flat, especially this view.’
The voice made him jump and drop his pen.
There was a young woman staring out of the lounge windows.
Chapter Four
Thursday mid-morning
She turned to face Dan.
‘It is a nice flat isn’t it?’ she said, her voice low.
‘Jesus, you made me jump,’ he said.
He was surprised to see her react. For a moment he thought that she looked surprised, taken aback that he had spoken to her. She was small and slight, with long dark hair, which was slightly wavy, and very pale skin. Her nose was thin, perhaps a little too long for perfection and her mouth was small and delicate with thin lips. She seemed to be wearing no make-up. She was dressed in jeans and a plain white t-shirt and wore Van’s plimsolls on her feet.
Dan took all this in in the time it took her to say ‘Sorry.’
‘That’s…OK,’ he said, bending down to pick up his pen. ‘I just didn’t expect you that’s all. What are you doing in here? How did you get in?’
‘Oh…erm.’ She looked confused again, as if she was trying to remember. ‘Well, the usual way,’ she said, looking at the door into the hall, ‘and…yes…yes…I used to live here. I think. A long time back.’
Dan recognised the accent. It was Mancunian, definitely, but the educated version, professional.
She was looking at his clipboard, a slight frown of puzzlement on her forehead. ‘What are you doing?’ she said.
‘I’m a valuer,’ he said, ‘I’m doing a valuation…of the flat.’
No shit, Sherlock, he told himself. He must be coming over as a stuttering idiot.
‘Ah,’ she said, nodding sagely, ‘Valuers should stick to what they know.’
Dan grinned sheepishly, ‘That was statin’ the bleedin’ obvious wasn’t it? I’m Dan, by the way, Dan Jackson.’
He extended his hand towards her.
There was an awkward moment. She just looked at his hand but made no move to extend her own, in fact she took a step away from him. Quickly he dropped his arm and tried to cover the moment by making a show of writing some notes on his clipboard.
‘Tess,’ she said suddenly.
‘What?’
‘Tess Williams. That’s who I am.’
‘Nice to meet you, Tess.’
They stood awkwardly again for a few moments, neither moving, neither saying anything.
‘I’d better get on,’ Dan said at last, holding up his clipboard.
‘Oh yes. Of course. Please do,’ she said. ‘Is it alright if I stay and talk? It’s been a long time.’
A long time? What did she mean by that? Dan was very puzzled about what she had just said. A long time since what?
‘Yes, sure,’ he said, ‘Not that it’s very exciting what I do. Well not this bit anyway.’
‘OK.’ She said. ’You will let me know, won't you?'
'Let you know what?' He was momentarily lost.
'If you do come to an exciting bit?’
Dan gave a little laugh.
‘Promise,’ he said.
Dan walked around, making notes, taking the odd measurement. He was very conscious of her gaze on him. It made him feel rather uncomfortable. He felt like he was performing. It was with some relief that he went out into the hall and from there into the bedroom. Like the rest of the flat it was unfurnished. He did not get much respite however for she followed him and stood by the door. To break the tension Dan tried to think of something to ask her.
‘What do you do, Tess?’ he said.
There was a long pause.
‘I’m a solicitor. Yes. Yes I am, a solicitor.’
He paused in his note taking. Tess was frowning again and looked like she had said something that she did not quite believe.
‘I’ve been ill,’ she said more firmly, ‘Yes, that must be it, I’ve been ill.’
‘Oh OK,’ said Dan, thinking what an odd way this was to put it. ‘Are you better now then?’
She didn’t answer. She was leant against the doorway, staring at the floor.
‘Tess?’ he prompted.
She jumped as if she was someone woken from a deep sleep by a loud noise, but then she saw Dan and visibly relaxed. ‘Yes. Well I think so. I feel OK now, so I guess so.’
Dan had finished in the bedroom and headed towards the door. Tess instantly moved away from it and walked into the lounge. Was she frightened of him? Dan wasn’t sure. If she was why did she stay? He couldn’t work her out. Mentally he shrugged and carried on making notes, quickly finishing off the hall and the bathroom. He shot a few pictures of them for the file than headed back into the kitchen and lounge to do the