Alexandra, Gone Read Online Free PDF Page B

impressive. Are you a doctor?”
    “No.”
    “Do you suffer from panic attacks?” Elle asked.
    “No.”
    “So how did you know what to say?” Elle asked, refusing to be put off by Leslie’s monosyllabic answers.
    “My sister used to suffer from them.”
    “Used to?” Elle said. “She got over them?” She looked from Leslie to Jane and was about to put her thumbs up.
    “She died,” Leslie said, and Jane’s cheeks once again lost color, “but not from a panic attack.” She smiled at Jane, who nodded gratefully and sighed.
    Elle focused on the leaflet man, who was sitting quietly in the corner. “So what’s your name?”
    “Tom.” He turned to Jane. “Sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have rocked the boat, so to speak.”
    Jane smiled at him. “It’s fine. I’m just being silly.”
    Onstage, Jack had been talking and the audience was laughing. He began to sing “Taste of Fall” a cappella.
Take me back to your old ma’s place
where the bedspring squeaks and your body shakes
and I lose myself before the morning takes me home.
Love me in the doorway I’ll love you on the stairs …
    Elle started to snap her fingers. “I love this song.”
    Leslie also loved the song. Please, please don’t sing it and kill it.
    Jane straightened a little and decided to sit on her bag.
    “It’s a bit late to be thinking about ruining your suit, Jane,” Elle said while still snapping.
    “I know.” Jane sighed, looking at the filthy floor. “I’m going to need a tetanus shot after this.”
    Elle noticed Leslie moving to the music, and Jack was heading for the chorus. “Sing it with me, Leslie!” she said.
    “No,” said Leslie.
    “Is ‘no’ your very favorite word?” Elle asked.
    “No.”
    Elle laughed. I like you. “Come on, I know you want to.”
    And Leslie did want to and if she didn’t she’d have to listen to Elle murder it anyway. So when the chorus hit, she found herself in a lift singing with a total stranger. This is not me, but I like it.
Oh come on down while we’re in full bloom
It’s a big bright night, let’s howl at the moon.
    Tom laughed at the women, and even Jane forgot her anxiety for a moment or two to enjoy the sight of her sister and Leslie howling.
Whoa come on down we’re in full bloom,
Howl at the, howl at the, howl at the moon.
    They howled and howled, and by the end they weren’t half bad.
    “Hello? Is anyone there?”
    Tom stood up and pressed his hand against the door. “Hello.”
    “How many are in there?” the voice asked.
    “Four of us,” Tom said.
    “Okay, sir, we hope to have the generator up and running soon.”
    “Thanks,” Tom said.
    “Is everyone okay?” the voice asked.
    “We’re fine,” Tom said, looking at Jane, who nodded to signal she was feeling better.
    Before the man got a chance to ask another question, Jack began singing “Georgie Boy,” and the whole audience was singing along, drowning out the lone voice.
    Tom sat back down.
    Jane finally loosened her grip on the poster that was crumpled against her chest. She opened it and saw a picture of a woman she recognized. She was older than Jane remembered her, but she was unmistakable. “Alex? Alexandra Walsh?”
    Tom stared at Jane. “You know her?”
    “I used to.”
    “They were best friends,” Elle said, “but then my sister got pregnant at seventeen and Alexandra disappeared. So maybe not best friends after all.”
    “Elle,” Jane said in a tone that meant shut up. “She’s missing?” she asked Tom.
    “Since June.”
    “My God, that’s terrible!” Jane was genuinely upset. She raised her shaking hand to her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”
    Elle took the leaflet out of her pocket and looked at it. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said she disappeared. Sometimes I’m an ass. It’s genetic—you’d have to meet my mother to understand.”
    Tom attempted to smile at her, to assure her that she was forgiven.
    “What happened?” Jane asked.
    “She went to Dalkey and