Jane slowed at the approach of the older man and his questions. She was a woman alone in a strange town, so had to take care. There were stories in the papers back in North Shields of stranglers and other evil men who preyed on women. Indeed, her Billy fell in with such people years ago... Who was Lottie? She didn't know anyone called Lottie. The older man looked a gruff sort with a imposing build, bushy mustache, wearing dusty, worn clothes. A real workaday type, to be avoided by women like Jane.

"No, thank you. I don't answer questions from strangers who smell like a like an evenin' at the Red Lion."