It was almost twenty-four hours before he checked his old phone. There was no reason for him to do so, it was obsolete, and yet something had made him hold onto it, even after cutting Anna off. Something told him to turn it on and wait for a message to appear on the screen. The sight of Anna’s number, when it appeared, sent a chill through his chest.
He read the message three times, digesting its meaning with a growing sense of panic.
Dear Harry,
I don’t know if you’re reading this, but after seeing you again I’ve realised the guilt is too much. I can’t do it any more. For so long, I’ve been lying to so many people. I have let everyone down. I can’t see any way to absolve my guilt other than to be honest with the people who have stood by me. My family. I’m sorry if that means I’ve let you down too, but I suppose that makes us even.
He moved quickly into the kitchen and poured a drink, pacing the room while he worked out the plan. Half an hour later, he threw on his jacket and strode towards the Hope & Anchor, the speakers booming as he walked towards the bar.
‘Mimi?’
The barmaid looked up at him and smiled. She’d always had a weakness for him, though after Naomi he had resolutely steered clear of women who were under their mid-twenties; it wasn’t worth the trouble.
‘I need to ask you a favour. It’s urgent.’
He met Mimi just down the footpath from the pub the following day.
‘This is fucking weird,’ she said as he ran over the plan once more.
‘Well I’m paying you for it – and you’re a drama student, aren’t you?’
‘I know, but—’ She broke off. ‘What time are we meeting this Anna woman?’
‘Twenty minutes,’ he said, looking over his shoulder. ‘She’ll be waiting for us on one of the benches at the top of the park.’
‘As if she’s going to fall for it, though.’ Mimi looked unconvinced.
‘You don’t need to worry about that. You’ve memorised everything I need you to say.’
‘Of course. I’m a professional …’
‘Right, and you’ve nailed the accent?’
‘I mean, I’ve tried,’ she said. ‘I’ve Googled it. You know my family is from Jamaica, yeah? I know we might all look the same to you, but it’s been a few generations since any of my family were from the Motherland.’
‘Well I’m sure you’ll smash it.’ He held her with a look that made her slightly recoil. ‘All you need to do is persuade her that your brother was one of the men in Equatorial Guinea who was part of the chemical spillage, and that he was killed by the villagers in retaliation for what he did. Just stick to the script, you’ll be fine.’
‘What’s all this about?’ she asked.
‘I’ve paid you handsomely,’ Harry said. ‘This is a job for you, nothing more. It’s best you don’t ask questions. Right, you ready? Let’s go.’