Page 64 of Strangers in Time

“I don’t know. It’s just very puzzling. I mean, why would thebank managerhave met with you over a single account?”

“Thatdidseem quite odd to me.” She suddenly looked even more worried.

“What?” asked Molly quickly.

“Well, I’m sure it’s nothing, but… but a few weeks ago I sent a letter to a friend of mine, she lives up in Norfolk. Hadn’t written a letter for the longest time. Had to go to the post office for a stamp.”

“What of it?” said Molly impatiently.

“Well, my friend wrote me back. And she said that it looked like my letter to her had been steamed open and then resealed.”

“Opened and then resealed?”

“Yes. It was quite odd.”

“Mrs. Pride?”

“Yes?”

“Was my father also going mad? Leaving without explanation to you or a letter or a call to me? And it might be connected somehow to the men watching us, the odd behavior by the bank, and perhaps the reading of your letter. In his despair he… he might have done something…careless.”

Mrs. Pride drew herself up and said firmly, “Your father was,is, the sanest man I have ever met. If he was going mad, then the whole world has, too.”

Molly pocketed sufficient money, tidied herself up to go out, and rejoined Charlie, who was just finishing up his meal.

“How was the food?” she asked.

“I… I never tasted nothin’ so good. And there’s so much of it.”

This praise almost made Molly weep.But then I may not be far behind.“Oh, Charlie, I didn’t see your gas mask in the bags.”

He looked up at her ruefully. “Me and Gran, we sold our masks a few days ago.”

“Sold them?” she said, looking startled.

“There was bills comin’ due and a bloke give us money for ’em.”

“I see. All right. Well, my father, I mean, we have a spare here for you.”

“Thanks.” He finished his porridge and put on his cap.

“Charlie, where are you going? Your clothes are still wet!”

“It’s all right, Miss. The book is more ’portant. It’s five quid.”

TOOLATE

MOLLY INSISTED THAT THEYtake a taxi to 13 Dapleton Terrace. When they arrived, Charlie ran up the steps, tugged open the front door, and they clattered up the stairs to Charlie’s floor.

They hadn’t yet reached the door to his flat when Charlie cried out, “I closed the door when I left. I swear I did. And now it’s open.”

“Well, maybe someone came in after just to check on things.”

“Maybe,” said a wary Charlie.

Once inside Charlie immediately ran to his cupboard and Molly hurried after him.

“You… you slept in here?” she asked, looking down at the bedding in the box. She could have reached out and touched both sides of the space at the same time.

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