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in. Alan is a bit tall and bulky for a small back seat, but I pulled my feet out of the way, and we managed. ‘Where to, guv?’ asked the driver.
    â€˜I really don’t know. Where would you recommend we start a tour of Cheltenham?’
    The driver guffawed. ‘The racecourse. That’s where I’d be if it wasn’t for earnin’ me keep. D’you want shoppin’, or churches and that, or what?’
    I opted for ‘churches and that’, and our driver headed off at a brisk pace.
    Too brisk. I was watching the passing scene when I was thrown violently against Alan. Alan cried out, the brakes screeched, the car slewed sideways and stopped up against the kerb.
    â€˜Bloody hell!’ screamed the driver. ‘Did you see that? The bastard never looked. I could have killed him!’
    â€˜What happened?’ I asked, once my breathing was back in order.
    â€˜Idiot crossed the road right in front of me!’ The driver was still shaking with shock and fury. ‘Never even looked, just steps right out, a foot away from my tyres. And then walked off, cool as you please! He’s lucky he’s alive. And what about my tyre?’
    The car was certainly listing, now that I noticed. I supposed the accident had caused the tyre to blow out. The driver got out to look, swearing under his breath.
    We had nearly reached the centre of town. A small crowd had gathered to gawk, and a policeman approached. As the driver began to tell his story, with excited gestures, Alan turned to me. ‘All right, love?’
    â€˜I’m fine. I was just shaken up a little.’
    â€˜Then why don’t we walk from here? It’s not far, and this chap’s going to be tied up for a bit.’
    â€˜Fine with me.’
    We got out, with difficulty, and Alan caught the driver’s attention long enough to pay him.
    â€˜Here, mate! I never got you where you was goin’!’
    â€˜It’s all right. Not your fault.’
    â€˜Straight ahead, then, and the first big church is on your right, about half a mile.’
    Alan tucked my arm through his. I was actually a little unsteady, and glad of the support. ‘Did you see what happened?’ I asked. ‘I was looking at the houses and never saw a thing.’
    â€˜I saw,’ he said.
    â€˜What? You sound peculiar.’
    â€˜Do I? I was just contemplating our young friend’s capacity for trouble.’
    I stopped and looked at him.
    â€˜The pedestrian who behaved so thoughtlessly back there was Paul Jones.’

FIVE
    A lan, are you sure?’
    â€˜Quite sure. His face is distinctive, with that beard. And I recognized his walk.’
    â€˜He was on foot, then. Not with his motorbike, I mean.’
    â€˜On foot. I doubt he’d have had time to get the bike repaired. And Dorothy  . . .’ He paused.
    I waited, with the feeling I didn’t want to hear what he was about to say.
    â€˜He recognized me, too. I think that was why he ran.’
    â€˜To talk to us, before we got too far away?’
    â€˜No.’
    I looked up to see if a cloud had come over the sun. There was no cloud in the sky. Why did the day suddenly seem so dark?
    â€˜He really is on the run, then,’ I said drearily.
    â€˜It looks that way.’
    We walked on in silence.
    â€˜Why would he come here, though? And how did he get here? It’s too far to walk.’
    â€˜Not for a young man in good physical condition. Or he could have hitched a ride, though that would be risky. Someone might remember him, and tell the police. As for why he came to Cheltenham, perhaps because it’s the nearest mainline rail station. From here he could get to London easily enough, and London is the best place in the world to get lost.’
    â€˜Won’t the police be watching the stations?’
    â€˜If Paul really is suspected of involvement in the murder. If it really was a murder. But even given those conditions,