Page 22

12.10 P.M.

Penn found WhatsApp sitting with his back against the Subway bin. Wrappers and boxes were strewn around him.

Penn found himself immediately thinking about food temperature, bacteria, insects. Things he had the luxury of considering before every meal.

‘Hey, WhatsApp,’ he said.

When the man raised his head, Penn guessed him to be late fifties, but he’d long since learned that appearances meant nothing amongst the homeless. WhatsApp’s hair was grey with just a few strands of brown to indicate what the colour had once been. His clothes were a mismatch of patterns and textures. The tartan jeans were covered with stains. He wore two jumpers and a pair of shoes that looked too big for him. His face had a ruddy complexion, and his eyes took a good few seconds to focus.

‘Whoos ashking?’ he slurred.

Penn introduced himself but wasn’t sure the guy had even heard.

Great, smashed out of his face by lunchtime on a Sunday.

‘Been talking to your mate, Stig.’

‘Who?’

Oh, this was not boding well for getting information, Penn thought.

‘He said you might know of someone new coming around.’

‘Nah, they ain’t round,’ he said and then laughed at his own joke.

Penn shook his head and wondered if he was wasting his time. Unfortunately, he had nothing else to go on.

Stacey had called and told him about the grubby, bloodied fingernails, which led him to believe he was on the right track.

‘Someone you’ve not seen before, offering shelter and blankets?’

‘Shankets,’ he said and laughed again.

‘Mate, I need you to focus,’ Penn said, trying to remain calm amongst this party for one.

‘Yeah, yeah, they come and go,’ WhatsApp said eventually, waving his hands around as though swatting flies. ‘Not many got the stomach for it unless it’s the Sally Army. They’re sound.’

‘But there was someone new?’ Penn pushed. ‘Last night?’

‘Yeah, a guy thirty, forty, fifty asked if I wanted to come see his puppies.’

‘He actually asked you that?’ Penn queried.

‘Don’t be daft. He tried to tempt me to his van for a new blanket.’

‘You didn’t go?’

‘No chance. I had a double doorway to meself. If I’d have left it for two minutes, it would’ve been gone. The other one offered me a hot meal.’

‘Other one?’ Penn asked.

‘Yeah, a lady, promised me fish and chips, but I had an appointment at the office,’ he said, patting his pocket.

Yesterday had been Saturday. Lots of shoppers out, and WhatsApp had obviously made enough money for his drink of choice to be consumed in peace in his double doorway.

Penn considered asking for a description but given that he’d just been given a three-decade age range that covered both sexes, he didn’t hold out much hope for a photofit.

He decided to change direction. ‘Anyone you know likely to have accepted the offer?’

‘Hiccup.’

‘Excuse you.’

WhatsApp fell sideways he was laughing so hard.

Penn waited.

‘Not me, mate,’ WhatsApp said with tears rolling over his cheeks. ‘That’s his name. Hiccup. When he gets ’em, he gets ’em good. He’ll go off with anyone for a tube of Smarties.’

‘You seen him today?’

WhatsApp belched loudly before shaking his head.

‘Cheers, mate,’ Penn said, heading back to the car. It wasn’t a lot, but at least it was a place to start.