Free Thin Air by Storm Constantine Page B

walked out of her life. She must have been part of his
problem.’
    Lorrance laughed; a quiet,
disturbing sound. ‘Perhaps. But I’ve a hunch he’ll want her
services.’
    ‘I think she’s just going to
laugh in my face,’ Michaels said. ‘This won’t be the first time
someone’s told her they’ve seen him, definitely seen
him.’
    Was there a note of belligerence
in Michaels’ voice? Lorrance fixed him with a meaningful stare.
Presently, Michaels’ eyes dropped and he picked up a pen from his
desk, fiddled with it.
    ‘Oh, come now, Zeke,’ Lorrance
said. ‘I’m sure you can concoct something to wind her up. Break her
defences. That’s not beyond you, is it?’
    Michaels sighed petulantly.
‘Even if she has seen him, I can’t see her telling me about it. Why
should she? We were never exactly bosom buddies.’
    ‘Then assume she already has seen him. An outright accusation should provide an
unguarded response.’
    ‘She’s not that stupid.’
    Lorrance sighed patiently.
‘Well, let us just say, we are casting bread upon the waters of
life. I am curious to discern what may return to us.’
    Michaels stared at him with
round eyes for a moment or two. ‘I don’t get it.’
    ‘No.’ Lorrance rose to his feet
and sauntered towards a door opposite the entrance to the office.
‘I shall wait here in the bathroom, Zeke. I should be able to hear
everything clearly, don’t you think?’
    Michaels shook his head. ‘This
is ridiculous. Hiding in bathrooms? You’d better be quiet. It’ll be
embarrassing if she susses you. Remember Jay Samuels is a nosy
little bitch.’
    Lorrance ignored this advice.
‘Just speak to her. I’m not asking you to win her trust. Just hook
her.’
    The summer seemed to have given
way to winter when Jay stepped out of her front door. A scimitar of
north wind cut down the street, stripping the trees of their
autumnal flounces. The air was full of twisting leaves. Things arrive on the wind, Jay thought, as she got into her
car. When the wind changes, they come. She could not remember where
she’d heard this particular bit of folklore, but again it reminded
her of her childhood. Perhaps all future events had their roots in
the past.
    She wasn’t sure how she felt
about the impending meeting with Zeke Michaels. There was no doubt
the summons had kindled excitement inside her - curiosity even -
but she was also uneasy about it. It could be no coincidence it had
arrived so soon after the peculiar phone calls and the incident
with the magazine. Since she’d talked with Gina, there hadn’t been
any further strange phenomena. Perhaps it had all been self-induced
and her confession had somehow cleansed her of it.
    The last time she had been to
the Sakrilege building, Dex had been at her side, a young prince of
the music business, commanding the simpering respect of courtiers,
who did all but bob curtseys as she and Dex had made their way to
the top floor. Few people here would recognise her now. She steeled
herself on the pavement outside, then breezed into reception. The
decor had changed. It was all chrome and leafage now. Jay
approached the first of the company gate-keepers behind the desk.
‘Hi, I have an appointment with Zeke Michaels.’
    A surly teenager, a perfect
example of the starved, hollow-eyed look cultivated by the kind of
magazine Jay worked for, raised her eyes from a computer screen.
She wore a name tag that said ‘Tara’ and looked bored beyond
imagination. Jay wondered how often the girl practised the look at
home. ‘Name?’ said the girl rudely, tapping keys.
    ‘Jay Samuels.’
    ‘Take a seat.’ The girl flapped
a hand towards a group of sofas next to the glass wall that looked
out onto the street.
    ‘Thank you so much,’ said Jay,
flashing her sweetest smile. She sat down amid a jungle of
unnaturally green specimen plants.
    Of course, he’d keep her
waiting. She wouldn’t let it bother her. The lovely Tara wouldn’t
offer coffee either. Her eye was