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when Pet still wasn’t answering her mobile, that Caro began to feel uneasy.

THREE
    T here was still no answer from Pet and Matt turned his mobile phone over and over in his hand. Where was she? What was she doing?
    â€˜I’m going out.’
    Jason stood in the doorway, armed with his guitar. His face looked pale, although he seemed to be his usual arrogant self.
    â€˜Where are you going?’
    â€˜Down into town to give one of my alfresco concerts – got to earn a crust now I’m one of the Great Unemployed. If I’m lucky I’ll catch the punters on their way to their expensive troughs – alright for some.’
    Jason’s self-pitying attitude was starting to annoy Matt. It was his own fault he’d failed his exams and not bothered turning up for the resits. Jason was bright and if he’d spent less time smoking weed and partying he would have stood a chance. But Matt was in no position to preach.
    â€˜Tracked Pet down yet?’
    Matt shook his head. It was almost six o’clock. But she was a grown woman.
    â€˜I shouldn’t worry about her. She’ll be tucked up in someone’s bed.’
    â€˜She’s not like that,’ Matt snapped in reply.
    A knowing smirk appeared on Jason’s lips. ‘I’ll be off. See you later.’
    When Matt heard the front door bang, he picked up his phone and tried Pet’s number again but still no luck. It really wasn’t like her not to say if she was going to be away this long. And she always kept her phone switched on. Always.
    He was just wondering what to do next when he heard a key turning in the front door lock. Typical of Jason to have forgotten something, he thought. And then he experienced a sudden rush of hope that perhaps it was Pet.
    He heard footsteps on the bare wood floor of the hallway and the landlord appeared in the doorway. Andy Cassidy was in his thirties; tall with a shaved head and a muscular body. His pristine black T-shirt showed off a pair of tanned arms decorated with an assortment of tattoos; mostly Chinese. Matt often wondered what they meant – or if some Chinese wit had told him the characters represented something heroic or spiritual when they really said something derogatory.
    â€˜How are you doing?’ Cassidy said smoothly. He liked to be thought of as one of the lads. Matt knew that he had been a student himself once upon a time – until he had abandoned a graduate traineeship at a well-known supermarket for the world of property development. ‘I hear you had a party last night.’
    â€˜Surprised you weren’t there.’ Matt saw Cassidy swing round as Caro entered the room. ‘Don’t worry, there was no damage if that’s what you’re worried about.’
    Andy Cassidy looked Caro up and down appreciatively. ‘No worries when you’re here, Caro. You’ve got them well trained, eh.’
    Caro pressed her lips together. ‘You should give us notice when you want to visit.’
    Cassidy shrugged apologetically. ‘Sorry. I was just passing and I thought I’d pop in. No harm in taking an interest, is there? Where’s the lovely Pet?’
    Matt turned away. Cassidy made it so obvious he wanted to get into Pet’s knickers; always trying to talk to her; always asking after her when she wasn’t there.
    â€˜We don’t know,’ said Caro. ‘I take it you haven’t seen her?’
    â€˜Why should I have seen her?’
    â€˜She’s often said that she’s bumped into you around town.’ She looked the landlord in the eye. ‘I wondered if you were following her. You can get put inside for stalking, you know.’
    â€˜I’ve never had to stalk anyone in my life.’
    Caro caught Matt’s eye and she gave him a wink. She loved winding Cassidy up.
    â€˜I’m surprised you lot are in on a Saturday night.’
    â€˜Never heard of student debt?’ Caro said sharply.