The Gracie Files: A New Beginning
Part 2
It had been a shock to say the least. I don't know why I attract this sort of attention, very much unwanted. It crossed my mind that he may have planned this whole thing, perhaps he's had his eye on me for a while and now he's just…
What a load of crap.
He's not He Who Cannot Be Named. Even though they do bare a striking resemblance…
"Stop winding yourself up about it, Sal," Hyper warned. "I'll have a word if you like, make sure he doesn't try anything."
"No!" I was adamant. "You can't… I mean I can look after myself you know!"
He smiled, I could see he didn't look too sure about that. It's sweet that he cares so much, but there is such a thing as being over-protective.
"If you're sure…"
"Yes Rob. Whatever the new DO's agenda is, I'm gonna make sure I'm not part of it!"
"Yeah well, if you change your mind…"
"I'll let you know."
He decided to leave it at that. Well until the new DO tried to gate crash the usual Blue Watch after-shift drink.
"I think you've got me all wrong!" the new DO stood up to Hyper's challenge.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, I only want to talk to her. I mean, who are you, her father or something?!"
"Rob, leave it," I pleaded.
Hyper glared at James for a couple of seconds.
"Oi, Rob," Adam had joined us. "I don't want any trouble in me pub now!"
Hyper narrowed his eyes but then, thankfully, decided to leave it.
"I'll just be over there," he made it clear he wasn't going to be very far away as Adam dragged him off.
I've never known Rob to do anything violent. Personally, I don't think he has it in him, and I think James could see that.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"I think we got off on the wrong foot yesterday," he started. "I mean I'd had a bit to drink…"
"Yeah I noticed that."
"I wasn't trying it on with you or anything."
"You don't think so?"
"Sorry if it sounded like that… That's not what I want from you."
"Then perhaps you'd better explain what you do want?" I suggested.
"Yeah well… Do you think, maybe, we could go somewhere else?" he wasn't happy with Rob who was still glaring at us from the other side of the bar.
"Er… no."
"Oh, well ok then. It's about…" he started. "Look, I really don't want to talk about this with your minder trying to stare me out!"
I decided to move round the bar to block Rob's view. I wanted to know what James wanted. Was he just trying to cover himself? Or lure me into a false sense of security? I made sure I was ready in case things started heading that way.
"Ok…" he started again. "It's about… Griggs…"
He was interrupted as his bleeper went off. Talk about good timing.
"Sorry," he looked at the number. "I've got to go. Look, can we talk about this some other time, soon."
"Why?" I enquired.
"I need your help with something. Call me," he scribbled his number down on the back of a beer mat.
"I um…" I hesitated.
Not too sure about that.
"Bring your minder if you like," he replied. "Only don't go telling everyone, I can't risk him finding out…"
"Sounds all very hush hush, what is it, MI5 or something?!"
"You could say that, look I really have to go. Don't forget to call me."
"Yeah ok."
I decided there was nothing he would be able to do if I invited Rob along. James left the pub. As soon as he had gone through the door, Hyper rushed over.
"What did he want?!"
"It's ok, Rob, he doesn't want… er… that. He wants to talk…" I paused to check that no one else could overhear. "About Griggs," I hissed.
"Griggs?" Hyper scoffed a little too loudly. "What for?!"
"I dunno, he wants me to call him."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. He reckons he just wants to talk and he even invited you along!"
"Oh…" Hyper paused. "What's his game then?" he looked away as if racking his brains to try and figure out James' motivations.
There was only one way to find out,
I knew. I looked at the number scribbled on the beer mat.
London's Burning - The
Gracie Files: A New Beginning © Karen Moody 09/05/02
What does James want?
Can Sally avenge Joe's death?