“That’s right.”
“You’ve just graduated, Sam said.”
I nod. It feels as though his gaze is pinning me to my seat and I resist the urge to squirm.
“Yes.”
He points his fork at Alice.
“Well? What’s wrong with her?”
Alice flushes uncomfortably.
“That’s not something I’m willing to discuss over dinner,” I say. I try to give Alice a small, reassuring smile. Even though her headphones are looped around her neck, I can still hear the soft percussion of the music.
“She’s good, is she?” Paul asks Sam as if I’ve suddenly left the room. “Knows what she’s on about?”
“She does, Paul. Yes.”
“You know theSunday Mirrorhave been in touch?” Paul leans his chair back against the wall, watching Sam slowly chew his food. “They’ve said they think it’ll make a great story. Maybe even front page.”
“Good money, too, I’ll bet,” Sam answers. “You should consider it.”
I feel a slight throb of tension and sense there’s a power struggle going on, although I can’t seem to work out the depth of it, not yet. Paul turns his gaze back to me.
“So. Mina. You’re the one he’s brought to try to catch us out, huh?”
I look from him to Sam, raising my eyebrows.
“He thinks you’re trying to discredit their story,” Sam says.
“Well, I wouldn’t do so without reason,” I tell Paul, smiling. I think of Lisa saying“It’s like already you’ve decided there’s something wrong with her.”
Paul snorts, tipping his chair back onto two legs and scratching his underarm. He is skinny and leathery with muscle.
“You think it’s tricks.”
“I think it needs verifying.”
“What’s ‘verifying’?” Tamsin asks.
“It means she doesn’t believe us,” Paul responds, eyes fixed on me.
“Give her a chance,” Sam says, laughingly. “She’s only been here two minutes.”
“She’s got a photo of her brother!” Tamsin says suddenly, bouncing in her chair. “I’ve seen it. You were looking at it earlier.”
“I hope he’s not as annoying asourbrother,” Alice sneers.
“Hey!” Billy protests.
“You got a picture of that fiancé of yours, Mina?” Lisa asks me, voice barely audible over the sound of Tamsin squealing as Billy kicks at her under the table.
“Not with me.”
“How comes you carry a picture of your brother around with you but not your fiancé?” That’s Alice, spearing a chip on her fork. “That’s weird.”
“I know it must be hard for you to believe, Alice, but insomefamilies brothers and sisters can actually like each other,” Lisa chides, putting an arm over Billy to stop him squirming out of his chair. It’s so noisy in here I feel like covering my ears.