Page 166 of The Examiner

Suzie and Jonathan want to know who the other three are.

Gela

Aspiring artists keen to learn new skills. There’s no need for them to know any more.

Ludya

Only there kinda is. We gotta make sure they’re not gonna get in the way. Compromise things.

Gela

How could three art students who are strangers to each other possibly compromise you?

Ludya

They just want to be sure. We’re investing a lot of time in this. We need the others to be good stooges who will say everything was fine.

Gela

I can’t predict how people will behave on the course. It’s up to you to appear normal.

Ludya

If we pull out because we don’t like someone you’ve chosen, then that’ll look bad for you, so best all round if we’re across the recruitment process.

Gela

It’s not recruitment, it’s admissions. A young BA grad from West Mids, the owner of an art shop where I’ve bought my personal supplies for years, and a man who burned out of his marketing job and discovered art in rehab.

Ludya

S&J want to know why a recovering addict is considered ‘safe’?

Gela

Cameron isn’t an addict! He worked too hard on a failing business, his personal life fell apart and he hit the bottle for a bit. He’s not a dyed-in-the-wool soak!

Ludya

The guy in the shop, what’s his story?

Gela

Patrick is the nicest, gentlest guy you can hope to meet. Too nice. They had a horrible robbery last year. It shook him up and he’s talked about retiring to Ireland with a small business ever since.

Ludya

The young BA? Is she safe?

Gela

Jem is the safest of them all.

Ludya

Really? A Gen Z with nothing better to do – eyes everywhere?

Gela