If you can't beat them

Walking up the street as naturally as he could, Nick was aware that he wasn't exactly following procedure; he suspected that leaving the scene of a crime, especially one committed by fellow officers, wasn't really the done thing.

But then, he didn't really feel he knew what the procedure was for situations like this.

After they'd turned a few corners, a squad car zoomed past heading in the direction they'd come from. At that point, he knew there was no going back.

Alice noticed him looking anxiously back in the direction of the car and got his attention by saying "come on then, tell us."

Nick looked up, scanning the sky as if he'd find the answer written there. Why was he even talking to this pair, he wondered. Partly, he knew it was because they were involved with whatever was happening - but there was something else, too: he trusted them. Why, or how, he didn't know. If he'd had to explain the feeling in words, he wouldn't be able to. He just did.

"We were at school together, Cotter - sorry, Adam - and me. Same year, though I'm a couple of months older than him. We used to be mates, a long time ago ... but, well, we sort of fell out."

Why are you telling them this? Said a voice in Nick's head.

As if sensing his discomfort, Alice said "don't worry, officer. No need to tell us anything you don't want to. Just asking, is all. And relax: you're just doing your duty, making sure two senior citizens can get where they're going. Nothing untoward in that, is there."

"Speak for yourself," piped up Margaret. "Go on - tell us how you fell out." She saw the look Alice gave her. "Er, if you feel like it, of course."

"Maybe later, eh?" replied Nick. "Let's just leave it that me and Adam used to be friends, but now we're not." He looked pointedly at Margaret. "That is, if no-one minds? Good. Now, can you give me any idea of what might be going on?"



Part Two begins here.