“Says who?”
“It’s the law,” said Manny.
“What is?”
Fucking hell, she was making it hard. Still, when he was through the starting gate, he’d take the snooty bitch for everything. That would teach her.
“I’ve already told you.”
“I beg to differ. You’ve said plenty, but none of it means anything. You’re here to check the fire extinguishers and you say it’s the law. So, what, have the police sent you?”
“No. My company has sent me. Every business has to have fire extinguishers, and they need checking every three years to comply with regulations.”
Manny thought he’d handled that well. Word for word he’d said exactly what Stitch had told him. He should know. It worked every time for him.
“So your company have sent a letter to my head office to inform them that my fire extinguishers need checking?”
“I expect so,” replied Manny. “But I don’t get to see those. I just get my instructions, which tells me today that I have to come and inspect yours.”
“And you’re from Northern Fire?” asked Bunting.
Manny sighed. Was she completely thick or something? Perhaps if he was a bit tougher with her, she’d back down.
“Can I see your identity?”
He held it upwards but she was still standing behind her desk, somewhere in the region of six feet away. “What? You think I can see that from here?”
He could have a problem now. She wanted it on the end of her nose. Manny walked forward. As he did so, she reached into a desk drawer and drew out a pair of glasses, slipping them on.
As he stood there with the card in his hand, she surprised him.
“Take it off.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, take it off. I need to look at it.”
Manny wasn’t keen. Stitch said it was simple, in and out. No one checked. Who the fuck did she work for, the KGB? He had to comply, so he held it out.
“Put it on the desk.”
“The desk?”
“Yes, the desk. The big wooden thing. You know what a desk is, don’t you?”
“Look, love–”
She stopped him in his tracks. “I’m not your love, now please put it on the desk so I can examine it properly.”
She glanced behind her. “The fire extinguisher is through there.”
Manny was surprised. “You want me to go through and inspect it?”
“No. I’d like you to go through and eat it. What do you think?”
“Pardon me for breathing.” Manny lined up some more sarcasm. Instead, he held his tongue and slipped into the back. At last, the whole reason for being here.
The area was a small kitchen. Like the other room it was spotless, with tiled walls and floor. All electrical appliances had been PAT tested, and bore the labels. Half a dozen cups were suspended on hooks from a cupboard; tea, sugar and coffee in their own jars. The fire extinguisher was on the wall.