‘Sorry, lost my balance.’

And he veered away, heading for the door. A young woman rose from a table, grabbed him and got his arm midway on his back, put her hand in his pocket then shoved him away, snarling

‘Now, fuck off.’

He made for the door and was gone. The woman walked to Falls, held out a purse, said:

‘He dipped you.’

Falls stared at her purse in astonishment, thinking, I never felt him, then asked:

‘Can I buy you a drink? It’s the very least I can do.’

The woman, blonde, pretty, in expensive clothes gave a radiant smile, said:

‘Sure, large vodka, loads of ice.’

Falls signalled to the barman, asked her:

‘Justice?’

‘Yeah, why fuck it up?’

Falls liked her already. They moved to a table and Falls raised her glass, said:

‘Thanks so much.’

She said, ‘No big thing,’ and sank the double like a docker, raised her finger, said:

‘Yo, bar-person. Hit us again.’

Then she produced a pack of Rothmans, asked:

‘Hope you don’t mind?’

Falls couldn’t believe she’d found a kindred spirit, put out her hand, went:

‘I’m Elizabeth.’

And was amazed with herself as she never normally gave her first name.

The woman took her hand, said:

‘I’m happy to meet you.’

After another round, Falls was seriously wrecked, said:

‘I’m a cop.’

‘Yeah?’

Not interested, cool about it. Falls continued:

‘And I’ve got to say you handled that guy like you were a cop yourself.’

The woman flashed the smile, said:

‘I work the clubs. Bit of dancing, some hostessing, and a whole pile of assholes.’

Falls got out some paper, wrote her number down, said:

‘Listen, let’s get together again, my treat.’

The woman nodded and glanced at her watch, said: