The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2389 by Angharad Copyright© 2014 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

No one questioned me about the visit from the police, assuming it was related to Julie’s encounter with young Khan as I hadn’t mentioned mine. I decided rather than give Simon a chance to lay down the law about me avoiding dangerous situations, I’d say nothing and hope no one else did either. Amazingly, that was what seemed to happen. Julie just muttered something about not pressing charges while Phoebe and Stella were full of themselves for saving the day at the salon.

Sunday seemed to be a day for chores and I even popped into the university and brought home my marking which I did during the evening, having checked on the dormice while I was there. Trish came with me and helped me remove the old food remains and restock it with fresh.

Monday morning arrived and the girls would only be in school for two weeks one of which would be taken up with the school quiz, which Trish and Livvie were excited to be included. They would get an hour’s training a day until the quiz which was being held in Southampton. Danni and Mima kept their tempers very well as our two prima donnas stroked each other’s ego. I did whisper a ‘well done’ to both of them and decided I would try and give them some treats while the brainy pair were involved in showing off their general knowledge.

I arrived in work and continued with my marking, the end was almost in sight, then Pippa arrived. “Good weekend?”

“Was all right, I suppose.”

“Nothing you want to add?”

“No, why should I?”

“Nothing happen in Asda?”

“Oh yeah, now you mention it...”

She smirked at me, “Well?”

“Yeah, some prices got cut.”

“Ha ha, very funny—was that by the yob running round with the knife?”

“Coulda been, different supermarkets have different ways of doing things.”

“Cathy, you were in Asda on Saturday, weren’t you?”

“So—it’s hardly a crime, is it?”

“No, but you stopped one?”

“Yeah, the checkout girl was going to allow some old biddy to purchase some apples that looked bruised to hell and back. I persuaded her to change them.”

“That wasn’t all you persuaded someone to do, was it?”

“Can’t remember.” I was lying but she didn’t know it—did she?

“You didn’t happen to have an altercation with a yobbo with a knife, did you?”

“Did I? You’d think I’d remember, wouldn’t you?”

“So this isn’t you then?” she placed the Echo in front of me and on the front page was a photo of me confronting Khan. The photo was taken from behind of me, so whilst I knew who it was, the Echo obviously didn’t.

“That could be a photo of any one of hundreds of women in Portsmouth.”

“And the one inside?”

It was equally vague, “Could be anyone?”

“Does just anyone have a handbag like that?”

The answer was probably not, four hundred pound handbags do tend to be somewhat self selecting, and I don’t mean in weight but cost.

“How would I know?”

“Because you’ve got one just like it.”

“Similar, I’ll grant you, but it’s all circumstantial.”

“With your record of derring-do, I’d have thought it was almost certain.”

“That wouldn’t stand up in court.”

“Neither could the offender as you broke all his ribs.”

“I didn’t see where it mentioned that.”

‘The thug in the picture was running away from a security guard when he was confronted by a woman shopper. He pulled a knife and slashed at her but she just bided her time and as he slashed she sidestepped and his momentum caused him to be off balance where she kicked him. Moments later she stepped on his hand to prevent the knife being used again. Police arrived a few minutes later and the thug was taken into custody. Police have advised other shoppers not to try and intervene if they see something like this happen again. If this was you, we’d love to talk to you about it.’

Of course no one was expecting me as I’d left the university, I’d done all my marking so was able to leave early. I had no idea if anyone had seen the Echo back at home, if they hadn’t, so possibly I could grab it and hide it before they did. No names of anyone involved were given. The security guard had a fractured vertebra falling against the shelves.

At least the Echo hadn’t tried to accuse me of the deed, or not yet at any rate. That I knew couldn’t last. Sure enough my mobile peeped as I got in the car, it came up as ‘number withheld.’ I pretty well knew it wasn’t anyone I’d want to talk to, so I ignored it. The same thing happened twice more during the afternoon with the same outcome. No message was left.

At home, while drinking a cuppa, the phone rang and Jacqui answered it. “It’s for you, Mummy. Have you seen the Echo?” it was in my capacious handbag.

“Hello?”

“Lady Cameron?”

“Speaking?”

“Oh good. Did you like our article about some woman catching a thug in Asda on Saturday?”

“I haven’t read it, why?”

“We’re told on good authority that you were seen at the supermarket about the time it took place.”

“I’m sure there were a thousand other women there during that time.

“You have to admit it’s a huge coincidence?”

“I’m not admitting to anything.”

“It’s got your MO all over it.”

“Quite what you mean, I have no idea.”

“The kickboxing, you’re good at that.”

“Have you ever seen me in action?”

“No—you making me an offer I can’t refuse?” He almost chuckled down the phone at me.

“Don’t be so ridiculous, the only offer I’d make you is to book you a seat on the first one way trip to Mars.”

“That’s not very nice of you, Lady Cameron.”

“No it wasn’t, I’m not giving you a statement or any other information because it was nothing to do with me.”

“The cashier at Asda who saw your name, said it was you.”

“If you offered enough money they’d kill their own granny.”

“I just wondered if you’d like to defend your charges of criminal assault.”

“Why should I want to speak about him?”

“Because he beat up some woman you liked.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Because it’s what he wanted to do.”

“So perhaps you need to register him as some sort of sex criminal.”

“He’s not Rolf Harris, is he?”

“Good day.” I switched off the phone and fumed my way back to the kitchen, discovering en route that I needed to go and collect the girls. One thing, my life is rarely boring.