Strapped for Cash by Andrene Low

Author:Andrene Low
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Squabbling Sparrows Press

21

The trip home is reasonably quick, with most of the inhabitants of London still stuck in the pub or congregating outside kebab shops rather than on the road.

“Eadie might still be up,” says Brenda, seeing light sneaking through the sitting room curtains.

Without being sure, they enter the house quietly, both of them staying mum until Julian whispers, “Goodnight,” when he’s already halfway up the stairs.

Brenda waves, rather than saying anything and turns towards the sitting room door. Putting her ear to it, she’s rewarded with the sound of a page being turned.

Knocking gently to give advance warning she’s about to enter, Brenda drops all pretence of quiet when she opens the door and walks into the sitting room.

“Boy, oh boy, was tonight interesting,” she says, as yet unsure if she’ll let Eadie in on the Wallace segment of the evening’s entertainment. With luck, Rosie and Brian’s engagement will be enough to put the old lady off the scent.

Half an hour of non-stop chatter later and Brenda makes noises about going to bed.

“Did you see Wallace?” says Eadie, causing Brenda to mutter, “Shit,” to herself.

“I heard that!”

Following a cross-examination that would have done Perry Mason proud, Brenda gives in and rattles off her adventures, even covering the urn-toppling stunt.

“The bloody todger is still pulling the same stupid malarkey! I’m so pleased you’ve decided to give up on that hare-brained scheme of yours to get my works back.”

Rather than contradict Eadie and risk giving herself away, Brenda gives a noncommittal “Hmmmm hmmmm” in response.

“You’re lucky you swapped drinks.”

Even with a fairly good idea, Brenda’s morbid curiosity gets the better of her. “Why?”

“Because about now you’d be waking up in the altogether in his dungeon, complete with hidden audience.”

“Audience?” says Brenda, revulsion skittering up her spine.

“You think that’s bad?” says Eadie, ignoring the comment about an audience, “He’d have been naked, too.”

“And I’d be kneeing the bastard so hard in the goolies, he’d be wearing them like a sodding bowtie!”

“Tricky when you’re chained up.”

Brenda’s still thinking on a solution to this conundrum that doesn’t involve an acetylene torch, when Eadie continues. “It was having an audience that I didn’t like, even if I was the one dishing out the punishment.”

“Well, hang on, if there’s an audience, I can just yell for help.” Brenda allows herself to relax again.

“Hardly, when they’ve paid to see just that.”

“But surely …” Brenda pauses while considering other avenues of potential rescue.

“No help from that quarter. Any chap in a viewing room will stay quiet because the only way they’re allowed in there is if Wallace has something on them. No, you’d be on your own as far as help goes.”

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