It is around twelve a.m. on Monday, though with time differences it could be the middle of the day. That sort of thing never really worries Amy. Rosie has booked them all into a hotel in the middle of Dublin, and on Tuesday she has arranged for a helicopter to fly them to the vineyard near Cork. Apparently the private hangar at Cork was full on Monday.
“A night out for you and me later, then, Stevie,” says Rosie. “I have a few contacts in Dublin.”
“Not for me,” says Steve. “I’m going to stay in my room.”
“No, you’re not,” says Rosie.
“You’ve never been to Dublin before,” says Amy. “Why not see a bit of it, before we head to Cork tomorrow?”
“I’m sure Dublin is lovely,” says Steve. “But I have a few films to watch.”
“You’re coming drinking tonight,” says Rosie. “If I have to drag you by the hair.”
“I haven’t watched any TV for days,” says Steve. “Surely no one would begrudge me?”
Rosie rolls her eyes.
“He’s been through a lot,” says Amy. “Perhaps we let him win this one?”
Amy sees them both into a taxi. Hopefully by the next time she sees them everything will be settled. She looks at her watch, then at the multi-story car park opposite the cab rank.
“You’re coming out drinking when you’re finished, though,” says Rosie out of the cab window.
“You have my guarantee,” says Amy. “Night night, Steve. Love you.”
The taxi drives off. Amy will definitely join Rosie for that drink, if she survives the next thirty minutes.
60
When was the last time Tony Taylor had a date? Hard to remember—1987, something like that? The Thatcher era, certainly.
But, despite his rustiness, it had gone well. Felicity talked about television, famous actors, presenters you’d have heard of; Tony talked about the parking problems in Axley, and the Ford Sierra Cosworth he’s currently fine-tuning. They both asked questions, they both drank wine, and neither could keep the silly grins from their faces.
He had taken Felicity to a restaurant called The Pig, in Brockenhurst, not far from Axley. It was wonderful, as it should be at those prices. It is very important to show a bit of class on a first date—Tony certainly remembers that much—but he hopes that Felicity doesn’t come to expect this sort of thing regularly. He is a modest man of modest means.
They took a walk around the gardens after dinner, and they kissed under a sycamore tree.
Felicity is going to stay in Steve’s empty house this evening; Steve has okayed it. Tomorrow morning, Tony is taking her on a tour of the New Forest. Lymington, Beaulieu, the forest walk at Boldre, the old shipyard at Buckler’s Hard, all the sights. Get some fudge maybe.
Tony was very glad when she agreed to a nightcap back in Axley, at The Brass Monkey. Much more his speed.
Tony has just nipped back from the gents’ and stops for a moment to watch Felicity in animated conversation with John and Jyoti. He wonders what they’re talking about. Hopefully not him—John and Jyoti are both liabilities in that regard.
He wishes Steve was here too, but Amy needs him, and a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. If you can say that sort of thing these days. Steve says the fella who came to his garage the other day was murdered down at Hollands Wood. Not something Tony has mentioned to Felicity, because not everyone liked talking about murder, did they? Especially on a first date.
He walks over to the table they are sharing and takes his seat, next to his pint.
“Blood everywhere,” says John.
“Shot him, then dragged his body away,” Jyoti adds.
“Did Steve see the body?” Felicity asks.
“We don’t need to hear about all this,” says Tony.
Felicity smiles at Tony. “I can’t believe you talked about a Ford Sierra instead of this.”
“It’s a Sierra Cosworth,” says John. “To be fair to Tony.”
“I just didn’t want you to think that the New Forest is all murders,” says Tony. “There are ponies, all sorts.”
“I can handle ponies and murders,” says Felicity.
“She’s a keeper,” says Jyoti.
“Tell us more about this woman in prison, Tony,” says John.
“Tell you about what?” says Felicity, sipping her pint.
“Your client,” says Jyoti. “In prison in Dubai?”
“I don’t think I’ve got any clients in prison in Dubai,” says Felicity. “Unless Alan Baxter has started drinking again.”
“Tony told us about her,” says John. “At the lock-in the other night. We were all talking about Steve’s murders.”
“Yeah, I don’t think I did,” says Tony. “I wasn’t even at the lock-in.”
“Then who told us?” says Jyoti.
