The Magpies A Psychological Thriller - By Mark Edwards Page 0,17

It’s good though – we all have something in common. Just promise me you won’t turn the conversation around to computers. I don’t want to hear about e-commerce and gigabytes and HTMS.’

‘It’s HTML.’

‘I said I don’t want to hear about it.’

As Kirsty picked up the bowls, Jamie grabbed her round the waist and kissed her. ‘You know what HTML really stands for? How to meet ladies.’

She batted him away. ‘Do you think Paul fancies Heather? I’ve seen him looking at her all evening.’

‘In that dress, anyone would look at her. Except me, of course. As I only have eyes for you, my darling.’

She ignored him. ‘He blushed when she pinched his cheek.’

‘But then he blew it with his dead children comment.’

‘Oh, she’ll have forgotten about that by now. I reckon something might happen between them.’ Kirsty loved matchmaking. She was always trying to get mutual friends to get off with each other. She had this image of herself as some kind of urban Cupid, firing arrows of love into the hearts of her friends.

‘Promise me you won’t interfere,’ Jamie said.

‘As if I would.’

They carried the dessert into the living room. Paul, Heather, Lucy and Chris had resumed their conversation. They were talking about their favourite pastimes.

‘Chris is into go-karting,’ Lucy said.

‘Really?’ said Paul. ‘I’ve always thought that looked like great fun. Where do you go?’

‘This place in Kent. They’ve got fantastic karts there, and a really good track. You should come along. And you, Jamie.’

‘Is it just for boys, then?’ said Heather.

‘Oh no. Anyone can do it.’

‘What, even women?’ said Kirsty.

Chris looked at her blankly. ‘You should all come.’

Jamie nodded. ‘Yes, we’ll have to sort something out.’

‘Definitely,’ enthused Paul.

Lucy seemed to have sobered up a bit. As Kirsty set down the large bowl of strawberries, Lucy said, ‘Oh goodness – my favourite. How did you know?’

Kirsty had opted for a very simple dessert of fresh strawberries and cream. She had instructed Jamie to go through all the punnets in the greengrocers to ensure he got the plumpest, reddest fruits.

‘God, I’m stuffed,’ said Paul after they’d all finished and sat back.

‘That was gorgeous,’ said Heather.

Paul produced a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. ‘Anyone mind if I smoke?’

‘Go ahead,’ said Kirsty.

Lucy coughed and looked at Chris.

‘Lucy’s asthmatic,’ Chris said.

‘Why don’t you go out onto the balcony?’ Kirsty said to Paul.

‘I’ll come with you,’ said Heather. ‘I could do with some fresh air.’

Jamie and Kirsty were left alone with their downstairs neighbours. There was an awkward silence between them for a few moments. Jamie thought he might have to start talking about computers. Then Lucy said, ‘I’m sorry if I was a bit weird earlier, with what I said about Mary. I don’t normally go around accusing people of being witches. And I don’t want you to think we have problems with our neighbours. We get on very well with Brian and Linda upstairs.’

‘Although we were glad to see the back of the couple who lived here before you,’ said Chris.

‘Oh God, yes,’ said Lucy. ‘They were awful.’

‘In what way?’ asked Kirsty.

‘Don’t get me started. They were noisy – unbelievably noisy. Sometimes it sounded like they were playing drums in here. And they had visitors at all hours. And they smoked out of the window and threw the butts into our garden. We’re sure they dealing drugs, too. There was definitely something dodgy going on.’

‘They made our lives a misery from the moment we moved in.’

‘You poor things,’ said Kirsty.

Lucy touched Kirsty’s arm. ‘Oh, we’re fine now. And anyway, we can look after ourselves.’

Kirsty wasn’t sure what she meant by that, but before she could say anything, Jamie said, ‘We never met the previous owners. The sale was done through their solicitor and Andersons, the estate agent.’

‘Well, you’re lucky.’ Lucy touched her ears. ‘They were so noisy.’

Kirsty and Jamie looked at each other. ‘So you don’t think we’re too noisy?’ said Kirsty.

‘Oh no. I’d soon tell you if you were.’

Paul and Heather came back into the room, smelling of smoke. Jamie looked at them both and wondered if they’d been up to anything out there. He decided that Paul would have been smiling more broadly if they had. He got up and made coffee.

All in all, he was pleased with the way the evening had gone. He couldn’t imagine that they would ever be best friends with the Newtons, but they seemed like a nice enough couple, and they did share common interests. Plus it was in everyone’s best interests to maintain