‘I did mean it about the house. It’s loads better.’
‘It doesn’t feel like it. It’s over three months and there’s still so much to do. And the more I clear out, the more I can see how much work needs doing. It wants gutting from top to bottom.’
Mack shrugged, accepting the mug I offered. ‘You’ll figure it out.’
‘Either that or I’ll snap one day while sorting through the millionth box of hideous tat and call Fisher. I mean, why feel loyalty or obligation to a house that belonged to a woman I never knew? Loyalty does not exactly run strong in my family. Mum couldn’t even be bothered to come and look at it.’
‘Because family is important. So is sticking to a commitment. Even one you made to yourself. Even when it’s tough.’
‘Is your family important to you?’ I asked, over the rim of my tea.
Mack cleared his throat. ‘So, what’s this favour you need, then?’
I took another slow sip.
‘Yes. My family is important to me,’ he huffed. ‘The favour?’
I told him about Dawson. And then I offered him Squash Harris, Episode One.
I dug out a packet of biscuits while he carefully turned the pages, eyes scanning every detail.
‘I thought you said he was ten.’
‘He is. Eleven in July.’
‘Are you sure he made this?’ He flicked back to the beginning, started again.
‘I’ve watched him draw it.’
‘Yes, but he could have got the idea from somewhere else, copied the characters, the storylines. Are you sure it’s all his own original ideas?’
I clicked through my phone onto the Middlebeck Primary School website. ‘This is his headmaster. And his class teacher.’ I scrolled down through the photographs. ‘That boy there, with the red hair, is Austin. Dawson’s cousin.’
‘He’s a genius,’ Mack muttered. Then he looked up at me, eyes sharp. ‘But what do you want from me?’
‘I want to put them on a blog. I think if I can get some people reading this, when Dawson sees the positive comments, it’s going to really help. And he can start secondary school with his head a little higher. But I need a proper computer with the right software. And I’ll have to regularly add on new editions, filter the comments and things.’
‘Why don’t you use the Camerons’ computer? Do it with them?’
‘Because I’m scared it might backfire horribly. And because there’s no point having a blog if no one knows about it. I have less than ten contacts in my phone. I’ve never done social media. But if we can get the comic where people can see it, I’m trusting it’s good enough that word will spread.’
‘I don’t know what you’ve heard about me, Jenny, but I can’t help you with this. I don’t have the kind of contacts you think.’ Mack’s face was on lock-down again.
‘I want to hack into the school website and post a copy there. I figured your secret spy-type skills could do that?’
He blinked at me for a minute, before his eyes crinkled at the edges and he full-on smiled. ‘Jenny, I’m not a spy. Or a cop. Or a hacker. I have a boring job requiring minimal IT skills.’
‘Okay. But what if you had to tell me that, but really it was a cover? What if, you helped me set the blog up, and then anunknown, anonymousperson left a rogue copy on the school website?’
‘If that happened, it wouldn’t be me. I’m sorry. And I can’t keep letting you have access to my computer. I do have confidential work on there of an utterly tedious nature.’
I clutched the mug tighter, trying to swallow down my disappointment.
‘That’s fine.’ I kept my voice steady. ‘It was a stupid idea anyway. Sorry for wasting your time.’ I was growing tired of Mysterious Mack. Whoever decided enigmatic men were attractive hadn’t lived next door to one.
He sighed. ‘Look, I do have some contacts who might help. Not hacking the school website, but proper marketing. If you let me have a copy I’ll see what they say.’
‘Who are your contacts?’ I asked, my words flat.
