“Hi Melinda, how are you?”
“How are YOU? Dr Bedrosian told me that the car was stolen last night. Is there any damage?”
“Only the front roller shutter. They didn't touch anything else, only took the car.”
“Oh.”
“They came to steal that car, I guess. Police aren't saying anything.”
The light on the phone flashed to say there was another call coming in. It was tempting to use it as an excuse to cut the call with Melinda short, but he let it go.
“How is he about the car?”
“Alright. He'd already moved on, he said. He doesn't work on Friday afternoons, so he's going to look at new cars later.”
“What's he like to work for?”
“Fine. He's a bit mysterious at times, but he's pleasant enough with me, and the patients seem to like him.”
“Fair enough. How long have you worked for him?”
“About six months. I'm actually doing a maternity leave fill in. Rachel will be back part time in a week, and I'll only be here in the afternoons.”
“So you're looking for some work?”
“If I could get full time somewhere else I'd take it, but I'd just as happily stay here and work somewhere else part time.”
A reckless and ridiculous idea came into Craig's head, but he decided to leave it there for now.
“If I hear of anything I'll let you know. Anyway, we've still got some cleaning up to do, so I'd better get back to it. See ya.”
“Bye.” Melinda hung up. She sat at her desk with her own thoughts for a minute, completely unsure how she was going to cope the next time she rang Craig for that drink after work.
Craig gathered his remaining energy, and went back out into the workshop. They weren't attempting to eaves drop, but Pavel and Clint were hanging around Boris' desk.
“Right team. I've had it. This week has been a shambles, but overall we've had a great month. I'd like to propose we lock up and head off to the pub for lunch. My shout.”
“Seconded,” said Boris, with all the apparent enthusiasm of the Russian delegate from Magadan.
“All in favour?” said Pavel with his arms out, inviting a response.
“Carried unanimously!” shouted Clint.
The energy level returned as they buzzed around with their final tasks. Boris went down the ramp to check on the repairs to the shutter – nothing was going to delay him getting his schnitzel with coleslaw and two vodkas.
Craig shuffled papers around on his desk in a vain attempt to make it look like it wasn't out of control. He failed - it would just have to wait until Monday.
He grabbed his coat, turned out the lights and he, Pavel and Clint followed Boris' car down the ramp.
The repairers demonstrated the roller shutter, which appeared to be pretty solid. Craig tested the new monster padlock, then gave Pavel a key and put the others on his own key ring.
“You guys go in the car. I've got to stop by the bank and grab some cash.” Their regular drinking spot was only two blocks away, but Pavel was keen to talk Boris into showing him what the car could really do after its latest “improvements”, so he got into the passenger seat before Boris could protest. Clint climbed into the back seat, and he was fumbling around trying to find the non-existent rear seat belt when Boris put the foot down and the car leapt off towards the pub in a cloud of burning rubber.
Craig turned to follow them, shoved his hands into his pockets and noticed he had something in his right hand pocket. He pulled out the key to the BMW.
He wrapped it up in a tissue that was also lurking in the pocket, scrunched it up tight, and scored a direct hit as he threw it into a rubbish bin a few metres ahead of him.
