James
“No, it’s not a joke. She’ll come back. Whatever she was asking for, get it and make it ready for use. I want you to put a SIM card in there, on an unlimited usage contract. You can charge it to this card. And get the battery charged up fully. I want the phone to be ready for her when she comes back. And she will come back. ….”
“We don’t stock batteries ready-charged, sir….”
My patience is fraying. “I don’t care. Use the battery from your own phone if necessary. Charge me for it. But have that mobile ready for her to use, as soon as she has it. Did she ask for anything else? Apart from the phone….?”
As I tap off, Michael, breathing heavily, stands arms folded, waiting.
Fighting the drumming in my chest, I gather my words. “That was Domestic Electrics in Barnbridge,” I say. “Charlotte’s in there trying to buy a smartphone, and an expensive data package with it. Also, LED flashlights and batteries. The assistant said she kept looking over her shoulder and then disappeared.”