The Sunshine Cruise Company Read Online Free PDF Page B

into her chest, leaving just his bum crack visible.
    ‘How many have you had?’ Julie asked, taking her glass as she turned to see Susan pushing her way through the crush towards them, trailing Jill Worth behind her.
    ‘Hello, Ethel,’ Susan said, bending down to kiss her cheek. ‘Thanks for coming. You look … wow! Julie, you know Jill, don’t you? She helps with costumes.’
    ‘Of course. Hi, Jill.’
    ‘Hello, Julie.’
    ‘Jill, you remember Ethel.’ Jill looked down to see Ethel grinning up at her.
    ‘Aye-aye, Jill,’ Ethel said. ‘How’s your arse for love bites then?’
    ‘My …’
    ‘Just ignore her, Jill,’ Julie said. ‘She’s senile.’
    ‘Yeah, senile like a fox,’ Ethel said.
    ‘Look, I’ll get you one more drink if you promise to behave,’ Julie said. ‘Susan, gimme a hand at the bar. Can I get you anything, Jill?’
    ‘Oh, just an orange juice please.’ This request caused Ethel to look suspiciously at Jill.
    ‘Right, back in a mo.’ Julie led Susan off towards the makeshift bar.
    ‘So, Jill,’ Ethel said, ‘speaking of foxes – who’s that fine silver piece over there?’ She pointed with her grabbing stick.
    ‘The silver …’ Jill looked across the room. ‘Oh, Johnny? He does props and scenery. Lovely man.’
    ‘Yeah, yeah. Married?’
    ‘I’m sorry?’
    ‘Is he married? Hitched?’ Ethel spoke as though Jill were senile. ‘Taken?’
    ‘Johnny? I, well, yes.’
    ‘Ach, well. There’s many a family cat keeping a few stray bitches happy on the side, eh?’ Ethel dug an elbow into Jill’s ribs.
    ‘Cat?’ Jill said, really confused now.
    Over at the bar, Julie and Susan waited their turn. ‘All set then?’ Julie asked.
    ‘As set as we’re going to be. I think opening night might be a bit hairy.’
    ‘Look, Susan, about this afternoon, I’m sorry for being so down. Not fair after you’d gone to all that trouble, with my present, with lunch and everything.’
    ‘Darling, honestly, it’s me who should be apologising. I’d no idea things had got so tough for you. I wish you’d let me help me you out.’
    ‘You already have.’
    ‘More I mean. I’m sure if I asked Barry to move some money around –’
    ‘No, no. Something’ll turn up. The solicitors think there’s still a chance I’ll get some money back off Thomas.’
    ‘Oh, that bloody bastard,’ Susan said reflexively, while doubting the validity of Julie’s hopes here. Her Barry, who knew a thing or two about this stuff, reckoned there was more chance ‘of her winning the lottery than seeing a penny of that back’. Barry had looked at the case. Thomas had been a co-signatory on the business accounts – perfectly entitled to take money out. If Julie hadn’t been keeping an eye on what he was up to then that was her lookout. ‘Three white wines and an orange juice please, Kevin,’ Susan said.
    Julie sighed. ‘You never get smart about it, do you? Love. Men.’
    Behind them, unseen by either woman, two uniformed policemen – a sergeant in his forties and a constable of what looked to be primary-school age – had entered the party and were talking to Frank the director. Frank was pointing over towards Susan and Julie.
    ‘Well, you’ve picked a few in your time, Jules. No two ways about that.’
    ‘They weren’t
all
bad …’
    As Susan took the first two glasses of lukewarm Chardonnay she noticed that Kevin the barman (and sometime lighting technician) was looking past her, just behind her, a concerned expression on his face. She turned round – straight into the uniformed bulk of the police sergeant.
    ‘Mrs Susan Frobisher?’ he asked, the whole party looking on now.
    ‘Yes.’ A clammy spasm of fear hit her. Their Tom: a road traffic accident. A mugging. London.
    ‘I’m Sergeant Black. I’m afraid I need to talk to you in private.’
    ‘Is … is it bad news?’
    The sergeant just looked at her. ‘Is there somewhere private we can talk?’
    Susan felt her legs going. She