Page 23 of Out of the Shadows
DANIEL
It’s mid afternoon by the time the coach pulls up at The Dartmoor Outdoor Centre, and the light’s already fading fast.
Four days of… team building. I’d tried to persuade both Linda and William that being holed up in the depths of Devon wasn’t the best way to turn teams into well oiled machines. They’d begged to differ, but as William is paying me an obscene sum of money each month, I’ll indulge him in this and get back to the real job of building the team when we return to the office next week.
Bloody hell…
The place had looked pared back when I’d looked it up on the internet. It reminds me of the youth hostels I remember from when I was a kid and in my teens, but the reality is a lot more spartan. It looks more like a POW camp and the rain, that’s changed gears from spitting to downpour, doesn’t help. There’s no chat or excited babble of voices from the team that’s here to be built. None of them want to be here any more than I do. It’s a full five days none of us will get back.
“Right, there’s tea and biscuits waiting for us inside,” Linda exclaims. She’s trying too hard to be positive, but nobody’s fooled. We all gather our belongings together, stretching to rid ourselves of the kinks in our muscles after the long journey.
“Not a cream tea? It’s the law. As soon as you reach Devon, you have to have a cream tea. I wonder if there’s a local pub?”
There’s a ripple of laughter at Cosmo’s comment, but his voice, close behind me, causes my spine to stiffen.
It’s been over a week since I confronted him, and since then he’s kept a low profile and our contact, such as it’s been, has been short, civil and to the point. There’s been nothing I can even remotely pick him up on. The beer stained suit — for which he hasn’t approached me about the dry cleaning bill — hasn’t reappeared. He was smart before, except for that one day, but now he’s sharp. The suits he’s turned up in since are new and well tailored, making the most of his sturdy, strong body shape. His dark hair’s shorter, too, close cropped at the sides, a little longer on top. The whole look suits him, yet I’m irritated and surprised I even notice.
“There is,” Fiona answers. Her voice is quiet, but it’s still loud enough for me to hear. “I checked it out beforehand. The Sheep Shearer’s Arms. About a mile away.”
“Sheep Shaggers Arms? You get twenty miles outside London, and it’s rife. Farmers and their attraction to their flocks. Ohh, Larry my lamb, such a fine woolly coat you have. Let me have a feel…baaaa!!!!”
“Cosmo!” Fiona gasps, before she giggles. “You never know, if we sneak off for a jar after cocoa and lights out, you might find yourself a burly young farmer who’s willing to show you his big shiny plough and—”
“Daniel? You’re holding up the line,” Linda calls, looking at me from over her shoulder. She’s a few feet in front, but I’ve stopped dead as I’ve been pulled into listening to Cosmo and Fiona’s adolescent conversation.
We all trail into the centre, to be greeted by a young couple wearing Lycra leggings and T-shirts which show off toned limbs. They look scrubbed, earnest and enthusiastic. They both also look about twelve.
“Welcome to the Dartmoor Outdoors Centre, guys. I’m Kyle.”
“And I’m Saffron. We’re your hosts for the next four days. We’ll be looking after you and making sure your stay is comfortable. Any questions?”
We all mutter no, and shuffle around like awkward teenagers.
“That’s marvellous. Thank you.” Linda bustles forward. “Perhaps we can get ourselves settled before tea?”
I’m not interested in tea. I’ve got a pile of work to do which I’ve brought with me, and I intend to lock myself away in my room until dinner. I switch off from the chat going on around me as I mentally arrange my evening.
“… bit of a hitch with the accommodation. There’s no alternative.”
A hitch? And no alternative to what? I race to catch up.
“Tariq, you and Anthony are in together, and Daniel, you and Cosmo will be sharing.”
I stare at Linda, who’s looking at me as though it’s all been decided. It hasn’t.
“We were told we’d have our own rooms. Do you really expect us to stay in dormitories?”
There’s no way I’m sharing a room with Cosmo.
“We’ve very sorry for the inconvenience, but there was some storm damage, just yesterday,” Saffron pipes up. “It’s not ideal, but all the rooms are big. Or quite big. They’re plenty of room.” She’s smiling hard as though she’s bracing herself for the onslaught of my rejection of the situation.
“You’re correct, it’s not ideal. It’s not ideal at all.”
Everybody’s silent. Saffron looks like she’s on the verge of tears. I’m the only one making a fuss, and all eyes are on me. One pair of eyes in particular. Green, feline, and unreadable, until they narrow very slightly. Cosmo shrugs.
“I’ve got no problem sharing.”
The edges of Cosmo’s lips twitch. He’s pushed me into a corner and we both know it. There’s no reason why the two of us shouldn’t share, or not one I want anybody else to know about.
