Shifting Sands by Barry Litherland

Author:Barry Litherland [Litherland, Barry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Thriller, Humour, Conspiracy, Crime
Publisher: Bleaknorth Publishing
Published: 2022-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

Slattery has taken over the kitchen. He’s pretending to make coffee, but, mainly, he’s keeping out of the way. He’s left the doors open, though, so he can hear Patience and Wendy in the lounge. If he can hear half of what I can hear as I climb the stairs behind Winston, he’ll have a grin on his face the size of a crescent moon.

Lord, when you hear Patience talk, you know where Winston gets it from. She might not find it easy to get around anymore, but that hasn’t stopped her mind from travelling or her conversation from following where it leads. Within five minutes, she and Wendy are talking like sisters. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. When I left the room, she’d already got the photo album out.

‘He’s such a good boy, my Winston — always was. Look at him here...’

Winston shuts the door of his bedroom behind us, and their voices are gone.

‘What the hell, man?’ he says. He’s got a look on his face like I’ve just told him I’m carrying a contagious disease. ‘I mean, he’s with the police, and she’s...she’s...’

‘A woman, yeah,’ I help him.

‘Yeah. I mean, shit, man, why’d you bring them here?’

‘I was desperate, Winston. Why else? I need somewhere for her to stay for a few days until I can sort things out.’

‘No way, man. No way.’ I’ve never seen Winston look startled before. It’s like I’ve plugged him into a socket. ‘I mean, this just ain’t the place.’

‘We got her away just in time. If it wasn’t for Slattery, she’d be banged up in that clinic — like Benny.’

‘I’d like to help, man, truly. But here? In my house? You’ve got to be kidding me. There’s my mam to think of...’

‘Sounds to me like they’re getting on okay; it’s like they’ve known each other forever. It’d be good for both of them.’

‘Yeah, well, that may be so, but what if they come looking?’

‘It’s just for a couple of days. Besides, your mum’s more than a match for a couple of lawyers.’

‘Yeah, man, but...’

‘Wendy will help out and give you a break. You need a break, Winston. You look tired.’

‘Don’t try to play me, Tyler...’

‘What do you say? Forty-eight hours? That’s all I need.’

Winston opens the door and listens. Patience’s voice rises up the stairs, and then she bursts into a laugh which seems to shower bright sparks like a firework.

‘The old lady does seem to be enjoying herself,’ he says, ‘and she does like company.’ Then he turns sharply. ‘How much?’

‘What?’

‘I’m not a homeless charity. Fifty a night for bed and board sounds good to me.’

‘It would sound good, wouldn’t it? A hundred quid? Have a heart; I’ve just been made redundant, Winston.’

He shrugs. ‘It’s a seller’s market,’ he says. ‘Business is business.’

It looks like we’re back to normal.

I part unwillingly with the cash, and we head for the stairs.

‘She’s a nice-looking girl,’ he says as we pause on the bannister. ‘Do you think we.

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