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"So what exactly is it you want to know?"

I asked hilass at the back" He pointed to a boarded upbehind ured it must have been kids ‘cos it’s so s that it could have been any thing of any size that could shift its shape to suit itself

"Was anything other than the coal and the screwdriver taken?"

"Nothing," he answered "Darn’dest thing as well, considering the till was right there I’d not bothered e it that day because there wasn’t much money in there, other than the float and a few odds and ends, but they didn’t even try to open it" He shrugged and took a sip

Ielse? Anything at all?"

He took his ti "Only the slime"

"The slime?" My life would have been a lot easier if Nick had mentioned slime when I’d talked to hi the shelf where the coals had been There were a few drops of it on the floor too"

"I don’t suppose you kept any of it?" I asked hopefully

He looked at me like I was crazy I supposed I probably was "No," he answered slowly "That police bloke, Nick whatsisface Jones, took so I don’t expect he really will, though"

Perkins’ faith in the ineptitude of the police force was clearly unshakeable

"He took the CCTV video as well"

I sat up CCTV? That was interesting And helpful Although it did ulped down the rest of my coffee "Mr Perkins, thank you so much for your time" I stuck out my hand and he took it

"You’re welcoht be odd but at least you’re polite"

I s, I’ll let you know"

"It’s hardly even worth irl, so I don’t really knohy you’re bothering"

"It’s the principle of the matter, Mr Perkins We cannot allow incidents of this nature to take root in Trevathorn It’s a slippery slope, this kind of thing you know" God help h, because he grinned war it firain

It was barely a hop, skip and a jump to the police station so I wandered over without any further delay I could handle one horny copper Once, inside I asked the duty sergeant to let h to speak to Nick He wasn’t overly thrilled about it but called hih

"Mack!" Nick stretched out his arreet me "To what do I owe this wonderful pleasure?"

"I need a favour, Nick"

He shot ritted my teeth "I’d like to see the CCTV you took froet from the lab about the slime"

His s to keep the streets of Trevathorn safe, Nick" I co to judge how serious I was being Eventually he spoke up "I wouldn’t do this for just anyone, you know"

I nodded, serious, but hopeful

"The slime is still with the lab How did you know about that anyway?"

I just shrugged and smiled dee finds out I showed you the CCTV, I could lose my job"

"Nick, I…"

He interrupted me "Now, hold on I didn’t say no yet, did I? I’ll show you it if you do so for ht" There was a gleahtly unnerved me

"Nick, I’ h I had the distinct feeling that I looked like a fly had just flown into my eyeball instead

"That’s my price," he answered, and looked at me hopefully

Fuck it "Fine I’ll have dinner with you But not tonight – can we make it next week, instead?"