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SEVEN

I think we’re on for tonight if you’re still up for it.

Seriously?

I don’t joke about this stuff.

I’m not sure I can.

OK. Sorry.

What do you mean?

Thought you wanted to.

Yeah but it’s scary.

It’s cool. I’ve sorted everything. Found a good place and I know he’s on shift.

Tonight, though? I need to think about this a bit more.

It needs to be tonight. Well, in the early hours of tomorrow if you want to be exact.

I don’t think I can do it. Too soon.

Up to you but not sure he’ll be the one turning up if we do it another time.

I don’t know. I’m shitting myself just thinking about it.

Trust me it’ll be fine.

. . .

You still there?

Yeah.

He needs to know he hasn’t got away with it, right?

I suppose so.

That you’re going to do something. We talked about this.

Yeah talked, but I didn’t know you were going to really arrange it.

You know I take this seriously. What it means.

I just don’t know how I’ll feel seeing him again.

I’ll be there, so he can’t hurt you.

Things are different now, though. Those dead coppers. Didn’t you see it on the news?

Yeah, I saw it.

So he might not be on his own.

If he isn’t we call it off. We leg it, or you come up with some story. I think he will be, though.

Let me think about it. Just for a few hours.

If you want.

Don’t think I’m not grateful because I am.

Nothing to thank me for. You’re doing this for you.

Yeah.

You’ve just got to say your piece, that’s all. Let him know his time’s up and he’s going to prison where he belongs. And I’ll be with you, so there’s really no danger.

I do want to.

So we’re on then.

Just panicking here because it’s so sudden.

No reason to panic.

Easy for you. It wasn’t you it happened to.

My bad.

. . .

Sorry. Didn’t mean to be insensitive.

Didn’t mean to sound touchy.

I’ll send you the details about where and what time.

Yeah, I suppose, if you really think it’ll be OK.

We can meet up somewhere before to go through it. You need to trust me .

I do, but it doesn’t make me any less scared.

Once you’ve done this, you won’t have to be scared any more.