Page 11 of Light Up
“Cowdley.”
“Is that where you live?”
“No, London.”
“I was driving to Sutton. It’s where my uncle lives with his girlfriend. But they’re on holiday until mid-January, so no onewill be looking for me if I don’t turn up. Oh shit. Now I hope you’re not a serial killer. Though what are the chances of two serial killers getting caught up in the same crash?” He chuckled.
Tal smiled. “Not high.” He paused, then said, “No need to panic.”Oh God, should I have said that?
But Corey laughed. “Sometimes panic is useful. It motivates you to get something done, like getting you out of your car. But we seem to be miles from anywhere with no phone signal which is worrying, to say the least. Not even my employer will be looking for me because I lost my job tonight. I was accused of stealing a customer’s wallet. I didn’t take it. I’m not a thief. Unfortunately, I also lost the accommodation that came with the job. I should have thought twice before I walked out even though the place was a bit of a dump. And I wish I’d not said any of that because you really didn’t need to know.” He tsked.
“You’re not having a good night.”
“I’ve had worse.” Corey sighed. “Never an unspoken thought. That’s what my dad used to say about me. Though he said he liked to hear me rattle on.”
“My father thought children should be seen and not heard.”
“Oh. One of those sorts of dads. So you stayed quiet?”
“Yes. Why did your employer think you stole the wallet?”
“It was found in my backpack. I know that looks bad but it was planted there by a co-worker I don’t get on with. Vincent had asked me out. I said no. He persisted. I still said no. When his persistence turned physical so did my resistance and I planted my knee in his balls. Anyway…great motive for setting me up, right?”
Tal might have laughed if Corey hadn’t sounded so indignant. So…he was gay. As if the pink hat with the floppy ears hadn’t already told him.And what does me wearing it tell him? That I’m gay too or just cold?In any case, laughing at an attempted sexual assault was definitely unwise even though he’dfelt Corey had wanted him to laugh. Tal didn’t want to get things wrong.
“Vincent said he’d seen me take it. The liar. I’m trustworthy but my boss had already made up her mind before she confronted me. There was no point arguing. When something’s been found in your possession, it’s hard to persuade anyone you were framed. Like getting caught holding a smoking gun next to a dead guy. I’m almost more pissed off with my boss than I am with Vincent. Though as I was leaving, I saw Vincent kiss her and things made more sense.
“I was getting a little fed up of the job, in any case. And fed up with my bedsit, so without thinking through the consequences, I packed up and left. Everything I have is in this bag, on my back or in the boot of my car. That might have been a worry but there’s nothing worth stealing unless someone fancies my collection of polar bears or a dented kettle, though it still works.”
“Are you wishing you’d not told me that either?”
Corey chuckled. “I’ve given up watching what I say. You’re getting the unedited me. We’re united by a shared trauma. We could have died and we didn’t. Clearly, having a panic attack makes me talk a lot. Sorry. Well, I talk a lot anyway, but I’ll blame the panic attack.”
“I don’t know where you found the strength to get me out, but thank you.”
“I’m a very determined sort of guy. But we need to find shelter and you’re moving too slowly. No whip handy to mush you on, though maybe you’d rather be bribed with chocolate. What do you like?”
“Crunchie, Flake, Bounty, Wispa, mint Aero, Twirl, Mars bar, Maltesers.”
“Wow. You had that off pat.”
“I don’t eat much chocolate but I do like those.”
“I like chocolate too. Cadbury’s Heroes are my favourite. Apart from Double Deckers. No one likes those. Nor do I like chocolate cake.”
“Me neither.”
Corey laughed. “Fancy that!”
“What job were you doing?”
“Waiter in an Italian restaurant. I’m not sorry I don’t have to do it anymore but I wish I’d had another job to go to. I knew she was going to sack me but it was still stupid to give up so quickly. I might try London, there’d be more job opportunities, though I’m not sure I can afford to live there. I need a job before I can get a place to rent. But I don’t have enough money for a deposit until I get a job. Chicken and egg. Which comes first?”
“Egg.Birds evolved from dinosaurs that laid eggs.The first bird hatched from an egg laid by a reptile that was very similar to, but not quite a bird itself.” Tal belatedly wondered if Corey had actually wanted an answer to his question. Sometimes people didn’t.
“Right. So which is the egg? Bedsit or job?”
Tal couldn’t answer that. Luckily, he’d never been in that situation.
