Entanglement by Andrew J Thomas

Author:Andrew J Thomas [Thomas, Andrew J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-916044-02-9
Publisher: Ursus Publishing

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When Jenny got home, hers was a different, and much shorter, routine, starting with checking to make sure her neighbour had left enough food out for Tommy and Tuppence. She had ... and some. With that done, and now feeling thoroughly shattered, she went upstairs. It was lucky she had a recurring alarm set on her phone, as she fell asleep the instant her head hit the pillow.

In contrast with either Nigel or Jenny, Steve Guthrie’s evening had been somewhat unusual, as not having heard from Liz, he’d decided earlier in the day to take things into his own hands. He’d therefore blocked out his calendar for the following day as On-site, made a short visit to the university’s archaeology department, and set off for Effington.

When he pulled into the car park at The Spotted Pig, the first person he saw was Dot. She was watering the hanging baskets outside the pub.

“Do you do everything around here?” he asked cheerily, getting out of his car.

She turned around.

“Oh hi, Steve, what brings you here? You know Liz isn’t around don’t you.”

“Yes, I’ve got some stuff to do out at site myself. I don’t suppose you’ve got a room for the night, have you?”

“Sure. Give me a chance to finish off here, and I’ll be right with you.”

Steve took his bag from the passenger seat and followed her in. As he entered the bar, a game of darts stopped, and he became aware of four heads turning to look at him. He’d seen a re-run of An American Werewolf in London a few weeks before and remembered the scene where the pub fell silent as the two strangers walked in. Thankfully, the eyes on him now were more curious than wary. Plus, there aren’t any werewolves in this story, so he was safe enough.

“The one night, Steve?” asked Dot, interrupting his thoughts.

“Yes please, Dot. Dinner if you can too please.”

As quickly as the locals had turned to look at him, they lost interest and went back to their game. Evidently being on first name terms with the landlady eliminated him as an object of suspicion. What it also did, was open him up to more friendly scrutiny, and as he re-entered the bar after dropping his bag upstairs, he was greeted by one of the darts players.

“Steve, is it?”

Somewhat taken aback, Steve answered in the affirmative.

“You play?”

“Sorry?”

“Darts.”

“Oh. Not very well, I’m afraid.”

“S’alright, we ain’t that great, ‘cept Old Charlie there.”

Old Charlie, it turned out, was in his mid-30s, and Young Charlie was almost 80. That left the man who’d welcomed him, who was in the middle somewhere, and a lad who didn’t look old enough to be allowed in the pub. Ages aside, darts turned out to be a bonding experience, and apart from when Steve stopped for dinner, they played until well after closing time.

By that time, they were firm friends, and the other players went so far as to invite him to join their team. He declined on

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