Butcher by Campbell Armstrong Read Free Book Online Page B

her straight nose perfect in all ways, the nostrils pleasingly symmetrical. He had a thing about noses.
    He tapped a finger on one of the earphones and startled her.
    â€˜Rube, oh wow, you like scared me.’ She affected American speech rhythms and expressions occasionally, because her ambition was to emigrate to California. Years ago, she’d been devoted to Baywatch and Beverly Hills 90210 . She dreamed cinema. She studied the gossip magazines, who was divorcing who, what star was being unfaithful to wife or husband. She took voice lessons and drama classes in preparation for the moment when she hit Tinseltown.
    She removed her earphones and Chuck heard modern jazz issue from them.
    â€˜That Lombardo will be the death of me.’
    â€˜I know. It stinks down there, so I got Zondra to send for the Oxydoro guys, who’ll be here within the hour and reduce the chlorine levels.’
    â€˜You’re a star.’ Chuck ruffled her hair.
    She was quick and sharp and you didn’t have to spell things out for her. She took action when it was needed. He’d given her control of all six Number One Fitness Centres, not just because he was very fond of her, and they shared an intense sexual history – because he trusted her more than anyone else in his tiny circle of intimates. Bottom line, she protected his interests.
    She said, ‘Tommy’s so thick I bet he doesn’t even recognize his own reflection in a mirror. I told him, one more fuck-up and you’re on your bike.’
    â€˜He brings in the clients … Lissen, I need you to do somethin.’
    â€˜Tell me.’
    â€˜I have this guy I do some business with. He’s a bit out there, very high strung.’
    â€˜The kinda guy who thinks Relax is something you take when you’re constipated.’
    â€˜Right. I want you to call him.’
    â€˜And?’ Glorianna took a tube of skin cream from a box that contained dozens of similar cylinders. She opened it and worked the cream into her thighs. Chuck contemplated women and all their assorted creams. The whole lotion–skin relationship was a mystery to him.
    He said, ‘I’m thinkin mibbe one of your massages will do the trick.’
    She looked at him with an expression of disbelief. He’d never asked her to do this kind of thing before. ‘And if my massage doesn’t work? You want me to fuck him, Chuck?’
    â€˜Now hang on a minute, sweetie. I’d never ask you to do anythin like that. Keep in mind I need his business, and I don’t want to send him some rough tottie.’
    â€˜If he needs a great massage, Rube, that’s what he’ll get.’
    â€˜It’s not like I’m pimpin you—’
    But you’re using me , she thought. ‘I don’t fuck strange men, Rube.’
    â€˜I hate when you swear, pet. Swearin coarsens you.’ He took her hand and stroked it. He flicked a lock of hair from her cheek. She was in a sulk. He’d offended her, and hadn’t meant to.
    She said, ‘I remember when you used to curse every second word.’
    â€˜People evolve. Baba says if you don’t accept the possibility of change, you stagnate. And that’s the death of the soul.’
    Baba, Baba. Glorianna, who’d introduced Chuck to the guru nine months ago, still longed for the lapsed Catholic Rube used to be, hard-living, hard-drinking, meat-eating party beast and tireless lover. But that guy had vanished in Baba’s domain. She’d imagined he might have been more sceptical about the guru’s teachings. After the Catholic church had disappointed him, she guessed he’d been desperate to embrace a new system of beliefs – even if she didn’t quite understand how he squared some of his business methods with the guru’s words.
    â€˜Is it because I swear you don’t fuck me any more, Rube?’
    â€˜No, no … it’s …’ He drifted a moment. ‘I’m