Chapter 17
Monday 23 October
Kay browsed the exterior of Sparks Hair and Beauty on Bramley Hill. For the sixteenth or seventeenth time, she read the list of offerings stencilled on the window: Facials, Laser Hair Removal, Waxing, Nails, Eye Treatment, Bridal Package. By this stage she could have recited them backwards in French while unicycling. It was past five o’clock and thank goodness the shop had closed or someone in there would have reported her to the police by now.
Occasionally, she’d glance towards Perfect Drive School of Motoring three doors down to her right, waiting for Dan to emerge. His car was still outside, so he couldn’t have left yet. Why was he taking so bloody long? Lessons were surely over for the day.
Facials, Laser Hair Removal, Waxing, Nails, Eye Treatment, Bridal Package. Soins du visage, épilation au laser, something à la cire, ongles, traitement des yeux, le paquet de mariée . She wasn’t sure if le paquet was quite right, but who cared ?
At last, the door of Perfect Drive opened and out he came. She quickly shuffled closer to the salon window, peering in and covering the side of her face with her hand as if to block out the sunlight, but really so he wouldn’t see her. She heard the clunk of his car unlocking, the quiet slam of the door and the sound of the engine coughing to life and then moving away. Once it had faded into the distance, she terminated her vigil of Sparks Hair and Beauty and headed over to Perfect Drive.
The reception was the same as she remembered it, although the charity collection box had gone and there was now an even bigger vase of sunflowers. As she’d hoped, Jenny the receptionist was still there. She was doing some filing and had her back to her. “I’ll be with you in just a moment,” Jenny called.
“Sorry to bother you,” said Kay. “I’m Elaine. I had a lesson here a few weeks ago.”
Jenny turned to look at her, frowned slightly as if pondering something, then nodded and smiled. “Ah yes, I do remember you. I rarely forget a face. Are you officially Elaine now, because I still have you down as someone else – Katie was it? – on your provisional licence.”
“Still waiting for DVLA on that one I’m afraid.”
“They are slow, aren’t they?” Jenny tutted sympathetically.
Kay had a sudden, fleeting wish that Jenny could be her mother or older sister. She’d had the same feeling the last time they met – she was just one of those women who you knew would always be there for the people they loved.
“Did you want to book another lesson with us then?” Jenny asked. “I’m afraid I’ve logged out of the computer as I was just about to close up, but if you want to pop back tomorrow morning, or you can do it online if you prefer…”
“No, that’s okay,” said Kay. “I’ve decided to put my driving ambitions on hold for now. I’ve got too much else on and I’m trying to save money. But I’ll definitely want to book some more lessons when the time is right.”
“Not a problem. So then how can I help?” She still wore that sweet, motherly smile but Kay could tell she was confused.
“This is going to sound really weird,” said Kay, “but do you mind if I hide out in here, just for a few minutes? There’s a guy out there, an ex-boyfriend, and he’s kind of stalking me.” She donned the vulnerable, slightly scared expression she’d practised earlier in front of the mirror.
Jenny’s eyes widened with concern. “Oh my dear. Why of course. Stay as long as you need to.” She came out from behind the reception desk and moved closer to the window.
“I doubt you’ll be able to see him from here,” said Kay. “Last time I saw him, he was down at the end of the parade. Maybe if I hang out here for a bit, he’ll give up and go home.”
“You know you really should call the police if he’s being a nuisance,” said Jenny.
“I definitely will if this keeps happening.” Kay gazed out the window for a moment, craning her neck in a pretend search for him, before turning back to Jenny. “Thanks so much for this by the way, you’re very kind.”
“It’s not a problem. Let me just call my husband to let him know I’ll be late.” She took out her phone, pressed a button and waited, still smiling at Kay. “Hi darling,” she said brightly into the phone. “No it’s nothing, just a little issue I have to deal with at work. I’ll tell you later. Very soon, don’t worry. Can you take the sausages out of the freezer? That’s right. And make sure Noah doesn’t pig out on crisps. Thank you! Mwah mwah! Bye!”
“Sorry to be a nuisance,” said Kay. “I didn’t realise I’d be keeping you from your family.”
“It’s not a problem. Richard gets worried if I’m late, that’s all. Would you like some tea while we’re waiting?”
“I don’t want to put you to any more trouble.”
“Really, it’s nothing.”
“Actually, do you like Pina Colada?”
The receptionist arched her eyebrows in surprise at the sight of Kay holding up two slim yellow cans. “I just happened to have these in my bag. Nicer than tea, don’t you think?”
“Well, I don’t normally…”
“Oh, sorry, are you driving?”
“No, I take the bus, but…”
“Then what’s the problem?” Kay wrinkled her nose at her in a challenging way.
Jenny’s pursed lips looked momentarily disapproving, until a small smile appeared at their corners. “Oh, what the hell – why not? Who’s going to know, right?”
“That’s the spirit!” grinned Kay. “Do you have any glasses?”
“Of course. Let’s go into the office.”
According to Mr Garfield Blake – or the voice in Kay’s head that sounded like him – the first step in achieving your objective was to win the target’s trust. As far as Kay knew, there was no better way of doing this than over cocktails.
She poured the drinks into a couple of tumblers taken from a cupboard in the tiny kitchen at the back – no ice, sadly – and carried them into the office. Jenny offered her the padded desk chair and grabbed a wooden fold-out one for herself.
“Well, isn’t this nice?” Kay said as they seated themselves opposite each other. “Cheers!” They clinked glasses.
“Not exactly how I expected my day to end,” laughed Jenny. “Ooh I say, this is delicious! What’s in it?”
“Coconut, pineapple and rum. You can almost imagine yourself on a Caribbean beach, can’t you?”
“Almost!”
“What’s your favourite cocktail then?”
“I’m so boring, I’m afraid I don’t have one. I’ll have an occasional glass of sparkling wine, that’s it really. ”
“You haven’t lived Jenny.”
“I’m afraid you’re right about that. There’s so much I haven’t done.”
“You’re still young – there’s loads of time. Come on, what would you most like to do? Travel? Learn a skill? Learn a language? There must be something.”
“Well, what I’d most like to do is learn how to drive.”
Kay stared at her in shocked amusement. “You’re kidding, right?”
“It’s my dirty secret,” said Jenny. “There I am every day, telling students they’ll be fine, nothing to worry about, and I really don’t have the first clue about any of it. I couldn’t even tell you what a clutch is. What about you, Elaine? What’s on your bucket list?”
They talked and laughed, and Jenny seemed not to notice as the conversation slowly drifted from chatting about themselves to cross-examination.
“So how long have you been working here then?” asked Kay.
“Seven years – ever since Dan opened it. I was his first employee and, so far, his only one. He hires temps when I’m on leave or sick, and there are the other instructors of course, but they’re not employed by him.”
“Do you get on well with Dan?”
“Oh yes, he’s a marvellous boss.”
“I suppose you two must be good chums, this being such a small office?”
“We aren’t as close as you might think. He’s mainly out with students, and when he’s here we’re usually both busy with admin or on the phone. Occasionally there’ll be a quiet moment and we’ll have a chat. I’ll tell him about my life – he’s a lot more private about his, although I know his brother because he often pops in.”
Kay leapt on this. “Oh yes, he’s in that photo in reception – Jeremy isn’t it? He’s posing with Dan with their quad bikes. You showed it to me, remember? Last time I was here?”
“Did I?” Jenny frowned hazily, and Kay wondered if she was getting tipsy. “I don’t remember doing that.”
“I asked you about the photo and you told me – surely you remember?”
She shook her head, confused. “Well, if you say I did then I suppose I must have, but I don’t normally share that sort of information with students.”
“I doubt many of them are quite so direct in their questioning!” smiled Kay.
“That may be true, dear,” chuckled Jenny, though a shadow of a frown persisted. She checked her watch. “Oh, now look at the time. Do you suppose that ex-boyfriend of yours is still lurking outside?”
Kay got the hint. Jenny wanted to get home, and that was fine. Kay had achieved her aim. Even if Jenny was finding it hard to believe she’d told her about the photo, the idea that she had had been planted in her mind.
“I’m sure he’s gone by now. Thanks so much Jenny. You’ve saved my life.”
“That’s quite alright dear.”
While Jenny finished closing up shop, Kay washed up the glasses in the kitchen. She was disappointed to see how little Jenny had drunk of her cocktail.
A moment later, they reassembled on the street outside. Kay peered around in a mock search for her fictional stalker. “He must have given up and gone home, thank goodness.”
“I’m so pleased,” said Jenny. The friendly smile was still there, but Kay thought she detected a slight cooling in her manner. Was Jenny starting to doubt her story? She told herself not to be so paranoid as she thanked her yet again for all her help.
“Not at all, dear. Stay safe.” Jenny reached up to pull down the metal shutter that covered the front of the shop, and Kay walked over to the cycle rack, unlocked her bike and put on her helmet. Before cycling away, she glanced back at Jenny to give her a final wave. The receptionist was standing in front of the locked and shuttered shop, staring intently at her. She barely waved back.