The Lost Queen by Frewin Jones Read Free Book Online Page A

door at the far end. “She’ll meet you there,” he said.
    â€œThanks,” Tania said.
    She circled the long queue and came to a security door that could be opened only by pressing out a code number on a keypad.
    â€œFingers crossed,” Edric said, joining her.
    â€œI’ve got everything crossed,” Tania replied.
    After about a minute the door opened and a small, plump Asian woman looked out at them with a questioning smile. “Can I help you?”
    â€œI hope so,” Tania said. “I know this is going to sound weird, but I think my mother was here a few days ago. She posted a parcel: a large book. It was going to an address in Camden.”
    The manager looked puzzled. “Yes?”
    â€œThe thing is,” Tania continued, “my mum looksjust like me—red hair and green eyes—so I was kind of hoping that one of your staff might remember serving her.”
    The manager gave her an incredulous look. “Do you have any idea how many customers pass through these doors every week?”
    â€œQuite a few, I should imagine,” Tania said with a weak laugh.
    â€œHundreds,” the woman said. “And you want us to remember one in particular? I don’t think so. Why don’t you just ask your mother about the parcel if there’s a problem?”
    â€œI would,” Tania said hesitantly, “but Mum’s gone…gone away…and…and the parcel never arrived and I’m worried that it might have got lost in the post.”
    The manager rolled her eyes. “You want a lost parcels form,” she said, pointing to a rack of forms. “Fill it in and hand it over at the counter. We’ll do what we can.” With a brief nod of her head the woman stepped back through the door and closed it with a sharp click.
    In silence they made their way back onto the street.
    â€œIt was a bit of a long shot, I suppose,” Edric said. “And there’s still the other branch.” He pulled an A–Z map out of his pocket. “It’s in St. Margaret’s Road, on the other side of the river.”
    â€œI need something to drink first,” Tania said,pointing across the street to a sandwich bar. “Let’s try in there.”
    The bar had a long narrow interior decorated in bright blue and white tiles. Along one side was a glass-topped counter lined with cakes and filled baguettes, and on the other side were rows of wooden tables. Most of the tables were already occupied, but Tania managed to find an empty one near the back while Edric joined the line.
    A minute or two later Edric slid into the chair opposite her, placing a tray on the table. He handed her a tall cup topped with brown foam.
    â€œWe can’t take too long,” he said as she stirred her coffee. “Post offices only stay open till one o’clock on Saturdays, and it’s already gone twelve.”
    As she drank, Tania became aware that a young woman dressed in a black-and-white waitress uniform was staring at her from the end of the counter.
    Tania met her gaze. The waitress smiled and walked over to their table.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said. “But I have to ask—has your mother ever been in here?”
    â€œMy mother?”
    â€œThere was a woman in here a week or so ago and she had exactly the same hair color as you—that really fabulous glowing red.” She looked more closely at Tania. “In fact, you look exactly like her! She was very well dressed in a designer business suit and with really classy salon makeup. That’s her, isn’t it?”
    Tania’s heart was pounding with sudden exhilaration. “Yes,” she said. “I think it probably is.”
    â€œI knew it!” said the waitress. “I never forget a face.”
    â€œDid you catch her name?” Edric asked, and Tania could hear the excitement welling up in his voice.
    â€œHer name ?” the waitress echoed, sounding