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| Nora has a Job to Do |
Vince
didn’t appear to be listening. He proceeded to lift a whisky glass and pour
himself a finger’s width of scotch. He screwed the top. Amy ventured on,
‘Er…Mr. Jonas, this is…’
‘Nora.
I’m a nurse.’
Vince
grabbed a fistful of ice from the bucket without using the tongs. He dropped a
few chunks into his glass with a clink. ‘Did you get my plane tickets, Amy?’
Amy
seemed gratified Vince had ignored Nancy’s greeting. ‘Yes, the flight is
scheduled for Monday.’
Vince
agitated the liquid. The follicles at his hairline had now grown back as well
as the gash in his eyebrow. Nancy guessed his teeth no longer glowed in the
dark. He closed his eyes and took a nip. His
eyes had been closed and his skin had possessed the pallor of gesso. The seam
of an eyelid betrayed a gleam. This gave her the impetus. ‘I’m pleased to meet
you again, Mr. Jonas.’
Vince
paused, looking at her. He tilted his glass again. This time, he eyed her as he
downed the dregs. Nancy grew acutely aware of her blouse sliding against her
breasts as she breathed. She adopted a cool cadence. ‘If you don’t mind my saying,
I wouldn’t call this a bedroom. A bedroom is a place for sleep, not for
watching TV or for conducting business.’ She alluded to his drinks trolley.
‘And certainly not for drinking.’
Vince
deposited his whisky glass onto the drinks trolley with a rap. ‘I will take
note of your thoughts…Nora, but I believe you are confusing the role of a nurse
for a housekeeper.’ His throaty tone grew quiet for emphasis. ‘If this is the
case, perhaps you could resolve the problem of the dust in here and perhaps
rearrange my drinks trolley whilst you’re at it.’
‘Mr.
Jonas…’
‘Amy,
this is the second time this individual has found herself in my private
quarters. Did I not make myself perfectly clear I do not wish to be disturbed
by anyone, press, nurse or otherwise?’
Amy
salvaged a morsel of composure for Nancy’s benefit. ‘She says she could enforce
prosecution unless I let her see you, Mr. Jonas. What I’d like to do is kick
her butt for every step o’ that staircase from top to bottom.’
Vince’s
eyes did a mini roll beneath lids at half-mast. ‘If I want somethin’ to happen,
Amy, I expect you to make it happen.’
‘I’m
just tryin’ to explain myself so that you can understand how this intruder
tricked her way past me.’
‘Explanations
do not interest me, Amy.’
‘But
she’s done this twice, now, Mr. Jonas. I’m pretty mad at myself for lettin’
that happen. I’m sorry for letting you down.’
Vince
didn’t reply. He lifted his whisky glass once more and allowed the ice-melt to
slide into his mouth. He worked on it before swallowing. He wiped the dampness
on the back of his hand.
Nancy
ventured a contribution, ‘this room could be very restful, Mr. Jonas.’ She
looked about. ‘…with a few small changes.’
Vince
deposited his glass once more upon the drinks trolley. ‘Amy, show Nora out
and…’ Without looking at her, he added, ‘take a few days off.’
Amy
didn’t seem to like what this insinuated. Her mouth puckered as she crossed her
arms. With a sharp jerk of the head, she beckoned at Nancy. Nancy stepped
towards the door and was surprised by a smart tug at the upper arm. Amy dished
out a most vicious form of ushering as she steered Nancy through the door. To
Vince, Amy had appeared to regain her cool PA-head. Nancy knew different.
Only
on reaching the foot of the stairs, did Amy let it out. ‘You have heard it from
the man himself now, Nora. Your services aren’t needed here. And guess what?’
She brandished Nancy’s badge. ‘I ain’t callin’ the police on you; not for
trespassin’, not for harassment. Oh, no. I’m gonna work a little overtime to
check you out myself, Nora...’ She read her name. ‘Nora Clements. Once I’m done, I’m gonna call the police and fill
them in on everything.’ With that, Amy showed Nancy the door once again.
