Caroline was having an off day. What was supposed to be a nice relaxing day at the beach was turning into a series of misadventures.
She had an argument with Andrew and he'd gone off in a huff. Now she was stuck here until came back. She couldn't even change until he got back because her clothes were in the car. She'd somehow managed to lose her purse and didn't have any money, and she was hot and thirsty.
She'd seen some creep eyeing her off earlier, and now every time she turned around there he was, somewhere in the area and seeming to keep one eye on her. Maybe she was being paranoid.
She sighed. There was nothing she could do until Andrew turned up. She could only wait by the car and fume and think of things to tell the inconsiderate boor.
At the end of the row was a van. Quite a nice van, bright green in colour. She could hear the faint sound of music from it, but once, when the owner had got out, the music had seemed excessively loud. He must have installed good sound-proofing, which was unusual. Owners of vans like that generally let the music pour out, careless of who they disturbed.
Looking around she saw that man again. Now he was in the car-park, and she was sure he was watching her. Nervously, she found herself wishing that she was wearing more than a tiny bikini. Damn Andrew. She wished he'd get back.
She turned away, trying to ignore him. Then a voice said "You wouldn't be Caroline, would you?"
She turned to see who was addressing her. A nice normal looking man, somehow familiar.
"Ah, yes, I am," she said. "Who are you?"
"I thought you were," came the reply. "Caroline, age twenty, according to your driver's license, which is in your purse together with about fifty dollars and a couple of bank cards."
At Caroline's startled look the young man grinned. "I found your purse," he said. "It's in my van," nodding to the van at the end of the row.
That's why he seemed familiar, realised Caroline. She'd seen him get out of the van a few moments ago.
"That's a relief," Caroline told him. "I was dreading having to cancel all my cards and things and get new ones."
"You can be lucky, sometimes," said the man. "I'm Tommy, by the way. Why don't we just wander over to the van and I'll dig out that purse."
As they walked towards the van, Caroline saw Tommy casting several glances towards the man who she thought might have been following her.
"Do you know him?" she asked, curious. "I had the funny feeling that he might have been following me."
"Well, he's wandering away now," Tommy said. "I don't actually know him, but I have seen him hanging around the car park several times, watching single girls. He's not exactly dressed for the beach, either. I suggest you avoid him."
Caroline sighed. "I have to stick around the car park until my brother gets back. We had an argument earlier and he went off with some of his mates, but he didn't leave me the keys, the selfish pig."
Tommy laughed. "You can't depend on brothers, I guess. They tend to see sisters as pests that get in their way at times. Don't worry about that character too much. He's probably harmless."
Arriving at the van Tommy unlocked the rear doors and flung them open. A wall of sound seemed to jump out at them, but Tommy flicked a switch by the door and shut it off. "I forgot that I'd left that on," he said with a laugh. "Hmm, purse, purse, where did I put the purse? Ah, there it is."
Tommy stepped up into the van, returning seconds later with a purse. "This yours?" he asked.
"Yes," gloated Caroline, taking it. Flicking it open she saw her license, credit cards and cash. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"You're welcome," laughed Tommy. "It's not as though I haven't lost a wallet in my time and been tearing my hair out trying to sort things out."
"Well, thank you again," smiled Caroline. "I'm heading to the shop to get a coke. I'm dying of thirst." She turned to move away and faltered. That man was there again, standing over near the shop.
Tommy followed her gaze. "Hmm. A suggestion." Indicating the open door of the van, he continued. "You will note that in my nice little van I have a nice little fridge. In that nice little fridge I have several cans of coke and several cans of beer. If you care to step inside for the nonce, I can offer you one, but if you're going to be driving I suggest that you stick to the coke."
