copyright@gerryrose

Safely back in his flat with Jenny, Harry thought about the events of the afternoon. The Paramedics had arrived shortly followed by the Police. The Paramedics checked for vital signs but once the Police arrived things became a little complicated. The Police were keen to preserve the scene in case a crime had been committed. After some discussion and liaison with a senior officer and explanations from Harry and Jenny, the Police allowed the paramedics to take Jim off to the hospital to await a doctor to declare the obvious. It had been touch and go because if a crime scene had been declared the forensic squad would need to be involved.
Harry had felt that Jenny should come back to his for a brandy and their own debrief. The Police had been impressed by Jenny’s meticulous notes and contract with Jim. The Police said that they would need to do background checks on Harry and Jenny. However, the fact that the contract with Jenny and Jim was so thorough and their explanation of the event seemed to help. They both agreed to attend the Police station to make statements. They had been separated and taken in two different Police cars. Harry was impressed by how unphased both the Paramedics and the Police were by what Jim had been up too. Harry’s car was still in Patcham and thankfully no parking permit was necessary.
There would be several forensic checks of the bike, but the general opinion was that Jim’s death was probably accidental and Jenny and Harry were unlikely to be prosecuted. Jim took risks and the bike was bespoke and not subject to any sort of legislation. The maker of the bike had been traced quite quickly and it seemed that Jim had even signed a contract with the maker, to accept that the modifications Jim had insisted on, against all advice, were entirely his responsibility. Harry was praised for keeping Jenny safe and for having the sense to cut the power to the bike when he did.
‘Bloody hell Harry! It seems the body count goes up wherever I go! First Bob and now Jim!’
‘Jim was one of life’s risk takers and I think he would be very proud of how he died.’
‘Yes but I could do without this. I think I won’t get involved with anything that involves electricity from now on!’
‘I suppose water and electricity don’t make the best bed fellows!’
‘Yes but I hope he enjoyed that final orgasm.’
‘Well he looked full blown, if you pardon my choice of words.’
‘What next Harry? Back to basic naked cleaning?’
‘You have a job in Kemp Town tomorrow. Do you feel up to it?’
‘Yes I think tomorrow is pretty standard isn’t it.’
‘Yes, Saul would like you to wear your belly dancing outfit and then strip naked and clean his bathroom and kitchen.’
‘I hope he is not expecting a belly dance, because I have no clue how to do that.’
‘Don’t worry I think Saul is just into cliched sexual fantasy stuff.’
‘I have turned down a guy who wants me to shit on him Harry.’
‘Any particular reason?’
‘Well my bowels are just not that regular and if I was to take a laxative I would not be able to guarantee when that would start being effective.’
‘You could always do a Blue Peter for him!’
‘Yuk, I am not carrying a bag of shit in my cleaning kit.’
Jenny felt the brandy was starting to work. It was calming her and making her relax.
‘Well I have to say Jenny that there is never a dull moment in this job.’
‘Yes and to think that I probably have Bob to thank for that.’
‘Have you ever heard from Marsha?’
‘Not a dicky bird, but she always lands on her feet. Still she walked away with very little. However it wouldn’t surprise me if she had been squirreling away money.’
‘You gals seem to be keen on your running away funds.’
‘It is sort of instilled into you from an early age. My mother was always warning me to make sure I had my own money. I should have listened to her.’
‘Well I reckon you must have a pretty penny in your fund by now.’
‘I am very pleased with it so far. However what if what happened today gets out there. What if Tim reads some article in the local rag?’
‘Does he even know the name of your business?’
‘No he is deaf, dumb and blind where I am concerned.’
‘He doesn’t know how lucky he is.’
‘Thanks Harry. I have to say you are keeping the flat nice and tidy. Not missing your taxidermy friends?’
‘I take them out of their box and look at them every now and again.’
‘What about the party? Have you set a date?’
‘Not yet, things seem to have ground to a halt. Jilly came over to check the flat was clean and to make some suggestions about soft furnishings etc. Babs was meant to be lending me spare plates, cutlery etc. They both seem to have disappeared and have not replied to my messages. I think I have left it a bit late, everyone gets really booked up in December but I think I should set a date in February.’
‘Something for people to look forward to. Have you thought about who to invite?’
‘Would you like to come?’
‘Best not to mix business with pleasure.’
Harry was surprised by that remark. He was beginning to think of Jenny as a friend and felt it would be nice to invite her to his party. He also wondered if the word pleasure had any deeper meaning. Harry was often accused of being an over-thinker. Over the last few weeks he had been wondering about his view of women. He had always been someone who felt looks were important. However the older he got, the more he realised that personality and a sense of humour were far more important than looks. His looks were fading and going after a younger woman like Sadie had not been his best decision. He was beginning to think that the brain was the sexiest part of anyone. His lunch with Jilly had taught him that whilst she looked divine, she was actually rather dull and had other flaws. He was not without his own flaws, but the older he got the more he realised that there were certain flaws he was not prepared to tolerate in others that he saw on a regular basis. He hated meanness. He loathed people who were only interested in themselves. He disliked people who felt that they were superior to everyone. He had met too many people like this recently at some of the Meetups he had joined. He was single and knew why he was single. He did wonder if some of the men and women he met who were in their 60s, had any self-awareness. There was a woman who was a regular attender of a variety of Meetups who had blue hair, she had always travelled more and knew more than anyone else. Harry felt she had a sense of superiority, for which there was no justification. She was single and made it quite obvious that she was looking for a partner. Harry thought she would be very unlikely to find anyone who found her attractive, but Harry knew that ‘for every old shoe there was an old sock’! People often found unlikely matches. Harry had enough friends who were in relationships to know that being married in your 60’s was no guarantee of contentment and happiness. Some of the women he met at Meetups were desperate to be with anyone rather than live alone. He watched them make poor choices when going on the internet. He compared them to the time he went to a Villeroy and Bosch factory shop which sold seconds. He bought some mugs which fell apart a few months later. He learned the lesson that when you settle for second best you will usually be disappointed. He knew the world of internet dating was very unfair. Men had the upper-hand and women were meant to be happy to take the cast-offs. He completely understood why some women had given up on this method of finding a partner. He also knew many women who were actually far happier alone, than in a relationship. His ex-wife was happier alone than she ever was with him.
It was getting late and Jenny told him that she needed to get home. She had texted Tim and told him to get his own supper. Harry ordered her a taxi and arranged another to get him to Patcham in the morning to pick up his car. He would collect Jenny at 12.45. They always liked to arrive with time to spare. Jenny would pick up the parking permit from Saul as agreed when they arrived in Kemp Town. Harry felt that they made a good team. He gave Jenny a hug and told her to call him if she got home and felt distressed about the events of the day. He walked her down the stairs of his building to make sure that she got safely into the taxi. As he walked back up the stairs, that proverb about birds in hands and birds in bushes went through his head again. When he got back to his flat he saw 2 messages. 1 from Jenny thanking him for taking care of her today and 1 from Sadie asking him when it would be convenient for her to call him. He texted a heart emoji back to Jenny and ignored Sadie. He thought about those mugs he had bought and wondered if he was a bit of a mug too. He had no intention of falling apart for a good while yet. He checked his watch and realised it was getting late. He decided to walk to Barcode and have a glass of wine and a bite to eat. He was looking forward to another kinky cleaning session, but hoped it was less eventful. Harry Hope ever hopeful was in for yet another interesting afternoon.