‘I’ve not come across it. We definitely haven’t had any flesh-eating cases in Bellview yet, thank God.’
‘People are even taking xylazine on its own. Being a powerful sedative, it makes them appear physically unresponsive or ‘zombified’, which leaves them vulnerable on the street. Nalox-one has no effect on it. In fact, there is no approved antidote for a xylazine overdose.’
For the first time, she looked genuinely shocked. ‘Bloody hell. To be honest, I don’t think we’ve got much of a problem with fentanyl. That said, God only knows what’s coming in.’ Janet picked up their empty mugs and took them over to the sink.
‘Do you think the staff and inmates at Bellview might listen to me?’ he asked.
‘Well, the prison doctor, Doctor Zardari, is quite young and inexperienced. I’m sure he could learn a lot from you about these new drugs. And I’m sure the inmates will love that accent of yours... where are you from?’
‘Louisiana. But I’ve been in New York for nearly twenty-five years.’
‘Married?’
‘Divorced a couple of times,’ he laughed.
‘Any kids?’
‘Two girls.’ Josh was pleased Janet was asking all these personal questions. It suggested he’d managed to kindle a spark between them. But he still had some questions of his own. ‘As a matter of interest, do you know who the biggest dealers are in Bellview? I might have encountered them when I worked in London a few years ago on a big drugs case.’
‘Drug dealers are always kingpins in prisons, but it’d be a bit unethical of me to name them. No offence, but I don’t want to risk getting into trouble when I’m about to retire and get my pension. I’ve always gone carefully, even when I worked in Holloway.’
Josh knew not to push it. ‘Sure. Understood. The last thing I want to do is cause you any problems.’
Josh stood up from the table. ‘Thanks for the delicious lunch, Janet, but I should be getting back to do some work on my talk.’
‘Thank Tesco, you mean,’ she laughed.
He smiled. ‘I’d like to take you out for dinner to say thank you properly.’
‘Well, we’re short of restaurants around here, but there’s a good Turkish one open on Sundays.’
‘That’s a date, then. I’ll come by about seven?’
Janet wiped her hands on a tea-towel, smiling. ‘I’ll give them a ring and book a table.’
After Josh had left, Janet decided to take a bath, wash her hair, and perhaps even wear it loose, not having done so for years. She went to her bedroom, pulled off her sweater, unzipped her skirt and kicked it to one side. Her underwear had seen better days, and the elastic in her waist-training pants had long gone. She stood in front of her bedroom mirror and wondered what Josh would think if he saw her naked.
‘For God’s sake, Janet Williamson,’ she said quickly. ‘Pull yourself together, your imagination is running away with you. Face it, you are well past a time of any man wanting you and have been for twenty years.’ She glared at herself, a woman so used to dealing with untrustworthy and frankly disgusting men that she wasn’t used to thinking about a man in that way. She couldn’t even remember the last time she went out on a date.
Josh made it back to his B&B, more than ready for his medication and injection; his leg felt as if it was on fire. He lay on the cramped bed in his awful room, with dreadful flowery wallpaper, and closed his eyes. It would be a lot harder than he thought to do what he planned. Janet was a tough nut to crack, but he needed her. He sighed, knowing he had fucked a lot worse in his life, and if that was what it was going to take, then that was what he would do.
He slept for a few hours before getting ready to meet Janet for dinner. He sprayed some aftershave on his neck and armpits and made his way to Janet’s flat in a taxi, to save his leg. She opened the door, and he stood back admiringly.
‘Hey, you scrub up well, Janet... you look lovely.’
She blushed, unable to recall the last time a man paid her a compliment.
They walked to the Turkish restaurant, which was bigger and more modern than Josh expected, and ordered a large mixed grill to share. Janet had brought a photo album to show Josh pictures of her daughter and grandchild and said she couldn’t wait to go and see them, so Josh ordered a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to go with the meal.
As they clinked glasses, Janet said she hoped her daughter’s new partner was going to turn out better than the last one.
‘What about you, Janet? Are you seeing anyone?’ Josh asked.
She laughed. ‘No, not for years. I’m not interested in a relationship, either.’
‘What about Marion’s father?’
‘He’s been out of my life for twenty-five years, thank God. I don’t know or care where he is. He was a heavy drinker and used his fists when he’d had a few. The final straw was when he knocked me about in front of Marion... I kicked him out, changed the locks and got two friends of mine working in the prison to beat the shit out of him.’
Josh nodded sympathetically. ‘Good for you.’
‘What about you?’ Janet asked.
‘Well, like you, I’m single now and ready to retire, but I wanted to make one last-ditch effort to do something good. I believe this country will be overwhelmed with xylazine unless people wake up to the threat. And I don’t just mean the authorities. I want my message to get through to the drug traffickers, particularly the top dogs doing long sentences. If I can get them on my side...’
Janet shrugged her shoulders. ‘Waste of time, love. They don’t give a damn what happens to the people they sell their drugs to.’ She drained her glass which Josh refilled for her. ‘I should watch it. I’m over my limit already. But it’ll take more than a couple of glasses of wine to get me to tell you who the dealers are.’
Josh waved his hand dismissively, as if that was the last thing on his mind, and they chatted about other things until it was time to get the bill. After paying, he walked her home, wondering if she’d ask him in, but no luck.
‘Thanks for a lovely meal,’ she said.
‘My pleasure. Maybe see you tomorrow when I give my talk.’
Back at his B&B, Josh quickly medicated himself before turning in. He’d hoped to get Janet into bed but in the end was relieved it hadn’t happened. He doubted he could have got an erection. As for his plan, he’d just have to play it by ear the following morning.
Chapter 8
Jack was up in the loft on a stepladder with a tape measure, checking if the little wardrobe they’d seen the market would fit in the alcove, when Maggie took the opportunity of mentioning Marius possibly moving in.
Jack shook his head vigorously. ‘No way. Look, I like Marius, but I don’t think having him move in here is a good idea. Jeez Mags they’re not... you know... are they?’
‘Not so loud, and no, Penny said it was a purely platonic relationship. But he’d be useful around the house, and he could drive her around in the van. He might even pay rent.’
‘I don’t want him living in. And he’s not all that anyway! I’m going to have to top and tail some of his paint work, and I am very wary of the plumbing; you turn on the shower late at night and it makes a hell of a racket.’
Maggie persisted. ‘It’s just if we get an au pair or part-time nanny, we will have to pay for it. An au pair could live up here in the loft, though.’
Jack sighed. ‘Let me talk to Mum about it. I don’t want anyone else living here... So, if we must have someone, it would be best if we got a part-time nanny.’