Jade Monkey

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect as I walked into the dressing room. It was shrouded in darkness apart from a large mirror which reflected the light coming through the doorway behind me until the secretary reached past me and switched on the lights. I realised then that it wasn’t really a dressing room at all, more of a small flat. A bookcase stood in one corner opposite a rail of clothes, laden down with well thumbed novels. Hiding amongst the makeup boxes and lights on the dressing table in front the large mirror I’d noticed before was a typewriter with a half typed letter sticking out the top. The bare walls had been draped with coloured hangings and the gaps between filled with old photos and playbills. A candle in a bowl on top of the bookcase was the source of the light sweet scent in the air. I was shooed into an antique wooden chair in a corner whilst the secretary closed the door and sat down at her dresser.

‘So what are these questions?’

‘You live here?’

Her answering smile was somehow catlike, playful, but knowing I was slightly off balance and had asked a question I hadn’t meant to.

‘I do. The rent’s cheap and I feel at home. Now what did you really mean to ask?’

She waited patiently while I searched for the right words..

‘Supposing a media magnate had a private secretary, this secretary would need to know the movements of her boss, even out of hours. There are always things that can come up at moments notice that need to be dealt with by the boss.’

‘Sounds about right so far. Even if this supposed secretary has a second career.’ She said idly looking at the playbills on the wall.

‘But what if there were gaps. Gaps the magnate didn’t account for, and didn’t warn her about. What then?’

‘Gaps that she had a great deal of trouble dealing with that weren’t explained afterwards? Those sort of gaps?’

I closed my eyes before speaking. ‘Exactly.’

I was right, there were gaps in Miss Mills schedule that she’d kept from her private secretary. It wasn’t final, not by any means, there were other explanations, maybe a romance or a business deal that had to be kept off the books. Blackmail wasn’t an idea that I’d considered before, but it wasn’t impossible.

‘Speaking of gaps, there’s one more.’

‘What?’

‘My name’s Trudy, I’m sure I told you. You can use it.’

‘Trudy.’

‘See, that’s me. Wonderful how that works isn’t it?’

I ran the conversation back in my head. I hadn’t used her name.

‘Thank you. I..’ I was interrupted by a thunderous knocking at the door followed by a raised voice.

‘Jones?’ That voice belonged to Andy, but he’d sounded out of breath.

‘Tell the entire planet I’m here.’ I muttered.

‘Friend of yours?’ Trudy asked as she went to open the door.

Andy stood framed in the doorway for a moment before he entered; I stood up and let him have my seat.

‘There was a call from Stiles.’ He said.

‘What did he have to say?’

Andy glanced at Trudy without saying anything for a moment. I nodded.

‘The reporter’s come ‘round and they’ve talked. He’s bringing him over here’

‘Why bring him here?’ I asked.

‘Because he said things were the wrong way ‘round.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘You can ask him when he gets here.’ He shook his head. ‘He couldn’t say anything more. You know the girls on the exchanges listen in. I think you need to get out of here. He was pretty insistent on that point.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘Fine. Sorry Trudy, it seems we’re destined to only meet for short periods.’

She’d been quiet whilst Andy and I talked and her distracted look had come back. As I finished my sentence she gave me an intense, searching look before nodding to herself.

‘I’ll see you to the door.’

‘What?’

‘I can at least see you off.’

‘Are you..’ I started.

‘I’m sure.’ She finished.

A bell rang twice in the distance and Andy started up from his chair.

‘Two minutes and I’m on. Take care.’ He darted swiftly out of the room and down the corridor. I listened to his retreating footsteps for a moment while Trudy picked a coat off the rail.

‘Everyone’s telling me to take care recently.’ I said, half to myself.

‘It’s because you don’t take care of yourself.’

‘What?’

She smiled, and didn’t answer my question. ‘Shall we go?’

We walked together down several corridors and through a small door that took us out into the EHB proper. They’d dimmed the room lights for Andy’s performance, while the stage seemed to glow like it was lit by its own private sun. Andy finished blasting out a trumpet solo before starting to sing, the house band started up behind him picking up the rhythm. All eyes were on him, even those of people waiting at the bar. I spotted Lisa at small corner table with well dressed guy with light brown hair. I recognised him from somewhere, but couldn’t place his name.

Even whilst they watched Andy, it was difficult to push through the sea of people. Trudy slipped her arm though mine so we didn’t get separated. We stepped out into the lobby at the same time. Cool air blew through the open doors and Trudy seemed to relax. I had a sense that we’d sneaked past some hidden danger that I’d only been partly aware of as we left the building.

A white van raced up to us and screeched to a halt a little past us. I turned to Trudy to thank her as the rear doors of the van opened behind me. I watched nonplussed as Trudy’s eyes widened looking over my shoulder, and she tried to jerk me away from the van. I realised then as someone grabbed me, that just because it was a white van, and just because it had turned up, both when and where I was expecting it, it didn’t necessarily follow that it was Stiles driving. I turned to look at the person who was dragging me into the van. I got a glimpse of glasses and a battered suit, but this time, as I saw the cosh flash towards me, I realised that I could now put a name to Miss Mills’s bodyguard. Simon.