Smoke

As a cloud of smoke blew back into her face Eve assessed the man standing in front of her. Even by her standards he was short and his puffed-out chest gave the impression that he was stocky too, though she wondered if it was mainly fat. He reminded her of one of these awful bouncers that manned the door at the seedy club in town.

A second wave of smoke hit her eyes, prompting her to cough. "Excuse me," she said, "but do you really have to do that here?"

"Do what, love?"

"Smoke. I mean, smoke and blow it in my face. it's not very nice, you see."

Free country love, innit? Means I can smoke where I like. So long as it's outdoors, like. And I reckon the middle of the pavement is outdoors. So what's your problem?" He puffed on his cigarette again, and blew perfectly round smoke rings in her direction.

"Well for a start you're standing outside my shop, which gives me the right to decide what goes on here. And for another thing, it's just not polite. Haven't you heard of passive smoking? You could be giving me cancer right this minute!"

The man sniffed, dropped his cigarette on the pavement and stubbed it out with his shoe. "Problem solved, love," he said. "Blimey, bet you're glad I didn't come into the shop with it! Now that would have caused strife!"

"Indeed it would," Eve replied. "Now are you going to move on, or do you have business here? I do have a shop to run, you know."

"I do, as it 'appens. And it involves you. A man sent me here to talk to you. About your father."

"My father? What on earth ....? What do you mean? Who are you? How do you know my father?"

"I don't know 'im as such. But I do know where he is. And you don't. So I reckon that gives me the upper hand here, lady," the man said.

'What do you mean? Again, I ask you, who are you? What are you talking about?"

"The name's Sam Black and I've been sent here by some geezer what knows your dad. Says your dad owes him money, he does. Told me to take your dad somewhere safe till the bill's been paid.Told me to look after him ... in my own special way."

Eve shuddered. She didn't understand what was going on but she knew one thing. This man, however short he was, scared her. But her father .... As far as she knew her father was in Scotland, playing golf with his old school chums. She took out her phone. "Well, Mr Black," she said, "I don't know what you're talking about but I'm pretty sure my father is safe and sound. And I'm going to find out, right this minute." She pressed the call button and listened to the ringing tone till the answerphone cut in. "Dad, it's me. Can you ring me please? Straight away?"

Sam started laughing. "See, you posh tarts, you think you know it all. Your father won't be returning that call, I can guarantee it." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black phone. "Because I have his phone here." He pressed a few buttons and Eve's voice, tinny and distant, came from the speaker.

"Oh my God! What ....? Where is he? What have you done with him? You bastard. If you've hurt him ..."

Sam cut Eve off. "He's fine ... for now. But you heard what I said. He owes someone money and he's refusing to pay. If I can't get the money soon I'll have to start hurting him a bit. And I'm not renowned for my gentle touch, let's just say. So maybe you should just run along, little girlie, and get some money out of the bank and bring it back to me now. And then the matter will all be over, my boss will be happy and I'll let your father go - with all his fingers intact."

Eve gasped. "You wouldn't!"

"Try me."

"So how much does he owe? My father's always been good with money. He's always earned a good salary, he's got savings too. I don't understand why he would be in debt to someone. Especially someone like you and," Eve spat out the words, "your boss."

"Well maybe there's a few things you don't know about darling daddy, little Evie. Maybe you don't realise that he's been gambling away your inheritance every night for the last three years. And his luck's just run out. Because he owes my boss a cool million quid. And if you don't get that money to me in the next 48 hours things are going to get a little sticky."