Page 92 of The Good Neighbour

“We’ve only been here for ten minutes,” Josh replied.

“I’ve never been one to sit around.”

They watched people coming and going. It was a busy place, seemingly full of young professionals.

“I’m selling up,” Josh blurted out.

Mrs Wimpole didn’t say anything.

“I have no other option,” Josh continued, desperate to fill the silence. “It’s either that or give Winston a quarter share in Cut.”

“He has to be one of the most spiteful men I’ve ever met,” Mrs Wimpole said. She stared straight ahead. She blew on her steaming coffee.

“Are you cross with me?” Josh asked.

She turned to him. Josh was amazed to see tears in her eyes.

“I’m a silly old fool,” she said. “I get upset when any of my neighbours leave. I think of you all as friends.”

Josh took her hand and squeezed it. “We are friends. I need to start again somewhere.”

“My darling, you’ve been through the mill. I can’t blame you. Are you hoping to ride off into the sunset with Hugh?”

He would give anything in the world for that to happen. He couldn’t count on it.

“Maybe. Maybe not. If it doesn’t, I think New York for a while.”

“Now that is a culture shock. Good for you. Here’s to new beginnings.”

She held her mug up. Gently, Josh clinked it.

“New beginnings.”

“Before that, we’ve some loose ends to tie up and it looks like we might have struck gold.”

Josh followed her gaze and saw Kevin Hogg leaving the apartment building.

Mrs Wimpole clicked the microphone on and dropped it into the breast pocket of her violet blazer.

Before he put his cup down, she’d popped open the door and was scrambling down.

“Get a move on, Joshua. Our quarry will get away.”

She slammed the door and scuttled toward the man. Josh burnt his fingers putting the mug in the footwell.

“Fuck’s sake.”

He almost fell out of the ridiculously high SUV. He set off after Mrs Wimpole, who had already approached their prey.

“Stop there,” she barked.

A startled Kevin did exactly that.

Josh was out of breath by the time he reached them. So much for being fitter than Hugh.

“What do you want?” Kevin asked.

“We’re on to you, young man,” Mrs Wimpole said. “You’re out to get poor Hugh and we’re here to put a stop to it.”