Chapter 41: Three Very Suspicious Young Ladies

By half past four, security officer Martin Hughes had been watching three young women for nearly twenty minutes.

He had worked at the shopping centre for eleven years. During that time, he’d dealt with shoplifters, lost children, arguments over parking spaces, teenagers attempting to ride skateboards down escalators, and one memorable gentleman who’d tried to bring a goat into a department store.

He liked to think he could recognise suspicious behaviour. And these three were definitely suspicious.

For one thing, two of them were exceptionally tall. Both stood around six feet, and neither was particularly easy to overlook. One had long black hair, the other wavy brown hair, and both possessed the sort of athletic build that suggested they might play rugby.

Their shorter companion had bushy brown hair and an expression of increasing exasperation. They had emerged from the cinema approximately ten minutes after a young couple and had been behaving oddly ever since. First, they’d pretended to examine a display of handbags while repeatedly peering over the top of it. Then they’d spent several minutes studying a map of the shopping centre, despite appearing considerably more interested in the people passing behind them.

And now they were standing beside a shop window, apparently fascinated by a collection of decorative cushions. Except that none of them was looking at the cushions. Martin folded his arms. Interesting.

“Where are they going?” Georgina whispered.

Victoria leaned around the edge of the window display.

“Towards the escalators.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Victoria, would you please stop leaning around things? You’re attracting attention.”

Victoria looked offended.

“I’m being discreet.”

“You’re six feet tall and hiding behind a display of cushions.”

“So?”

“So the cushions are about two feet high!”

Georgina giggled. Victoria straightened.

“Fine. Better?”

“Much.”

A moment later, Victoria leaned forward again. Hermione closed her eyes.

“Oh, honestly.”

Georgina glanced towards the escalators.

“Look! He’s holding her hand again!”

Victoria grinned.

“Good lad.”

Hermione couldn’t help smiling. Ahead of them, Alex and Draconia were walking slowly through the shopping centre, their fingers intertwined. Draconia was laughing at something Alex had said, her blonde ponytail bouncing as she turned towards him. She looked happier than Hermione had ever seen her. And completely oblivious to the three girls following her.

“Well,” Hermione admitted, “at least she’s enjoying herself.”

“That’s all we wanted.”

Georgina smiled.

“Exactly.”

Hermione glanced at them.

“Then perhaps we could stop following her?”

Both Slytherins looked horrified.

“Now?” Victoria asked.

“We haven’t seen the end of the date!” Georgina protested.

Hermione sighed. Of course they hadn’t. Martin Hughes approached them at a leisurely pace. He had learned long ago that there was little point in rushing towards suspicious people. Better to approach calmly, ask a few questions, and see how they reacted.

“Afternoon, ladies.”

All three girls turned. Victoria smiled.

“Afternoon.”

Martin nodded politely.

“Everything all right?”

“Perfectly,” Georgina replied.

“Enjoying your shopping?”

“Very much,” Victoria said.

Martin glanced at their empty hands.

“Bought anything nice?”

Victoria hesitated.

“Not yet.”

“I see.”

Hermione was beginning to look distinctly uncomfortable. Martin smiled pleasantly.

“Only, I’ve noticed you’ve been wandering around this area for a while. Is there something you’re looking for?”

Victoria and Georgina exchanged a glance. Hermione recognised the expression immediately. It was the expression they wore just before saying something spectacularly foolish. She stepped forward.