Halfway down the side street one of the other cars slowed to park. No indicator. Mike swore at him and swung out to overtake, his pulse jumping, just in time to register the Beemer perform a U-turn. Heading back towards him. Mike jammed on his brakes and grabbed the phone. Suddenly he was slammed forward, his head glancing off the windscreen, the seat belt biting into his shoulder, head snapping back and a burning at his wrists. He heard the sound of metal and glass and the whoomp of the impact, as the car behind him rear-ended his van. Then the whoop of an alarm, fast and urgent, howling in his ears, matching his heartbeat.
Zak
He’d watched the taller girl get some money from a hole-in-the-wall and reckoned it was worth a shot.
‘D’you wanna buy a dog?’
‘Why, what’s wrong with it?’ The smaller one had mean eyes, little slits all suspicion. He had ’em pegged as sisters.
‘Nothing. But I can’t look after her any more. Just been chucked out my flat, I haven’t got anywhere to stay. I hate to let her go.’ He shuffled, stuck his hands in his pockets, swung his head to the side and down.
The taller one was stooping down, patting Bess on the head. ‘What’s her name?’
‘Bess. She’s a lovely nature. Lab cross.’ He’d no idea what with but she was big and golden. ‘She’s had all her jabs,’ he added. ‘She was my dad’s then he died and I took her.’
‘Aw.’ The taller one straightened up, her eyes soft,
‘I want her to go to a good home.’
‘How much?’ demanded the little one. Then she cast an eye at her sister. ‘Mum’d die.’
‘She’d come round,’ the taller one said, smitten.
‘She’s a good guard dog,’ Zak put in. ‘She’ll bark if you want her to. Better than an alarm.’
‘She’s lovely, Shiv.’ She grinned at her little sister. ‘What’s she eat?’
‘She’s not fussy but lamb’s her favourite, any brand.’
‘How much?’ repeated Shiv.
‘Twenty-five.’ It was nothing. You’d pay ten for a rabbit in the pet shops. Zak hoped he’d get twenty.
‘How old is she?’ Shiv asked.
‘Nearly five.’
‘What’s that in dog years?’ The tall one was petting Bess again.
‘Thirty-five,’ said Zak. ‘You times it by seven. Labradors, they live to fourteen or fifteen so she’s only a young one.’ Zak was aware of a pair of CSOs strolling up the precinct in their high vis jackets and dark caps. He wanted to make the sale before they got too close. ‘She’s well trained, tell her to stay and she won’t budge. Sit there all night, she would.’
‘What do you think, Shiv?’ Her voice was bubbly with excitement, a smile flickered round her lips.
‘Mum’d kill us.’