“Hey, Bec, what do you reckon. Do you like this top?” Alex held a minute piece of fabric up to her chest.
“I think Jeremy will fall on his knees before you crying, I’m not worthy! You going to buy it?”
“Maybe…” There were bills to pay at home. She should be saving her money, not frittering her hard earned cash on unnecessary things. Alex hung the top back on the rack and smoothed the fabric down.
“Something’s wrong.” Bec didn’t ask. She put her hands on her hips, and peered sideways at Alex. “When it’s time to knock off I say we sugar-coat your problem with some ice-cream.”
“I don’t know…”
“Is it your Mum? What’s she done now?”
A lady waved at them from the other side of the shop. “Excuse me?” she called. “Could one of you girls possibly give me some advice?”
“Certainly madam. I’ll be over in a mo,” Becky called back. “And don’t think you’re off the hook, missy,” she said before crossing the room.
“It’s time to tell you,” someone suddenly spoke behind her.
Alex stifled a yelp, and spun about in the direction of the voice.
“Jesus, Clive. You scared the living shit out of me.” She took a steadying breath. “Can’t you wear a bell or something?” Alex whispered. She glanced around nervously. Had anyone spotted her talking?
Clive shrugged. “I’ll see what I can do. Now to business,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “First. Keep an eye on the young lady over by the jumpers, the one with the green coat and spiky purple hair.” Clive pointed to the front of the shop.
“Yeah…?” Alex wondered where he might be leading.
“Well that young lady, who’s called Priscilla incidentally, has a shirt stuffed under her coat.”
Alex stared at Clive for a moment, as if waiting for more.
“Go, quick. Before she’s gone.”
Clive shoved Alex forward as Priscilla headed for the exit. Alex crossed the shop floor, trying to appear casual. Priscilla stopped for half a second, clocked Alex, and bolted. She was fast, too fast. Alex charged out into the precinct in time to catch sight of Priscilla as the crowd merged around her.
On impulse, Alex shouted out, “Hey Priscilla. Stop!”
Hearing her name must have confused the purple-haired thief. She slowed long enough for Alex to push through the other shoppers and slap a hand around the girl’s wrist. Her grip secure, Alex dragged Priscilla back towards The Closet.
“Aggie,” Alex called out as she entered the shop. Priscilla put out her free arm, grabbing handfuls of clothes. She tossed them to the floor as Alex pulled her through to the back. “Stop making a mess. You’ll only make things worse for yourself.”
Priscilla snorted, and reached for a display of earrings on the till counter. Alex yanked the girl out of reach before she managed to grab it.
“Ow!” she yelped. “I’ll do you for abuse.”
“Whatever,” Alex said.
Becky held a pair of trousers up for a customer. She stared open-mouthed as Alex pulled the thief past. The lady beside Bec peered around the trousers, also watching the procession.
Alex dragged Priscilla through the rear staff door, down the short hall, and into Agnes’s office.
“Sorry to bother you,” Alex said. She tried to catch her breath and speak at the same time. “I caught this girl shoplifting.”
Aggie put the papers she’d been reading down, and eyed up the thief. Agnes made a formidable figure, standing almost six feet tall. Her steel-grey hair, pulled into a high ponytail and draped over one shoulder, added to the Amazonian effect. Even now, sat at her desk, she seemed to fill the room. Finally she said, “What’s she nicked?”
“There’s a shirt stuffed up her front,” Alex said, and pointed.
The girl sneered back.
“Show her,” Alex ordered.
With a roll of her electric-blue painted eyes, Priscilla popped the buttons on her duffle one-by-one. When her coat opened, the shirt fell to the ground.
“You have security cameras in your changing rooms? That’s sick,” Priscilla said. “Pervs.” She grabbed the top from the floor and threw it on the desk, her purple hair bobbing manically. “Here. Have the fucking shirt.”
Aggie raised one eyebrow at Alex.
“She didn’t come out with everything she’d gone in with.” Alex picked at her fingernails, her eyes jumping between her boss and the girl. “Do you still need me here?”
Agnes sent her away with a nod, and swiveled her chair around to face the shoplifter. Alex glanced back to find Priscilla shrinking under Aggie’s Amazonian glare. She closed the door with a soft click, and returned to the shop. Clive had waited for her in The Closet’s small section of eveningwear. He plucked a full-length silver dress from the rack. Sequins covered the fabric, they twinkled under the fluorescent lights.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, and held the outfit up against Alex. “Figure hugging.” He replaced the dress, his eyes walking down the length of her body. “A woman with your physique should not hide behind frumpy trousers and baggy white shirts.”
“It’s the uniform,” she answered. Her cheeks were heating up. Fan-bloody-tastic, Alex thought. Perfect time to blush.
“Babydoll, that warrior woman wouldn’t dare keep you in those clothes if she knew what I did…” Clive reached out towards Alex. Just as she was about to slap him away, he pulled his hand back.
“You peeked. This morning, you were in the bathroom.” She stepped further from the demon. “How dare you!”
“Do you suppose Aggie’s hacked off her right breast?”
“What?” Alex asked. “Why the hell would anyone do that?”
“Amazonians…” He mimed pulling a bow, his pectoral muscles rippling under his cat suit. “You know, it doesn’t matter.”
Two racks to the left a woman searched the over-sized rails. She glanced over and scanned the area around Alex, perhaps searching for another person. Alex scowled unblinkingly at the customer until she turned away.
“Clive,” Alex said.
Clive looked up from a display of jewelry. “Yes? What’s wrong?”
“Why are you still here?” she asked through gritted teeth.
“I need you to do something else.” He picked up a pair of stud earrings and modeled them by his ear. “You think these suit me?”
“What is it you want me to do?” she hissed at him.
Clive stared blankly at her, studs still held up beside his face.
“The shoplifter was first.” Alex grabbed the earrings from the demon and put them back on the display.
“Ah, yes. You won’t like what I’ve got to say, sugarplum. So maybe you should forget I said anything.” Clive turned away.
“Don’t you dare puff into smoke and disappear, you little shit.”
The round woman was no longer searching the over-sized racks. She stood, openly staring. Alex tried to smile. The lady returned a scowl before re-hanging two shirts and exiting fast.
“Look what you did. I lost a customer.” Alex glanced around. There were no more people nearby, for now. “You can’t almost tell me something, then not tell me. That’s not fair.” She pursed her lips into a pout, her hands placed firmly on her hips.
“You’re so sweet when you’re upset.” Clive pressed up against her, his body burning, feverishly hot. “Do you taste like sugar?”
“Stop,” Alex said, and pushed at the demon. He grabbed her hand and held it to his chest for a few seconds. “Ouch!” A burning pain shot through her palm.
“Concentrating now?”
Alex nodded, holding her hand carefully. The skin had turned a bright red and sharp pains throbbed up her arm in time to her heartbeat.
“You burned me!” she exclaimed.
“Only a little bit. Now, are you concentrating?”
Alex nodded, her arm held close to her chest as she tried to ignore the pain.
“Okay. I’ll tell you. But my warning sta
nds. You will not like this.”
Alex rubbed her palm, her eyes on Clive.
“Your friend Becky is a crook. She steals cash from the till almost every time she’s here.”
“Bec is no thief.” Alex said, forgetting her sore hand. “How could you suggest such a thing?”
“I’m telling the truth, and I’ll tell you how I know. In a minute, Aggie is going to take Priscilla out the back and down to security for charging. Go into Aggie’s office and open up the top left desk drawer. Inside, you will find a document that confirms everything I’ve told you. But if you don’t go now, you won’t be able to.”
Clive raised his eyebrows while Alex tried to figure out what to do.
“Get going, you’re running out of time.”
Alex turned and ran towards the staff area. “Going for a loo break,” she called over to Becky and disappeared in the rear passage. Alex marched straight past the bathroom and ducked into the tearoom. She listened as the door to the office opened and the sound of two people went past. The rear emergency exit slammed shut moments later.
“Now,” Clive said.
Alex burst out of the tearoom but stopped outside the office.
“Go in. Quick,” Clive said, and pushed her up to the door.
Alex grabbed the handle and slipped into the room.
“Quickly, you’re already running out of time.”
Alex ran up to the desk and sat in her boss’s chair. She pulled open the left drawer and peered in. Inside was a thick wad of paperwork with Becky’s name on the top. Alex flipped through, speed-reading the words.
“No, it can’t be. How could she?” Alex gasped. “This is her last chance, if she steals today, she’s fired.” Alex sat back and stared at the papers. “Shit.”
“Put everything away. It’s time to go.” Clive banged his fists on the desk.
Alex jumped, almost dropping the paperwork.
“Aggie’s nearly in the shop,” he yelled.
She shoved the papers inside and slammed the drawer with a bang. She leapt up too quickly, and the chair crashed over behind her. Panicking, heart thumping in her throat, Alex righted the chair, and sprinted from the room.
“Let’s go. Into the bathroom!”
Alex could hear Aggie’s voice in the shop. She was yelling at Becky. Alex’s feet slipped out from under her as she accelerated down the hall. She tried to regain her footing, her steps becoming shorter as she struggled to compensate. But it was too late, she lost her balance. Her feet flew out from under her and she fell first against the wall and then hard onto her knees on the unforgiving lino flooring.
“GET UP!” Clive yelled in her ear, “SHE’S HERE!”
Alex somehow scrambled back onto her feet, threw herself into the bathroom and slammed the door shut. As Aggie’s voice sounded in the corridor, grumbling about Becky, Alex quietly turned the lock.
“Why did you put me through that?” Alex whimpered. She pulled back her shirt and found an enormous purple-red mark developing on her shoulder. “Turn round,” she barked at the demon. Clive spun around obediently, and faced the door.
Her fingers trembled. Three times she attempted to unfasten her trousers. Alex took a deep breath to try and control her shaking hands, and finally undid the button. She slid the trousers down and examined her knees. Both hurt, and both glowed an angry red color, the skin puffing up as she watched. No mini-skirts for a while.
“You can look now.” She zipped back up, realizing her palms hurt. She must have broken part of the fall with her hands. But one of them hurt far more than the other. Then she remembered. Clive had burned her.
“Time for some info dumping, Clive. I need to go back out onto the shop floor, and I don’t want to look like an escapee from the local loony bin while I attempt to glean information from you.”
“Okay, okay. But first come here and hold out your hands.”
Alex hesitated for a second before closing the gap between them. The demon linked his warm fingers with hers. Initially the heat was superficial, soothing against the throbbing ache in her palms. Then the sensation changed, grew, shooting down her arms, and filling her body. Alive, Alex thought, and closed her eyes. Flames seemed to lick at the insides of her bones. A giggle escaped before she could swallow it back. Suddenly Clive released her. She held her hands out for a few more moments. Maybe he’d reach out and hold them again.
“Do you feel different?” the demon asked.
“I feel… I feel… My goodness, my knees!” Alex leaned over and rapped the kneecaps. “No pain. Did you heal me?” She peered under her shirt. Her eyes widened at the sight of her shoulder. The skin was pale and peachy once more, the angry red bruise gone. “Demons can heal? Aren’t miracles reserved for angels? Wow!”
“You, my little sugarplum, need to stay focused. Becky is going to get fired. She took £50 today, and her position will be terminated this afternoon. Since she’s already fingered for the blame, you have an opportunity to lift a few hundred pounds out of the till. Then you can pay some of the rent, and you won’t be in imminent danger of eviction.” Clive leaned against the door, his expression serious.
“But that’s stealing,” she said with a whisper. “I’ve never stolen anything. Not even a sweet from those open bins at Woolworths. Bec always teases me about that when we’re in there.” She paused as the demon nodded knowingly. “Becky lifting a couple of sweets is not the same thing, and what if Bec hasn’t pilfered from the till today? Aggie won’t fire her.”
Clive moved closer, over to the small vanity counter and crossed his arms, the muscles testing the strength of his cat suit. Did he lift weights on his time off? Did demons get time off? Alex suppressed a giggle. She might be taking advice from a figment of her imagination—but that figment was proving a lot more reliable than her sane mind.
“Stop grinning,” Clive said. “Becky has already stolen her funds for the day. Besides, you’re not stealing. You’re surviving.” He threw his hands in the air. “You know what? I’m sure you and the drunk will be fine living on the street. It’s all the same to me.”
“The street?” Alex whispered.
Clive took one of her hands and clasped it gently between his own. “I want to help you. I do. But you need to work with me.”
“But why do you want to help me? Out of all the people you could have chosen?” She gazed into his hypnotic eyes.
“Because I liked you the best.” Clive leaned down and kissed her forehead gently.
He was so convincing. Could he be real? A guardian demon sent to watch over her? Giggles threatened to erupt once more.
Alex left the bathroom, and quietly re-entered the store. She hung out at the back for a few minutes, hoping to mask the extraordinary amount of time she’d been locked in the loo. Bec was imitating a mannequin again. She’d pilfered from the accessory display, and adorned herself with hair bands and clips. Her eyes rotated around in Alex’s direction. Seconds later, she burst into life and came over.
“Where in hell have you been? Dear Lord, I was about to send a search party.” Becky pulled out a couple of clips. “And what was the deal with the punk? You were like a woman possessed.”
“Um, the girl stole something. I dragged her back. Nothing more.” Alex reached out and took a hair band off Bec. “Does she need some help?” Alex pointed at a lady near the front of the shop. “I should go and ask…”
Becky grabbed Alex’s arm. “Since when did you care about shop lifters? And where did you go? Did you sneak out the back for a smoke?” Becky sniffed the air.
“Say you had to clean up a messy period,” Clive said.
Alex’s eyes widened slightly at the suggestion. “Uh, I’m having a horrible period. A bit messy. You know what I mean?” Alex held a hand to her lower torso, and grimaced.
“Oh God, girl. Was that all? Do you need an aspirin? I keep a packet in my locker.” Becky took a step towards the staff door.
“No… No. I’m, ah, okay at the moment. I’ve got thos
e strong pills the doc prescribed me at home. I’m, um, saving myself for them.” Alex gave a thin smile. “My tummy doesn’t hurt so much right now.”
“The woman over there,” Clive pointed across the room, “is about to head over to the tills. If you go now, you’ll have your chance.” Clive started tapping his foot.
From one deception to another, Alex thought. She glanced at her watch. Somehow it wasn’t even three o’clock. Seemed like she’d been here for days.
“Come on babydoll. You almost messed everything up earlier by hesitating. Go now.”
Alex shrugged her shoulders in defeat. He was a hard demon to refuse. Plus with the skin-tight red cat suit on that lovely shaped body … Alex shook lewd thoughts from her head and made her way over to the tills before the customer arrived.
Clive crept in behind Alex as she served the lady. The client had picked out a rather fetching outfit for a wedding reception, and was gabbing on about whether she’d chosen the right type of style.
“I think you’ll look lovely on the day,” Alex said, and held up a sparkly top.
“Like a tart more like,” Clive said. “She must be, what, at least forty, and she’s shopping in a teenagers’ clothing store. What do you really think…?”
Alex ignored the demon’s commentary. If she thought of him like a radio playing in the background, she could fade him out.
The customer held her visa out as Alex finished scanning the tags. She glanced at the name before sticking the card in the reader. Mrs. P. Peabody. Alex removed the security devices and folded the clothing, sliding everything into a large plastic bag while she decided the ‘P’ could stand for Penelope, but most likely she was called Penny for short.
“I think that top’s beautiful,” Alex said. “Especially matched with the skirt you chose.”
“Are you sure, dear?” Mrs. Peabody asked. “I know this shop is aimed at younger individuals, but I noticed them in the window as I walked by and couldn’t help myself.” She had a posh accent, but on the sweet side. Alex thought she was probably a lovely person. The type of lady who bends over backwards for her friends and has the innocence to not realize it. Funny how she supposed so much from a voice.
My Demon Page 3
