Free To Catch A Storm by Warren Slingsby

gently, as if weighing it. He stuck his thumb into the concave underside, nodded and passed it back to the waiter to open and pour.
    As the waiter left them with three-quarter full glasses, Joseph half pulled a small packet from his inside jacket pocket. The packet, which was about the size of a book of matches, looked to be made from magazine paper.
    “Want a cheeky perk up?” he asked.
    “I don’t do that sort of thing very often. I’m a good girl Joseph. But I’ll have a dabble.”
    “Well I’m going to take myself off to the rest room my dear.” Joseph said bringing his voice back up to regular levels. “Have a look at the menu and we’ll get some food ordered. Back in a jiffy.”
    Janet mentally selected the free range chicken with parsnip purée, creamed leek and truffle, then pulled out her phone and sent her friend Jess a message on Facebook.
     
    Hey babe, WUU2?
     
    She saw the chat bubble start to fill to signify Jess was typing something.
     
    Alright chick? Having a bite to eat at Terrace
with the girls from work. Where are you?
Wanna meet up for a drink?
    I’m in Glasgow on a conference, just eating with
a colleague at the Park Square restaurant.
Have fun and we’ll catch up soon. xxx
    Ok babe xxx
     
    She flicked her phone off and stuck it back in her bag. She’d just wanted to have a little contact with her world and to let someone know where she was. It was something she tended to do if she was on a date. She was a single woman and you had to be a little cautious. She didn’t think Joseph was a scum bag or that he was dodgy at all, but it made her feel more at ease.
    She saw him on his way back from the ‘rest room’ and got up to flip flop with him. As he passed her, he dropped the package into her hand. He mouthed. “It’s strong.” As he did, he crossed his eyes. Then back at normal volume. “Oh yes, they’re over that way my darling.” She sniggered under her breath and sauntered off. In the toilets, she went to the furthest cubicle. She had no idea how to do this. She unwrapped the package and looked at the small amount of cocaine sitting there. Did she take it all or just a little? Usually when she had it before, someone had done all this bit for her. She’d seen it taken out of a false nail by her hero Tanya Turner once, but she didn’t have long nails. Did she roll up a ten pound note? She didn’t really want to do that, she knew all about cash and she knew it was riddled with bacteria. It was too complicated so she decided that she wouldn’t risk it.
    She left the cubicle and went to the mirror. The toilet was empty. She took out her compact to apply a little more eye shadow. She’d never applied this much before, but for some reason, the more she applied, the better it seemed to look. Was it just this lighting? She backed away from the mirror, but it still looked hot. She applied a little more blusher. What the hell, she re-applied mascara and lip gloss too. Was it too much? Hmm. No, not for a girl who’d just driven half way across Scotland with a guy she just met. She made her way back to their table.
    “I’ve never done this… on my own.” she said wrinkling her nose, “sorry I don’t know what to do.” She slipped the packet back across the table and it went smoothly into Jacob’s hand and was palmed away into his inside jacket pocket in a flash.
    “No need to apologise. We can take ourselves off after we’ve eaten and have a little if you still like.”
    The waiter was back and took their orders gracefully before topping their glasses again and bringing a bottle of iced water.
    “So tell me more about this robbery then and where have you stashed your million quid?”
    “Well I stole a piece of modern art worth £17 million quid. Have you heard of Rothko?”
    “You are very funny. What do you actually do?”
    He gave her his usual ‘dabbling on the stock market’ spiel. He was well versed in this by now and it flowed out of him with conviction.
    “Oh I