The Man Who Knew Too Much   Foiled!

Phil’s office was above a building society, which was very busy. Whilst he waited Ben began once again to daydream. ‘I’ll sell the house. That’ll give me enough money to buy the cottage in France. It will need a bit of renovation, which I’ll do when the ‘muse’ deserts me. There’ll be a stream at the bottom of the garden. Maybe not, too dangerous with a toddler about. Lisa will take up painting and become a successful local artist. She will meet a very handsome French….’

His dreams were cut short when he heard a cough, and a voice saying, ‘Can I help you sir?’ There was a large policeman at his side looking expectantly at him. ‘Oh, officer, I’m waiting for a friend. I’m just sheltering from the rain.’

‘You’ve been waiting rather a long time sir. Do you have any means of identification?’ Ben riffled through his pockets in search of his driving license, eventually finding it and managing to drop the moustache onto the floor in the process.

‘Hmm,’ the policeman coughed, sarcastically. ‘Excuse me sir but is that your caterpillar on the floor? I think it fell out of your pocket.’ He looked meaningfully at the false moustache that lay between them.

‘I do amateur dramatics. I’ve got the lead in ‘An Inspector Calls, it’s part of my costume.’

The policeman raised an eyebrow, ‘That’s all well and good Mr…er Fairweather,’ he said as he looked at Ben’s driving license, ‘I suggest you move on. It doesn’t look as if your friend is coming. We have had a concerned call from the building society about a strange character loitering. If you don’t move on I will have to arrest you for causing a public nuisance.’

‘Sorry officer. My friend is very late.’

As he ‘moved on’ he saw Phil leaving the office and with him was the young man who had been at the club the other night. ‘Min why did you have to break down today of all days?’ he said to himself.