Acme Time Travel Incorporated - Volume 1

The Gazette Office

The office phone rang, and Barney picked it up, muttering a silent prayer that it was someone who owed him money, explaining that they had got it, and were just going to pop round with it.

“Frinton and Dovercourt Gazette ... Barney Daniels speaking. How can I help you?” Barney said.

Barney listened.

“I’m sorry,” Barney said. “I’m not sure that I got that. Can you repeat it please?”

Barney listened.

“Yes, I do own a blue bike ... it’s a ... oh, I don’t know ... big fat tyres, that sort,” Barney said.

Barney listened again.

“Yes, I did lend it to a young lad called Gabriel Jones. He works for me.”

Barney listened some more.

“And yes, he would have had a rucksack with a phone and a digital camera in it. It’s the office equipment. As I said, he works for me. He’s a reporter. He needs that sort of stuff.”

Barney listened.

“Just a minute, officer,” Barney interrupted. “Was Gabriel actually committing an offence when you pulled him up? Was he speeding down the road? Was he behaving recklessly?”

Barney listened.

“So, you just pulled him up, eh? You just pulled up some black lad ... cycling down the road, on a shiny bike, with a rucksack on his back. Is that what happened, eh?”

Barney listened.

“No, I’m sure that you were just doing your duty, officer. I’m sure that Gabriel and me will laugh about it when he gets back to the office ... as we sit and think about what to write up in our editorial for next week.”

Barney put the phone down. He chuckled to himself. “Silly buggers,” he said.