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‘Hullo, Amelia-Rose.’
He always called her by her full name, pronounced it as if he were savouring a delicacy.
Matty and I may as well not have been there, but to be fair, we didn’t exactly say ‘hi’ to him either.
My mother was wearing an off-the-shoulder white sundress that highlighted her tan and delicate collar bones. Des looked her over, wet his lips. Struggled for something to say before coming up with the winner:
‘All right?’
She smiled as if she was actually pleased to see him.
‘Well, thanks. How are you?’
‘No bad.’ He shuffled his feet, played with the loose change in his pocket. ‘If you need any jobs done or anything, I’m, you know, happy to help.’
Matty snorted, muttered under his breath. What a muppet.
Our neighbour’s lips twitched in response, but he kept it to himself.
‘That’s very kind of you, Des,’ my mother said. Then touching Matty lightly on his arm, ‘But this one’s pretty good with his hands.’
They exchanged a flirty glance.
‘Oh, okay. But even so, if you. . .’
‘You heard her, bucko. She doesn’t need your help.’
Des’ neck marbled.
‘Right. Well, I’ll see you about Amelia-Rose. . .’
He retreated, tail between his legs just like Bailey, now being dragged out of the bushes at speed.
‘As if you’d be interested in a miserable little pox like him.’
Matty said it loud enough for Des to hear. So he could hear, I suspect. Our neighbour turned around, face burning, but again said nothing.
My mother giggled. Discomfort, but he couldn’t have known that.
Two days later, the sketch came out.
Last Seen with the Shadow?
Police Urge Young Women to be “On their guard”
By Rita Palmer
Crime Correspondent
Another woman has gone missing from North London this week following a series of murders in the area dating from 1981.
Kelly Hope, a nineteen-year-old biology student, was last seen in Kilburn on Saturday night. A witness overheard her talking with a man with an Irish accent (wearing a blue cashmere V-neck sweater and dark brown trousers) who claimed to be searching for his lost dog.
Although Miss Hope’s body has not been found, she hasn’t returned to the flat she shares with two other women, nor has she called home. Both these things are apparently ‘out of character’ according to her mother, care home nurse, Carol Hope (39).
A second woman, who wishes not to be named, came forward yesterday. She told police that she was also approached in Kilburn by a smartly dressed blonde man holding a dog lead and claiming to be searching for a beagle who’d apparently slipped his collar whilst tied up outside a shop.
She said he seemed distraught and so when he asked if she’d drive around with him to try and find his missing pet, she agreed.
‘He said he was a bereavement counsellor. He seemed nice, quite charming actually. But as we reached his car, a dark coloured Mini Cooper, blue I think it was, I got a funny feeling and told him I had to go. I don’t know what it was. I just got spooked, I guess.’
She and the other witness have since worked with a police sketch artist who has produced the composite printed above.
Scotland Yard says the man is in his mid to late thirties, approximately 5’10” and weighs around twelve stone. He has wavy blonde hair and green eyes.
Detective Inspector Harry Connor, heading up the investigation, has asked the public to call the tip line printed below if they recognise the man, and has urged the public to be vigilant.
‘Young women especially, should be on their guard.’
