10
Joe Totterbridge never used the telephone if he could possibly avoid it. He made Eileen do it for him instead. Even though he couldn’t do that today, he still had no inclination to bestir himself. But the alternative was worse, it would mean going all the way up to Kelsey Road to tell Dorrie Lockett, and he wasn’t used to walking all round the universe, like Eileen was. His heart would probably give out, toiling up that hill. For a moment he contemplated just ignoring his promise to his wife – Dorrie Lockett would know something was wrong soon enough when Eileen didn’t turn up tomorrow. But then she’d likely telephone for an explanation, probably disturb him just when he was watching breakfast TV.
He’d just have to do it, after he’d had a beer and a sandwich. If he could find where Ei
