Whoops! We're In Big Trouble Now

by Adele Abbott

  “Will you go?”

  “I don’t think so. There’s going to be a formal announcement later. Keep it under your hat until then, will you? No one else knows.”

  “Dougal is going to love this.”

  “I know. Why couldn’t he have been the one who was leaving?”

  ***

  Neil’s friend, Ted, who worked at a nearby garage, took one look under the bonnet of the stricken car, and shook his head.

  “Please don’t do that,” Neil implored. “It can’t be that bad.”

  “It’s worse. The cylinder block’s cracked.”

  “Can’t you put a new one on?”

  “It’s not like changing a spark plug. It’s a big job.”

  “How much will it cost?”

  “More than this rust heap is worth. Much more.”

  “You’re joking.”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  “What am I going to do with it? I can’t leave it by the side of the road.”

  “I can get it towed away for you, if you like?”

  “What’s that going to cost me?”

  “If you let me keep the cash I get from scrapping it, I’ll tow it for free.”

  Neil had no choice but to agree. “Let me get my stuff out of it first.”

  Thirty minutes later, Neil arrived at the fancy dress shop.

  “Nice of you to bother,” Debs sniped.

  “Shut it! I’m not in the mood.”

  “Where have you been? Down a coalmine? You’ve got black stuff all over your chin.”

  “It’s oil.” He wiped it with the back of his hand, but it didn’t have any effect. “The car packed up on my way here.”

  “What’s that going to cost you?”

  “It isn’t. It’s a write-off.”

  “How are you going to manage without wheels?”

  “I can’t. I’ll have to find the money for a new car from somewhere. Anyway, where’s Fable?”

  “She’s in the stockroom. She wants to know what you thought of Kim.”

  ***

  When Molly came back from the sandwich shop, she wasn’t alone.

  “Why did you bring him with you?” Dorothy glared at Donny.

  “I didn’t.” Molly passed Dorothy her sausage cob. “He followed me.”

  “What do you want, Donny? I’m not having a good morning.”

  “That’s why I’m here. To cheer you up.”

  “You’ll cheer me up if you turn around and leave.”

  “I know you don’t mean that. I popped in to see when you want to go on our date.”

  “It is not a date!” Dorothy’s glare could have turned him to stone. “I thought I’d made that quite clear.”

  “Sorry, my bad. When are you coming out for dinner with me?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “How about tomorrow evening?”

  “If I say yes, will you leave?”

  “Straight away.”

  “Tomorrow it is, then.”

  ***

  Charlie was on his break in the staffroom when he heard his phone ringing inside his locker. By the time he managed to get to it, the caller had hung up, but he could see it had been Charlotte at All Man. He checked Draycott wasn’t anywhere around, and then gave her a quick call.

  “It’s Charlie.”

  “Hi, thanks for getting back to me. I’ve got an assignment for tonight if you’re interested?”

  “What is it? Would I have to take my clothes off again?”

  “Not this time.” Charlotte laughed. “It’s actually for wedding wear.”

  “Is Jade on the same shoot?”

  “You can’t expect to work with her on every assignment you go on. You’ll be working with a new model, called Charmaine. What do you say? It shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours, and the pay is good.”

  “Okay, I’ll do it.” Just then, Charlie spotted Draycott through the glass in the door. “Sorry, Charlotte, I really have to go.”

  “Okay. I’ll text you details of the time and place.”

  ***

  Neil was on his way back to the counter when a voice from behind made him jump.

  “Neil! Have you got a minute?”

  “Where did you come from, Fable? You scared me to death.”

  “Sorry, I was in the stockroom.” She gave him a strange look. “What’s that black stuff on the side of your neck?”

  “It’s oil. The car broke down on my way to work.”

  “Sorry to hear that. I just wanted to know if you liked Kim.”

  How was he supposed to answer that? Fable was a human, so he could hardly tell her the real reason why he had no intention of seeing Kim again. “She’s very nice, but I’m not sure we’re compatible.”

  “She was very taken with you.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, she’s done nothing but talk about you since we went out for dinner. Might you ask her out again?”

  “It’s—err—difficult. I have a lot on at the moment, and now that I’ve lost the car—”

  “I wouldn’t worry about that. Kim has her own car. Do you have her phone number?”

  “I do.”

  “Should I tell her you’ll be in touch?”

  “If you like, but I’m not sure when that will be.”

  That seemed to satisfy Fable who went back to the stockroom. Hopefully, when Kim didn’t hear from him, she’d eventually get the message.

  ***

  It was lunchtime, and Charlie was on his way to get a sandwich. He’d no sooner stepped out of the gym than someone called his name.

  “Jade? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine.” She smiled that beautiful smile of hers. “I’m working just around the corner, so I thought I’d hang around here, on the off chance you’d come out for lunch.”

  “You should have come inside or phoned.”

  “I didn’t want to get you in trouble with your boss.”

  “Probably for the best. He’s been in a foul mood all morning. Have you had your lunch?”

  “Yeah, just now.” She glanced at her watch. “I have to go back in a couple of minutes. I wanted to ask if you fancied a day out on Sunday?”

  “Err, sure. What did you have in mind?”

  “It’s my birthday, but I’ve never really liked parties—not even as a kid. When I was young, instead of having a party, my parents always used to take me out for the day. I thought it would be nice to do that again, but only if you’re up for it?”

  “Definitely, but you know I can’t drive, don’t you?”

  “That’s okay. Neither can I, but there are plenty of coach trips.”

  “Where did you have in mind?”

  “I’m not sure. I thought we could check what was available. We can go to the travel agents tonight after work if you like.”

  “I can’t. Not tonight. I have a photoshoot.”

  “What is it?”

  “Wedding wear. I was hoping you might be on it too, but I’m working with someone called Charmaine.”

  “I don’t think I know her.”

  “According to Charlotte at All Man, she’s new.”

  “Not to worry. We can go to the travel agents another night.”

  “Definitely. Give me a call. It’s been ages since I went on a coach trip.”

  ***

  “I have to go out,” Neil announced.

  “Again?” Debs was behind the counter with Fable. “You didn’t get here until almost lunchtime.”

  “I wasn’t all that late, and I told you what happened.”

  “Where are you skiving off to this time?”

  “I don’t have to answer to you.”

  “What do I tell the owner if he comes in or phones?”

  “He won’t.” Neil made his exit before Debs could continue the interrogation.

  All morning, he’d been trying to imagine what life was going to be like without a set of wheels. It was too depressing to contem
plate. Catching a bus might be okay for the likes of Dorothy and Charlie, but Neil had his image to consider. How was he meant to impress the ladies if all he had to offer was the bus? They’d laugh in his face. There was nothing else for it—he had to get himself a new motor.

  There was one slight problem: he had no money.

  Neil hadn’t phoned ahead because he knew that Selena at Real Magic would refuse to see him. Much better simply to turn up in person and use that old Neil charm.

  “What are you doing here?” She glared at him. “Get out!”

  This hadn’t got off to the best of starts.

  “Hold on, Selena. At least hear me out.”

  “You’ve got two minutes.”

  “I know I messed up big time by using a ghost in my act.”

  “You think?”

  “I shouldn’t have done it.”

  “Have you actually come here to tell me anything I don’t already know?”

  “I’ve developed a great new act that will go down a storm with your customer base. I know you must be struggling to fill all of your bookings, given the number of wizards you’ve lost recently.”

  “Why should I give you another chance?”

  Neil considered feeding her a line, but instead, decided to try a novel approach: he told the truth. “My car broke down this morning—it’s a write-off. I have to earn extra money to get a new one. Give me one more chance, and I promise I won’t let you down.”

  She was silent for the longest moment, but then said, “I am really short of wizards, otherwise I’d have already shown you the door. But if I do give you another chance, and you make even one mistake, you’ll be out. Understood?”

  “Understood. Thanks, Selena. When can I start?”

  “I have a couple of gigs booked next week. One on Monday night and one on Thursday, but they’re both a few miles out of Washbridge. Will you have wheels by then?”

  “No problem. If I have anything to do with it, I should have a new motor by the end of the day.”

  “Okay. I’ll text you all the details over later.”

  “Thanks, Selena.” He started for the door.

  “Don’t make me regret this, Neil.”

  “I won’t.”

  As soon as he was outside, he fist-pumped the air. He still had it—that old Neil charm never failed.

  Chapter 3

  Flynn had gathered everyone together in the main office. Some people looked curious, others looked nervous, but only a handful knew what was about to be announced.

  After he’d said what needed to be said, he returned to his office. Before Susan could go back to hers, she was intercepted by Dougal.

  “Seems like Golden Boy is bailing on us.” He grinned. “I don’t like to say I told you so, but, well, I told you so.”

  “It’s a great opportunity. I don’t blame Flynn for taking it.”

  “It rather leaves his little prodigy out on a limb, though, doesn’t it?”

  “I take it you’re referring to me?”

  “I should make the most of your time in that office of yours. I doubt you’ll be in there for much longer.”

  “As always, Dougal, I value your words of wisdom, but if you don’t mind, I have work to do.”

  “What did Dougal want?” Stella said when Susan made it back to the office.

  “To gloat, of course.”

  “You should take the job in London, Susan. You’re much better than The Bugle.”

  “I’m not going to make any rash decisions until I see how things pan out here.”

  “Oh, I almost forgot. Greg phoned just before Flynn called us all together.”

  “What did he want?”

  “He didn’t say. Just that he’d like you to give him a call.”

  After the confrontation with Dougal, Susan needed to clear her head, so she went outside to return Greg’s call.

  “You rang?”

  “Hi, Susan. How are things?”

  “Not great. I’ve just found out that my boss is leaving.”

  “Where does that leave you?”

  “That’s a good question. He’s asked me to join him in London.”

  “Oh? Will you go?”

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do. It depends what happens here. Anyway, enough of my problems, you were the one who called me.”

  “It was only to ask if you fancied having lunch with me one day this week.”

  “Sure, why not?”

  “How does Wednesday sound?”

  “It sounds great.”

  ***

  It had been a slow day at the bookshop, and Dorothy was pleased to be home.

  “Dorothy!” Tilly called from the landing above. “Fancy coming up for a cup of tea?”

  “I could do with something stronger.”

  “I don’t have any beer in.”

  “I wasn’t thinking of beer.”

  “Oh, right, got you. There’s plenty of that in the fridge.”

  “I’ll drop my bag in the flat, and I’ll be with you in a couple of minutes.”

  “Hey! Over here!” Bob, the canary, called to Dorothy.

  “I’m busy.”

  “You’re always busy. Where are all the hot ladies you promised me?”

  “I made no such promise.”

  “A guy could go mad in here all by himself. You have to find me some female company.”

  She threw her bag into her bedroom, and then headed back to the door. “Sorry, I’m in a hurry.”

  “That bird is doing my head in.” Dorothy took a bottle of synthetic blood from Tilly’s fridge.

  “You and Susan haven’t fallen out again, have you?”

  “No, and even if we had, I wouldn’t call her a bird.” She took a long drink of blood. “Give me some credit.”

  “Sorry. It looks like you were ready for that.”

  “No kidding, but it’s still not a patch on the real thing.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “It was great when we had the fridge in the shop. That bottle a day went down a treat.”

  “From what I hear, the blood distribution network has collapsed. All of the shop owners pulled out for fear that the rogue retrievers would catch them.”

  “Pity. Still, it was good while it lasted.”

  “Actually, that’s why I asked you to come up. I’ve had a brilliant idea for a business.”

  “I thought you liked your job,” Dorothy said.

  “It’s okay, but the pay isn’t great.”

  “What are you planning on doing?”

  “The blood distribution network may have failed, but it proved there’s a demand for human blood in Washbridge.”

  “So?”

  “I plan to satisfy that demand, and make a lot of money in the process.”

  “What makes you think you can succeed where they failed?”

  “That’s simple. Instead of expecting customers to come to us, we deliver the blood to their door.”

  “Hold on. Did you say we?”

  “I can’t do this alone. I’m going to need a partner, and who better than you?”

  Dorothy drank the last of the blood. “How would it work, exactly?”

  “We’d rent a small unit, install some fridges to store the blood, and then deliver it to the customer’s door.”

  “Where’s the money going to come from to finance all of this?”

  “It needn’t cost a fortune—not to begin with. We’d only need a small unit, and it doesn’t have to be anywhere fancy. A few fridges, which we might be able to pick up second-hand, and a cheap van. Ten thousand ought to get us going.”

  “Ten thousand? That’s a fortune to me.”

  “It would only be five thousand each.”

  “Have you got that kind of money?”

  “Do you remember my grandmother died a few months ago?” Tilly said. “She left me some money. It would just about cover my half.”

  “It’s a neat idea, but I don’t have money like that.”

&nb
sp; “Could you get it?”

  “From where?”

  “I don’t know; I wanted to give you the chance of joining me before I approached anyone else. Would your mother lend it to you?”

  “I don’t think she has much money saved, but I suppose I could ask her.”

  “You do at least like the idea, then?”

  “I definitely like the idea of being my own boss; I’m fed up with working in the bookshop.”

  “Great. Why don’t you talk to your mother then?”

  “I will, but I’ve no idea how she’ll react.”

  “I want to get this moving quickly—like yesterday. I’m worried someone else might have the same idea. When will you know if she’ll lend you the cash?”

  “I suppose I could go over there tonight. She’s in most nights.”

  “Great.”

  ***

  The studio where the photoshoot was being held was only a ten-minute walk from the gym. Charlie had just enough time to grab a sandwich on his way there.

  “Charlie?” A young man, with curly blond hair, met him at the studio doors.

  “That’s me.”

  “Go through that door; the changing room is on the right. Once you’re in your suit, makeup will come and give you the once-over. Hopefully, we’ll be ready to shoot by six-thirty.”

  “Is the other model here yet?”

  “Charmaine? Yeah, she’s been here for about fifteen minutes.”

  “Should I go and introduce myself first?”

  “There’s no time, and besides, she’s already in makeup. You’ll see her soon enough.”

  “Okay.”

  Even though Charlie didn’t have to take off his clothes for this shoot, he was still nervous. It was the thought of working with someone new that made him uneasy. It was silly because all of the models he’d met so far had been really nice, and there was no reason why Charmaine should be any different.

  He tried to relax by thinking about the day trip he and Jade were going to take. Charlie didn’t care where they went, just as long as he was with her. He would also have to come up with a present for her; that wouldn’t be easy because he was hopeless at choosing gifts—maybe Susan would give him some advice.