Eighties Night

Chapter 10

 Amber sat in the back of a taxi Mrs. Ashley had summoned for her; it had arrived quickly enough for Amber to not get particularly chilled for a third time in one evening. It paid Mrs. Ashley to have a reliable service available when difficult customers needed to be removed without involving the police.

'Samantha?'

Dear?

'How soon do you think she'll notice we erased the CCTV footage off the computer?'

I really could not say, Dear. I do hope it is before she contacts any of the popular newspapers though. I felt she was a good woman in a difficult world.

'Samantha? Just as they disappeared...'

Mmmm?

'Did you see Jennifer look around and wave?'

There was a pause. Street light flicked past regularly.

I think, Dear, we shall make a romantic of you yet.

'Samantha?'

Yes, Dear?

'You didn't see either of the other two boyfriends in there, did you? Barry Bic Flick and Kevin the...' Words, at least rhyming, rude ones, failed her. She gave up. 'Bastard.'

Uncharacteristically, Samantha failed to tell her off.

I really could not say, Dear. Perhaps, she paused. Perhaps they both died... happy, you might say.

''Ullo my Darlin'.'

A friendly hand slapped across Mrs. Ashley's backside. She'd been expecting it: this was one man who was completely irrepressible, so she'd given up trying. Instead she smiled the tight, headshaking smile of a woman tolerant, but not entirely accepting of, a man's foibles.

'Kevin Landsdown. Haven't I told you to keep your hands to yourself?'

The lively, foxy face swung into view around her. It was slightly transparent, but she could see through Kevin Landsdown at any time. His ghost grinned the grin of a young man who knows that he is God's gift to the woman in front of him - although perhaps the Devil would been at the front of the queue if Kevin hadn't decided it would be more fun to stay right where he was when he'd died.

'I saved your sorry backside, tonight.'

'Yeah? How's that?'

'That girl. She was going to get in some exorcist or other, if that Jennifer Stevens hadn't upped sticks - and I'd bet a bob to a broken bottle they'd have done it right. You owe me, the amount of running about I had to do to keep her happy.'

Kevin shrugged. It didn't really matter; it hadn't happened, so, he felt, he didn't really owe anything.

'Water off a duck's back, with you, isn't it?' said Mrs. Ashley. 'Still. We're getting you some newer music, next month. Just in case. Can't have Herself coming back.'

'Ta - that'll be cool.' He rubbed spectral hands together, pleased. 'The women were getting a bit long in the tooth. Good thing I like 'em full'n'fruity.' He leered cheerfully at Mrs. Ashley. 'You couldn't leave that back gate open again could you? Got to have somewhere to go.'

'You and your women. I bet you spotted her coming in tonight, didn't you? I heard she was dancing with some man.'

'You bet. Smartest pair of legs I've seen in ages.'