Fine Lines - SA by Simon Beckett Read Free Book Online Page B

Marty. Anna accepted it with a shrug.
    "Oh, wel , we'l see. There are hundreds of places I want to go to. I expect I'l never get around to seeing half of them."

    "Have you a job already lined up?" Anna glanced at me. "Oh, no, not yet. I'l just have to look around when I get there."
    "If you'd like, I have one or two contacts in New York I could get in touch with," I said. "They may be able to help."
    "Oh, would you? That'd be fantastic!" I basked in her gratitude. "Wel , I can't promise that they wil , of course, but I can certainly try." I would at least go through the motions.
    "Oh, that'l be great, Donald! Thanks ever so much. We'l be able to live on savings for a while, but the sooner I can find work the better."
    "Don't build your hopes up too much. But I'l see what I can do." That put Anna in a better mood than ever. Watching her, I could almost forget the reason we were there. Then Anna excused herself, and Zeppo leaned towards me.
    "I think now's as good a time as any for you to go." The request took me by surprise. "Now? Why?"
    "Because there's only so much I can do while you're playing gooseberry, isn't there? Don't look so upset. That's what you're paying me for, isn't it? You've got to leave us alone sometime or other." I covered my disappointment. "Yes, of course. I just wasn't expecting it. What do you plan to do?"
    "Not much. It'l give me a chance to get to know her a bit better, that's al . Then, if it goes wel , I can rip her clothes off and take her over the table." He sighed at my expression. "Joke, Donald."
    "I don't find it funny." Zeppo smirked. "I noticed. Anyway, think of an excuse before she comes back. Say you've remembered a meeting, or something."
    "Won't that seem rather suspicious?"
    "Why should it? You're her boss, for Christ's sake, you don't have to account to her. Just make it something simple, and leave it at that."
    I stood up as Anna returned. "Anna, I've suddenly remembered I've got an appointment in half an hour. I'm going to have to go. I'm afraid you'l have to open the gal ery yourself. You don't mind, do you?"
    If it was flimsy, Anna did not appear to notice. "No, of course not.
    I'd better be getting back, anyway. I've had far too long as it is." She began to pick up her coat.
    "No need to go this minute. There's no hurry. Finish the wine first.
    I'm sure Zeppo won't mind running you back, wil you, Zeppo?"
    "Of course not. My pleasure." I left them at the table. Not without regret and, I admit, a touch of jealousy. But I dismissed both, and instead tried to think of somewhere to go. There was a cafe opposite the gal ery that was as good a place as any. I parked some distance from it, so Anna would not see the car, and began to walk back. No sooner had I set off than it started to rain. By the time I reached the cafe I was soaked.
    I bought a cup of coffee and sat in a window seat, uncomfortably damp.
    From there I could look over the road at the gal ery. I doubted I would be noticed. Plants cluttered the window sil , and the glass itself was so misted I could barely see through it myself. I sipped the appal ing coffee and settled down to wait.
    I was just beginning to suspect that Zeppo might have lured Anna off somewhere when I saw his car pul in further down the road. A moment later they were both running towards the gal ery, sheltering under Zeppo's coat. I was pleased by this unexpected intimacy, and felt more kindly disposed towards the rain. I watched as they went inside, and then the lights came on against the dark afternoon. Now I could see them clearly through the gal ery's large windows, a silent pantomime. I wished I could hear what they were saying. Both of them seemed to be smiling a great deal. The telephone must have rung, because Anna suddenly picked it up and began writing something in the messages book.
    Zeppo watched her for a moment, than moved to the window and looked out. I drew back but he did not see me. After a while Anna hung up, wrote some more, then said