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Nymphomation(54)

By:Jeff Noon


Daisy pointed to the house at No. 27. Jazir saw the ‘PLAY TO WIN’ message and nodded.

Door open. Deserted. Recent occupation: half cups of tea, tomato sauce on plates, a camping stove. A note, handwritten, a child’s hand. ‘EDDIE, GONE TO FIND YOU. CELIA.’

‘OK, reconstruction mode,’ said Jazir. ‘You start.’

‘Let’s see…’ said Daisy. ‘They were here last night, and found out they’d won.’

‘How?’

Daisy looked around, saw the radio and turned it on. Tommy Tumbler’s voice asking if they’d bought this week’s chances yet. Turned off.

‘Eddie sets out to collect the winnings,’ she continued.

‘Straight away?’

‘No. He’d wait. He’d let the first rush collect. I’d say he left after midnight.’

‘Not this morning?’

‘I think he’d prefer the dark.’

‘He leaves Celia here, alone?’

‘He has to decide: take her with him, and risk her being stolen – this is property he’s thinking of, right? His best ever chance – or let her stay here, a safe haven.’

‘Only for so long.’

‘That’s fine. He’s coming straight back.’

‘But he doesn’t.’

‘No. Either he’s cheating on her, or—’

‘He’s been kidnapped.’

‘Or killed.’

‘This is great, isn’t it?’ asked Jazir, suddenly.

‘Yes.’

‘Talking like this. Makes me want to—’

‘Let’s get on.’

‘Right. OK, Eddie doesn’t turn up. What would Celia do then?’

Daisy thought for a moment. ‘If I was her, I’d wait till morning, definitely. Then I’d go check if Eddie picked up the money.’

‘Of course he’d pick it up. And as soon as he does, the bones are on to him. He’s no fixed abode. This is the only way they can find him. And isn’t he gonna throw them off the scent. Completely normal, nothing like the first two. They’ll be thinking he’s working with someone else. He’s a front man. You know what that means? Celia’s in trouble.’

‘But they don’t know who Celia is.’

‘Maybe they tortured Eddie.’

‘This is getting stupid. What are we talking about? Murder? Torture?’

‘Humour me. What would you do then?’

Daisy started pacing the room. ‘I’d look around the centre for a bit. All the old haunts. Ask around the other beggars. Stuff like that.’

‘OK. So we go back to town?’

‘You can, Jaz. I’m staying here.’

‘You’re staying here?’

‘She’s going to come back. She’s not going to find him. She’ll come back here. It’s safe. And there’s the chance he might have just been delayed. She can’t take the chance of him turning up. That’s why she left the note.’

I’ll stay with you.’

‘No need.’

‘You’ll be alone.’

‘It’s safe. Who knows where we are? Anyway, I’m used to it. And you’ll be working tonight, won’t you?’

‘Waiting on? That’s not work.’

Tell your father that. You were late last night.’

‘This is my work. I’ll ring him. Tell him I’m studying.’

‘Like you were last night? No. It’s a Saturday night. It’s curry night. Anyway, finding Celia is my job. Yours is breaking open a bone.’

‘It’s nice to work together.’ He came a little closer. ‘Maybe I should stay a little while, just to…’ He put his arms around her. ‘Just to… see if…’

‘Go!’





Play to win


A hearty five-course meal did wonders for the suit’s stomach, if nothing for his afternoon duties. He slept for an hour or so in his private office. Maybe that second bottle of wine was a mistake. Still, it was all on expenses. Waste not, want not. Ah, what the fuck! The whole day had been a waste of time from beginning to end.

It was those kids that spoiled it for me. Threw me off course, didn’t they? I’ve a good mind to…

In fact, I will.

The suit then called a good friend (and guzzling partner) of his, an Inspector Crawl of the Manchester Police Department.

Tramps were scum, and all this official hole business was just a clean-up operation: keep them off the street, keep them in a hole, under control. That was the party line and the suit didn’t expect much interest from Crawl, but as soon as their names were mentioned the inspector went into launch sequence.

‘What were those names again?’ he demanded.