DIY store. Guys her age took cars there to show off to one another in the car park. Jay had liked cars and sometimes came here to meet other petrol-heads and swap tips, tricks and ideas.
Feeling nervous, she sized up the nearest group of men. They all seemed huge to Hannah, but she decided they would know nothing; these men were covered in fat, not lean muscle. They were probably genuine car enthusiasts. She glanced at the next group, but quickly disregarded them too; they were teenagers, showing off their mother’s cars, too weedy to be taking anabolic steroids. They probably still had curfews and bedtimes. The third group looked the most promising as well as the most intimidating. These were the men she needed to talk to. Edging over, she could hear them talking about the gym. Bingo! Her new-found detective instinct kicked in. She had this.
“Hi!” She greeted them, in a falsely happy voice. “How are you?”
The men swapped suspicious glances, before seemingly deciding that Hannah was harmless. Although they all looked confused, she received a reply from the largest man.
“Good thanks,” one offered gruffly. “How about you? Are you lost?”
“Oh, I’m lovely thanks for asking; I came here looking for someone actually. Can I ask you for help? I won’t take up too much of your time.”
“What do you need?” The gruff voice asked, whilst the rest of the men looked intimidatingly at her.
“Well, I was meant to buy a car from some guy I met here a few weeks ago. His name is Jay. Have any of you seen him? I can’t get hold of him,” Hannah garbled, as she handed the photo around. “Please can you help?”
“Wait a minute. If you only met him here, why do you have his photo?” Asked another, eyebrows furrowed together in undisguised suspicion.
“I… er, got it from his Facebook page!” Hannah invented wildly. “I can’t get in touch with him and I really wanted that car. Have you seen him?” She repeated.
“No, we ain’t seen him, I think he owns a corner shop near the high street though. Works there sometimes, with his pretty little girlfriend,” came the reply.
Hannah blanched visibly. “That’s great, well, I’ll try there. Thanks then guys.” As she made to leave, she felt a hand on her arm. Turning with fright, she saw the man who held her had the photo in his hand. Don’t forget this, Hannah. We know who you are; be careful.”
“I just want to find out what happened to my boyfriend,” Hannah stated, chin up in defiance.
“Don’t ask us, we’re just here for the cars. If I were you, I’d go to the gym; your Jay was mixed in some terrible things. I’d ask the gym manager.”
The man let her go with a laugh, as Hannah ran away. The gym! Of course, why hadn’t she thought of trying there, first? Kicking herself for being so oblivious, she made her way to the gym, psyching herself up for her second interrogation. When she got there, she suddenly became scared; if the first set of men were massive, what would bodybuilders look like? Making her way through the lobby, dodging the receptionist, Hannah wandered around until she found the weights area. Going up to the largest man in the gym’s uniform, Hannah cleared her throat.
“Excuse me, are you the manager here?”
“Er, hi. Yes I am. Can I help? Inductions are down the hall,” he pointed.
“Oh, thanks. I was actually wondering if you wanted any Clenbuterol? I heard you might be interested,” Hannah lied.
“Ssh, stupid girl! Don’t say that here. Where did you hear that, who told you?” He snarled.
“I’m Hannah. I’m Jay’s girlfriend. He left me to carry on the business after he was stabbed,” Hannah said bravely, patting her bag deceivingly. “So, do you want anything?”
“Come with me. And keep your voice down!”
Hannah followed obligingly, keeping an eye out for quick escape routes, just in case. She wanted to find out what happened to Jay more than anything, but her senses were
Feeling nervous, she sized up the nearest group of men. They all seemed huge to Hannah, but she decided they would know nothing; these men were covered in fat, not lean muscle. They were probably genuine car enthusiasts. She glanced at the next group, but quickly disregarded them too; they were teenagers, showing off their mother’s cars, too weedy to be taking anabolic steroids. They probably still had curfews and bedtimes. The third group looked the most promising as well as the most intimidating. These were the men she needed to talk to. Edging over, she could hear them talking about the gym. Bingo! Her new-found detective instinct kicked in. She had this.
“Hi!” She greeted them, in a falsely happy voice. “How are you?”
The men swapped suspicious glances, before seemingly deciding that Hannah was harmless. Although they all looked confused, she received a reply from the largest man.
“Good thanks,” one offered gruffly. “How about you? Are you lost?”
“Oh, I’m lovely thanks for asking; I came here looking for someone actually. Can I ask you for help? I won’t take up too much of your time.”
“What do you need?” The gruff voice asked, whilst the rest of the men looked intimidatingly at her.
“Well, I was meant to buy a car from some guy I met here a few weeks ago. His name is Jay. Have any of you seen him? I can’t get hold of him,” Hannah garbled, as she handed the photo around. “Please can you help?”
“Wait a minute. If you only met him here, why do you have his photo?” Asked another, eyebrows furrowed together in undisguised suspicion.
“I… er, got it from his Facebook page!” Hannah invented wildly. “I can’t get in touch with him and I really wanted that car. Have you seen him?” She repeated.
“No, we ain’t seen him, I think he owns a corner shop near the high street though. Works there sometimes, with his pretty little girlfriend,” came the reply.
Hannah blanched visibly. “That’s great, well, I’ll try there. Thanks then guys.” As she made to leave, she felt a hand on her arm. Turning with fright, she saw the man who held her had the photo in his hand. Don’t forget this, Hannah. We know who you are; be careful.”
“I just want to find out what happened to my boyfriend,” Hannah stated, chin up in defiance.
“Don’t ask us, we’re just here for the cars. If I were you, I’d go to the gym; your Jay was mixed in some terrible things. I’d ask the gym manager.”
The man let her go with a laugh, as Hannah ran away. The gym! Of course, why hadn’t she thought of trying there, first? Kicking herself for being so oblivious, she made her way to the gym, psyching herself up for her second interrogation. When she got there, she suddenly became scared; if the first set of men were massive, what would bodybuilders look like? Making her way through the lobby, dodging the receptionist, Hannah wandered around until she found the weights area. Going up to the largest man in the gym’s uniform, Hannah cleared her throat.
“Excuse me, are you the manager here?”
“Er, hi. Yes I am. Can I help? Inductions are down the hall,” he pointed.
“Oh, thanks. I was actually wondering if you wanted any Clenbuterol? I heard you might be interested,” Hannah lied.
“Ssh, stupid girl! Don’t say that here. Where did you hear that, who told you?” He snarled.
“I’m Hannah. I’m Jay’s girlfriend. He left me to carry on the business after he was stabbed,” Hannah said bravely, patting her bag deceivingly. “So, do you want anything?”
“Come with me. And keep your voice down!”
Hannah followed obligingly, keeping an eye out for quick escape routes, just in case. She wanted to find out what happened to Jay more than anything, but her senses were
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