‘Yes, just came into the lobby. Alone. Wearing a big sheepskin coat with the collar pulled up, like he didn’t want to be recognised.’
‘He’s the one you’ve been investigating?’
‘Absolutely. Dishing out contracts like Smarties, but only to his rich mates. Meanwhile education and public services in this city are a shambles.’
‘Are they?’
Tom turned to me with scorn all over his face. It wasn’t my favourite look of his.
‘There’s more to this town than the university, Ella. He doesn’t have a finger in that pie, and that’s why its reputation is still intact. But don’t think of having kids here, if you don’t want to pay a fortune for their education. And don’t bother trying to use the libraries or community services. They’re being asset-stripped to pay for his friends’ expensive tastes. Rubbish collection is the next thing up for review. Perhaps you’ll start to notice when your bins are left on the street for weeks in a row.’
‘Hey, it’s not me you’ve got the issue with,’ I reminded him, a bit hurt. ‘Is education that bad here?’
‘Take a look at the league tables and Ofsted,’ said Tom. ‘And read the bloody paper you work for. Absolute disaster over the school meals contract, kids not getting to school because the transport doesn’t turn up, building works left unfinished or in a shoddy state. Though, God knows, Haydon won’t lay into him as hard as he should. He gets away with it every time. Why?’
‘I heard he and Haydon were friends,’ I mentioned.
‘Yeah, exactly. The very next time he spikes one of my stories because he’s scared to rock the boat, I’m getting out of here and going freelance. Fuck this. I won’t be muzzled.’
An image of Tom in a muzzle floated irresistibly into my head, reminding me of our appointment with Maria.
‘Hey, do you think he’s come for the dungeon?’ I asked, mildly titillated.
‘Who knows? Though I’d be down there like a shot, ready to shut him in the Iron Maiden. With a padlock.’
‘Christ, have they got one of those? With spikes and all?’
‘Nah, I think the spikes are just rubber. If they’ve got one. I’d replace them for him though.’
‘Well,’ I said, after a pause. ‘Even bent councillors are entitled to a social life. Don’t let it ruin our evening.’
He shut the window and sat down on the ottoman, taking my hand in his, though there was still some pretty obvious brooding going on.
‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘That bastard gets enough of my attention as it is. Fucked if he’s going to barge into my Saturday night too. Let’s open another bottle and see what’s on TV, until my body is capable of doing something more interesting.’
‘Oh? Do you think it will be?’
‘Get that robe off, Foxy, and I think it’s a guarantee.’
Chapter Seven
At lunchtime on Monday, I sent Katie a message.
Hi, Katie, did you have a good weekend? Hope so. Just wanted to ask your advice on something. Maria invited Tom (the other newbie) and me to visit her in her dungeon tomorrow night. I’m a little bit nervous – suppose I’d just like some reassurance. Love, E x.
I sat back, smiling at Tilda as she came back from the loo.
‘So, there’s gossip about you,’ she said, sliding on to the stool next to me as we sat at the counter of our favourite bagel shop.
‘About me?’ My throat contracted, and I wasn’t sure I could swallow the mouthful of lox I’d found so tempting mere seconds earlier.
‘Yes, ab
out you. Dirty stopout,’ she said with a nudge. ‘Your flatmates said you didn’t get home till Sunday lunchtime. Where were you?’
Shagging your ex in a hotel room.
I blushed, but it was OK. She hadn’t mentioned Tom, so I’d be able to spin her the same line I spun Jess and Mehra.