As if by Magic by Kerry Wilkinson Read Free Book Online Page A

said I could take whatever it is you might have. I’m Ashleigh with an L-E-I-G-H.’ The woman spelled out each later slowly, wrapping her tongue around each syllable in a way Jessica guessed would have Dave staring open-mouthed. She had barely spoken two sentences but the grating fakery of her accent was enough to set Jessica well on the way to being annoyed.
    Jessica was half-tempted to ask where the woman came from, assuming it was somewhere thousands of miles away from where her accent purported to be, but kept herself in check. ‘We need to talk directly to him, I’m afraid.’
    A puzzled look came across Ashleigh’s face as if their request wasn’t something she had considered. ‘I’m not sure Balt’s going to be able to do that,’ she added.
    ‘I’m sorry, who exactly are you?’ Jessica asked, struggling to hold on to any amount of diplomacy.
    The woman’s smile didn’t move, although her eyes narrowed in confusion. ‘I’m Ashleigh with an L-E-I-G-H...’
    ‘I got that the first time,’ Jessica said. ‘Are you the cleaner or something?’
    Finally there was a crack in Ashleigh’s demeanour. For a moment her eye twitched, while her lips quivered before fixing themselves back into a smile.
    ‘No, silly,’ she said with a playful flap of her hand towards Dave, even though it was Jessica who had said it. ‘I’m Balt’s assistant.’
    ‘And you live here?’ Jessica asked.
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘Do many magicians live with their assistants?’
    Ashleigh straightened up, pushing her perky chest forward and giving a half-smile. ‘Well, perhaps we’re a little more than just that. We are getting married...’
    ‘Fine,’ Jessica snapped, her patience having run out. ‘Either way, we need to talk to Balthazar please.’
    Ashleigh looked to Dave, who seemed so entranced he couldn’t say a word of support to either of the women. When it was clear he wasn’t going to stand up for her, Ashleigh turned around and headed inside, saying they could wait just inside the door.
    ‘She has a face, you know,’ Jessica said as they stepped inside and pushed the door closed.
    ‘I know, I’m a professional,’ Dave replied.
    ‘You were staring at her chest the whole time!’
    ‘No way...’
    ‘So tell me one thing about her that doesn’t relate to looks.’
    ‘She’s called Ashleigh.’
    Jessica sighed and rolled her eyes. ‘You’re such a...’
    Before she could finish the sentence, a side door opened and a man breezed into the room, a crimson dressing gown flowing behind him, while he held a glass of a brown liquid in his hand. Hugo had said Balthazar was in his late-fifties but he looked older, with thinning hair on the top of the head and long straggly parts hanging around his neck. It was bright black and clearly dyed, while the wrinkles around his eyes were so extensive that they looked half-closed. His frame was thin and almost emaciated, as if he hadn’t had a full meal in years.
    He stretched out a hand for Dave to shake, again ignoring Jessica in the first instance, and when he came to shake hers, she noticed his fingernails were yellow and thick with age. As Jessica gripped his hand, she had to stop herself gasping as, instead of shaking it, he raised it to his lips and kissed her fingers.
    ‘Delighted to meet you,’ he said.
    Jessica pulled her hand back, trying not to show how uncomfortable she felt. ‘You too,’ she said dismissively. ‘We are returning a few items we think may belong to you and just wanted to run through a few things if that’s okay?’
    ‘I’m a very busy man, Ms...?’
    ‘Probably better if you call me “DS Daniel”,’ Jessica said, not wanting him to add any more informality to proceedings. She suddenly felt uncomfortable out of her work clothes.
    For a moment, she thought Balthazar was going to ask her first name but instead he checked Dave’s name and then led them through to a large room which had a small stage at the front and large bookshelves along