Pretending to love the football king

ms

N

msi

y hands. "You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend. To smile for c

aid, quiet and irritat

u accused me o

ed. "I never

th your face. F

ter, and then she had disappeared into the kitchen to bang trays around loudly enough to prove she was not listening. The room smelled of yeast and warm sugar. It

e had brought coffee, two cups, and he had put mine down w

hat he re

ime he looked less like a star and more like a tired twenty-six-year-old wh

re ly

m n

you leave so

only for a second, b

know what

ts. But he rang me at 11:42, crying, two hours after he supposedly left you happy." I hel

ow and the grey drizzle on the glass, and the silen

ly. "A few public appearances

et your family? They wo

ks the right questions. Do you know who Silas was in contact with before he died? I don't. Do you know who he spoke to

you w

could never reach alone. Dom

, one of the last people to see him alive. I had rung him

know I want

was in a photo on the news." A ghost of a smile touched his mou

my hand under the tabl

asking as your friend. I'm offering a deal. You help me s

ee to appear affectionate in public. I almost laughed. There was nothing tidy about what we sha

en it's

to ignoring

id no. Any sensible woman would have grab

in my head. Remember that I

Silas's recording on my phone eleven times. Each time, I listened for what he had not said. Each time, the same thing: he s

" I said. "Not

face so fast I almo

questions. Honest

told me how many secrets he wa

in

t prop

ons honestly." The words s

ed to the floor and Mrs Hartley

ed small and ordinary on the line, as

his pocket. "Our first appearance is tomorr

mor

ve forgiven me." He paused with one

ha

er happens tomorrow night, whatever you see

's going t

d. He glanced at the screen, and I watc

af

the phone toward me with a h

A doorstep lit by a single yellow lamp. A man with h

d bought it for Silas's

Raff. Four years younger,

aph, from an unknown nu

the thirty seco