“Says the woman who lives on a private island,” says Steve. “You know you should buy a place over here, don’t you? Have a bit of fun with actual friends?”
“I have a place over here already,” says Rosie. “I’m almost certain.”
“Where is it?” Amy asks.
“I want to say Shaftesbury?” says Rosie. “Is that nearby?”
“A337, A31, B3081,” says Steve. “Forty-five minutes with no traffic.”
Amy looks at the plaque on the bench.
“Go on,” says Amy. “Dictaphone out. Ask her.”
Steve takes his Dictaphone from his pocket.
“You know you can record messages on your phone now?” says Rosie.
“Have a chat,” says Amy. “Rosie and I will go for a little wander while you do.”
“See the sights,” says Rosie.
“Talk about her new boyfriend,” says Amy, and gets a punch from Rosie for her troubles.
Amy and Rosie stagger off, arm in arm. Steve is alone on his bench. It is a very familiar feeling. As they walk away, Rosie has clearly just told a dirty joke, probably about Eddie Flood, and his daughter-in-law is giggling. He presses “play” and starts to talk.
“Hey, doll, ridiculous one this evening. Amy wants me to go into business with her. Murder cases, you know, flying round the world, chasing bad guys. She told me to talk to you, but you’ll know it’s ridiculous too. I’ve got a business already, haven’t I? I had a message about a lost cat only this morning. Who’s going to find him if I’m in Monte Carlo or Finland or something? It’s been nice spending time with Ames, but she’ll come and visit. I’ve got the quiz every Wednesday, and I’d miss the gang at lunch if I was here, there, and everywhere. Not to mention Trouble. Who’d look after him when I went away? Well, Margaret, I know, those two are in love with each other. But, really, I’ve got so much going on here. They’re showing a film next week in the Village Hall, Men in Black II, I think. That’s the sort of thing I mean. And I like to sit here, Debs, that’s the truth. I like to sit here and talk to you. And I know you’ve been with me, and we’ve seen a bit of the world…”
Steve can hear more laughter from Amy and Rosie, as a ginger cat rolls around on the pavement in front of them.
“But it’s crazy, Debs. Murders? Come on. Been there, done that. I’ll stay here. With you. Amy will understand.”
Steve is always hoping to hear Debbie reply. And this time he does. He is certain of it. He reaches out his arm and feels her there.
“I understand,” he says. “I don’t like it, but I understand.”
Rosie and Amy are making their way back to the bench. Rosie is carrying the ginger cat, who is purring very contentedly in her arms. Even the ginger cat is not immune to Rosie’s fame. Steve realizes, later than he should, that Rosie is not irresistible to people because she is famous. She is famous because she is irresistible to people. Amy and Rosie sit down on either side of him. The ginger cat gives Steve the eye, as if to say, “Oh it’s you.”
“What did Debbie say?” Amy asks.
“Say?” laughs Steve. “She didn’t say anything. I haven’t lost my marbles.”
Rosie puts a hand on his arm. “Don’t lie to us, Stevie. What did she say?”
Steve bows his head, smiling. “Well, she swore at me for a while.”
“I’ll bet,” says Rosie.
“And she told me to live,” says Steve. “Because she doesn’t have that choice anymore. So you’ve got yourself a business partner.”
“Thanks, Debbie,” says Amy.
“Thanks, Beautiful,” agrees Steve. “But I can work from home a lot, right?”
“Sure,” says Amy. “As and when.”
“And it’ll take a while to drum up business?” says Steve. “I’ll have a few weeks to potter around? They’re showing a film next week at the Village Hall. It’s Men in—”
“I got a text from Henk this morning,” says Amy. “A news presenter’s been killed, and he’s worried it’s being covered up.”
“Nearby?” Steve asks.
“Fairly nearby,” says Amy. “Turkmenistan.”
“I’ll prepare the jet,” says Rosie.
“Exciting,” says Amy. “The first case for Maverick Steel International Investigations.”
Steve shakes his head. “We’re not going to be called Maverick Steel International Investigations.”
“It’s bold,” says Amy. “It tells people who we are, what we represent, what they can expect.”
“Amy,” says Steve, “you’re so great at punching people, and shooting people, and roundhouse kicks…”
“But you’re very bad at naming companies,” says Rosie.
“We’re not going to call a multimillion-pound company ‘Steve and Amy Investigate,’ ” says Amy.
“Course not,” says Steve. “But the name of the company should tell people what we do.”
