Fly in the Ointment Read Online Free PDF Page B

my way. Without stopping to think, I rang the local police for the first time since I’d thrown Malachy out. They took the usual age to answer, and the desk officer wasted another half a minute introducing himself before starting his bored litany.
    â€˜So do you recognize this person you say is watching your house?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Has he knocked on your door?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Made no approaches at all?’
    â€˜Well, no. He’s just sort of standing there in a threatening fashion. You see, just over a week ago—’
    But PC Wood wasn’t interested in what had happened a week ago. ‘Is this man carrying a weapon?’
    I lost my patience. ‘How am
I
supposed to know? And if he is, he’d surely have more sense than to wave it about on a suburban street!’
    There came the trained pause as I was given a couple of moments to collect myself. I waited for the next question, but by then PC Wood had evidently taken the opportunity of the short break to reckon he’d put in enough of the groundwork to move on to excuses. ‘The thing is, Mrs Henderson, we’re rather short-staffed at the moment. You see, Saturday’s a busy night. So before we pull one of our patrol cars away from the usual troublespots—’
    â€˜You mean, interrupt your mates eating chips in some quiet lay-by?’
    â€˜I beg your pardon?’
    I dropped a finger to cut off the call before I lost my temper. The scruffy young man was still watching the house. I looked at my watch. Eight-thirty. Theremight be hours more of this – another sleepless night.
    I rang the Tallentires next door. Their teenage daughter Tansy picked up the phone. ‘For heaven’s
sake
! I’m
com
—Oh. Hi, Lois.’
    â€˜Tansy, I’m after a quick favour.’
    She was already being interrupted by a voice in the background. ‘Is that Lois? Tell her I’ll have that ladder back to them first thing in the morning.’
    For just a second I wondered if her father’s choice of phrasing – ‘back to
them
’ – was born of tact, or cheering confirmation that I wasn’t the only person to fail to notice my husband had walked out. But the lout on the street was still glowering my way in an intimidating fashion, so I came back to the matter at hand. ‘Tansy, could you and your dad come out and watch my back for me while I clear off some nasty piece of work who’s standing across the street, trying to threaten me?’
    Not even giving her the chance to plead some gripping moment in their favourite soap, I put down the phone, flung open my front door and stormed out towards my tormentor.
    â€˜You haven’t long,’ I warned. ‘The police are on their way. I just want to tell you that if I ever see you on this street again I’ll get a stalking order slapped on you. And don’t bother with any more of thethreatening calls either, because as from tonight my phone will be on a police trace.’
    Even before I’d finished, Tansy had come up behind. ‘Lois –’
    The young man turned towards her. ‘What the
fuck
?’
    I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Tansy’s father. ‘Lois –’
    I shook it off. ‘No, really, Martin. I’m fine. I’m simply making it clear to this young man that I never want to see or hear from him again. His sordid druggy affairs are nothing to do with me.’
    â€˜My
what
?’ Again the young man turned to Tansy. ‘For God’s sake! Tell the stupid cow that I don’t even
smoke
.’
    Martin’s hand was back on my shoulder. ‘Lois, I really do think –’
    Only then did I realize. ‘Oh, God! Is he just standing here waiting to go out with Tansy?’ I turned back. ‘Oh, I am sorry. I was quite sure you were a drug-dealer.’
    â€˜Well, thanks a bunch!’
    â€˜I’m sorry, Lois,’ Martin said. His look was