Page 33 of The Midnight Bakery
‘It belongs to my boss at the club, that’s all. He’s up to something and I’d like to know what.’
Frankie was taken aback by the sudden expression on William’s face. There was an anger there she hadn’t seen before, even when he’d been dealing with the louts the other week.
‘Not being funny,’ said Tam. ‘But I’d steer well clear if I were you.’
‘I’d like to,’ replied William. ‘But the owner of the van is the assistant manager. I just wanted to check a few facts before taking what I know to Danny – he’s the club’s owner…while also trying to decide whether that’s a good idea or not.’
‘Why?’ asked Tam, taking down some tea from the cupboard. ‘Do you think he might be in on whatever’s going on as well?’
William looked pained. ‘I really hope he isn’t,’ he replied. ‘But if he is, and I blow the whistle…there’s every chance I’ll be out on my ear and I really need this job.’ He stared at the wall over Frankie’s shoulder. ‘Thing is though, what if he doesn’t know and I don’t tell him?’ He stopped suddenly, looking anxiously at Tam.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Tam evenly. ‘I’m pretty sure I know what’s been going on too.’
Frankie looked between the two of them. ‘Would someone like to fill me in?’
‘Drugs,’ replied William, his jaw set.
Frankie’s eyes widened. ‘Well, if it is, then Tam’s right. Don’t get involved.’
‘Don’t worry, I don’t intend to,’ replied William. He took a deep breath. ‘But Danny’s a young man. I may not like the club much, but he’s running a successful business, and although he might not think much of me, he was good enough to give me a job when plenty of others wouldn’t. If he isn’t aware of what his manager is up to then I think I have a duty to tell him, before the repercussions blow a hole in his life.’
Tam added water to each of the mugs and looked around for something to stir it with. ‘So, you’re caught between a rock and a hard place,’ he commented, eyes alighting on a spoon by the sink. ‘I know how that feels. You want to do right, yet if you do, you run every risk of your life going bang. I’m sick of living without a parachute. Or worse, having one which everybody else is trying to sabotage.’
‘That’s exactly it,’ said William, rubbing a hand across his chin. ‘Sometimes it feels as if we’re all living on the edge. One false move and…’ He motioned a plane with his hand, plummeting from the sky.
‘So, who’s trying to sabotageyourparachute, Tam?’ asked Frankie as she began to fill the sink with hot water.
‘No one yet,’ replied Tam, raising his eyebrows. He shook his head. ‘I’m being dramatic, but my immediate boss saw me sleeping in my car. My probationary period is coming to an end and, although I trust her not to say anything, if the company finds out, I suspect any future I have with them will be over.’
Frankie snorted. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake.’
‘Sorry,’ said Tam, misreading her expression. ‘You’re trying to work and we’re both being miserable.’ He handed her a mug of tea. ‘This is very kind, but perhaps we should go?’
‘You’ll do nothing of the sort,’ said Frankie, looking between them both. ‘Come and sit down. A few weeks ago, pretty much all I did was sleep and come to work. And that was fine. I rather liked it, actually, or at least I thought I did. But then I met Beth, who is one of the kindest people, and now you two as well. You’re all three terrified of losing your jobs, and I just found out my boss is selling the bakery, so that makes four of us. I’m not sure what’s going to happen about that yet, but for the time being we have this place. At least it’s somewhere warm and safe to take refuge from the problems in our lives, if only for a little while.And who knows, maybe there’s a way we can figure out how to change things?’
Tam looked at William. And William looked at her.
‘I agree,’ he said. It’s ridiculous that Tam could lose his job because he doesn’t have a permanent address. Doesn’t your boss understand you’re never going to get one unless you keep earning? Well, I live in the town, you can use my address.’
‘I can’t do that,’ replied Tam.
‘Who’s going to find out?’ said Frankie, shoving her hands into a pair of washing-up gloves.
William nodded. ‘People do it all the time – they pretend they live somewhere so they can get their kids into the right school, or if they’re a politician they do it to claim a pile of expenses they’re not entitled to. Stuff that. It’s no huge imposition to me. We’ve got to help each other out, no one else is going to.’
‘He has a point,’ said Frankie. ‘A very good point.’
William’s brow wrinkled for a moment. ‘I’d put you up if I could, only my flat’s tiny, and my landlord?—’
Tam held up a hand. ‘Honestly, please, you don’t need to do that. You both have your own lives to live without me tagging along, and it really isn’t necessary. I was able to get my job in the first place because I used a friend’s address as my own. Actually, he’s not a friend – long story – but he’s the reason why I’m in this mess, so I reckon he owes me a favour. I’ll make up some reason for my sleeping in my car – say it was only a temporary thing, and that I’m back at that address now. If anyone checks, he can damn well vouch for me.’
‘But what if your boss sees you again?’ asked Frankie. ‘Is there somewhere else you can park?’
‘I’ll find somewhere,’ replied Tam. ‘No need to worry.’
Frankie thought for a moment. ‘Playing devil’s advocate here, but this friend – not friend – is there no way you can staywith him? I know you might not want to, but what if it was just until your review has passed?’
Tam’s response was immediate, and unequivocal. ‘Absolutely not. It’s out of the question.’
