investigation: who’d handed me the phone and, more importantly, where was the glorious coffee smell coming from?
Master detective that I was, I had the mystery solved in no time, helped in no small way by the fact that Mrs C was in my kitchenette, washing up what I suspected was a week’s worth of dirty dishes (I’m very busy, you know, and don’t always have enough time for the domestic duties. I’m usually very good around the house).
‘Have you been here all night?’ I asked her.
‘Well, there wasn’t much point in going home and then coming back in the morning was there?’ Mrs C said. ‘Anyway, this place needed a good cleaning. I don’t know how you manage to live in squalor like this.’
It wasn’t that bad. Sure, there were unwashed dishes in the sink and some underwear drying on the radiators, but I wouldn’t have described it as squalor – that was a bit harsh. On the other hand, my apartment was now gleaming. All exposed surfaces had been polished, the floor had been swept and there wasn’t any sign of my underwear anywhere. I hoped she’d put it away as opposed to thrown it away.
In fact, the apartment was now cleaner than when I first moved in.
‘Um, thanks, but you didn’t really have to.’
‘Yes, I did; besides it gave me something to do while you and your sidekick snored in stereo. I certainly wasn’t going to get much sleep with that racket.’
‘I don’t snore,’ I said indignantly.
‘Yes you do, just not as loudly as he does.’ She jerked her thumb at the bedroom. ‘Honestly, you were like a pairof reindeer. Now get up and drink that coffee, we’ve work to do.’
I took a sip of my drink – even that was fabulous. It seemed almost a shame to drink it; I wanted to keep it forever and worship it first thing every morning.
‘Damn fine coffee.’ I raised the mug in tribute.
‘It should be: I’ve had over two hundred years of practice.’
I didn’t doubt it.
I tried to drink it slowly, savouring the moment but Mrs C was having none of it. ‘Come on, come on, we’re wasting time here. We need to get a move on or we’ll be late.’
I wanted to say, ‘Serves you right for making such good coffee’, but it came out as ‘Yes, ma’am, just one more sip.’ Don’t know how that happened!
Minutes later we were in my car and heading for the airport.
‘Do you know anything about Sleigh Belles?’ I asked.
‘Not really, we’ve never done business with them. We tend to be a bit more traditional. From what I’ve heard they’re very professional and capable. Anything more than that I suppose we’ll find out when we get there.’
It didn’t take long to reach the airport. After making a few enquiries we were directed to a large hangar on the outskirts of the cargo area. Inside, I could see a handful of jet-powered sleighs undergoing maintenance.
‘Looks like the right place,’ I said as we headed to a door with a sign which read ‘Sleigh Belles – Office. Please ring to enter.’
I rang, the door opened and we entered. Inside the office was warm, comfortable and empty. ‘Hello, anyone at home?’ I shouted as I walked over to what I assumed was the reception area.
‘Just a moment, we’ll be with you shortly,’ came a voice through a partially open door in the back wall, which I assumed led to the hangar proper. Moments later two dishevelled ladies in oil-stained overalls came in, one carrying a large wrench, the other a welder. As soon as they saw us, they smiled broadly.
‘Hi,’ said one, a short brown-haired girl extending her hand. ‘I’m Holly.’
‘And I’m Ivy,’ said her tall blonde companion.
‘And we’re the Sleigh Belles,’ they chimed in unison, dazzling us both with gleaming smiles.
‘Whether it’s a commercial cargo sleigh,’ said Holly.
‘Or a small, private sleigh,’ said Ivy.
‘Then Sleigh Belles have just the sleigh for you,’ again in unison. ‘When it comes to choosing a sleigh, the Belles will show you the
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