If he lost her now, he’d have to wait until tomorrow. Another day, not knowing what to do, the bills ticking away like time bombs. He knew he was clutching at a thin straw with this whole idea as it was, but now he had to see it through. Just to know if it was anything. He was desperate, and, casting around, he started to think more desperately. The guy on the bike who’d caused the bus to slow. He was still ambling along, seemingly aimlessly. Well, Jacob had an aim.
With a strength and speed he had thought himself incapable of, he ran full tilt at the cyclist, shoulder-barging him to the ground. Taking advantage of the rider’s confusion and shock, Jacob grabbed the handlebars and wrenched the bike away from him, jumping onto the saddle. He pedalled for his life. The bike seemed to take an eternity to accelerate. Behind him, he heard cries, at first surprised and then increasingly irate. He could hear at least one person giving chase. He didn’t turn, concentrating only on the bus that was speeding away down the hill. Thank God it was down, Jacob thought. His thighs started to ache as he raced past the few cars between him and his goal. The bus was stopping. He braked hard, threw the bike to the pavement and ran the last few yards to catch it.
His heart was pounding, adrenaline rushing through his veins. Gradually, panting hard, he marshalled his thoughts. He thrust a hand into his pocket and grabbed some change to pay the fare. He suddenly held his breath as he passed the money over. What if the driver had seen him in his mirror? The official uniform filled him with terror. He could see a radio – the driver could easily inform the police. With great effort of will, he calmed himself. The uniform meant no more official status than the polo shirts Lloyd had made him wear. He’d stolen the bike after the bus had travelled a long way down the road. The driver would have to have had incredible eyesight to have seen anything. It was nevertheless with relief that Jacob saw the machine printing his ticket. The driver barely registered his presence as he ripped it from the roll. He made his way into the body of the bus, trying to look calm. The bus wasn’t busy – there were only three people downstairs. None of them were Jane. He sat at the back, where he hoped she wouldn’t notice him but he would see her descending the stairs. The events of the last few minutes had completely undone his mental preparation and meeting on a bus was awkward at the best of times. He resolved to follow her until a better time presented itself. At the back of his mind, he worried that no such time would happen.
He noticed that the bus had turned and tried to work out which road he was now on. King Edward School. He knew where that was. So she must live somewhere downtown. He kept an close eye on the stairs.