Although Mouth had become his enemy and Brock, on his own admission, was no longer his friend, Red felt he should let them know what had happened with the police.
Mouth didn"t turn up for his paper round. Red was late and found that Ralph was already up, huffing and puffing in the alley, trying to pump air into the tyres of the old shop bike.
"Hope I"ve not forgotten how to ride this b****y thing! Let me know if you see Len!" Ralph, out of sorts and short of breath, called to Red as he left to start Mouth"s round.
When he made enquiries at Battersby"s yard all he got were shrugs and shaken heads. Mouth had taken his few possessions and left without saying anything. One of Torsten Battersby"s sons tried to sell him Mouth"s old Raleigh Tourer for five shillings.
He cycled to the Dykes"s
