Chapter 46
OLIVER
“Nora.” I make my way through the mostly teenage protesters. “What’s this about?”
“There he is, lads! The man who’s trying to put my poor animals out on the street!” She grasps Bo’s leash as he trots back to her side.
“I’m what?” My reply sounds tremulous with laughter, though I don’t feel so amused as the chants turn to jeers.
“Bastard!”
“Eat the rich—it’s all they’re good for!”
“Death is the solution!”
“Don’t say that,” complains a voice from behind a red scarf.
“I can say what I like,” a spotty teenager retorts.
“I can’t get arrested! My mum doesn’t know I’m in the city—I’m supposed to be in double geography this afternoon.”
But there’s something familiar about the teenager with the unfortunate case of acne. “You,” I call out. “You tried to slash my tires on Tuesday.” The car was parked outside the hotel. Ted chased after him, but he got away, dodging through the busy afternoon traffic.
“Can’t prove it.” He puffs his chest, all hot air and attitude.
“Yes, I can. I have it on camera.”
“Ha! Your fat bastard driver couldn’t catch me.”
“Lucky for you. He might look like your portly uncle, but he’s ex-SAS and French Foreign Legion.” That seems to knock the wind from his sails as he slinks to the rear of the grumbling group.
“Nora.” I turn my attention her way. “Truly, I’m confused.”
“Down with the bourgeoisie!” she yells in response.And right in my face.
“Why don’t we go inside? We can deal with whatever this is calmly. Perhaps over a cup of coffee.”
“You got any cookies?” The kid with the scarf jerks sideways as he’s elbowed by the girl next to him.
“No fraternizing with the enemy,” she hisses with a scowl.
“I’m going through a growth spurt!”
This is like a fucking circus,I think as I gesture to the building. “Shall we?”Please leave your monkeys behind.
“No.” Nora juts her chin pugnaciously. “Anything you have to say, you can say out here.”
I shrug. “I’m not quite sure what it is I can help you with, though I’ll try my best.”
Next to her, Yara snorts. “You could start by telling her why you put up that industrial fencing.”
“I ... put the fencing up?” There was new fencing when I visited last, I recall. The place was very secure, but I didn’t pay attention beyond the fleeting thought that how Nora chose to spend my donation was up to her. “I’m not responsible for any fencing.”
“Must’ve been the fairies, then.” Nora’s fingers tighten on Bo’s leash, their color livid. “I ain’t got money to spare for fences.”
“Though she did use some of her most recent donation to buy a new padlock,” Yara puts in. “And motion sensors. And an alarm.”
“Very sensible,” I hedge. Not that I’m about to break in.
