Page 25 of Tell No One
“I made a mistake.”
Kenzie squeezed Tag’s shoulder. “Let me write down our numbers so you can keep in touch.” He pulled a page off the shopping list they stuck to the fridge and took out his phone. When he’d finished, he handed the paper to Tag. “Call me, right? Let me know you’re okay.”
Tag nodded.
“Good luck, mate.” Kenzie went up to bed with his coffee.
Tag didn’t want to hang around. It was no longer safe. All he took of his food was the rest of his loaf.
Once he was well away from the house, he felt better. A tiny part of him thought he should have just stayed where he was in case someone turned up with his money. The bigger part of him thought he was an idiot for imagining that was going to happen. Tag couldn’t chase them for it, so why would they bother? If anyone turned up, it would be someone like the Master or Kareem. Thinking that made him shudder. Tag might even be blamed for whatever Vadim had been up to.
There were no shops open yet so he couldn’t buy a phone. No libraries open on Sundays, so no access to a computer, unless he found an Internet café. He thought about asking his bank to stop that payment to the landlord, but he needed a phone for that. He’d buy one later, then get a train to some random destination, but not York.
Tag walked all the way to Regent’s Park. It was too early for the gates to be open, so he lowered his backpack and duffle over the fence and clambered over. He sat on the grass under a tree looking out over the lake and took the paper bag with the doughnut out of his backpack and sat on the grass looking out over the lake. He ate the doughnut and drank his coffee as he did the paper jigsaw.
He didn’t have all the pieces. He wasn’t even sure it was Vadim’s address anyway. The name was mostly not there and the initial wasn’t a V. But then Vadim wasn’t his name. Tag peered at the bits of paper. Con…something? A road name beginning with De and in Greenwich. There was no postcode.
As he was putting the bits of paper back into the bag, he noticed something had been written on the back of the envelope in pencil. Tag turned the pieces over. This time, hewasable to read the address.Chason DD. Kirby Street. EC1but the rest wasn’t there. Maybe it was worth a look. If Vadim lived there, Tag could…What?Demand his money? Threaten to go to the police?Ask him to fuck me?
He half-laughed. But he’d been promised that money and he needed it even more now. Maybe he could ask Vadim to get it for him.
Tag decided to go to Euston Station and put his duffle in one of the nearby storage places. Then he had to buy a phone, and a better pair of shoes if he was going to be doing a lot of walking, but he needed to spend as little as possible. But first he needed some rest. He wedged his duffle up against the tree to make a pillow and was soon asleep.
A few hours later, his feet were comfortable, he had a half-decent phone in his pocket, along with a cheap wallet, and a bed booked for that night for only thirteen quid. It was in a dorm with eleven others, but breakfast was included and there was wi-fi. He’d decided to go to Southampton tomorrow, when the trains were busier with the Monday morning rush hour. He had the feeling the Master or Kareem might already be looking for him. He wasn’t sure which was worse.
On his way to the hostel, he detoured to Kirby Street. Chason DD turned out to be a diamond dealership. What connection did Vadim have with them? Something or nothing? Tag had no way of finding out. But Vadim had been told something was now happening tomorrow.What if it had something to do with this place? Tag hadn’t quite given up hope of those three thousand pounds. Another morning in London wasn’t going to kill him. Hopefully.
The hostel was as he’d expected, basic and a bit noisy, but the bathroom was clean, people were friendly and he could cope. Tag had a top bunk and there was a secure place to put his phone and wallet. He thought for a while over whether to call Kenzie. He was curious to know if anyonehadcome to look for him. Though once he’d phoned, Kenzie would have his number and that might not be safe, not just for him but for Kenzie and the others. Was he overthinking this?
“Hi, it’s me,” Tag said.
“Hi, mate. Get to York safely?”
“Safe and sound. Did you tell the others I was sorry to leave without saying goodbye?”
“Yeah, I did. Hey, there was a man looking for you earlier.”
Tag’s stomach rolled over. “Shit? What was he like?”
“Bit of a bruiser. Dark hair. Forties. Said he owed you some money.”
“Oh shit!” Could be the Master, Kareem or even Bruiser.
“I told him you’d gone north to your mum and we didn’t know the address or your new number. He left his. Do you want it?”
“Yeah, text it. Thanks.”
“Are you sure he owes you money and not the other way round?”
“Positive.”
“Only, to be honest, unless it’s a lot, I think I’d forget about it. I didn’t like the look of him.”
“Yeah. Maybe you ought to delete my number just in case.”
“Fuck. Are you okay, Tag? Is there anything I can do?”
“No, but thanks for asking.”
