Den of Stars. Christopher Byford

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ led her slowly to the door, one step after the other until reaching out and placing his hand on the handle, despite the closed sign hanging on the glass. ‘You never asked. Ready?’

       From inside, figures went about their business, quite content to go about the daily routine, unaware who was about to stroll through their door.

       ‘No?’

       ‘That’s a shame.’

       Franco heaved the door ajar. The gentle tinkle of a bell caught the attention of the women inside, especially the one in the middle of the kitchen who was jabbing at something boiling in a large pot. In a flurry, Colette advanced on them, waving the pair out.

       ‘The sign says closed. Did you not see it? Out please, there’s another hour to go until …’ Her eyes squinted in thought at the man and the woman who meekly hid herself beside him. This simply wasn’t possible. ‘Oh no. There is no conceivable way you … you …’

       By now the others had taken notice of the confusion and they too questioned what it was they were witnessing. Someone dropped a glass in shock. The woman in the middle of the kitchen fainted in disbelief, taking a pan to the floor with her, which was, thankfully, not hot.

       ‘Kitty!’ someone cried out and rushed to help her.

       Collette still couldn’t believe what was happening. Her heart pounded furiously and tears welled up, causing any other words to fumble out.

       ‘Franco? Is that really you?’

       The owner of the Morning Star removed his sunglasses and smiled his best. ‘Not just me,’ he said. The woman beside him was adamant to shield herself from attention. Finally Misu raised her head, removed the hat, and braced herself for the worst.

       Hands covered mouths. In the back, some began to sob.

       Katerina staggered out from between the congregation, silent, and stood before Misu whilst examining her face. Suddenly she grabbed her old manager and embraced her tightly, letting some tears fall.

       ‘Your hair looks nice,’ Katerina said, muffled by Misu’s coat.

       In reply the woman choked a thanks, reciprocating the gesture.

      * * *

       This moment was suddenly shattered, as was the ashtray that had been launched at the wall nearest to the arrivals. It burst into pieces, dotting the ground with chunks of glass. Misu shrieked as it exploded. Franco stood firmly in his place, unflinching.

       ‘That was uncalled for,’ he firmly stated to the culprit.

       Corinne, situated at the bar, lowered her arm, furious and quite disgusted at the pair.

       ‘Am I hearing things or does the ghost before me actually have a line that defines when things are inappropriate? Because that would be ridiculous to the point of downright tragic,’ she seethed, all a fluster. This remarkable revelation was welcome – of course it was, as every day since the tragedy she had thought of those who were killed – but it wasn’t a tragedy now. It was a lie. A horrid two-year lie made at the expense of those who loved them. Jacques was right: the girls had all been used.

       ‘I told you …’ Misu whined under her breath to him.

       ‘It’s a pleasure to see you too, Corinne. Dramatic as always but still, a pleasure.’

       ‘I wish I could say the same.’ She glared, suppressing the desire to insult him further. Her gaze now fell to Misu who shuddered at the realization.

       ‘It’s your turn to say something,’ Franco whispered beside her.

       Misu elevated her hand and weakly smiled. Corinne rolled her eyes in response.

       ‘Try actual words,’ Franco insisted. ‘It might help.’

       Corinne waited patiently for the gesture to be made.

       As Misu attempted to quell Corinne’s understandable outrage, Franco was mobbed by the rest and many tears were shed at the sheer relief of both he and Misu being among the living. They all gathered around to hear the dramatic tale of how the pair survived though the latter months were only touched upon.

       Corinne eventually rejoined the group, stony-faced but willing to hear them out, much to Misu’s considerable relief. When Kitty had come around, Colette stood beside her, fanning her with a dishcloth. Whilst everybody came to terms with what had transpired, the girls insisted that they both tried the house special – a pecan pie that Kitty proclaimed was the best ever concocted. She wasn’t wrong.

       ‘This is all yours is it?’ Franco asked, waving his fork around before succumbing to another bite of the dessert.

       ‘The best place for eats you’ll ever find in Windberg. Fine décor. Spellbinding staff. Amazing food. Best in the city according to some of the papers,’ Kitty proudly stated, her chef whites impeccably crisp despite the earlier mishap.

       ‘I can’t knock that,’ Misu agreed, polishing her portion off and sucking upon the fork until clean. ‘Something like this must be a dream come true for you.’

       Her words tapered off as she and Franco glanced at one another.

       ‘I take it you two have been keeping a low profile.’

       ‘Something like that. We’ve been in Eifera mostly, waiting for things to cool down.’

       ‘Doing what?’

       ‘Well …’

       Corinne, who leant over the back of a chair at the rear, found it all painfully apparent, especially for someone with their ear to the ground as much as her.

       ‘You don’t even have to answer that. The Morning Star is yours, right?’

       ‘Is it that obvious?’ Franco laughed, partially from nerves, curious considering the company.

       ‘A ballsy loco like that rolls in – of course people are going to talk about it. It’s all they were discussing at market when I was collecting the meats. A train like that is only suitable for transporting royalty – or one of your shows.’ She played with the gold rings on her fingers, turning them this way and that. ‘And I sure don’t see a crown on either of your heads. You using a second chance to get up to your old tricks, Franco?’

       ‘No tricks, I promise you.’

       ‘This isn’t a catch-up is it?’ Corinne stated with arms tightly folded.

       ‘I don’t get what you mean.’ Kitty was СКАЧАТЬ