Wild Horses by Joe McNally

Author:Joe McNally
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: joe mcnally

49

It was almost 2 a.m. when we got to Dil’s. I switched off the headlights and we stepped out under a clear sky into the silent, sparkling blackness.

Dil had waited up and he hurried toward us across the cobbled yard, his heel-clicks reminding me of that hospital visit, which seemed so long ago.

Dil’s thick hair shone under the gallery of security lights, each firing up as we tripped the sensors, and when he reached us, he smelt of fresh pinewood, and the lamp glare shone on a newly shaven jaw as he fixed his gaze on Prim. So, before he spoke, I knew that Vita had gone.

Dil spoke, ‘Are you all okay?’

Alice nodded, and Prim and I said we were fine, Dil stretched a welcoming arm, ‘Come in! Come in out of the cold!’

I began walking, as did Alice. Prim stayed where she was.

Dil looked at her for a few seconds, ‘Aren’t you coming in?’

Prim said, ‘Vita’s gone then?’

’She left yesterday. She has business in New York.’

Prim watched him, ‘And when she comes back, will you be so keen to ask me into your house again?’

The harsh chemical light spared no shades of red as he blushed and said nothing. Prim said, ‘Then I’m not coming in now.’

Dil said, ‘Well, we can’t stand here all night.’

‘Go and get the keys to the cottage,’ Prim said. I suspected it was the first command she’d ever given him, but he didn’t hesitate and two minutes later, we were inside Arnie’s cottage, where Prim had been living until she’d left.

Dil hurried around, turning radiator dials and switching on lights and Prim filled the kettle, then took Alice upstairs to her bedroom.

Dil stood with his back to the sink, leaning against it, looking at me. I said, ‘Well, you couldn’t have made that more obvious if you’d come charging out with a silk dressing gown on and a band of violinists behind you.’

He smiled and did the hair sweep, ’She’ll come round.’

'I wouldn’t bet on it.’

‘We’ll see. Tell me what happened, you were a bit vague on the phone.’

I told him. He said, ‘Did Mave come up with anything?’

‘The guy who phoned Alice was using a throwaway phone. No CCTV close enough to catch anyone on foot.’

Dil stood up straight and swept his fringe again, ‘You’re not having much luck on this, Eddie.’

‘We, Dil. We’re not having much luck. You, me and Vita, who’s decided to get out of the country just when the man she hired to do some dirty work goes missing.’

He spread his hands, ‘Listen, it was sudden. She told me she’d be here for the duration. She’ll be back in a week. Vita’s not one for running away, you should know that.’

‘Good, because she’s probably going to have to put some money on the table. If we can get a handle on this gypsy story she can offer a reward.’

‘I’m sure she will.’ He looked to the ceiling at the sound of footsteps on creaking floorboards. Prim led Alice downstairs, asking if she was hungry.

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