Free Until Death by Ali Knight Page B

ready for us?’ asked Jason. ‘I’ve got the van here for the props.’
    She had forgotten. They had left a message saying they would collect on Saturday, but she had not remembered to call them back and change it. Christos was at work and Flo at a friend’s house but Medea was sitting like a fat toad in the flat. She would tell Christos that two men had been here and that could be bad. ‘Hi, guys. Come up.’ She said it loudly as she pushed the raise button on the car park barrier so the deaf old witch would hear. She had nothing to hide, her voice suggested. She walked calmly down the long corridor into her bedroom, throwing a baggy old sweater with a glue stain on the front over her T-shirt. She walked into the bathroom, grabbed a flannel and scrubbed off her make-up. She was pleased to see her skin turn pink under the abuse. She came out into the corridor and saw Medea standing there waiting for her. ‘Collection,’ she said.
    A few moments later, Jason and Salvatore came in. Jason was in his late thirties with a quiff of brown hair and glasses he kept pushing distractedly up his face. He was tall and rangy and had a very good smile, which, she had realised the last few times she had met him, he turned on her with increasing intensity. The silly idiot, didn’t he realise she was trying to put him off for his own good? Salvatore was in his twenties, exquisitely beautiful and gay and spoke with a strong Italian accent.
    They followed her into the studio. ‘Skeletons for a Mexican Day of the Dead parade,’ said Kelly. ‘They’d be great props for Halloween.’ She gave Jason a look. ‘I haven’t let my children anywhere near them, I promise.’
    ‘It’s such a joy to come here,’ said Salvatore, eyes darting round. ‘You should
see
some of the hovels out east we have to go to, eh, Jason?’
    Jason shrugged. ‘Yeah, like my flat.’ Jason looked to Kelly and they shared a smile. She couldn’t help it. She was nervous when work people came here, but she also treasured their meetings; it was a brief glimpse into a world that was fun and where she had her own identity.
    ‘It’s lovely to see you both.’ Kelly walked around a giant ghoul that was leaning against the wall near the door and over to the trestle table where three masks were sitting. ‘The masks are still not ready, you know,’ she began, but was interrupted by the door opening and Medea appearing. She introduced the two men to her mother-in-law and Medea went away to make tea.
    ‘Don’t worry, I know they’re not finished,’ Jason said. ‘I really would be too hard a taskmaster if I judged before they’re ready.’ But, unable to resist, that’s just what he did do, moving forward and picking up the first of the masks on the table. He turned it in his hands, nodding and assessing and gave the outer shell a hard rap with a knuckle. He gave her a knowing look. ‘Just testing.’
    ‘It’s as strong as wood, Jason,’ she answered, pride flaring inside her.
    ‘It has to be. Ninety performances minimum, assuming the critics don’t maul us.’ He paused. ‘It’s beautiful.’
    ‘Say Day of the Dead!’ Salvatore held up his smartphone and took a photo.
    ‘Oh no, get rid of that,’ Kelly urged.
    ‘Why? You’re surrounded by skeletons and ghouls, it looks perfect.’
    ‘Still, I don’t like having my picture taken.’ She frowned as Salvatore shrugged and began fiddling with his phone. She watched Jason’s long fingers shaping and feeling the smooth outline of the mask. She came towards him and took the mask, held it up with her fist inside and turned one side to her visitors. ‘Smiling.’ She turned the far side towards them. ‘Scowling. I made the nose big so each side obscures the other.’
    Jason nodded. ‘One side good, the other evil, each aspect present in every character.’ She could see that he liked it.
    Salvatore came over and put on the mask. He turned side-on to them and began creeping about in an exaggerated