Free Glimmer and other Stories by Nicola McDonagh Page A

said that people actually murdered just to get their hands on his work.’  
    ‘They did. That’s why he stopped. Can you imagine having to live with that kind of guilt? He felt responsible.’
    ‘So destroyed what was left?’
    ‘The only way to stop them.’
    ‘It must have killed him not to paint, or sculpt, or…’
    ‘It did.’
    A young couple walked in between them. They stood in front of the window and the woman took a camera from out of her shoulder bag. Before she could lift it to take a picture, a guard snatched it from her hands.
    ‘No pictures. It clearly states that on the poster at the entrance. I’m afraid I’ll have to confiscate this, or ask you to leave.’     
    The woman put her hands on her hips and said, ‘That is my property. You have no right to…’
    ‘Come on Gail, it’s not worth it. We’ve seen the thing, let’s just go.’
    ‘Fine. Don’t know what all the fuss is about anyway. I only came ‘cause you said there would be celebs knocking about. Camera, please,’ Gail said and held out her hand. The guard placed the camera into it and gestured towards the exit. ‘All right, we’re gong.’
    The guard nodded to Lola and escorted the couple out of the building.   
    ‘Philistines. He hated that kind of fan. No one knows what he went through to produce a piece. It tore him apart sometimes. ‘Raphael? Are you listening?’
    Raphael blinked. ‘I was wondering what the other four pieces were like?’
    Lola smiled and touched his arm. ‘There were two sculptures: a bird in flight and an abstract piece depicting earth’s creation. One painting of the sun and a charcoal sketch of a reclining woman.’  
    ‘And they were all stolen right after his death?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘I suppose the thief will try and sell them for some ridiculous price.’
    ‘That won’t happen.’
    ‘How do you know?’
    The lights in the gallery began to flicker, guards looked around the room and spoke into walkie-talkies.  
    ‘I just know.’ Lola took hold of Raphael’s hand. ‘This is very important to me. I promised him that I wouldn’t let them have it. I promised, do you understand?’
    ‘You knew him?’    
    ‘The sculpture you saw…’    
    ‘Afflatus?’    
    ‘Remind you of anyone?’    
    ‘You!’    
    ‘Will you help?’    
    ‘Of course.’    
    ‘What time is it?’   
    ‘Eight fourteen.’
    ‘In approximately one minute the lights are going to be switched off, brace yourself.’
    The room went black and the air filled with the screams of frightened art lovers.
    In the darkness, Lola grabbed the window. She opened her coat and stuffed it into a huge pocket roughly sewn onto the lining. She quickly buttoned it up, gripped Raphael by the elbow, and dragged him towards the exit.  
    ‘What’s going on?’
    ‘I’ve got the window. Come on, before they notice.’
    ‘How did you do it?’
    ‘One of the electricians is an old friend of mine.’
    A flashlight lit up Lola’s face and she fell back into Raphael’s arms clutching at her stomach.
    ‘It’s my appendix. I have to get out of here now!’
    The guard stood still and stared at her face. Raphael pulled her up. ‘She needs to get to a hospital before it bursts, come on!’
    ‘Right, sorry it’s just that I thought I recognised this woman.’    
      Lola clutched at her stomach and moaned.    
    ‘Okay, follow me,’ the guard said and led them to the exit. ‘Sorry about that Sir, Madam. Take care now.’  
    Raphael and Lola brushed past him and stepped into the open. They ran a few hundred yards and stopped underneath a flickering lamppost.    
    ‘Thank you, Raphael.’    
    ‘My pleasure. Where are you going to hide it?’
    ‘I’m not going to hide it.’      
    Lola reached into her coat and pulled out the window. She held it up to the sky so that the moon shone through it.  
    ‘This is how you should look at it,’ she said.
    The pair gazed at the coloured glass.
    At how