Chapter 20

At about the same time Spike and Lynda were settling in at another attempt at sleep, Kenny found himself in a virtually empty café at Heathrow, sipping lukewarm airport coffee, eating a lukewarm airport pie and paying airport prices for the privilege. No more generous exchange rate, he thought ruefully, taking a large bite which was probably worth three pound fifty alone.

After this unsatisfactory meal, he browsed the shops that were open until he noticed a security guard trailing him warily. It had been hard enough explaining to Customs why he was arriving from Australia without luggage, so Kenny thought it best not to arouse any unnecessary suspicions. Not that he was up to anything suspicious. Kenny, being Kenny, simply didn't want to wake anyone unneccesarily and was killing time until the hour was a more respectable one for him to arrive in Norbridge.

Eventually, after spending so much time in the bathroom the cleaners were alarmed, he left the airport terminal and immediately wished he'd thought to buy a jumper during his browsing. A lightweight shirt, perfect for the mediterranean climate of Adelaide was no match for the icy wind that was letting him know, in no uncertain terms, he was back in England.

Shivering, Kenny climbed into the back of a thankfully warm cab. As they drove along deserted stretches of the M25 towards Norbridge, he formulated a rough sort of plan. He would visit home first, explain his sudden arrival to his parents somehow and make full use of their shower, kitchen and bedroom facilities. When he was feeling a little more human, he would ring Kelly and make sure she arrived home safely, then go and track down Lynda. He had to admit, he was looking forward to seeing the new Phoenix offices as well. And having a Winter Palace at Czar's, complete with bendy straw. Beyond that, he was unsure about what the future held.

By the time they got to Norbridge, the sun had struggled up and Kenny felt strange leaps in his stomach every time he saw something familiar. The train station, the high school, the Highpoint Flats – which some wag had rechristened Knifepoint while he had been away – the Gazette building . . .

"Just pull up here for a second, would you?" Kenny asked the driver.

The cab pulled up in front of Gazette House, still deserted at this early hour. Kenny climbed out and crossed the street to the vacant patch of land where the old Junior Gazette office had once stood. The only thing currently on the site was a large sign proclaiming "Coming Soon! Exciting New Retail Development! Another quality project by Campbell Inc. Leases Available."

It was hard to believe the building was gone, and with it, so many memories, thought Kenny, sadly.

"Hope you're not here because no-one gave you their forwarding address, Kenny."

Kenny spun in surprise to face the red-headed man who was leaning out of a BMW Z3i.

"Mr Kerr!"

Matt Kerr killed the engine of his car and got out. "Kenny, you can call me Matt now. You all can, yet none of you do."

"Old habits, I guess," grinned Kenny, shaking his hand. "Bit like coming back here for a look."

"Not much to see, I'm afraid," said Matt. "They bulldozed what was left of the building months ago and cleared the rubble pretty soon after. Bobby Campbell has been waiting on council approval for his development for months but somehow it keeps getting delayed." He shrugged but there was something about the smile on his face that suggested there was more to the story.

"Don't tell me," said Kenny, knowingly. "Someone keeps lodging objections against it?"

"Someone, yes. Well, a few someones. It seems there are a few concerned citizens who want the site to be rebuilt to house the new Junior Gazette, what with the proximity to the school and Gazette House."

"And you would be one of those concerned citizens?" asked Kenny.

"I would. As well as Mr Sullivan, Mr Winters, Mayor Swanson, Lynda Day . . . speaking of whom, Kenny, I spoke to Lynda only a few days ago and she didn't mention you were back in town."

"Ah. That would be because she doesn't know I'm here. I didn't even know I was here until a few hours ago!"

"I see. Something tells me it's rather an interesting story. Why don't you pay your driver and join me in a coffee? They do a decent latte down at the new Costa outlet in the High Street."

"Yeah, I'd like that. Only, Mr Kerr . . ."

"Yes, Kenny?"

"Would you mind if we went to Czar's instead?"