“You are. I know I’m a big mouth,” Scott said. “I’m also a decent friend. If you’re having wobbles, come and talk to me.”
“I appreciate that. Erm…who else knows?”
“Only Tyler and Eddie. Oh shit and Charlotte but she never tells anything.”
“Scott!”
“I didn’t know it was a secret then.”
“What did you think it was?”
“Kind of an open secret. I promise. My lips are sealed.”
Barry scowled. “They had better be.”
“Hey. Don’t go getting all macho on me, Mr Lover Lover.”
Holding up his secateurs, Barry scowled. “I can prune other things with these.”
Scott leapt away. “You wouldn’t dare deprive the world. Listen, there’s another reason I came over.”
Barry folded his arms. “Here we go. The classic butter-him-up routine before going in for the kill. I might have known. Reveal your real reason for this discussion.”
“I need my pass to work on Saturday.”
“What for? Don’t tell me you’re doing overtime.”
Scott was getting a little tired of people thinking he didn’t work hard. Just because he made it look so easy, he shouldn’t be punished.
“It’s to do with the dildo pilferer case,” he said, solemnly. “I can’t say any more.”
“Oh. Right,” Barry replied softly. “Well, consider it done. It’s rattled me has that. I thought Carla suspected me at one point.”
A couple of people walked past. Scott and Barry watched them until they were out of earshot.
“Everyone is under suspicion,” Scott said, quietly. “But I’ve got a lead.”
“Thank goodness,” Barry replied. “Anything I can do to help, just let me know.”
Scott winked and set off to his desk. It had been a productive afternoon so far. He saw Prin across the way.
Oh, this is going to be fun.
EIGHT
PRIN
The shrill sound of his ringtone woke Prin. He sat bolt upright. The room was still in darkness, lit only by the screen of his phone.
Who the hell is that?
He grabbed it off the nightstand. It was three in the morning. His blood ran cold when he saw the number. Quickly he pressed Answer.
“Nanny? Is everything all right?”
“Hello, Prin. Why wouldn’t things be okay? Can’t I ring to say hello?”
“It’s three in the morning.”