Ruby rang while I was washing my face.
I dried my hands and answered.
“He won't give it to me,” she said.
Tess was folding the clothes we'd brought back. I turned towards her.
“The tin?”
“He's got it at his room. He says the sale's off. He'll give everything back if you'll talk to him.”
“Then he can bring it here.”
“That's what I said.”
“You wanted to sell it, Ruby.”
She went quiet. I could hear traffic behind her.
“Where are you?”
“Outside his building. He's gone up.”
“Your coach?”
“I missed it arguing with him. My friend says I can come later.”
I sat down beside the suitcase. Tess stayed nearby with a T-shirt over her arm.
“I've told Mara everything,” I said. “She's reported it. Callum knows.”
Ruby swore under her breath.
“What about my money?”
“Tell Mara it's still in the tin. Tell her what you told me.”
“So she can ask me everything else?”
“Yes.”
For a few seconds I heard only the road.
“Fine,” she said, and hung up.
I told Tess what she'd said. Then I sent Mara a message. Ruby hadn't said whether she'd seen inside the tin again. I wanted somebody to open it in front of us, not another promise over a phone.
Callum wrote before Mara replied.
I've got the tin. The watch and all £180 are here. I'll bring them tomorrow. Please talk to me first.
I forwarded it to Mara. She asked me to keep it, and said she would speak to Ruby.
Tess sat beside me.
“You don't have to go round there,” she said.
“I know.”
I looked at the charger cable in my hand. It was Tess's spare. My own was still at the kiosk, with things Callum could offer to bring back tomorrow.
I wrote one last answer to him.
I'm not coming tonight.
Then I moved the phone to the far end of the bed, where I couldn't reach it without getting up.