by Adele Abbott
After a quick shower, Dorothy dressed and made her way up to Tilly’s apartment. She wasn’t surprised when no one responded to her knock. Tilly was no doubt in the Land of Nod where Dorothy should still have been.
After letting herself in, using the key which Tilly had given her, Dorothy made her way into the kitchen. First things first, she took a long drink from one of the bottles of synthetic blood—she’d really needed that. At least, once she had the blood in her mini fridge, she’d be able to have a drink whenever she fancied one.
“Boo!”
The voice from behind made her jump.
“Tilly! You idiot! I almost dropped this.”
“Sorry. I couldn’t resist. What are you doing here at this hour?”
“I’ve taken your advice, and bought a mini fridge. I want to transfer this lot before human-features gets up.”
“Is that what you call her to her face?”
“Nah. I try not to talk to her unless I have to.”
“I don’t understand you, Dorothy. If you hate humans so much, why did you bother coming to the human world? Why not just stay in Candlefield?”
“I don’t hate them. Not all of them, anyway. I just don’t want to live with one. I can handle the need for subterfuge when I’m out and about, but when I get in after a day at work, I want to let my hair down.”
“Don’t you mean let your fangs down?”
“I’m on edge all of the time. I’m used to being able to talk about sup stuff with the others, but now I have to watch everything I say.”
“You could always look for somewhere else to live.”
“I could, but there are very few apartment blocks which are exclusively for sups. That was what I liked about this place until Susan the human turned up. There’s a good chance I might be forced to find somewhere new soon, anyway. We all might.”
“How come?”
“The landlord came over last night. He said if we didn’t get the place tidied up before the next time he comes, we’ll all be out.”
“I did warn you.”
“I can’t see what all the fuss is about. It’s tidy enough.”
Tilly rolled her eyes.
“Human girl is going to draw up a housework rota for us.”
“I thought she’d already done that.”
“Yeah. The last one was mysteriously misplaced.” Dorothy grinned.
“I’m sorry, Dorothy, but I’m with Susan on this one. Your place is a dump.”
Dorothy shrugged. “Hey, you’ll never guess what’s happened. Charlie has got himself a date.”
“Seriously? Who’s the lucky girl?”
“Her name’s Amelia.”
“The witch from across the landing?”
“That’s her.”
“Oh dear.”
“What do you mean, oh dear?”
“From what I’ve heard, she’s a bit of a wild one. Do you think Charlie can handle her?”
“I doubt it.” Dorothy laughed. “I’d better get back downstairs before human-chops gets up.”
In fact, Susan was already up and about. She’d heard Dorothy get up, and had been unable to drift back off to sleep. Susan had now showered and dressed, and was in the kitchen, trying to decide between porridge and cornflakes.
The door opened, and in walked Dorothy, carrying an orange carrier bag.
“Susan?”
“Morning, Dorothy.”
“What are you doing up so early?”
“I could ask you the same thing. Have you been shopping?”
“Huh?” Dorothy remembered she was holding the bag. “Oh? Err—shopping—yeah.”
“Did you get any milk?”
“Milk? Err—no.” She started towards her bedroom. As she did, the bottles of blood clinked against one another.
Susan stared at the orange bag.
“Toiletries,” Dorothy spluttered. “I was out of deodorant.”
“Right.”
Dorothy scurried into her bedroom.
It was catch twenty-two, Neil reflected. He was broke, so he needed Socky’s gold, but Socky wouldn’t give up the location of the gold until Neil had had a safe installed. To do that, Neil needed money. But he was broke.
“I’m worried about Dorothy,” Susan said, as soon as Neil joined her in the kitchen.
“Me too. I’ve asked her out twice, and she turned me down both times. She’s obviously not right in the head.”
“I’m serious. I really do think she may have a drink problem.”
“Because of the mini fridge? I wouldn’t worry about that.”
“It’s not just that. She got up at the crack of dawn this morning, to go and buy booze.”
“You must be mistaken.”
“I’m not. I saw her come back with a carrier bag full of bottles. She tried to tell me that it was toiletries, but I could hear the bottles clinking against one another. Do you think we should do something?”
“No. I’m sure there must be some other explanation. Maybe she’s planning a party or something?”
“But why go out at six in the morning to buy booze?”
“Maybe she couldn’t sleep.” Neil shrugged. “Where are the cornflakes?”
“They’re in the cupboard above the sink.”
He poured some into a bowl, and joined Susan at the breakfast bar. “I don’t suppose you could see your way clear to lending me a few quid, could you?”
Susan was taken aback. Asking a flatmate for a loan wasn’t something she’d dream of doing. “What for?”
“I wouldn’t ask, but the cylinder head on the car is blowing.”
“Again?” Charlie had just come out of his bedroom. “You borrowed last month’s rent to get that repaired, didn’t you?”
“Err—yes,” Neil remembered he’d told Charlie and Dorothy that he’d used the rent to repair the car, when in fact he’d actually used it to buy a new watch. “It’s blowing again.”
“In that case, you should take it back to whoever was supposed to have repaired it last time.” Charlie poured himself a glass of orange juice.
“Yeah, you’re right. I suppose I should.”
“I wouldn’t be able to help, anyway,” Susan said. “I haven’t been paid yet, and most of my savings went on the first month’s rent and security for this place.”
“No problem,” Neil said. “I’d better get a move on. Do you want a lift in, Charlie?”
“No, thanks. I’ve got a late start today.”
Neil checked on Dorothy, but she told him that she was going to walk to work.
“Later, guys,” Neil called, on his way out of the door.
“You have to watch Neil when it comes to money.” Charlie put a bowl of porridge into the microwave. “He doesn’t mind borrowing cash, but when it comes to paying it back, he can develop amnesia sometimes.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Susan glanced at Dorothy’s bedroom door to make sure it was closed. “I was just telling Neil that I’m worried about Dorothy. She got up at the crack of dawn to go out and buy booze.”
“Are you sure?”
“Certain. I saw her come back with a carrier bag full of it.”
“I shouldn’t worry about it. Dorothy isn’t an alcoholic. I’d know.”
“But how do you explain the mini fridge, and the early morning trips to stock up on booze? I feel like I should say something.”
“That wouldn’t be a good idea. You and she have hardly got off to the best of starts, have you?”
“No, but—”
“Why don’t you let me talk to her, and find out what’s going on?”
“Do you mind?”
“Of course not. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about, but if it’ll put your mind at ease, I’ll talk to her.”
“Thanks, Charlie. And thanks for backing me up yesterday over the housework rota.”
“No problem. There’s just one thing, though?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I be purple?”
&nbs
p; “Sorry?”
“On the rota. When you draw it up, can I be purple?”
“Sure. Purple it is.”
***
As soon as Susan had left for work, Charlie knocked on Dorothy’s bedroom door.
“It’s me. Can I come in?”
“Yeah. Come in.” Dorothy was trying to do something with her hair, but it wasn’t going well. “Has human-chops gone?”
“I wish you wouldn’t call her that. Yeah. She just left.”
“Did she say anything about me?”
“She’s convinced you’re an alcoholic.”
“Great.”
“You can’t blame her. First you have your own mini-bar delivered—”
“It’s not a mini-bar; it’s a small fridge.”
“And then she sees you bringing back what she thinks is booze, at the crack of dawn. What were you thinking? Why did you let her see you?”
“I thought I could get the blood into the fridge before she got up. I told her I’d been out to buy deodorant.”
“A carrier bag full of it? She heard the bottles clinking.”
“It was the best I could come up with. I’m not an accomplished liar like Neil.”
“Speaking of Neil. He was trying to tap Susan for cash to get the car repaired again.”
“Did she give him any?”
“No. She said she hadn’t been paid yet.”
“I wouldn’t believe a word Neil says. He could want that money for anything.”
“What are we going to do about your situation. I told Susan that I’d have a word with you.”
“I don’t know.” Dorothy thought for a moment. “Maybe I could tell her that I’ve had to go back on the iron supplement.”
“I didn’t know you’d been taking one.”
“I haven’t.” She rolled her eyes. “Come on, Charlie, keep up. That’s what you told her the bottles of synthetic were when she first saw them.”
“Oh, yeah. I remember now.”
“I could say I need to take it during the night too, which is why I have the fridge in my room.”
“It might work.”
“It’s the best I can come up with. I wouldn’t have to worry about any of this if we didn’t have that human living with us. Isn’t there some way we can get rid of her?”
“No. Susan is one of us now.”
“How can she be one of us? She’s a human.”
“It’s time you got over this, Dorothy. Susan is okay.”
Back in his bedroom, Charlie was hoping that Dorothy would leave for work soon. Pretty could turn up at any moment, and if Dorothy saw her, she’d go ballistic on him.
While he was waiting, he looked in on the fairies. Bunty was nowhere to be seen, but Greta was sitting on the small bench in front of her house. She didn’t look happy.
“Greta? Are you okay?”
“Morning, Charlie.” She forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
“You don’t sound it. What’s the matter?”
She glanced over at Bunty’s house, then said in a hushed voice, “Bunty has invited her friend, Biddy, to come over.”
“Don’t you like her?”
“She’s very loud, and not very nice. In fact, she’s quite rude, really.”
“Biddy’s okay.” Bunty appeared from nowhere. “You just don’t like her because she knows how to have fun.”
“You mean she likes to get drunk.”
“You’re just too uptight to have a good time!”
“Ladies!” Charlie interrupted. “Enough!”
“Sorry, Charlie,” Greta said.
“Biddy is thinking of moving to the human world,” Bunty said to Charlie. “I told her that there’s plenty of room here for another house.”
Charlie glanced at Greta, who looked about as thrilled with that idea as he was.
Just then, the outer door slammed shut. Dorothy must have left for work. There wasn’t time to worry about the fairy situation right then. He needed to check if Pretty was anywhere around, so he could feed her before going to work.
“Pretty! Pretty! Where are you?” Charlie was standing in the doorway.
“You called?” Amelia appeared on the stairway above. “Are you looking for this little lady.” She had Pretty in her arms.
“Where was she?”
“Outside your door, meowing, but no one answered.”
“I was in Dorothy’s bedroom.”
“You were where?” Amelia’s cheeks flushed red with anger.
“No! Not like that. I was talking to her about her blood.”
“Yuk!” Amelia screwed up her face. “I don’t know how vampires drink that stuff. It turns my stomach, just to think about it.”
“Can I take her?” Charlie said.
“Sorry?”
“Pretty. I’d better hurry up and feed her or I’ll be late for work.”
“There you go.” She passed the cat to Charlie. “I hope you treat all of your ladies as well as you treat her.”
Chapter 6
“Good morning.” The voice came from somewhere in the shadows of The Bugle’s basement car park. Moments later, the creepy little man stepped into the half-light.
“Do you have to sneak around like that?” Susan snapped. “You scared me half to death.”
“Manic didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“What do you want?”
“What does Manic always want?”
Susan’s initial thought was ‘a good bath’, but she said, “Money, I suppose.”
“You misjudge Manic. His only desire is to furnish you with the very best information.”
“In return for which, you won’t require any payment?”
“Manic didn’t say that. Manic feels that cash is an appropriate token to express one’s gratitude.”
This man was so full of it.
“I have to go.” Susan turned towards the lift.
“Wait! Manic has a big story. And when Manic says big, he means huge!”
“There’s no money unless and until the story is printed in The Bugle.”
“Manic understands that. Manic is a patient man.”
“What have you got, then?”
“Not here.” He glanced around. “The walls have ears.”
“Where then?”
“In your car.”
The thought of letting that horrible man into her car appalled Susan, but she could see the sense in it.
“Okay. Come on.”
“You need a better motor,” he said, once he was seated in the passenger seat. “Manic could do you a good deal on a nice BMW.”
“Just tell me what you have.”
“The money went missing.”
Riddles? Just what she needed.
“What are you talking about? I don’t have all day. If you have a story, let’s be hearing it.”
“Like I said. The money kept in the vaults of the Washbridge Central Bank and Washbridge Mutual Bank went missing.”
“Do you mean they were robbed?”
“No. It went missing, and then it reappeared.”
“I didn’t think it was possible for you to be any more obtuse, but you’ve just managed it.”
“Let Manic finish his story. Everything will become clear then.”
“It had better.”
“Manic assumes you know most bank transactions are carried out electronically these days?”
She nodded.
“Banks still keep a reserve of cash in the vaults, which can add up to several million pounds. The other morning, the managers at both banks discovered that the vaults were empty. The money had disappeared.”
“Disappeared how?”
“That’s the question, isn’t it? By the time the police arrived, the money was back.”
“Hold on. That doesn’t make any sense. If it disappeared and then reappeared, then surely no crime was committed?”
“Blackmail.”
“Sorry? Where does blackmail come into it?”
&nb
sp; “Both banks are now being blackmailed. Unless they make regular payments, they’ve been threatened that the money will disappear again—this time for good.”
“Blackmailed by who?”
“Manic doesn’t know that.”
“This sounds like nonsense to me. How come we didn’t hear about the robbery?”
“Disappearance.”
“Whatever you want to call it. How come it didn’t get reported?”
“The banks want to keep a lid on it. It would be bad publicity if the public knew that money in the vault could just disappear.”
“What about the police? What are they doing about it?”
“Nothing. As far as they are concerned, the cash was in the vaults when they arrived there. They probably think the bank managers had been sharing some funny cigarettes.”
“What about the blackmail? Surely, they have to take that seriously?”
“They might if they knew about it. The bank managers are too terrified to make it public—even to the police.”
“So, they’re paying the blackmailer?”
He nodded. “Didn’t Manic tell you this was a huge story?”
“I’m not sure I believe any of this. Cash doesn’t just disappear and then reappear.”
“You have Manic’s word that it did. And, Manic’s word is his bond.”
“Let’s say I buy into this. How come you know about it?”
“Manic has his sources.”
“Which you won’t reveal?”
“That would be more than Manic’s life is worth.”
“Okay. I’ll do some sniffing around, but if I find out that you’ve been wasting my time, that will be you and me done.”
“Manic understands.”
Susan was about to get out of the car, but then hesitated. “Do you know anything about a company called Burke Holdings?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“What does that mean?” She found the man infuriating.
“Manic has lots of contacts.”
“If you dig up anything interesting on them, I want to know.”