“Are the police after you?”
“No... Ah, well, yes, in a sense, but it’s not my f—”
“Bloody hell, Jamie.”
He fixed her with his most least-bullshitgive-me-a-breakstare. “Nic, I really need this.”
She shook her head slowly. Reluctantly defeated. “Am I going to end up in jail?”
“Almost definitely not.” He let himself and Samira into the hallway and closed the door.
Nicole stared at him a long minute, then tsked. “I’ll go and wake the kids.”
“Is there someone you can drop them off to on our way out of town? Best not take them with us.” He glanced at Samira. “Just in case.”
Another long stare, followed by another shake of the head. He took it as a yes.
“Oh and Nic?”
She flicked her hand through her hair. “I know by the tone of your voice that I don’t want to hear what it is you’re about to say.”
“Is there somewhere else you can stay for the next few days? Just as a precaution.”
“No, there’s really not.”
“I’ll give you some money for an inn. You might want to pack a bag. Call it a holiday, on me.”
She flipped him the bird.
“Gracious, Nic. And you’re welcome.”
He and Samira waited silently until Nicole returned, dressed in jeans and shepherding two overgrown urchins, each hauling a schoolbag. Jamie’s stomach dropped. Where were the round-faced little kids? He hadn’t been gone that long.
“I’ll drive,” Jamie said, lifting a set of keys from a hook.
Nicole snatched them. “You’re on something,” she hissed, snatching a wary glance at the kids. “I can see it in your eyes. You’re not driving.”
“I’m driving.”
“You’re not, not in that state, not in my car, not with my kids.”
“I’m fucking driving.”
“Language!” She pushed past him, snatching the keys. He grabbed her bag instead and, after a tug-of-war, won the right to carry it. She was still stubborn as all fuck.
Samira slid into the back of Nicole’s Toyota with the kids, forcing Jamie to take the front passenger seat.
“Shite, they grew up,” he said to Nicole.
“Language!”
“Oh come on. It’s barelylanguage.” He would have instructed the kids to keep their heads down, just in case, but it wasn’t necessary seeing as they were doubled over tablets with headphones on. “Do what I do, not what I say, kids. Kids, meet Samira. Samira, meet...kids.”
Nicole clicked her seat belt on. “Their names are Max and Tyler.”
“I know their names. I just can’t tell which is which.”
“One’s a boy. One’s a girl. You don’t need amedical degreeto figure it out.”
