“Sorry it’s so expensive.”

“Are you serious?”

She was.

“It’s brand new, you see, so we had to make it a little dearer.”

I considered. Sure she was English, but they can do humour. I said,

“Daylight robbery.”

Huge smile then.

“Tell you what, I’ll add a new hankie.”

“My cup overflows.”

Shoes I had. Kiki had bought me a pair of Weejuns. Next, it was time to score. I hated what I had to do, but the devil drives. Rang Cathy. She answered with a breezy,

“Jack.”

I said,

“I need your help, girl.”

“Of course, Jack, what do you need?”

“A name.”

“Oh, Jack.”

She knew. I guess she’d been through the hard station. I let some plead into my voice.

“I’m hurting, Cathy.”

I waited, what else could I do? Standing in a phone box, holding my blue suit, like a guard on holidays. Then,

“Stewart.”

And gave me the address. I asked,

“Will he be home?”

“He’s always home.”

Click. I held the dead phone. She wouldn’t tell Jeff, but I had trod on our friendship. We’d survive, but I had seriously tarnished it. Went to the place, near the canal. The house looked normal. No shingle outside proclaiming “Drug Dealer”. I rang the bell. The door was opened by a bank clerk. Leastways, he had the moneyed eyes. I asked,

“Stewart?”

“Cathy rang; come in.”

An ordinary sitting room. There weren’t flying ducks on the wall, but you get the picture. There was a framed Desiderata. Stewart said,