by Rae Cod

‘I heard he used the cash to buy a boat, called her Dignity,’ said Dave, taking a sip of his second pint of the evening.

‘Who told you that one?’ said Carl laughing as he made his way over from the bar to join them, ‘Deacon Blue?’

Dave looked puzzled for a second as John and Deborah laughed and the penny dropped.

‘It could still be true,’ he protested, ‘got any better ideas?’

Carl shrugged, ‘If it was me, I’d buy a huge island somewhere sunny, build a mansion where no one could find me.’

‘He was only collecting the parking money for twenty-five years,’ said Deborah, ‘not sure he’d have quite enough for that.’

‘Go on then Carole Vorderman,’ said John, how much did he get away with?

Deborah’s expression went blank for a few seconds as she retreated inside her head, lips moving silently as…