Free The Lost Souls Dating Agency by Suneeti Rekhari Page A

looks we got from the librarians if we made too much noise. Will, I learnt, had a wicked sense of humour that closely matched mine. Megan and Neha teased me incessantly about him, but I knew we were only friends. And yet…
    ***
    One rainy Saturday afternoon, almost a month after my meeting with Fiona, I decided to visit her again. This time, my reception was much more courteous and less weepy. She made me a cup of tea and led me to her bedroom. Laid out on her bed were all the “deliveries” she had received from Victor. Some were large, much larger than the letterbox itself. She told me it was like having her very own Tardis!
    I looked around at the items on her bed. Collected together they made the air thick with Victor’s personality, his life, his spirit. Fiona had eagerly read the books he had placed for her. They were old and rare, and perhaps quite valuable. She gently touched the bits of woven tapestry as she pointed them out to me. These she knew to be extremely precious, and kept them wrapped in special tissue she brought home from work. There were letters, and coins and knick knacks, a music box, a golden comb with Scythians in battle, a delicate necklace and Art Nouveau silver buttons.
    Then there was his diary. It was sitting on the edge of the bed. It was a personal diary that Fiona had read with revulsion. She knew it was a glimpse into the dark shadows of his nature.
    Finally she placed a small piece of weighty leather and a note in my hands.
    â€˜This was in the letterbox today,’ she said in a low voice.
    I cautiously unwrapped the leather folds and a plain silver ring fell out. I carefully read the handwritten note.
    A silver ring I forged many moons ago when I was filled with human hopes and desires. It is yours to keep, and comes with my gratitude, in allowing me to love.
    I felt my eyes moisten.
    I stood motionless and looked at Fiona. The expression on her face told me that she had made her decision. And I knew, from that moment onwards, it would change everything.

Chapter 16
    On Monday morning, after a lazy weekend, I walked into the warehouse and switched on the oil heater to take the chill out of the concrete icebox. Winter was fast approaching. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw an envelope sitting on my desk. I looked at it questioningly. It was heavy and made of expensive stationery. Great, first newspapers and now fancy envelopes appeared out of nowhere in my office. I picked it up cautiously and opened it. A rectangular piece of paper flew lightly out and landed by my feet under the desk. When I bent to retrieve it, I glanced at it and let out a loud yelp. My head bounced against the heavy underside of the desk. Ow!
    It was a cheque signed by Victor Wareham. There was a two written neatly on it, followed by four, no, five zeros. I remained seated under my desk, quite frozen for the next few hours.
    ***
    Two days later I was still in shock. I had rung Meagan and Neha immediately and told them about my change of fortune. Last night we had celebrated in proper style, with many magnums of champagne. I had lost count after three. My dull headache today reminded me how much we had celebrated.
    I was laid out on the sofa in my office, contemplating moving, when I heard a whoosh in the room. I looked up to see Victor standing over me. I gave him a broad smile and jumped up from my repose.
    â€˜I received your payment,’ I began, ‘it’s far too much.’
    â€˜It is what your services deserve,’ he said graciously.
    I was grateful, but I knew my services had been less than professional.
    â€˜We both know that this was my first case,’ I said frankly. ‘There’s no use pretending my methods were not without their faults.’
    â€˜No there isn’t.’ Victor smiled. ‘Nonetheless, the end result was what I wanted.’ He cleared his throat. ‘What I had hoped for.’
    Did he look happy? Yes, he did. This was my first glimpse