Good Riddance by Evan Baldock

Author:Evan Baldock [Baldock, Evan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781915433190
Publisher: Red Dog Press/Bloodhound Books

31

In a funny way, she was grateful for the silence. Her nerves were in pieces and she was uncertain how she’d perform if he pressured her with difficult questions. Part of her brain was screaming at her to turn around and run, another part was reminding her why she was there in the first place, and it was that part which eventually won through. She raised her hand again, but instead of knocking with her knuckles, she hammered the door loudly with the side of her clenched fist. An angry voice boomed back at her from inside.

“Fucking wait a minute, I’m on the crapper!”

The comment brought a broad smile to Gloria’s features.

I hope that’s prophetic; I’ve caught him with his pants down!

Standing back from the door, she went through her opening lines in her head, composed herself and waited.

Hearing the toilet flush and the faint sound of something being sprayed, she smiled to herself again.

At least when he opens the door, he won’t be full of shit!

The humorous thoughts sidling into her mind were strangely settling Gloria’s nerves and she almost felt confident by the time the door was pulled open.

She struggled to suppress a chuckle at the sight before her, Don Chivers looked utterly revolting. He badly needed a shave and was bare footed, almost making her gag at the sight of his horribly bloated feet, with their broken veins and purple hue. His fat, hairy legs poked comically from a pair of dirty grey boxers, above which his disgustingly bloated belly hung, which in turn rested underneath a white sleeveless vest. A grossly fat right arm held the door open, rolls of dimpled fat hanging down from where his tricep had once lived, while his left hand reached down to rearrange the inside of his pants.

“Yeah? Why all the banging? What’s so important you couldn’t take a hint?”

“No need to be aggressive, Mr Chivers. You might not be aware of it yet, but you’ve got a serious problem heading your way, and I’m here to help you.”

Sweeping his thinning grey hair back from the film of sweat on his forehead, he studied the old lady in front of him and recognition dawned.

“Aren’t you the lady I spoke to in the pub yesterday?”

She nodded and smiled.

“I am, yes.”

Her assured manner and confident tone made his eyes widen with concern; his face began to morph into a mask of fear. Quickly looking up and down the corridor, he made certain that Gloria wasn’t a decoy for someone more sinister, his feelings of self-preservation kicking in.

“You’re here alone?”

Gloria could see the uncertainty in his face and began to warm to her task.

“I am.”

“How did you know where to find me? Who the fuck are you? And what do you mean a serious problem?”

She forced a smile.

“Wow! That’s a lot of questions. Okay, from the top… My name is Gloria Jones. I heard you telling Tamaz that you were in Room 303 at the St Giles Hotel in the Moon Under Water yesterday evening.

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