First Response

KING’S CROSS (7 July 2005, 8.40 a.m.)

Sarah Khan looked at her watch. ‘You’ve plenty of time,’ said Adam. ‘Your interview isn’t until ten.’ They were standing on the main concourse at King’s Cross station, close to the entrance to the Underground.

‘Do you want us to come with you?’ asked Daniel.

She smiled. ‘I’m fine.’

‘It’s no big deal.’

She laughed. ‘My big brothers, always looking after me.’

‘Someone has to,’ said Adam.

‘Mum and Dad would have been so proud of you both,’ she said.

‘And they’d have been proud of you, too,’ said Adam. ‘Smart, pretty, a first in law from Oxford, going to work for the CPS.’

‘If you’re planning an arranged marriage for me, I’ll kill you, you know that.’

‘No guy is getting near you, not without getting past us,’ said Daniel.

Sarah giggled. ‘You guys are terrible,’ she said. ‘Anyway, it’s only a first interview.’

‘They’d be crazy not to hire you,’ said Daniel.

She looked at her watch again. ‘I should go.’

Both men hugged her tightly.

‘Be careful,’ said Daniel.

Sarah frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

Daniel forced a smile. ‘I don’t know. I just…’ He shrugged. ‘Go on, off you go. And don’t come back without a job offer.’

The two brothers stood and watched as Sarah walked to the escalators. She raised her right hand and waved without looking back as she disappeared from sight.

‘Don’t go,’ whispered Daniel.

Adam turned to him. ‘Why did you say that?’

‘I don’t know. I just had a bad feeling.’

‘She’s a big girl now. She can take care of herself.’

‘She’s our little sister. And since Mum and Dad died, she’s our responsibility.’

‘She got a first at Oxford,’ said Adam. ‘You got a two: two in special effects from Bolton.’

‘Fuck you, bruv.’

‘Fuck you too,’ said Adam, ruffling his hair.

‘We can’t all be doctors,’ said Daniel. ‘I’ve got to run. We’re on location.’

‘Yeah? What’s the movie?’

‘A low-budget sci-fi thing they’re filming up at Pinewood. I’ve got to make three heads explode on a budget of two grand.’

‘I bet Spielberg never had these problems.’

‘Everyone has to start somewhere.’

Adam put an arm around his younger brother’s shoulders. ‘I was joking, bruv. You’ll make it big one day. This family’s destined for greatness, I can feel it.’ He took a last look at the entrance to the Underground, then headed outside with his brother.