Rosie cracks open another can.
“Done?” asks Steve.
“Jeff and Henk told me to take a couple of weeks off,” says Amy. “But I think I fancy a change.”
“Assassin?” suggests Rosie.
Steve looks at Rosie. “You’re going to put those cans in the recycling when you’re done, aren’t you?”
Rosie raises her current can in cheers. “I’m not going to be done for a while yet, Stevie.”
“What will you do instead?” Steve asks. “Maybe something over here? I could see a bit more of you?”
“Detective agency,” says Amy. “Investigations.”
“Competition, eh?” Steve laughs. “You’d be bored rigid! Sitting in a car all day outside the Tesco Express in Lyndhurst.”
“I’ve got a different sort of agency in mind,” says Amy. “Not so much investigating insurance fraud, more, you know, murders, stuff like that?”
“You’re going to investigate murders?” Steve says. “You know there’s not a lot of call for it? I think the police have covered that market.”
“Not those murders,” says Amy. “I mean the ones people can’t solve, the ones people don’t care about. The ones people give up on.”
“People who can’t protect themselves?” says Steve, and Amy looks at the ground and nods.
“Love it,” says Rosie.
“And to pay for it all, we’ll investigate a few murders on islands, murders in planes, that sort of thing too,” says Amy. “Skyscraper murders.”
“Good name for a boo—” starts Rosie.
“You’d need money,” says Steve. “Offices, advertising. And you should see what I spend on photocopying.”
“I have a rich friend,” says Amy. “Offered to put up half a million for a third of the company.”
Rosie snorts. “You’re setting up a detective agency and you didn’t ask me first? I’ll give you three quarters of a million, for twenty percent.”
“The other backer is a very close friend,” says Amy.
“I’m a very close friend,” says Rosie.
“But I shook hands,” says Amy.
“Anything in writing?” Rosie asks.
“Well, no,” says Amy. “But I don’t like to go back on my word.”
“That’s business, baby,” says Rosie. “Final offer, a million dollars for fifteen percent. We shake on it now.”
“Deal,” says Amy, and shakes Rosie’s hand. “One million for fifteen percent.”
“I should think so,” says Rosie. “Who was the other offer from?”
“It was from you after I told you the idea on the flight home from St. Lucia,” says Amy. “I don’t think I realized how high you were, but thank you for your counteroffer.”
Rosie shakes her head. “Well played, Amy. Serves me right for mixing marijuana and tequila.”
The pony ambles past, nodding to Steve as he goes. Steve nods back.
“If you ever need advice, you can always ask me,” says Steve. “I’ll be at the bar of The Brass Monkey eating a microwaved shepherd’s pie.”
“You’ll be doing more than giving advice,” says Amy, rubbing her finger over Debbie’s plaque. “You’re my business partner.”
Steve gives Amy’s shoulder a squeeze. “God bless you for trying, Amy, but we both know that’s not going to happen. I’ve had more than enough adventure lately, thank you.”
“You looked like you were enjoying yourself,” says Rosie. “If you want an observation?”
“I enjoyed spending time with Amy,” says Steve. “I didn’t enjoy having to shoot people.”
“Yes, you did,” says Rosie.
“You did,” agrees Amy.
“And I enjoyed watching you wearing shorts,” says Rosie. “And I own fifteen percent of this company, so I should have a say. Come on, you’d love it.”
“I think I’m the best judge of what makes me happy,” says Steve.
“You know that’s not true,” says Rosie.
