'Please yourself,' she said indignantly.
He put on his coat and took AJ, still sleeping, to the car. He slammed the door shut and turned the ignition key. The car coughed … but wouldn't start. He tried again, with the same reaction. And once more. What was the matter with the damn thing? He tried a dozen times, but still no joy. He was desperate to get away from this place once and for all, but for now that was impossible.
He got out and opened the bonnet, but he knew nothing about cars except how to drive them. Glancing up, he saw Angie coming down the drive towards him. He'd need to phone someone to come out to it – only as he searched his coat pocket, he couldn't find his mobile. Unbelievable.
'Something wrong with the car, John?'
'It won't start – and now I've lost my phone, too.'
