Page 97 of Tell No One
“Yeah, well I didn’t sign up for—”
“Shut up. Come with me and I’ll buy you breakfast.”
“Just give me the money you owe me and I can buy my own breakfast.” Tag held out his hand.
“We’ll talk about it over breakfast. Yes or no?”
Tag pretended to think about it, then picked up the fifty pence and his backpack, and went with him.
“You look like you want to bolt,” Feely said.
“Do you blame me?”
Feely chuckled and led him to a café on the edge of Borough Market.
“What would you like?” Feely asked.
“Black coffee and a pastry. Poached eggs on toast if they have it.”
When the waitress had taken the order, Feely made a call. “Morning, Shona. I won’t be in today. Rearrange all my appointments… No, I’m fine. Something’s come up.” He hung up and stared at Tag. “What happened to your face?”
“I got beaten up because I was sleeping in someone else’s spot.”
“You’re sleeping rough?”
“Don’t sound so fucking incredulous. I lost my job because of you. I lost my place to live. That was your fault too. I had to buy another phone—I wonder why—and that got nicked. I’ve had nothing but bad luck since you sat at one of my tables. You owe me a thousand pounds.”
“Is that going to make it right?”
Tag glared. “It’ll help.”
“I offered you two thousand on the phone. Still interested?”
“No.” But Tag made sure he hesitated and thatnosounded likeyes.
Feely laughed and made another call. “Guess who I’m having breakfast with… Our missing pony… Purely by chance.” He looked across at Tag. “I’ve taken the day off… No, he’s sleeping rough.”
The coffees arrived and Tag smiled his thanks at the waitress.
“The question is—what to do in the meantime?” Feely said into the phone.
Tag put two sugars in his coffee. He didn’t usually take sugar, but he needed the energy boost. He also needed to remind himself not to start talking too much.
“That’s an option,” Feely said. “Okay. Let’s do that.”
He ended the call just as the food arrived. Tag was starving. He ate his eggs fast but he couldn’t help it. Feely was only halfway through his food when Tag pushed his empty plate away. The croissant had been delicious too.
“Hungry?”
“You noticed?”
“Want something else?” Feely asked.
Tag shook his head. “No thanks. I don’t want my stomach to get used to being full.” But he made sure he sipped his coffee slowly so he had a reason to stay where he was. Of course, now he felt sick. Probably nerves, but…
“How would you like a job?” Feely asked.
“Am I not going to get paid for this one either?”
