Clouds in my coffee

I don't know how long I sat there, dazed.

When my mobile rang, at first I had absolutely no idea what the sound was, and no understanding of where it was coming from.

As realisation came back to me, I fumbled in my pocket to find the phone - coming close to knocking over my cooling cup of coffee. I knew I was meant to do something - and then it came to me: I pressed the green button and put the phone to my ear.

Before I could think about what came next, a woman's voice said, "Al? Al, are you there? Speak to me. Where are you?"

Jen.

For a moment, I tried to recall the name of the motorway services - then had enough sense to know that would only confuse matters further. Instead, I simply replied, "Jen. Hi."

"There are some men who want to talk to you," she said after a pause - and I realised the anxiety I'd heard in her voice had nothing to do with wondering where I was. "They say you know who they are. They've told me you need help, Alan. They've showed me things ... things they say you've done, things that I can't..." she broke off.

"Are you still there?" I mumbled that I was. "They say you know how to find them, Alan. They're at the centre - at the place you broke into yesterday."

I said nothing.

"So that was you, then? That security tape was real? I couldn't believe it when they told me - couldn't believe it even when they showed me. Al, I don't like this. I don't know who to trust, I..."

A man's voice came on the line. Deep, steady, authoritative: a voice you wouldn't argue with.

"Mr Mackie. Alan - can I call you Alan? Of course I can. Now, I'm absolutely certain that we can resolve this unfortunate situation without any unpleasantness - wouldn't you agree? You know where we are - and, it would appear, you're more than capable of getting here quickly.

"But I'm a fair man. I'll give you five minutes."



Story begins here.