Free A Death Displaced by Andrew Butcher Page A

floor was like ice on his bare feet, so he shuffled in an attempt to warm them. He ran water from the tap into a glass and gulped down the liquid.
    Why would anyone want to beat me up? It was so vivid. Another vision? He brought up a hand to rest his forehead against the palm, his fingers tangled in his fringe.
    When he was younger, he’d gotten into occasional scraps. Most boys scuffled with other kids at some point during school, but Nick had never brawled with anyone as an adult. So why did he see himself being kicked repeatedly?
    When he returned to bed, he struggled to relax. So that’s what I get for praying: a vision of me getting beaten up? Or maybe even killed, if they continued … He closed his eyes, decided never to pray again, and waited for sleep.

Chapter 6
    Juliet woke on Wednesday. She inhaled deeply and thought, No nonsense today, then jumped out of bed and sped about her morning routine.
    With scarcely any customers due to Halloween approaching and everyone celebrating in Amiton, Chanton Hillview was quiet. It allowed freedom for Juliet to move furniture around and visualise the intended new décor.
    She’d considered a feature wall with striking wallpaper, and in her mind it had looked good, but when she stood and gazed about her café now, she just couldn’t picture it anymore.
    The café already had its feature: an entire glass wall displaying the view of the hills. It was the whole selling point; it was in the name. But something had to change. This décor was a mistake , thought Juliet , like the previous design had been too .
    An idea struck her. She would strip the place down. Make it as minimal as possible to let nothing unnecessarily distract from the view. The wall art, the ornaments, and even the patterned furniture all conflicted too much.
    How had she not realised it before? It was like going to the cinema with a date, trying to appreciate the film but becoming distracted by how attractive your date was and how much you wanted to hold their hand: one of the views had to suffer and in turn lessen the overall experience. You’d end up leaving the cinema unable to even recall the plot of the film.
    From now on she didn’t want anyone coming to Chanton Hillview and being anything less than mesmerized by the view. Simple but stylish furniture, modest colours, contemporary and unobtrusive wall art (if any), and minimum ornaments. Sometimes less was better.
    In her office, she finalised the plans and called Roy in to speak with her. Roy, smartly groomed as always, appeared in the doorway. ‘Yes, Juliet?’
    ‘The café will be closed on Monday. It’s Halloween. Everyone will be in Amiton, so it’s not worth staying open.’
    ‘Okay.’
    ‘But I’d like you to come in anyway. I’ll give you money for materials, and if you can I’d like you to start decorating the café,’ she said with a sly smile.
    Excitedly, he asked, ‘We are redecorating again?’
    ‘Yes. I’m bored of it, it’s tacky. I want to modernise it. Make it simple, sleek, and stylish. I want the view of the hills to truly be the focal point that it should be.’
    ‘I like that idea.’ He nodded.
    ‘I’ve picked the furniture I want; I just need you to purchase it. If anybody wants what we have now, take it. It will only go to the skip otherwise. All wall art is to go, everything is to go. Ashleigh and Sandra can take whatever they want, and they can come in to help you, too. In fact, we’ll close for the entire week and anything you feel uncomfortable doing, just call a handy man or whatever. I’m leaving you in charge, Roy. Here’s how I want it to look.’
    She went over her ideas with him, showing sketches of a new layout. When she was satisfied he had the correct picture in his mind, she smiled, and enjoyed a sense of relief.
    ‘What is the budget?’ asked Roy.
    ‘Don’t worry about that. I’ll leave you with enough to buy the materials, any extras, and to pay labourers if you need them.’ Chanton