Page 15

‘Are you okay?’ he asks again.

‘Yes, fine,’ I insist bluntly.

‘You look lost.’

‘No, I’m fine. I was just… I was looking for someone, but I think they’ve left already,’ I say.

‘Who are you looking for? Maybe I can help?’ he suggests.

I’m not sure if he’s trying to be helpful or if he just doesn’t trust the slightly frazzled woman lingering in the dark – maybe it’s a bit of both, eh?

‘Ron Tanner,’ I say – well, he doesn’t need the ‘I’m a friend of his sister’ line, does he? Saying his name should be enough.

I notice something shift in his expression, although I’m not sure what. He must know Ron – that’s probably it.

‘Right,’ he says.

‘Have you seen him?’ I ask.

‘I think he’s gone.’

‘Shit,’ I say softly.

‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ he checks.

‘I’m… Yes. It’s just, I was hoping to get a lift with him,’ I admit. ‘I left my bag on the train – with my phone, my purse and my keys inside – so I’m just… not sure how I’m going to get home.’

I sigh.

He seems to study me for a second or two, still so cool and calm, but clearly detecting something is off.

‘Can I give you a lift?’ he asks.

‘Oh.’ I chew my lip for a second. ‘Er… Thank you, that’s nice of you, but they teach us not to get into cars with strange men from a pretty early age, so…’

‘I’m a strange man?’ he asks with a bit of a grin.

‘I mean, you’re a stranger,’ I quickly add. ‘I don’t even know your name.’

‘My name’s Eddy Hood, if that helps,’ he replies.

‘Well, you know, respectfully, I have no way of knowing that’s true,’ I point out.

I know, I’m not in a position to be declining help, but if I get in a random car with a random man, at night – well, that’s how Netflix documentaries start.

For a second, he just looks at me. Then he turns, lifts one arm and points behind him, towards a gigantic mural painted on the wall. It’s him – from his chiselled jaw to his broad shoulders – in the blue and yellow Leeds Lions’ kit, with his name – Eddy Hood – in unmissably sized letters.

Ah.

‘Right,’ I say, more than a little embarrassed.

‘I also have ID, if you want to see that?’ he asks cheekily.

‘Nope, one ten-foot-tall mural is sufficient, thank you,’ I reply. ‘In my defence, I’m new here.’

‘On earth?’ he jokes.

‘New to the club,’ I reply quickly. ‘I start on Monday. PR, socials – that sort of thing. But I don’t know who anyone is yet.’