For Your Own Protection(35)
There were people all around her.
And for a second she thought she saw him.
It’s just my imagination . . .
The strengthening rumble and whoosh of warm air signalled the train’s imminent arrival. As the front carriage emerged from the tunnel, its lights blazing, she sensed him right behind her.
As the train bore down, he pushed hard.
There was nothing she could do.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The first person Matt called as he left the building was Amy.
‘I’ve quit UGT. Call off the search for my replacement. I also need a favour . . .’
Amy was stunned.
As Matt headed for the bus stop that would take him to Peckham, he tried to call Harvey.
No answer.
By the time the bus arrived, just gone eight o’clock, darkness had descended and the rain was falling. Matt sat back in his seat and watched London pass by through the rain-splashed window, not quite believing what he had said to Gabriel. He had finally done it. As lucrative as it might be, it was a future he had come to realise he no longer wanted.
The bus pulled up to a row of shops that his phone’s GPS told him was the nearest stop to Harvey’s place, the address of which Amy had provided him with. He jumped off the bus, dodging the oily puddles. Three roads on, and there was Empire Lane. The road was flanked by mid-rise blocks of flats, with drab concrete walls and walkways past the doorways. He found Harvey’s block and made his way up to the third floor, passing through two sets of doors, the internal glass shattered from some kind of impact and the woodwork flaking.
Knocking on the door of Harvey’s flat, Matt had no guarantee he would actually be at home. If he was, Matt had decided to do whatever it took to persuade him to return to college.
Harvey opened the door almost immediately, all designer gear as usual, his mouth opening in surprise as he realised who was standing there.
‘Thought I’d come and see this flat of yours.’ Matt tried a smile.
For once, Harvey seemed lost for words. ‘Mr Roberts. Matt. I didn’t expect to see you . . . Hey, come on in, please.’ He beckoned. ‘You don’t want to be hangin’ around that corridor. Not lookin’ like that, man. C’mon in!’
Matt followed Harvey into the flat. The place actually looked really nice inside – not at all what Matt had been expecting. It seemed to have been recently refurbished, with a shiny wooden floor, dark furniture, and a lot of high-tech gadgets on display – stereo system, wireless speakers, laptop, and a huge flat-screen TV.
Matt wondered where the money had come from for all this stuff.
‘Just got this the other day,’ Harvey announced, seeming to read Matt’s thoughts and pointing at the TV. ‘Top of the range – 4K display, whatever the hell that means. Wi-Fi enabled so I can watch Netflix, YouTube, other stuff. Cinema surround sound, good bass. My neighbours have already been complainin’.’ He grinned mischievously. ‘Got it for quite a bargain.’
Matt just smiled and nodded.
Harvey jabbed at the remote control and the screen burst into life, illuminating the room more effectively than the ceiling lights. It was on a music channel and the bass boomed, but Harvey still turned the volume up several decibels for the demonstration.
‘I’m gonna live, as hard as I’ll die, always gotta try, reach for the sky. Boom!’
Matt tried to hide his embarrassment as Harvey acted out the chorus. ‘Nice one.’
Harvey switched the TV off, plunging the room back into relative gloom. ‘I’m gonna have some fun times with that baby. Hey, sorry, man, take a seat.’ He gestured towards the black leather armchair. ‘It does massage. You press one of those buttons on the controller by the side there and it vibrates.’
Matt took a seat. ‘I’ll probably give that—’
But Harvey had already reached out and turned the chair on. Ripples of movement rolled up from Matt’s lower back into his shoulders, before beginning again, like breaking waves. It was pretty forceful, and not particularly relaxing – the armchair equivalent of an overenthusiastic, slightly sadistic masseur.
‘Not bad, is it, bruv?’ Harvey said, searching for a reaction. ‘You’ll feel that in the mornin’.’ He turned it off, moving over to the window. ‘These blinds, and the curtains, they’re automatic. You control them from your phone.’ He slid out his iPhone and tapped at the screen. The blinds swivelled left to close, and then the curtains swooshed across to meet in the middle. ‘Cool, eh? I saw them on TV, one of them shoppin’ channels. They do stick sometimes,’ he said, watching as the curtains struggled to return back to the original open position. He tapped away more vigorously at the phone’s screen. Finally, they moved again, and Harvey turned back around to Matt for the final verdict.
Matt gave him what he thought Harvey wanted. ‘You’ve got some great stuff.’
Harvey beamed. ‘Thanks, man. I do my best to buy the best.’
It sounded like a slogan. Matt could see the pride on his face, like a little boy wanting validation from his dad about a painting he had produced or a goal he had scored. This demonstration, it wasn’t about showing off, Matt could see that. Harvey was looking for something deeper – he wanted recognition and positive feedback from someone whose opinion he valued.
‘It’s a lovely place,’ Matt said, as Harvey continued to watch him. ‘You’ve done a great job on it.’