Page 151 of Everything That Kills Me
“He ran off.”
“Oh no. Have you told the police?”
“Um… I’m still hoping he might come back.”
He thought about challenging her but let it go. “Call and let me know if he does. He’s a sweet dog. I don’t like the idea of him being lost.”
“I will. Bye.”
“She ended that abruptly,” Zeph said. “So?”
“I’m pretty sure Thomas is alive and has Django. He won’t have stayed in the village. He knows better than that. He won’t use any place I know. But…” He exhaled. “I feel I can let go now.”
“You said he was seriously wounded. Did he fake it?”
Jack nodded. “He was desperate for me to leave him. He needed to get away too.” He felt as though a weight had lifted from his shoulders. Thomas might or might not have retired himself, but he’d opened the door for Jack to stop working.
“Now how are you feeling?”
“Hopeful that he’s still alive. Pissed off with him that he felt this was the best route.”
“He’s let you go,” Zeph said quietly.
“I think maybe he’d been waiting for the chance. You remember when that guy was shot in Cambridge?”
Zeph audibly gulped. “Your hotel.”
“My job.”
“Oh God,”
“I think Thomas accepted the job because he knew I’d come to you. He kept telling me I shouldn’t have anything to do with you but… I think he wanted me to try.”
“There’s something else I want to talk about,” Zeph said. “Like to go for something to eat?”
Jack’s first inclination was to say no, not to risk going out, not yet, but if he didn’t start to try and live a normal life, whenwouldhe risk it? He could still be careful.
“Yes.”
Zeph beamed. “Hungry now?”
Jack nodded.
They walked down into Greenwich with Jack still alert for anything and anyone he didn’t like the look of. Zeph slid his hand into his and Jack squeezed his fingers and kept hold.
The restaurant wasn’t far. Because they were early, there was plenty of room. They opted for a table in the garden at the rear. Jack sat with his back to the brick wall with a view of everyone coming towards them. They ordered gourmet burgers, triple-fried chips, and glasses of lager.
“I wondered if you’d still be there when I got back,” Zeph said.
“I wondered that too.”
“I’m glad you were because I resigned today.”
Jack gaped at him. “You did what?”
“I have so much holiday owing that I don’t need to go in again. My boss was a bit…disappointed, but it isn’t as if he can force me to stay.”
“But that was your dream.”
