Stuff (The Bristol Collection) Read Online Free PDF Page A

on for so long Mas was about to tell him to forget it, but then his face set in a decisive expression. “You don’t need to do that. I’ve got somewhere better for you to spy on him from. Stay there.” Perry disappeared into the front of the shop, and Mas heard the lock turn. Then Perry whisked back through—he could really move when he wanted to—and gestured for Mas to follow him.
    Behind the room stuffed full of furniture was another, smaller room which stuck out as a narrow extension on the older main building. It looked like it had once been a kitchen, and there was a door that might lead through to a bathroom, but it was so cluttered up with stuff—wooden chests and sacks of clothing, mainly—that you could only see a glimpse of the original fittings here and there. Mas had thought he’d be led to a staircase to the mysterious upstairs, but instead Perry battled for half a minute with a door before daylight spilled in, almost blinding him after the gloom of the shop’s interior.
    Mas blinked as he headed out into the tiny backyard. Dandelions grew up between cracked concrete, and an overstuffed wheelie bin stood by the back gate. But apart from the obvious neglect, it was a nice spot, what with the mellow old brick walls and the sunlight pouring in. “Nice garden,” he said.
    Perry looked at him like he’d grown an extra head.
    “Well, it could be a nice garden. It has the potential, with a bit of TLC. I can totally see you as a gardener. You know, like an old-fashioned one out of Downton Abbey or something. You could really work that ’20s mojo. Though let’s face it, posh bloke like you’d probably be the lord of the manor, just telling all the lowly gardeners what to do and then taking all the credit for it when your mates come round. Not in a nasty way or anything,” he rushed to say when Perry scowled. “Just, you know, that’s what it was like back then, wasn’t it?” Time to change the subject. He spun around on the spot. “Hey, I like the fire escape.” It was one of those old wrought iron jobbies that spiralled up the side of the building like a corkscrew. The dull blue paint might have been peeling off, revealing patches of rust, but it still looked good, what with the intricate filigree pattern on every step and bracket. “You’ve gotta admire the effort they put in back in those days. None of those fugly metal treads that look like they’ve come straight out of a factory. These are proper job. I mean, really pretty. And all for something you’re just gonna stomp all over.”
    “You’re right.” Now Perry was squinting, as if that extra head of Mas’s was doing something fascinating. More so than just being an extra head, that was.
    Mas leaned back against the metal rail, hoping it was as tough as it looked. “So, what exactly did you lure me out here for, sailor? Coz much as I admire the architecture, I can’t see bugger all from down here.”
    “Oh, of course. Follow me.” Perry turned to the spiral staircase and started up.
    “My pleasure,” Mas murmured, getting an eyeful of lean buns, almost close enough to reach out and sink his teeth into.

Chapter Four
    Not for the first time that day, Perry wondered what on earth he was doing. Inviting a total stranger up to his private garden? What was he thinking? But it would look weird if he turned around now. And besides, that giant thug down the road had looked like he meant business, and if that business resulted in Mas suffering, Perry would never forgive himself. Something about Mas stirred up his protective instincts.
    “Quite a view from here,” Mas said when they were halfway up the stairs.
    “You should wait till we get to the top, then.”
    “Oh no. I like it here just fine.” Mas’s voice took on that warm, slightly sing-song tone that did something peculiar to Perry’s internal organs.
    He turned, only to find Mas staring hungrily at his rear. “Do you mind!”
    “Not at all.” Mas smiled cheekily. “How