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； but you’re—’
‘We’re ex…directory； yes；’ said Colin。 He towered over Kay； his eyes tiny behind the lenses of his glasses。 ‘Please； sit down。’
‘Thank you。 It’s about the election；’ said Kay。 ‘This Parish Council election。 You’re standing； aren’t you； against Miles Mollison？’
‘That’s right；’ said Colin nervously。 He knew who she must be： the reporter who had wanted to talk to Krystal。 They had tracked him down – Tessa ought not to have let her in。
‘I was wondering whether I could help in any way；’ said Kay。 ‘I’m a social worker； mostly working in the Fields。 There are some facts and figures I could give you about the Bellchapel Addiction Clinic； which Mollison seems quite keen on closing。 I’ve been told that you’re for the clinic？ That you’d like to keep it open？’
The onrush of relief and pleasure made him almost giddy。
‘Oh； yes；’ said Colin； ‘yes； I would。 Yes； that was my predecessor’s – that’s to say； the previous holder of the seat – Barry Fairbrother – was certainly opposed to closing the clinic。 And I am； too。’
‘Well； I’ve had a conversation with Miles Mollison； and he made it quite clear that he doesn’t think the clinic’s worth keeping open。 Frankly； I think he’s rather ignorant and naive about the causes and treatment of addiction； and about the very real difference Bellchapel is making。 If the Parish refuses to renew the lease on the building； and the District cuts funding； then there’s a danger that some very vulnerable people will be left without support。’
‘Yes； yes； I see；’ said Colin。 ‘Oh； yes； I agree。’
He was astonished and flattered that this attractive young woman would have walked through the evening to find him and offer herself as an ally。
‘Would you like a cup of tea or coffee； Kay？’ asked Tessa。
‘Oh； thanks very much；’ said Kay。 ‘Tea； please； Tessa。 No sugar。’
Fats was in the kitchen； helping himself from the fridge。 He ate copiously and continually； but remained scrawny； never putting on an ounce of weight。 In spite of his openly declared disgust for them； he seemed unaffected by Tessa’s pack of ready…filled syringes； which sat in a clinical white box next to the cheese。
Tessa moved to the kettle； and her thoughts returned to the subject that had consumed her ever since Sukhvinder had suggested it earlier： that Fats and Krystal were ‘seeing each other’。 She had not questioned Fats； and she had not told Colin。
The more that Tessa thought about it； the more certain she was that it could not be true。 She was sure that Fats held himself in such high regard that no girl would be good enough； especially a girl like Krystal。 Surely he would not …
Demean himself？ Is that it？ Is that what you think？
‘Who’s here？’ Fats asked Tessa； through a mouthful of cold chicken； as she put on the kettle。
‘A woman who wants to help Dad get elected to the council；’ replied Tessa； foraging in the cupboard for biscuits。
‘Why？ Does she fancy him？’
‘Grow up； Stu；’ said Tessa crossly。
He plucked several slices of thin ham out of an open pack and poked them； bit by bit； into his crammed mouth； like a magician inserting silk handkerchiefs into his fist。 Fats sometimes stood for ten minutes at a time at the open fridge； ripping open clingfilm and packets and putting chunks of food directly into his mouth。 It was a habit Colin deprecated； along with almost every other aspect of Fats’ behaviour。
‘Why’s she want to help him； seriously？’ he asked； having swallowed his mouthful of meat。
‘She wants the Bellchapel Addiction Clinic to stay open。’
‘What； a junkie； is she？’
‘No； she isn’t a junkie；’ said Tessa； noting with annoyance that Fats had finished the last three chocolate biscuits and left the empty wrappings on the shelf。 ‘She’s a social worker； and she thinks the clinic is doing a good job。 Dad wants to keep it open； but Miles Mollison doesn’t think it’s very effective。’
‘It can’t be doing that well。 The Fields are full of glue…sniffers and smackheads。’
Tessa knew that if she had said that Colin wanted to close the clinic； Fats would have instantly produced an argument for its continuation。
‘You ought to be a barrister； Stu；’ she said as the kettle lid started to rattle。
When Tessa returned to the sitting room with her tray； she found Kay talking Colin through a sheaf of printed material she had brought out of her big tote bag。
‘… two drugs workers part…funded by the council； and partly by Action on Addiction； which is a really good charity。 Then there’s a social worker attached to the clinic； Nina； she’s the one who gave me all this – oh； thanks very much；’ said Kay； beaming up at Tessa； who had set down a mug of tea on the table beside her。
Kay had taken to the Walls； in just a few minutes； as she had not taken to anybody else in Pagford。 There had been no sweeping up…and…down glance from Tessa as she walked in； no gimlet…eyed assessment of her physical imperfections and dress sense。 Her husband； though nervous； seemed decent and earnest in his determination to obstruct the abandonment of the Fields。
‘Is that a London accent； Kay？’ asked Tessa； dunking a plain biscuit in her tea。 Kay nodded。
‘What brings you to Pagford？’
‘A relationship；’ said Kay。 She took no pleasure saying it； even though she and Gavin were officially reconciled。 She turned back to Colin。
‘I don’t quite understand the situation with regards to the Parish Council and the clinic。’
‘Oh； it owns the building；’ said Colin。 ‘It’s an old church。 The lease is ing up for renewal。’
‘So that would be an easy way to force them out。’
‘Exactly。 When did you say you’d spoken to Miles Mollison？’ asked Colin； both hoping and dreading to hear that Miles had mentioned him。
‘We had dinner； Friday before last；’ Kay explained； ‘Gavin and I—’
‘Oh； you’re Gavin’s girlfriend！’ interjected Tessa。
‘Yes； and； anyway； the subject of the Fields came up—’
‘It would；’ said Tessa。
‘—and Miles mentioned Bellchapel； and I was quite – quite dismayed by the way he talked about the issues involved。 I told him I’m dealing with a family at the moment；’