Phoenix and the Bag Man

Chapter 9: The Send-off

The Send-off

"Best I follow him," said Katyia, "he doesn't know who I am." We had clocked him easily once we were out of the park. There was a moment's panic when we thought we'd lost him but he was easy to spot – a lot taller than I remembered and his long dark hair stood out in the crowd.

"Stick together, you said," I reminded her. "OK?'

"OK."

"We don't need to get very close, it'll be fine," but I pulled up my hood anyway. The Bag Man strode on ahead, full of confidence, almost swagger, like he owned the place. Not like a homeless person at all. He never looked back once. At one point a police car nosed its way down the crowded shopping street.

"Police," I said. "Go on ahead, I'll catch you up." I turned into the nearest shop, my heart pounding, feeling like the biggest sore thumb. I saw the police car pass by through the window. I caught Katyia up at the end of the road, feeling elated. We were going to stick together.

"I lost him, sorry, I was so worried I kept watching the police, not him.'

"Never mind, he can't be far away." He'd led us into that maze of little terraced houses I had disappeared into when the security guards had chased me. It was a bit trickier here, where there were fewer people about. Katyia went on ahead to the next corner and then waved for me to follow while she kept an eye out for him. There had been a couple of turn offs, but no sign of the Bag Man. I was sure we would have seen him unless he'd gone into one of the houses. We came to a bigger road with bigger houses, mostly split up into flats, with a little row of newish shops with a lay-by and a bus shelter outside them where the pavement widened right out. We walked as far as the bus stop.

"If he's in one of these flats he might spot you," said Katyia. "Shouldn't we turn back? William will know where to find him. We'll pick him up again easily enough now we know he's still around."

"He's coming out of the shop," he was carrying the old coat now, and without it he didn't look so rough anymore. I quickly turned away. "Shit, I think he's coming back this way."

"In here," she led me into the bus shelter so my back was to him.

"See you tomorrow, Jimmy," we heard him call as he left the shop. Katyia had wrapped her arms around me and was peering past my shoulder, using me as cover as she watched. "He's pulling out a phone. He's coming right past us." I could hear the phone ringing. My heart was beating fast again. "Please don't see me, please don't see me," I prayed silently with my eyes shut. I felt Katyia's head move away from my shoulder.

"Please don't see me," said Phoenix.

The Bag Man's footsteps stopped, right behind me. Katyia put a hand to the back of my head and gently pulled my face down. I opened my eyes to stare straight into hers. Shiny, with flecks of chestnut. The eyes closed and she kissed me on the lips. Just held me there. The ringing stopped. "Bullimore," he said. The footsteps began again as he walked away. Katyia released me. My arms still hung at my sides. All I could think of was the smell of her. I caught her eyes again briefly before they slid away to look after the Bag Man. Katyia blew out her cheeks in an exaggerated release of air. Two other people had joined us in the bus queue. I looked up. There was a bus coming.

"We'll have to catch it," said Katyia. "The perfect cover. Got any money?'

Katyia took the seat in front of me without a word, pulled out her phone and hunched over it. I was about to say something but the message was plain. So I shut up. I felt amazingly pumped up, exhilarated, confused and completely aware I was out of my depth. I had no idea what to do next. I knew only that I wanted to be close to her. I'd thought that I'd glimpsed some feeling in her but now it seemed she was making it plain that she didn't want to be close to me. There was some kind of dance going on, and I was never any good at dancing. I covered myself by fiddling with my newly rescued bag, checking through its contents. I retrieved the memory stick and slipped the lanyard over my head and tucked it down inside my shirt. Safe. It was somehow a comfort. It was only a few minutes ride back to the town centre and soon we were making our way back to the warehouse.