Restless

After lunch, it was back to the grindstone. There was definitely a TV programme idea here: call it The World's Worst Leads or Prospects From Hell, maybe.

In it, hapless or irritating (or hapless and irritating) salesmen would be set up, watched by hidden cameras. These would then capture every excruciating minute as they tried to sell life insurance to impossibly difficult customers - in reality, a bunch of actors briefed to be as annoying as possible.

Who knows? Maybe it already existed, and I was in it.

Thoughts like that weren't helping me "keep the heid" as Steve had put it. In fact, combined with what Kate had told me, the afternoon was making me so stressed that I was worried I'd be unable to keep a lid on my temper. I could feel myself becoming more and more tightly wound, until I knew I had to get out of the office.

I wandered over to Steve's desk, where he was in full flight, clearly getting near to closing a sale. I was about to head back, when he waved his hand to show he was nearly finished and that I should stay where I was. Sure enough, a couple of minutes later he put down the phone, grinning.

"Hah! He shoots, he scores. Now young Al, what I can I do you for?"

Christ, I hate that "young Al" thing he does.

"Nice one, Steve. It's just, I was wondering if, if I could maybe go home, Steve. My head's throbbing like hell, and I'm not getting anywhere with those useless leads I've got. Would that be OK?"

"Aye, fair enough Al - can't be too careful. Shouldn't you be mentioning stuff like headaches to the doctor, or something?"

"Pretty sure it's nothing too serious. I reckon if I get my head down, it'll be fine. But if I'm still feeling bad tomorrow, I will, definitely."

"Right. No worries then. See you tomorrow, hopefully."

Nodding, I turned to leave. "Oh Al - one more thing. Those leads you've been handling? Those're good prospects, mate. Surprised you didn't notice."

Shit. "Yeah? Must be this headache. Not thinking straight." Shit shit shit.

Taking my non-existent headache - and, it seemed, non-existent sales skills - I headed out of the office. Following side streets and alleyways i'd normally avoid, I headed in the opposite direction to the one that would take me home.

I was heading for the address Kate had given me.



Story begins here.