Song of Bees by Andrea Hicks

Author:Andrea Hicks
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Nightingale Lane Publishing
Published: 2020-06-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

The kitchens designated for events are in the basement and run the full width of the house. I can’t help widening my eyes when I see them. I never imagined they would be like this. Every type of cooking is catered for, state of the art appliances, long islands in the middle of the room which serve as prep areas, and modern, glossy units As I step over the thresh-hold a young guy in whites beckons me towards him.

‘You’ve worked in a kitchen before, yes?’

His accent is difficult to place, maybe Eastern European. ‘No, sorry.’

He looks surprised. ‘Oh, okay.’ He frowns. ‘That’s unusual. We usually have experienced staff.’

‘I’m a fast learner. Just tell me what to do.’

He shrugs. ‘First thing, go and change. You are on prep and service, so you’ll have to change twice, first the whites, then the black dress. You understand?’ I nod. ‘Go change, then you can make the hash browns.’ I take a breath and make a small smile. ‘Don’t worry,’ he says, flapping his hand towards me. ‘I show you.’

It’s not difficult to make a hash brown I discover. I learn that doing something relatively creative can take your mind off your troubles and while I’m learning the recipe I don’t think about blood, Cain, Luna, Cecily, or her girlfriend. When everything is prepared, Dimitri, my co-worker sends me off to change into the black dress. I go into the pantry to change and I do it quickly because Dimitri is just the other side of door. The dress is fitted, knee-length and fits like a glove. I’ve never worn anything like this before and I’m a bit nervous to step into the kitchen. Dimitri looks impressed as I go to the pass. His eyebrows nearly hit his chef’s bandana and I see him exhale.

‘Er, yeah, that looks good. Be careful upstairs. There are some dykes up there. They might pinch your arse. And you’d really feel it in that dress.

My heart jumps into my throat. ‘What? What d’you mean, dykes?’

He pulls a face. ‘You phobic? I’m surprised. Thought all that was done.’

I frown and shake my head, frustrated that I’m suddenly feeling out of control again. ‘No, no...of course not, I just want to know what you meant.’

‘They’re always there, at the Cabinet breakfasts. What’s her name?’ He clicks his fingers trying to remember. ‘She wears those glasses with heavy black frames, blonde, nose in the air. Wears a bright red suit.’ Shit, I know exactly who he’s talking about. ‘And someone I think she’s closer to than either of them let on. She’s a police commander but looks like a porn star. I don’t know their names.’

No, but I do. ‘How do you know all this stuff?’

He turns towards the stove and chuckles as he stirs the scrambled egg. ‘You haven’t been here long. Wait and see. This place is alive with rumour, stories, whispers. It can be very interesting although sadly not everything we hear is true. All the staff know about them.

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