Page 241 of The Sun Sister
‘A couple of things,’ I said as I took a Coke out of the fridge. ‘Do you think you could look into cotton sourced from Africa? Preferably from Kenya?’
‘Of course I could,’ Mariam said. ‘May I ask why?’
‘Because I’m thinking of designing a collection. I want all the profits to go to the drop-in centre that Miles is trying to keep open.’
Mariam’s reaction, like Lizzie’s, was very positive and we spent an interesting half an hour researching possible sources.
‘It would be amazing if you could actually go over there and meet the women who are making these fabrics,’ commented Mariam.
‘Maybe one day I will. My ancestors came from Kenya.’
‘Did they? Is that what your grandmother told you?’
‘Yes, and I’ll hear more about everything this afternoon. Can you book me a car to take me over to Brooklyn for three?’
‘Of course I can.’
‘Great, I’m going to head out for a run now.’
Yet again, Tommy wasn’t at his post as I jogged across the street. It was weird that someone could play a part in your daily life, yet you had no idea where they lived or how to get in contact with them if they suddenly disappeared.
Lost in my own thoughts, I didn’t see the two men until they were on me, one holding me in a headlock from behind, as the other tore my Rolex from my wrist, and ripped the tiny diamond and its chain from my throat.
Before I could even shout out or begin to struggle, they were gone, leaving me numb with shock. I bent over, feeling the world spin for a moment. Then I heard a voice beside me.
‘You okay, ma’am? So sorry I couldn’t help, but they had a knife.’
I looked up to see an old grey-haired man, who was bent almost as double as I was, but from natural causes.
‘There’s a bench over there, let me help you to it,’ he offered.
I felt his arm go around my lower back; it was remarkably firm and comforting as he guided me to the bench.
‘There we go, you rest for a while,’ he said as he helped me to sit down.
‘S-sorry, it’s the shock. I’ll be okay in a minute,’ I panted.
‘Here, have some water. It’s a fresh bottle – I haven’t opened it yet.’
‘Thanks.’
‘You shouldn’t be running alone in the park. These guys are professionals – they’ll have seen you and your jewellery before and planned exactly where to wait for you.’
‘Yeah, it’s my own stupid fault,’ I agreed. ‘I normally take my watch off, but—’
‘That’s why I bring Poppet with me; she might look small, but she’s gotta real fetish for ankles,’ the old man chuckled.
I looked down and saw a tiny terrier, complete with a bow on top of its head, sitting by its master’s feet and gazing up at me. The sight made me smile.
‘You live round here, don’t you?’ the man continued.
‘Yeah, right across the street on Central Park West.’ I waved an arm in the direction of my apartment.
‘Then we’re neighbours,’ he said. ‘I live right there on Fifth.’ He pointed to an apartment building. ‘Have done for eighty odd years – I was born there.’
‘My grandmother lived on Fifth for a while, in the pretty house with the curved front.’
‘No! You don’t mean number 925? The house owned by the Huntley-Morgans way back when?’
