Hartley slipped out of the saddle and walked around the side of the stationary vehicle.
"Having a spot of trouble?" he asked.
"Damn!" cursed the VAD, as her head struck the underside of the bonnet.
She appraised the dapper young officer who had startled her.
"Oh sorry," she said. "Forgive the language, you just took me by surprise there."
Hartley apologised and joined her by the engine compartment.
"Can’t say I know much about these things," said Hartley. "I say, aren’t you a little bit out of bounds? I would not have expected to find one you gals around here."
The girl used a rag to clean oil from her delicate hands.
"You’d be surprised what we do Mr. … sorry I didn’t catch your name?"
"My apologies. Hartley’s the name. Mudshires. And you are?" he countered.
"Alexandra Ford, but I’ve been called Sandy from the year dot. I was taking some goodies up to the Salvation Army stalls, bit of a favour for an old friend who runs the show in this area," she explained.
Hartley raised his eyebrows.
"How very good of you. Most admirable," he said. "Well, we can’t have you stuck out here. Have another look at your engine and if you can’t get this charabanc going, I’ll ride over to Pop and return with a rescue party! Can’t have a damsel in distress, y’know."
Sandy Ford smiled politely and bent again towards the engine casing.
Hartley moved behind her.
"I wonder if you would hold this flashlight for me," she asked.
"Oh I don’t think you’ll need that where you are going," he snarled, pulling back her blonde hair and exposing her throat to the cold steel of the razor.
The girl’s blood mingled with the oil and grime of the engine. It would not make a good lubricant.
As Hartley’s fist closed in the VAD’s hair, Lonnie Lonergan leapt to his feet.
Willie McCallion tackled him and the two men fell to the ground.
"She’s already a goner Lonnie," hissed McCallion through gritted teeth. "Now take a f..king picture of that animal while he’s at the scene. We’ve got the arrogant pig if you can work that camera!"
For a second, Lonergan stared aghast at the hatred on the face of his mate, then he focused the camera and snapped Hartley as he retrieved some souvenirs for his new collection from the still twitching body of the murdered girl.
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