It's Now or Never Read Free Page A

she was wrong in thinking that he could be following her.
    She strained her ears for the sound of his footfall crunching in the snow and yes, there was definitely someone walking behind her. She resisted glancing over her shoulder and her fingers tightened about one of the straps of her satchel. It was getting dark and the street was deserted. She considered risking running as fast as she could to get the hell out of there and then saw light shining through a window. She felt a flood of relief because it came from the coffee bar where Betty Booth, a student at the Art School, worked part time as a waitress. Due to Roberta’s love of art she and the older girl had struck up a friendship.
    She decided to take refuge inside. But before she could do so, the door opened and a woman in police uniform and a man came out. Roberta recognized him as Lenny Colman, a man in his early thirties, of medium height with a mop of thick brown hair, the owner of the coffee bar. The two were talking and then the policewoman noticed her. ‘Were you wanting to go inside, love?’ she asked.
    â€˜Yes, but …’ Roberta hesitated and glanced at Lenny. ‘Is Betty in there?’
    â€˜No, you’ve just missed her. She’s got visitors this evening and has gone home a bit early,’ said Lenny.
    â€˜Oh!’ Roberta could not conceal her disappointment. Then she realized that the policewoman was exactly the person she needed in the circumstances. ‘Perhaps you can help me, Constable,’ she said, dropping her voice.
    â€˜What is it?’ asked the policewoman.
    â€˜I think I’ve been followed from school by a man. There was one hanging around outside the gates.’
    â€˜I see.’ The policewoman casually glanced up and down the street before asking, ‘Can you see him now? There’s a man walking in the direction of the cathedral and another in a doorway on the other side up towards Hardman Street, lighting a cigarette.’
    Roberta, feeling safer now that she had company, glanced in both directions. ‘I can’t say for certain that it’s either of them in this light. I can see they’re both wearing a trilby and a mackintosh but that’s all. I’m not much help, am I?’ she said wryly.
    The policewoman smiled faintly. ‘Did you get a good look at the man outside school?’
    â€˜Not good enough to sketch a likeness, and when I spotted the man on Myrtle Street, the brim of his trilby cast a shadow over the upper part of his face.’
    The policewoman glanced at the badge on Roberta’s blazer. ‘I see you’re from Liverpool Girls College. What’s your name?’
    â€˜Roberta Donegan.’
    â€˜You’re a bit late going home from school, aren’t you, Roberta?’
    â€˜Detention,’ she said succinctly, hoisting her satchel higher. ‘I shouldn’t even be here in Hope Street. I’m supposed to be meeting my mother in the milk bar on Lycee Street. Anyway, I decided to test whether the man was following me and when I decided he could be I realized I could take refuge here.’
    â€˜You thought Betty could telephone the police?’ suggested the policewoman.
    â€˜Yes, until you appeared with Lenny and I discovered she wasn’t here.’
    â€˜Has she mentioned anything recently to you about a man hanging about outside here?’ she asked.
    Roberta shook her head. ‘No, but it’s not unknown, is it? A friend of mine said they come to eye up the girl students a-and …’ She paused, a blush on her cheeks, remembering talk about a man exposing himself.
    The policewoman eyed her sympathetically and Lenny said, ‘He’s a bloody nuisance and if I get my hands on him …’ His voice trailed off and he obviously altered what he had been about to say when he continued. ‘Anyway, now Constable Walker is aware of your little trouble, kid, she’ll sort it