Silent, First Evening

Two Years Earlier, Gavin

The rain started outside after dinner, big heavy drops warning of thunder. I headed to my room to slip on some smarter clothes. Had a shave and prepped back my hair with gel. Gazed at myself in the mirror. Nice one. Yes!
     
Tapping at my door.  Philippa with a bottle of vodka, Russian. Good because it wouldn't smell on the breath.  'Come in.  Sorry about the mess.’  

Once we were seated, I said, 'All this stuff with the Harlesden family and the fire. You've got something planned, right?’

Philippa nodded. ‘I'm here on a project.  That's all I can tell you.'

'You're here under false pretences? Like a journalist or something?’

‘I have important connections. That's all you need to know.’

'So that's why the former Mayor gave you a strange look earlier when he came into the dining room. ’

'Did he?  I didn't notice.'

'He was staring at you.'

'Dirty old man,' Philippa said, and laughed.

'Seriously, Philippa. What's going on?'

'Patience, Gavin. It will be worth it.'

We passed the bottle. Talked about ourselves. Philippa told me she had a younger sister who'd gone a bit wild.  Her parents were always nagging, her dad a bully.  Even her pet dog, a terrier named Oscar, had developed agoraphobia from the tension at home. She hated college and didn't want to do her A levels.  She wanted to be a famous actress and hoped to specialise in period drama, but she enjoyed playing the piano and the recorder and she loved listening to medieval music.  

As for me pretty basic, stable...Nan who lived a couple of miles away from us in London, Mum, Dad a builder, own building firm, brother Kieran okayish but enjoyed winding me up... that type of thing.  

We took more swigs from the bottle. Discussed more stuff as the rain worsened outside and the early evening light dwindled, despite the month being August.  

'We're going to be late,' Philippa said, handing me a few peppermints. 'Here. And don't act drunk in the cab or the driver will throw us out. They're really strict about that sort of thing round here.'