Now You See Me by Lesley Glaister

effect, ink and a compass point, but ornate lettering and in a different colour on each knuckle. The fancy letters were stretched out over his knuckle bones. He saw me staring at his hands. ‘Want to take Norma for a bit?’ he said.
    â€˜K.’ It felt nice holding the lead with a live creature on the end of it, like a sort of connection. She didn’t notice the change though, just kept looping about and tugging and stopping to sniff at stuff.
    We got to the Duke’s Head and had to sit outside because of the dogs. It was freezing. We sat in what they laughingly call a beer-garden where there were some kids skate-boarding about.
    â€˜So?’ I said.
    â€˜Just get a couple of pints in,’ he said.
    I don’t know why I did. Being ordered about by a complete stranger is not my usual thing. I stood there a minute wondering whether to tell him where to go. ‘What about some crisps and all?’ he said.
    When I got back with the slopping pints and a packet of prawn cocktail, I said, ‘What do you want? Apart from the pint.’
    He slurped half his drink in one go, then ripped the crisps open. He crammed about half in his mouth and shoved the packet at me. I took a crisp and nibbled the edge.
    â€˜Well?’
    â€˜You got a place?’ he said.
    â€˜Yeah, sort of.’
    â€˜Not one of them student halls?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜You sharing?’
    â€˜No. No. I like to be alone.’
    â€˜Good.’ He got his tobacco out of his pocket and rolled a fag.
    â€˜Why good?’
    â€˜What you doing?’
    I looked down and saw what I was doing. It was a thing I did as a kid, nibble and nibble round a crisp so it gets smaller and smaller. You can make a single crisp last for ages like that. ‘Nothing.’ I chucked the half-nibbled crisp to Norma who snapped it up, mid-air.
    â€˜So, what do you want?’ I said.
    â€˜I need somewhere to crash. Lie low for a bit.’
    â€˜What’s wrong with your mum’s?’ I could hardly look at him for fear of seeing myself. ‘Don’t you ever take your shades off?’ I said. I hate talking to a person when you can’t see their eyes and if you ask me only posers wear sunglasses when it’s not sunny.
    He looked round then took them off. I’d forgotten his eyes were such a cool sharp grey. They made me flinch. He shook his head and took a deep breath like someone about to jump. ‘Look. I’m in deep shit. There’s reasons I can’t go to my mum’s, OK?’
    â€˜But why ask me ? You don’t even know me.’
    â€˜Yeah well, exactly. No one would come looking for me at yours, would they?’
    â€˜But how do you know I won’t … I don’t know … call the police or something.’
    â€˜Because I know you,’ he said, reaching across the table to touch my hand. He took my breath away saying that. I know you . His fingertips were slippery ice.
    I couldn’t help the smile. ‘No you don’t,’ I said.
    â€˜So?’ He squeezed the tip of my middle finger between his finger and thumb. I pulled my hand away but the sensation stayed there. One finger-end in all the big cold world.
    I nearly got pulled in. At that moment I wanted to help. It was a pity I couldn’t but no way could I let him in. The cellar was mine and mine alone. I was quite safe and balanced. And not scared. It was quite simple. He just had to lie low for a time, well I know about that. I am the expert. Except I would never in a million years ask anyone else for help. It puts you in their power. There was a kind of glow in me from his words. I know you .
    I had to concentrate. I took a sip of beer. His was nearly finished. ‘Did you steal your mum’s bag?’ I said.
    â€˜What the fuck’s that got to do …’
    â€˜Am I supposed to be scared of all this swearing?’ I said.
    He did a weird kind of laugh and looked at me hard, a