A Long Way Back (Unfinished Business #2) - Barbara Elsborg Page 0,53
he’d remember.
Ink crouched down and pushed his coins into what looked like a sock.
“Don’t stop. You’re good.”
“Quit while you’re ahead.” Ink slung his backpack onto his shoulder. “I need to buy a few things from the chemist. Hold my guitar?”
Tay took it. He’d never seen a cigar box guitar before. He wondered if Ink had made it himself. It looked home-made. He twanged it a few times as an experiment and a woman stopped and dropped a fifty pence piece onto the bag Ink had left lying on the pavement. Tay didn’t know whether to laugh or to yell at her not to be so fucking patronising. But he didn’t try to play again. Well, not until Ink emerged from the chemist, then Tay strummed a few discordant chords.
Ink grabbed the guitar back and stroked it. “What’s that torturer doing to you, baby?”
Tay laughed. “Play something else. Please.”
Ink sighed. “Okay.”
He launched into If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out and Tay was mesmerised. He couldn’t take his eyes off him, couldn’t stop smiling. Ink followed that with Miles From Nowhere, also by Cat Stevens, and Tay clapped when he’d done. As did a few people who’d stopped to listen. Some had taken photographs and more money had been tossed onto the guitar bag.
“You have a fantastic voice,” Tay said. “You’ve just earned ten quid in the last few minutes. That’s more than I earn.”
Ink gave a short laugh. “You’re not going to want to hear this, but I think it’s because you’re with me and have Dog sitting on your lap. You look cute.”
Tay told himself not to bristle. “Would it help if I drooled?”
Ink turned on his bright smile. “Could you? Yeah, that would be brilliant. Tip your head as well so you dribble out of one side of your mouth, then I can pause to wipe it up. Touching moments are good for business.”
Tay laughed. “It’s a good thing I know you’re joking. One last song, then I’ll take you for lunch.”
Ink started to play and Tay immediately recognised the music. Take Me To Church by Hozier. More people had stopped to listen. Mostly young ones, but there was a guy in his thirties, wearing a black T-shirt and black jeans, who was holding his camera as if he were videoing. Ink didn’t notice because he was too busy staring at Tay.
When the song was done, Ink bent to scoop up the coins. As he zipped his guitar away, the guy who’d been staring came forward.
“Can I have a word this time?” he said to Ink.
Ink froze for a moment, then grabbed his backpack and guitar, and ran. It took Tay a moment to register what had happened, though he wasn’t sure what had happened. This guy had scared Ink so badly that he’d bolted? Tay turned to look at him but the guy looked as puzzled as Tay felt. He’d said this time so had they met before?
“I don’t normally have that effect on people.” The guy gave a short laugh. “Is he a friend of yours?”
Tay was unsure what to say, whether he should admit he knew Ink. The guy didn’t seem perturbed by the lack of response. He handed Tay a card.
“I’m Bryson Booth. I’m in A&R.”
Tay stared at him blankly.
“Artists and repertoire,” the guy said slowly. “I look for new talent. Is he on YouTube? Spotify? Instagram? What’s his name? Does he write his own songs? I didn’t recognise one of those. Does he play in pubs? Clubs? Where can I get hold of him? Ah shit. Do. You. Understand. What. I’m. Saying?” The last few words came out at sloth-speed.
Tay bristled. “Yes. I. Do.”
“Sorry. Have you got his number? Know where he lives?”
Tay gripped the card more tightly. “If I see him, I’ll ask him to call you.”
“That all I’m going to get?” The guy grinned.
“Yep.”
“Persuade him. Don’t know why he’s so shy. He’s good.”
When he walked away, Tay exhaled. He started to wheel himself and Dog back down the high street wondering if Ink was going to be there when he got back. This A&R guy didn’t seem to know him, so had Ink mistaken him for someone else?
By the time he’d reached his flat, he’d convinced himself Ink wouldn’t be there, but as he put Dog down at the foot of the steps and levered himself out of his chair, Ink opened the door. Dog scuttled inside and Ink folded the chair and brought it up after Tay.