A Jess Bridges Mystery

‘Infantile. I should be able to decide what’s safe.’

‘One-way streets?’

‘If it’s clear, go for it.’

‘Theft?’

‘If you try and take anything of mine, I’ll thump you.’

‘But if I’m bigger and stronger and have the bigger thump?’

He shrugged. ‘Then I suppose it’s my tough luck. It’s unrealistic to expect life to be fair for everyone.’

‘OK. I’ll send my biggest mates round to your depot and drive off with all your white vans.’

‘I’d like to see you try.’ He actually thought I was challenging him.

I burst into laughter. ‘That’s ridiculous, Phil, but I guess you know that in your heart of hearts. Even you don’t live in such a caveman society. I bet there are a million rules you obey each day without being aware of it.’

‘Not if I can help it.’

‘Then you’re obeying your new rule of breaking rules. QED.’ I grinned at him and marked a point to me in the air.

He shook his head, not wanting to concede that I’d argued him to a standstill. ‘You’re crazy.’

‘But in your system, that’s good, right? No more rebellious person than the mad one.’

He edged away from me, annoyed and maybe a little scared that I’d called him on his bullshit. ‘Hey, Leo, did you know that your girlfriend is insane?’

Leo glanced round and smiled at me. ‘Oh, yes, completely aware of that.’

‘It’s the attraction between us.’ I offered Phil a mint from my pocket as a peace offering, which he declined. ‘Tell me about your executive homes. What is it that makes them so executive?’

Phil recovered a little talking about himself. We arrived at the spot where the motorhome was parked off the road, right by the ancient monument. The Rollright Stones stood in a huddled circle, about the circumference of a medium-sized roundabout, but obviously far older and nothing to do with ancient traffic regulation. In the daylight, their mystery was diminished. From what I read about them on the web, they could have served many purposes in the Iron Age, from ceremonial space to market place. Maybe all of the above. But we weren’t stopping to visit them just yet. Freddie went up to the door of the van and knocked.

‘Rainbow, Lloyd! Make yourselves decent. You’ve got company!’ he called.