuckoo land.'
Jacque giggled.
'He was off the cuckoo map.'
Shaz joined in.
'Way out in the cuckoo sea.'
