Girls Don't Cry by Peter Kesterton

Author:Peter Kesterton [Kesterton, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-21T16:00:00+00:00

Parkside Hotel, Yeovil

He could hear Jedd pissing in the bathroom. The guy had asked to come up to the bedroom and ‘use the facilities’, before setting off back to Gloucestershire. He went in the bathroom and left the door wide open. The pissing went on a long time and Darren felt oddly uncomfortable having to listen to it. Eventually it stopped. Toilet flushed. Hands washed. Why was he listening to Jedd’s ablutions? Why was it bothering him?

‘How long are you gonna stay in Yeovil?’ Jedd asked, emerging from the bathroom wiping his hands on the white hotel towel.

‘Heading back tomorrow.’

‘Pity, I was getting to like it here.’ He grinned, forming dimples on his cheeks. He seemed to take up more space in the room than he should. Darren realised he was actually quite a big guy, but somehow had the air of an oversized baby about him. He looked around holding the towel, uncertain where to put it. ‘Why don’t we give it another shot tomorrow?’

‘Aren’t you working?’

‘I’ll come down after my shift.’ Jedd threw the towel over the back of a chair. It slid off onto the floor. ‘It’s no bother.’

‘I really should be getting back. Need a change of clothes.’ The towel was crumpled in a damp heap on the beige carpet. It annoyed him, but he didn’t want to pick it up himself. He wasn’t going to skivvy for Jedd.

‘Something the matter, mate?’ Jedd asked, reading Darren’s expression.

Darren’s reply was to stare at the towel. Jedd took the cue and picked it up. ‘Sorry. I can be a bit of a slut sometimes.’ He threw the towel over his shoulder and took it into the bathroom.

Maybe they should spend another day searching for Grady. After all there was nothing waiting for him at home.

‘It’s a nice hotel this. Far too good for you!’ Jedd said with a grin as he emerged from the bathroom. ‘Wouldn’t mind a couple of nights here myself.’ He went to examine the minibar, checking its contents. ‘How much is it a night?’

‘Well…’ He didn’t want to say. Felt shy about that sort of thing, saying how much he paid for things. ‘Bout a hundred quid.’

Jedd made a show of sucking in air over his teeth. ‘You was robbed, mate.’

‘You think?’ he said, immediately regretting telling Jedd the truth.

‘Still, if you can afford it.’ He went over to the window. ‘And it is quite a view from up here.’

It was a bit extravagant, checking into a hotel. He wouldn’t normally do that. He’d have got a late train back. Save money. Apart from package holidays and family weddings, he never stayed in hotels. Even on a job a hundred miles from home, he’d drive back and forth every day. It’s what you did. Did booking a hotel mean he was losing touch with who he really was?

‘I could bring a uniform,’ Jedd said.

‘What?’

‘If you need a change of clothes.’

‘There’s no need.’

‘Otherwise it’s a waste, isn’t it? If we don’t do another day on patrol since you paid for the hotel and all.

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