Touched (5 page)

He walked into the lounge. A large, airy room with French windows and a balcony looking out over the water and the Lowry. A good view; there would be a premium for that.

The kitchen was off the lounge. Small but well laid out and fitted with some expensive built-in appliances. This was certainly not the typical buy-to-let investment that Dan had expected. There was taste and money at work here; the only thing that grated slightly was the new carpet. It was OK but it wasn’t top quality. Dan found that surprising. He wasn't a great one for details but even he noticed that it spoiled the overall effect. It looked out of place.

He wondered who had owned it. This was the probate valuation; someone had died without making a will. He had expected it to be owned by someone older, someone who had this as an investment, part of their pension but what he saw was telling him something different. Someone younger then, someone who had died unexpectedly perhaps in an accident or of some disease? He looked at the name on the form; The estate of the late
J.Johnson. The name didn’t ring a bell with Dan, no reminder of reading about some car or bike accident.

Ah well, he thought, what did it matter? He was just here to do a job.

‘I love this flat, especially this view.’

The voice made him jump and drop his pen.

There was a young woman staring out of the lounge windows.

Chapter Four

Thursday mid-morning

She turned to face Dan.

‘It is a nice flat isn’t it?’ she said, her voice low.

‘Jesus, you made me jump,’ he said.

He was surprised to see her react. For a moment he thought that she looked surprised, taken aback that he had spoken to her. She was small and slight, with long dark hair, which was slightly wavy, and very pale skin. Her nose was thin, perhaps a little too long for perfection and her mouth was small and delicate with thin lips. She seemed to be wearing no make-up. She was dressed in jeans and a plain white t-shirt and wore Van’s
plimsolls on her feet.

Dan took all this in in the time it took her to say ‘Sorry.’

‘That’s…OK,’ he said, bending down to pick up his pen. ‘I just didn’t expect you that’s all. What are you doing in here? How did you get in?’

‘Oh…
erm.’ She looked confused again, as if she was trying to remember. ‘Well, the usual way,’ she said, looking at the door into the hall, ‘and…yes…yes…I used to live here. I think. A long time back.’

Dan
recognised the accent. It was Mancunian, definitely, but the educated version, professional.

She was looking at his clipboard, a slight frown of puzzlement on her forehead. ‘What are you doing?’ she said.

‘I’m a valuer,’ he said, ‘I’m doing a valuation…of the flat.’

No shit, Sherlock, he told himself. He must be coming over as a stuttering idiot.

‘Ah,’ she said, nodding sagely, ‘Valuers should stick to what they know.’

Dan grinned sheepishly, ‘That was statin’ the
bleedin’ obvious wasn’t it? I’m Dan, by the way, Dan Jackson.’

He extended his hand towards her.

There was an awkward moment. She just looked at his hand but made no move to extend her own, in fact she took a step away from him. Quickly he dropped his arm and tried to cover the moment by making a show of writing some notes on his clipboard.

‘Tess,’ she said suddenly.

‘What?’

‘Tess Williams. That’s who I am.’

‘Nice to meet you, Tess.’

They stood awkwardly again for a few moments, neither moving, neither saying anything.

‘I’d better get on,’ Dan said at last, holding up his clipboard.

‘Oh yes. Of course. Please do,’ she said. ‘Is it alright if I stay and talk? It’s been a long time.’

A long time? What did she mean by that? Dan was very puzzled about what she had just said. A long time since what?

‘Yes, sure,’ he said, ‘Not that it’s very exciting what I do. Well not this bit anyway.’

‘OK.’ She said. ’You will let me know, won't you?'

'Let you know what?' He was momentarily lost.

'If you do come to an exciting bit?’

Dan gave a little laugh.

‘Promise,’ he said.

Dan walked around, making notes, taking the odd measurement. He was very conscious of her gaze on him. It made him feel rather uncomfortable. He felt like he was performing. It was with some relief that he went out into the hall and from there into the bedroom. Like the rest of the flat it was unfurnished. He did not get much respite however for she followed him and stood by the door. To break the tension Dan tried to think of something to ask her.

‘What do you do, Tess?’ he said.

There was a long pause.

‘I’m a solicitor. Yes. Yes I am, a solicitor.’

He paused in his note taking. Tess was frowning again and looked like she had said something that she did not quite believe.

‘I’ve been ill,’ she said more firmly, ‘Yes, that must be it, I’ve been ill.’

‘Oh OK,’ said Dan, thinking what an odd way this was to put it. ‘Are you better now then?’

She didn’t answer. She was leant against the doorway, staring at the floor.

‘Tess?’ he prompted.

She jumped as if she was someone woken from a deep sleep by a loud noise, but then she saw Dan and visibly relaxed. ‘Yes. Well I think so. I feel OK now, so I guess so.’

Dan had finished in the bedroom and headed towards the door. Tess instantly moved away from it and walked into the lounge. Was she frightened of him? Dan wasn’t sure. If she was why did she stay? He couldn’t work her out. Mentally he shrugged and carried on making notes, quickly finishing off the hall and the bathroom. He shot a few pictures of them for the file than headed back into the kitchen and lounge to do the same. Tess was stood in the lounge, staring at the floor. She looked up when he came in.

‘What’s it worth then?’ she asked as he took his shots, the last one being of the view from the balcony.

‘About 10% less than it was last summer,’ he said.

Then on a whim, and trying not to be obvious, he pressed the shutter of the camera again, knowing that Tess would be in shot. He wondered whether she would notice.

But after he'd done it he thought of what had happened with
with Hannah this morning. What was happening to him? First making smutty comments and now sneaking photos of girls. What would it be next? Peeking through curtains? Sneaking around with his telephoto lens looking for courting couples seeking the dangerous solitude of the lovers lane? Or seeking out women with plunging necklines? 

‘I won’t really be able to give any figures until I look at all the evidence though of course.’

That's it, he told himself, cover your guilt, make it look normal.

‘Of course,’ she said. She was now looking quite glum. ‘So I guess you are going now? I guess I have to go?' she said.

‘Yes, I’m afraid so, I have to lock up,’ said Dan. He found himself not wanting to go though, wanting to prolong the moment. ‘Did you have good times here?’ he added.

Tess seemed to think this over carefully.

‘Yes. Well, so, so, maybe. Some good memories, some bad, you know.’

Dan watched as she walked over to the
centre of the lounge again. She seemed fascinated by one particular point on the carpet.

She’s touched, thought Dan. There’s something not right about her. Perhaps she’d had a breakdown, cracked under the stress of trying to hack it in the legal world. It wasn't unusual, well in London at least. But there was something about her, something different, a stillness. He found it quite fascinating but also there was something he found the
in situation that was somewhat funny.

Touched. A nutcase. Just what he needed. They’d make a great couple. His ideal girl.

Once he got this thought in his head the urge to laugh was overwhelming. Suddenly it was so hilariously, unbearably funny that, as much as he tried to stop himself, he couldn’t help but let it out.

Tess looked at him, puzzled but, Dan noticed to his relief, not apparently scared. That in itself was amazing; if he had been in her shoes, alone in a room with someone who had just started laughing for no reason, he would have made his excuses and left.

‘What’s so funny?’ she said.

Dan tried to pull himself together. ‘Nothing, I’m sorry, it was nothing. I was laughing at me…honestly you don’t want to know.’ He looked at his watch, ‘We really should go now,’ he said.

‘Yes,’ she said, but showed no sign of heading to the door.

Definitely crazy, he thought.

Perfect.

‘Would you like to come for a drink?’ he suddenly found himself blurting out. The idea and the words had come almost at the same time, they came out as involuntarily as a sneeze. He couldn’t quite believe he had said it. He wasn’t surprised that she looked so startled.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said quickly, ‘It was a silly idea, I don’t usually…I…’

‘I’d love to,’ she said very quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

‘You would? I mean…great! You really want to?’

‘I’d love to,’ she said again, more firmly this time.

‘Really?’

‘Yes!’ Tess was smiling now too.

‘Great, well, shall we go then?’

Still in a slight daze he led the way to the front door, opened it and waited for Tess to go through.

‘No, you first,’ she said, the uncertainty in her voice back.

‘Oh. OK.’ Dan stepped through and waited. For a moment he thought she wasn’t going to come but then she took a deep breath and stepped straight out.

‘There,’ she said, ‘That was easy.’ She let out the breath she was holding in a relieved sigh. Dan’s unease obviously showed in his face because she added quickly, ‘Joke. Now where are we going?’

Hell, he hadn't thought that far, where could they go? This wasn't a place he knew that well.

‘Er…The Green Bar at the Lowry? It’s a bit of a walk but I can’t really think of anywhere else.’

‘The Green Bar’s fine. Lead on.’

In the lift neither said a word, standing quietly and, to Dan, a little awkwardly and not too close to each other. When the doors opened on the ground floor, Dan waited for Tess to get out first but once again she hesitated. For some reason, Dan didn’t think this was her normal demeanour, that she was usually decisive, even though he didn’t know why he thought this. Anyway, after a moment she almost shyly stepped out into the lobby, reminding Dan of a young foal entering into the light for the first time after being born in the darkness of a stable.

They were almost at the door when Dan remembered something. The list of sales that the commissionaire had promised him! That was going to save him so much time, he didn't want to miss out on getting them. 

‘Ah, sorry, Tess, I just need to pick something up from the guy on the desk. Won’t be a moment.’

The commissionaire was busy with a couple, chatting over holiday plans and was writing something in a hard-backed notebook. Dan guessed that it was something to do with holding their post until they got back. He hovered a polite distance away, in eyesight but out of effective earshot and waited his turn

Presently, the couple moved off towards the lift and the commissionaire turned to Dan.

‘Ah,
Mr Jackson, all done? I’ve got that list for you.’

He reached down behind his counter and pulled out a single piece of paper.

‘These are the apartments that have changed hands over the last six months…and I’ve also put on those that are on the market at the moment. That do you?’

‘That’s great,’ said Dan, ‘Thanks
Mr Holt.’ He had now noticed that the man had his name and the logo of the building on his name badge; T.Holt, Commissionaire.

‘Just call me Tommy, lad. Nice flats aren’t they? Cost a pretty penny though.’

‘They are and they do. Wish I could afford one.’

‘Can’t afford them? Thought you’d be
rollin’ in it.’

Dan gave a snort of laughter.

‘I’m rolling in something, Tommy but it’s not money I’m afraid. Thanks again for this,’ he said, carefully clipping the sheet in behind his survey notes. ‘I guess I might see you again, market willing. Bye Tommy.’

He offered his hand, and Tommy shook it.

‘Bye, Mr Jackson.’

‘Dan.’

‘OK Dan, have a good one.’

Dan turned away then stopped.

The lobby was empty. There was no sign of Tess.

Puzzled, he stepped outside and looked up and down the street. Other than a middle-aged woman getting out of a car there was no one else in sight. Perhaps she had gone round to wait in the car park? He went through the lobby and into the car park but there was no sign of her there either. He even checked to see if she was sat in one of the other cars but they were all empty. He had a moment of hope when the door to the building opened but it was a long haired young man with a sports bag who gave Dan a wary look before getting into his car.