Replay

Calm before the carnage.

The camera was positioned above and behind the counter to get a good clear picture of anyone that decided to rob the shop. Having been done over previously in the past, Mr. Raj was keen to make sure that it wouldn't happen again and hoped that the camera would act as a deterrent.

The time and date were displayed in the bottom right-hand corner: 26/11/08 - 06.02am. Mr. Raj, who used to live above the shop, changed the tapes over at six o'clock every morning. A routine that had never once been deviated from before but would never be carried out again.

Kendrick hit the fast forward button. He wanted to view all the tape's daylight footage again just to make sure he hadn't missed anything. Darkness soon gave way to daylight as gold-lined beams of early morning sunlight filled the shop.

At 07.30 Mr Raj appeared, moving at breakneck speed around the shop, in and out of view, then topping up the float in the till, ready for another busy day.

Kendrick pressed the play button, slowing things down to normal speed.

The shop assistant, Julie, showed up at 08.27, banging on the door. Mr. Raj let her in and admonished her for being twelve minutes late. She told him that the bus was running late.

'Well, my girl,' he replied, 'I think you need to put in a complaint, because, according to you, the number thirty-two bus pretty much turns up late all the time, doesn't it? What was your excuse on Monday? … hmm … now let me see … oh, yes, the bus was late. And on Friday, last week … hmm … oh, yes, what a surprise, the bus was late. And the week before that … hmm … now let me see … the bu -' 'Yes, all right,' Julie said, 'you've made your point.' Kendrick giggled, then pressed the fast forward button.