Page 30 of Short Stack 3

“The least said about that weekend, the better.”

“True. So why did Seb buy the van?”

“He said it was so he could get some quiet and write his book.”

“Is he actually writing one?”

“Well, I’m sure he will at some point.”

I snort. “So, why the van?”

“He and Jimmy aren’t getting on. Seb says this is his getaway car.”

“Aren’t escape cars usually sleek and fast?”

“Well, we are talking about Seb. He once did thirty miles an hour while we were trying to escape a war zone. Miss Daisy would have got cross.”

“I’m sorry he and Jimmy aren’t getting on.” I like Seb’s quieter partner, who has a wicked sense of humour and shares a love of sharp suits with me.

He shrugs. “It’s the way of the world.”

“Not our world.”

He looks at me, suddenly serious. “No,never,” he says fervently.

I smile at him. “So, what are we doing this weekend?”

“Didn’t we already discuss that?”

“Yes, but my brain froze on the word ‘camping’ and never rebooted.”

“I knew it.” He takes a sip from his Starbucks coffee cup and makes a face of pleasure that I usually only see whenwe’re between the sheets. “We’re going to the Chatsworth International Horse Trials.”

I blink. “Why? We don’t own a horse, do we?”

“That might drive Mr Singleton into madness.”

“He’s only a few steps away from that on a good day.”

“We’re going because Ralph is riding there.”

Ralph is one of Ivo’s friends. I’m not entirely sure how they got to know each other, but he’s a very famous equestrian who won gold at last summer’s Olympics.

“Are we going to cheer him on?”

“Not like he needs it. He’ll have the Roupies for that.”

“What?”

“Ralph’s groupies.”

“Horse riders have those?”

“Oh god, yes. He’s like Elvis on a horse.”

“Good grief. You have expanded my world, Ivo.”

“I haverockedyour world.”

---