書蟲1級《雪莉·霍姆斯和立陶宛青年案》4. 男朋友

4. The boyfriend

The next day I'm in the street in my car, opposite the house. I have a cup of coffee, a newspaper, and a lot of time. I want to see Tomas, and talk to him. Then I can make my report to Mrs Williams, and the job is finished.

At 17.45 Carrie walks down the street, and goes into the house. I'm watching carefully now. People are coming home from work... in cars, on bicycles, on foot. Lots to watch. Two people go into the house, a young woman and a short, older man with white hair.

At 18.25 a young man walks down the street. Tall, with dark hair. He walks to the front door, and in two seconds I'm out of the car, across the street, and standing behind him at the door.

He opens the door, and turns to look at me.

Hi!' I say. 'OK to come in? I'm visiting Mike Westerbrook at number six.'

Yes, that's OK,' the young man says. He holds the door open for me, and we walk up the stairs together.

Nice and sunny today,' I say. 'But rain's coming in later, they say.'

Mmm,' says the young man.

At the top of the stairs he turns to the door with number 4 on it, gets out his key, and opens the door. Suddenly, I run back to him.

In two seconds I'm standing behind him at the door.

Hey, excuse me! Is this yours? It was on the floor.' In my hand I'm holding a weekly bus ticket. It's more than two months old, but he can't see that because I've got my hand over the date.

He looks at the ticket, and I look through the open door of number 4... and see Carrie in the room. Then I'm through the door and inside the apartment.

Hey!' the young man shouts at me. 'What are you doing? Who are you? Get out!'

I turn to Carrie. 'Hello, Carrie,' I say. 'Did you text your mum last night?'

The young man is next to me now. 'Who is this?' he says to Carrie. 'What's this about?' He stares at me angrily.

Carrie looks angry too. 'She's a private investigator,' she tells the young man. 'Mum sent her. I talked to her yesterday in the café. I told you, remember?'

Ah!' The young man suddenly smiles. He has a very nice smile. 'How exciting! I never met a private investigator before. How do you do? I am Tomas Varnas, and I'm very pleased to meet you.'

He holds out his hand, and we shake hands. Wrong name, I think. Not the name on the door. But this is the Lithuanian boyfriend.

Shirley Homes. Pleased to meet you too,' I say. 'I'm sorry about this. But I need to talk to you. Carrie's mother—'

Of course,' says Tomas. 'I understand. Please – sit down. Can I get you some coffee?'

Hello, Carrie,' I say. 'Did you text your mum last night?'

He and Carrie make coffee, and we all sit down round a table. Tomas looks at me, smiling.

So,' he says. 'You want to ask me questions, so you can tell Carrie's mother all about me. I am very happy about that. What do you want to know? Shall I begin?'

So I listen to the story of Tomas Varnas's life. He is nineteen years old, and comes from Vilnius in Lithuania. He came to London six months ago because he wants to start a business. His family make linen cloth in Vilnius, and Tomas wants to sell it in England. At the moment he's working Monday to Friday in a hospital because he needs the money. But he's selling linen in the street market on Saturdays. Business is good, and is getting better every week.

Carrie wants to tell me more about it. 'It's beautiful linen, you know. The best in the world. I'm learning all about it.' She's excited, I can see it in her green eyes.

Tomas is smiling. 'Carrie is very good with the colours of the linen,' he says. 'She wants to work with me. And she's good at business too – very good. Better than me.'

He puts the back of his hand against Carrie's face, just a touch, a very gentle touch, and smiles into her eyes. She looks up at him, and the love in her eyes is clear. For a second or two the world stops for them. These two young people are very much in love.

Carrie looks at me again. 'Everybody wants to wear clothes made of linen now, you see. So our business is going to get bigger.'

Tomas is selling linen in the street market on Saturdays.

Lots of hard work,' says Tomas. 'But we're young, we can work hard, no problem about that. But we do have one problem.' He looks at Carrie. 'Your family.'

Oh, that!' Carrie says. 'Not important. I don't need them. We're fine without them.'

Not so,' Tomas says gently. 'Your mother is unhappy, your little brother is unhappy, and your father too.'

No, he isn't! My father is a horrible man! We have arguments all the time. Every day he tells me, "do this, don't do that, do this." He's always right, and I'm always wrong! Always! He never listens to me. He doesn't understand me, he doesn't want to understand me. He's just horrible...'

Shhh, shhh,' Tomas says. 'When people are angry, sometimes they say bad things. Maybe they don't really think that. You and your father have a lot of arguments, and you both get angry and say things.'

Yes, but...' Carrie says.

I sit and listen. This is not their first argument, and it's not going to be their last one. It's interesting to listen to them. Tomas is very gentle with Carrie, but he's strong too. He's in love, but he still thinks clearly.

Er, excuse me,' I say. 'I'm still here, you know.'

They look at me. Tomas laughs. 'Sorry!' he says. 'We talk about this often. In the end, Carrie must go back home. She knows that.'

No, I don't!' says Carrie. 'I'm not going back home. No way!'

But Carrie – you can't cut your family out of your life. Family is important. My family is important to me. And I want you to have your family too... to be friends with your mother, and your father. And your little brother!'

They're off again. I'm trying not to smile. This argument is going to run and run. I think Tomas is good for Carrie.

Well, I'm done here,' I say. 'It was good to meet you, Tomas. I can tell Mrs Williams about you now. And, well... good luck to both of you.'

Carrie smiles. 'Thanks, Shirley. Can I call you Shirley? Ant and Janice said you were all right. I sent mum a text last night, you know.'

Tomas stands up too. 'I must get home now,' he says.

I stare at him, surprised. 'Home? You live here, in this apartment. Don't you?'

No, no, no,' Tomas says. 'Of course not! Carrie is fifteen. We cannot marry before she is sixteen years old. It is against the law. So of course I don't live here. It is not correct.'

But this is your apartment—?'

No, no,' Tomas says again. 'It's my sister's apartment. Carrie lives here with my sister, Ruta Varnaite. She's working late tonight. I have a room with a friend near Putney Bridge.'

I'm very surprised. I sit down again and look at Carrie. 'Why didn't you tell me? Everybody thinks you're living with Tomas.'

They're off again. I'm trying not to smile.

Carrie doesn't look pleased. 'Well, I didn't tell them that. But my dad always thinks the worst. And sometimes my mum too. But we can get married next year, when I'm sixteen.'

Tomas laughs. He pulls her hair, gently. 'Sixteen is still very young to get married. We can wait. I want to know your family first, and you want to know my family.'

Yes, I really want to meet your family,' Carrie says. 'But you don't want to meet mine, you really don't.'

Tomas pulls her hair again, not so gently this time. 'Of course I do. I want to talk to your father, I want him to like me. We have all the time in the world, Carrie. Let's just take our time, eh?'

Carrie tries to look angry, then she laughs, and puts her arms around him.

Tomas and I leave the house together. He walks with me to my car.

I'm sorry about Mr Williams,' he says. 'I think he loves Carrie a lot. Maybe I can meet him and talk to him one day. But Mrs Williams doesn't need to be afraid for Carrie. Please tell her that.'

Of course,' I say. I've got a lot to say to Mrs Williams. Tomas and I shake hands again, and say goodbye.

I drive back to my office, and check my messages. There's a message from Saheed. Call me about the Lithuanian boyfriend.

I send him a text.

Found the boyfriend, thanks.

And the girl. All well, no problems.

Easy case, nothing horrible.

But thanks for the help!

SH

A text comes back from Saheed at once.

Oh, thanks a lot! I made 12 phone calls for you, all for nothing! Next time, YOU can help ME!

SP

Oh dear! Saheed is not pleased. I often need his help so I must be nice to him. I send him another text.

Sorry! Really really sorry!

Can I buy you a beer tonight?

SH

A text comes back from him.

OK. The King's Arms, by the river.

9 o'clock this evening. See you.

SP