The sun was breaking through a misty haze; it was just getting light as James drove his open-topped sports car onto the Arrow Hall site. He parked next to the cabin, and he carried a plastic bag under his arm. His hand was shaking as he went to try the door handle as if somebody should be looking out at him. He looked around – he was satisfied it had not been opened since last night and he was on his own. As he walked back to sit in his car, he stared nervously down the small lane that led to Arrow Hall.
It was another five minutes before a black mini noisily drew up onto the rutted grass. It stopped close to where James was standing. The window was lowered, and James handed the plastic bag to the driver.
‘This is the last time. The lady who runs the money is getting onto it.’
‘You deal with that, James. Something to frighten her. A little run off the road around one of these country lanes. But this isn’t the last time for you, so listen hard. You’ve gotta get the numbers up. You know how to squeeze a lemon – that’s how you squeeze the people helping you out here. So, I’ll be down again in two days. Don’t forget, James, be on time.’
James had no chance to answer; there was a snarl from the driver of the mini, a look of disdain as he reversed and left as quickly and noisily as he had arrived. The site was still empty, and the sudden quietness left James feeling very nervous. It would usually be a time when he would be motivated to start the day’s work, making the building slowly rise. But not today.
Fumbling with the key, James quickly opened the cabin door and sat in a dusty chair. He stared at the plans laid out on the table but did not see them. His hands were shaking, and his mouth was dry.