Take Two

CHAPTER 19

‘Reg, really, just drop me anywhere here and I’ll catch a cab,’ said Carolyn. They had just crossed the Thames and were in North London, heading for Notting Hill Gate.

‘My wife wouldn’t let me hear the end of it if I didn’t take you home,’ said Reg. ‘Especially if you send me a signed picture like you said.’

‘Cross my heart,’ said Carolyn. ‘Monday morning first thing I’ll put one in the post. For Debs.’

‘It’ll blow her socks off,’ said Reg. He slowed and stopped at a red light. ‘Speaking of which, what’s the story with your shoes?’

Carolyn wrinkled her nose. ‘I broke a heel,’ she said. ‘One shoe’s no good so I chucked them away.’

‘And this was what, after your car died?’

Carolyn had told Reg that her car had died out on the road and the lack of a signal meant she hadn’t been able to call for help. He seemed happy enough with her story. ‘Five minutes after I’d started to walk,’ she said. ‘I have to say Reg, you were an absolute God-send.’

The light changed to green and Reg started driving again. Carolyn didn’t want Reg to know where she lived but she couldn’t think of a way of persuading him to let her out before they reached her home. She had no way of knowing if the bald man with the gun had seen the registration number of the truck or not. ‘Well, I can’t have you walking around London in your bare feet,’ he said. ‘It’s no trouble.’ He nodded at her bag, which she was clutching to her chest. ‘You could try your mobile, get someone out to look at your car.’

‘I’ll do it tomorrow, Reg,’ she said. ‘All I want to do is to get home, take a shower and dive into bed.’