The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse by Nicholas Gannon

Author:Nicholas Gannon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-07-21T04:00:00+00:00

“Hello?”

“Bonjour?”

It worked perfectly. And they went on talking. Amaury laughed, clearly enjoying their interest in his hobby, but his laugh trailed off when a bell jingled at the front of the shop.

“Would you mind if we borrowed this radio tomorrow?” Adélaïde asked, returning to the desk.

“It’s yours whenever you’d like, Adie,” Amaury said, staring at the radios as though they were a long-lost love. “I haven’t had time to use these in ages.”

The bell rang again. Amaury lumbered out with the eagerness of a pig headed for slaughter.

“I’ll be right there to help,” Adélaïde called. “Oliver, Archer, help me get this thing off.”

♦ COUGHING COFFEE ♦

Adélaïde grabbed her uniform from a peg on the wall and stepped behind a mountain of Belmont Coffee boxes to change. She reemerged in a pale blue dress, and had a yellow apron with the words BELMONT CAFÉ embroidered on it tied round her waist with a deep blue ribbon. Adélaïde’s father had it made especially for her, and even though she looked very pretty, Archer and Oliver tried their best not to laugh.

“What?” she asked, flushing as she glanced down at herself.

“I’d like three coffees, dearie,” Oliver replied, imitating a fussy customer. “The first I’d like with extra cream, and the second with three and half tablespoons of sugar. The third I’d like black. Did you get all that or would you like me to write—”

Adélaïde flicked a stray espresso bean from atop a box. It shot straight into Oliver’s throat. Oliver coughed, but the bean was lodged. Archer smacked his back until it finally popped out.

“And you say I’m the rotten eggplant!” Oliver said, rubbing his throat. “I was only teasing you. You look nice.”

“Thank you, dearie.”

Adélaïde gave them an abrupt curtsy and made for the front of the café. Archer and Oliver watched her greet a customer with smile far more pleasant than the one she’d left them with.

“One-legged French girls,” Oliver grumbled.

“Are you sure you want to be in charge of this plan?” Archer asked, grinning.

“Of course,” Oliver replied, trying to sound self-assured. “But I might allow her to think she’s in charge.”

The following afternoon, Archer and Oliver went to Adélaïde’s house to finalize the plan. Adélaïde and Kana answered the door together. Both were laughing and went on laughing as they walked down the hall.

“Were they talking about us?” Oliver whispered, kicking off his boots.

“I think so. But we were talking about them, too.”

“I was just trying to say I think it’s a little strange that Kana wants to help us. We barely know her. And I’m not sure she will help. She might do something strange and get us caught.”

“She’s already been helpful,” Archer said, following Oliver down the hall. “She’s the one who knows the Figs. I don’t think Digby would give us the key without her.”

Archer had never been inside Adélaïde’s house before, but as they stepped into the large sitting room, it was quickly apparent Mr. Belmont wasn’t much of a decorator. In the center of the room was a simple rug with two elegant couches and two armchairs positioned around an old table.

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