Introduction

16 June

"Colin."

"Yeah."

"Colin!!"

The reverberating thud of Kit's fist on his desk caught me totally off guard, sent my feet flying off his desk and my pen to the floor. My eyes must have shot out of their sockets as I focused on my mildly perturbed agent. At least that was the impression I got from catching his expression as I leaned down to retrieve my writing utensil.

"Forget the damned pen, I have dozens in that cup there in the corner. Are you ready to sign these addendums or am I interfering in whatever you seem to be lost in?"

"No, let's do it."

I set my tablet aside. Yes, I'd taken to Diane's habit of having one everywhere I went these days. I had three already overfilled, overwritten and under wraps in my desk at home. All were filled with musings and notes from the bits of information I had managed to bring back from Mrs. Curtis. Diane hadn't taken anything, but something made me cart off that cylindrical tube that contained a complicated and frustrating family lineage. My notes weren't much more helpful. I was basically going round and round in circles in my attempt to work all of it out.

"This is the percentage of the box office with the Oxfam Benefit Premiere specifications. The second is your video sales percentage, the third... for Christ sake Colin... can we just get this over with? This would take less than a minute if you could pry yourself away from whatever you're reading there."

"Just a moment Kit."

I finally closed the notebook and reached for one of his pens, but stopped before I signed even one of those contract add-ons.
"What is wrong with you? Don't tell me you aren't clear to do this now? Did something happen in Bakewell that is going to set this project back?"

"Not at all."

"You're sure? What did you have to go there for anyway? I thought that was her project."

I threw my book on his desk.

"It's hers. Well, it's Eastbourne's, documentary. Has to do with her ancestors, where they came from."

"And you had to go?"

"I'm a partner, as you recall. And don't fret, she went one way, I went the other. I wasn't particularly interested, but more than one person is usually necessary when scouting locations. Saves on the budget also, if it's us."

"So you have nothing else then? You're free the rest of the year?"

"I can't say that I am. You're my agent. I assume you would be the one to tell me if I am or not. That is, unless I get something through my letterbox that I just can't turn down. That and perhaps a holiday with my family."

"So can we get these signed and you can go plan that holiday? You're not due for this until September."

I signed the pages I was required and left his office as quickly as I could. The new London office was a bit over two miles from my house, but I didn't head west after I got in my car. I went north-east. Into the city. Towards Knightsbridge. I pulled in front of the flat and just stared. What was the point of coming here without her; other than being totally pissed off I had to be economical with the truth again and needed to cool down? Why had Kit brought her up? I despised his doing so as I always had to fabricate something to reply with. She had once told me she totally understood and accepted that it was what had to be done in those situations. It didn't mean it set right with me at all.

I reached into the back seat, found my newly acquired laptop, the note pad and the one book I'd pilfered from that library at Revell. This was as good a place as any, perhaps better, to have quiet and email her what I had found in and amongst the goods.