Practical work

Rufus had no lectures on a Thursday, just practicals. One Thursday late in the term, he didn’t go into the laboratory, feigning a bout of flu. He hitch-hiked down to east London where his father was now living.

He deliberately left Mac behind in his university residence.

Arriving at the small terraced house and ringing the doorbell, he was greeted by a timid woman with whom his father was obviously cohabiting. She invited him in. That was a mistake!

Rufus noticed immediately the bruises that showed that his father had been violent with her. No surprises there, he thought.