DARK TREATY by WILLIAM FERNIE

Author:WILLIAM FERNIE [FERNIE, WILLIAM]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fernie Publishing Limited
Published: 2022-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Alice was dressed formally, a colourful floral dress just visible under her overcoat, which was slung casually over her shoulders. It was the first time that Tom had seen her in a dress. His heart leapt. She seemed to be enjoying herself. Her companion, a good-looking, a rather rotund male of about forty, took her hand as she stepped onto the pavement; more than a friendly, good-mannered gesture he felt.

‘Jeez, Tom. What’s she up to?’ Bill grinned, looking back at Tom with that wink again. ‘She brushes up well, huh?’

‘Alright, Bill. Let’s see what happens. Could be a while.’

It was. They waited just over an hour until Alice reappeared. She glanced in their direction, nodded a guarded acknowledgement, then disappeared out of sight as a taxi pulled up. ‘I think she’s seen us. I’m going to follow,’ said Tom.

Alice’s taxi sped off quickly into the traffic. It caught Tom unawares and disappeared behind an old horse-drawn tram which monopolised the street. Bill struggled to hand-crank the car. ‘Get a move on, Bill!’ The engine spluttered into life, Bill just managing to get aboard as the Oryx shot out into the traffic flow.

‘Don’t lose it, Tom.’

‘I can see it. Just can’t get past this bloody tram.’

The road widened. ‘Go, Tom. Go for it!’

‘That’s a pavement.’

‘A what?’

‘A fucking sidewalk then.’

‘Well go. There’s nobody on it.’

Tom tugged the steering wheel over and the Oryx mounted the pavement with a dull thump.

‘Watch that man.’

Tom squeezed the horn bulb which emitted a ridiculous ‘honk’. ‘You said it was clear.’

‘It was. What a stupid noise.’

They cleared the tram and Tom bumped the car back onto the road, braking hard to stop immediately behind Alice’s taxi waiting at a junction. They could see her in the back seat. Her head turned briefly and a slip of paper dropped from the window. It drifted down to the road like a feather looking for somewhere land. ‘Quick, Bill, that came from the car. Don’t lose it. It’s a note or something.’

Bill dashed along the road as Alice’s taxi pulled away. He chased the note, making multiple grabs at the paper as it was blown along the street. Tom sniggered as he watched the ungainly pursuit. A dishevelled Bill eventually succeeded in capturing his quarry and sprinted self-consciously back to the car. He climbed aboard and plopped down on his seat clutching the note, the little car rocking in complaint. He peered at the crumpled paper. ‘Not sure if I can make it out. Look.’

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