Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
L eo went into the bar first to carry out ‘advance reconnaissance’ as he put it.
To be honest, I was probably safer going in there at the same time as him rather than loitering around outside, but if me staying back for a few minutes kept his mind at rest, then it was a price I was willing to pay.
I lurked at the end of the street watching the other arrivals to try to get a sense of my potential speed dates while trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible, which wasn’t the easiest of tasks given that I was wearing a bright yellow dress.
I’d also inadvertently selected a popular smoking corner and kept being distracted from my surveillance attempts by people asking for a light, or blowing clouds of synthetic-scented smoke from their vapes in front of my face.
Everyone arriving at the event looked pretty normal, but I knew I shouldn’t take them at face value.
Scammer Brian could actually be the jumpy-looking bloke who’d walked around the block three times before finding enough courage to go in, or perhaps he could be the gym bunny who’d nearly marched into someone because he was too busy checking out his appearance in the windows.
Or he could even be the harassed-looking guy in a suit hovering around the entrance with an iPad.
Actually, scrap that idea. That had to be the organiser ticking everyone’s names off as they arrived.
I wondered if I could get a sight of the guest list. Perhaps, if Leo caused a distraction inside, the man would put down the iPad to see what was happening and I could check it.
I smiled to myself. I was getting carried away.
Names on a screen were meaningless without being able to match behaviour to them.
I could hear Leo’s voice in my head urging me to be sensible and stick to the plan we’d already discussed.
There was no point going off-piste at this early stage and making him back out altogether.
I checked my phone. Still no message from Leo with the all clear.
I’d give it another thirty seconds, and then go in anyway.
If I stayed out here much longer, I was going to develop some kind of chronic condition from secondary smoke inhalation.
Either that, or I was going to lose my courage.
The longer I waited, the more my stomach churned.
However much I told myself that attending the Single Mingle could be a key part of the investigation, the reality of having to endure an evening of speed-dating where I had to try to strike up a rapport and find out information about a bunch of strangers in just five minutes apiece was starting to hit home.
‘Hey, Kat, what are you doing hanging around here?’
I turned round and saw Gavin walking towards me with Robin trotting happily at his side.
‘Hi, Gavin, I’m just waiting for someone,’ I improvised.
‘Hello, Robin girly, how are you?’ I bent down and stroked her behind the ears, welcoming the distraction.
She responded by rolling on her back and baring her tummy for the same treatment.
I obediently followed orders and laughed when she started joyfully kicking the air as I found a particularly ticklish spot.
Robin always knew how to enjoy the moment and go with the flow. I wished I could do that.
‘She’s utterly shameless,’ said Gavin, a tender expression on his face.
‘She’s a very good girl. And so glossy. She’s definitely living her best life.’
‘I’m glad you think so. Some people give me really dirty looks when we’re out and about. They think it’s cruel that she’s on the street with me when she could be in a proper home. But she’s family.’
‘Of course she is. You only have to look at her to see that she’d choose to be by your side any day.’ I straightened up. ‘Any luck with the latest housing application?’ I asked.
Gavin shrugged. ‘It’s been submitted and it’s a waiting game, as always.
But a single bloke with a dog isn’t exactly high up on any of the priority lists.
Still, at least the weather isn’t too bad at the moment.
We’ve got the tent and I’m doing a few odd jobs for people, so things are looking up.
Doris has commissioned me to put some new bookshelves in,’ he said proudly, then his happy expression fell.
‘Only she’s a bit funny about when I can come round and do the work.
I suspect she’s worried what her neighbours might think.
I don’t mind, though. I appreciate I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. ’
‘Oh Gav, it’ll be nothing like that. She told me just the other day that her son says she’s got too many books, and he’s worried he’ll need to get the floor strengthened. She’ll be trying to hide the bookshelf construction from him, rather than anything else.’
Gavin looked relieved.
I jumped as my phone buzzed in my hand, the signal from Leo that it was time for me to join him in the bar.
‘Are you two going to be okay tonight?’ I asked Gavin first. ‘You know the offer is open for Robin to come and stay with me any time you want to get a space at the hostel.’
On a particularly wintery day, I’d once offered for Gavin to sleep at my studio flat while I went to stay with Moira, but he’d turned me down, insisting that he could look after himself.
I’d spent the whole night awake worrying about him and Robin freezing in the cruel conditions, and had been relieved to get into the library the next day to discover that the shelter’s rules about no pets had been scrapped for the duration of the cold snap.
It was probably a good thing that Leo didn’t know about that incident, because it would have confirmed his prejudices about me being too trusting.
But I knew that Gavin was a decent bloke who’d fallen on hard times.
I wished there was more I could do for him.
Gavin nodded. ‘Cheers, Kat. She likes her occasional visits to stay with you.’
‘But she’s always much happier when she’s back with her dad,’ I said.
‘I can’t lie, she is. Anyway, I hope your friend arrives soon.
I’d better get off. I’ve got the old penny whistle out and I’m going to do some busking on Broad Street.
I was planning to use the bookshelf money to get a bed at a dog friendly place tonight, but I had to buy Robin some new food as the last stuff gave her a gippy tummy.
I’m not far off what I need though, so hopefully a bit of music will earn me the rest.’
‘Good luck. Hope you don’t have to stay out long,’ I said.
I fought back the urge to make up the difference myself, knowing that it was a point of pride with Gavin to earn his way.
He whistled between his teeth, and Robin sprang to her feet and back to his side. As the pair sauntered down the street, an idea suddenly occurred to me and I hurried after them.
‘Gavin, would you be able to do an odd job for me tonight? And, in this instance, the use of the word “odd” is particularly appropriate.’
He looked quizzically at me. ‘That sounds intriguing. I’m happy to help with anything, as long as it’s legal.’
‘It’s one hundred percent legit. It just might sound a little strange, that’s all. When I said I was waiting for a friend, it wasn’t strictly true.’
I quickly told him about the Single Mingle and why I was attending it, knowing that Gavin would be the soul of discretion.
He nodded. ‘Ah, I heard about your disappointment from Doris earlier. Very sorry to hear that, I was. You deserve better.’
‘That’s very kind of you to say.’
‘But you should be careful taking on that kind of bloke. He could be dangerous to get on the wrong side of.’
Gavin and Leo would probably get on really well.
‘I’ll be fine. I was wondering if I could hire you to keep an eye on the bar’s entrance for the next quarter of an hour or so. The event begins at eight o’clock, and it said on the invitation that latecomers wouldn’t be admitted.’
‘Have you got a photo of this Brian bloke so I know who I’m looking for?’
‘If only it was that easy.’ I quickly explained about the stolen photos. ‘Anyway, I was hoping you could keep an eye on everyone who’s going in, and if there’s anyone acting shifty, make a note of what they’re wearing and, when you’re next in the library, we can compare experiences.’
If truth be told, I didn’t really expect anything useful to come from this bit of the operation, but it would be a way of making sure Gavin got his bed for the night, and that was what mattered.
‘I can help,’ said Gavin, and indeed, he did look a lot brighter than he had at the start of our conversation. ‘But it doesn’t feel right to take your money when I’m happy to assist for free.’
‘Well, I won’t feel right unless I pay you. It’s only like putting up bookshelves for Doris, after all.’
‘I suppose so. It’ll be like my old army days. And at least I have the perfect disguise for carrying out surveillance. It’s amazing how being homeless is as effective as Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak.’
He was delighted by this analogy, but the truth in his words made me feel sad.
‘What are your rates?’ I asked.
‘As it’s been a while since I’ve been on stag, a tenner would be more than acceptable.’
‘Are you sure? Given your military experience, I’d be happy to pay double that.’
He shook his head. ‘You’re alright. Half of it will get me over the line for tonight’s accommodation, and the other half will put some credit on my phone. A man couldn’t ask for more.’