I slumped down in my chair a couple of inches, not quite hiding behind the computer screen in front of me but definitely trying not to attract his attention. Derwent was even less subtle, plunging under the desk opposite mine as if he’d dropped something. I rolled back my chair so I could see him. ‘Are you going to stay there until he’s gone?’ ‘If I have to.’ ‘I know he hit you, but I wouldn’t have thought you’d be scared of him.’ ‘I’m not.’ Derwent showed me his watch. ‘It’s almost eight o’clock. I’m tired, I’m fed up with doing paperwork and I’m hungry. What I don’t want is to get stuck in a slanging match with twatface in there.’ ‘Or another punch-up.’ ‘I wouldn’t dignify what happened last time with the word punch-up. He took a shot at me when I wasn’t looking.’ ‘It wasn’t fair.’ ‘No.’ Derwent narrowed his eyes suspiciously. ‘Are you laughing at me?’ ‘Never. I wouldn’t dare. Even though you’re crouching by the bin.’ ‘The minute I come out, I’ll get collared.’ ‘You’re paranoid.’ I looked across at Godley’s office.
