TWENTY
WARWICK, 2020 AD
Heather wouldn’t have known that Jake had previously invited Liffi to sleep in his bedsit if a phone call hadn’t interrupted their peaceful evening in dramatic fashion. Jake looked at the incoming number on his home screen with suspicion and perplexity. At a glance, he saw it was the Warwick district code preceding the number but one without a name and therefore not among his contacts. He accepted the call.
“What!” he cried and leapt out of his chair. “Is this a hoax? If so, it’s in rank bad taste! You what? Of course, I’ll come at once!”
Heather was on her feet too, alarmed by his reaction. “Jake’s what’s going on? Is everything all right?”
“That was the Warwick fire brigade. There’s a fire at our shop. They’re trying to stop it spreading to the neighbouring b
