CHAPTER EIGHT

Day 153? - the next day

CHAPTER SIX

Day 149? - the next day.

I leapt out of bed and peered out of the window, trying to see who was in the garden. But though I could still hear them, they were out of sight. I called down, but neither Ash nor Drew answered. I grabbed my robe and ran down the stairs into the hall. Chris was waiting for me when I got there.
“What’s going on Chris? Did I hear a man’s voice outside?”
“We need to talk, Sue. Come.” She took my arm and led me off into the dining room.

CHAPTER FOUR

Day 53 continued

Ash and Drew had heard my calls as I’d run through the house and they’d followed me through the garden and across the field, calling back, but without reply. They’d seen what had happened, found me where I’d fallen and somehow managed to get me back to the house.

CHAPTER TWO

Day 2

HOW THE TROJAN WAR WAS AVERTED

FRANKIE

I clicked the top back onto the lipstick and replaced it carefully in the dressing table drawer along with the other make up I’d used. Studying myself in the mirror, I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. I felt relaxed - for the first time in a long while. Perhaps for the first time since my sister, two years older than me, had left home to go to college in the US ten weeks ago. I missed her enormously. We were close - much closer than most siblings, but we had our parents to thank for that.

GAMBIER TERRACE

There are places I’ll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain

All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all

1

9

I picked up a new job almost straight away. Christmas was approaching, the party season was in full flow, and the demand for catering staff was high. I flung myself into work with renewed vigour. I’d been at the new place only a few days when I received a text from Rachel. “Hi Sweetie. Back in UK. Dinner Friday? X”.

7

5

A BACK ROOM AT THE EMPEROR CASINO. DEBBIE IS IN LINE WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER WAITRESSES, ALL SIMILARLY DRESSED. AN OLDER WOMAN IS ADDRESSING THEM.

WOMAN – So we’re short a hostess for tomorrow night. Would any of you girls like to step in?

DEBBIE (WHISPERING TO THE GIRL ALONGSIDE SIDE HER) – What’s a hostess do?

3

The following morning Rachel dropped me off at the studio before herself heading for the airport from where she was leaving to spend several weeks on location in India. We kissed and she wished me luck and I watched her drive away until she disappeared into the distance. From here on in, I was on my own. I took a deep breath and made my way towards the security booth at the studio gates.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS

Although written as a standalone piece, Private Investigations involves many of the same characters as my previous story on this site, ‘Others Prefer It Cool’ and begins on the morning after the events described in that tale. So it’s not compulsory, but you might want to read that one first!
Thanks for reading,
Sue
x

1

OTHERS PREFER IT COOL

Will ‘Others Prefer it Cool’, the sixtieth anniversary remake of the classic Billy Wilder crossdressing comedy ‘Some Like It Hot’, be a hit at the cinema?
Will the film’s English producer, Rachel Sixsmith, be able to persuade her toyboy lover to attend the premiere in drag?
And does the film’s male lead, all American action hero Jack Jones, really prefer panties?
Of course the answer is yes to all of those, but do read the story anyway…

Maria had gone when I awoke. Glancing at the alarm clock I saw that it was past noon. I stepped gingerly out of bed, wincing slightly as I made my way to the en-suite. My feet were a ruin after spending all night in heels. I surveyed myself in the bathroom mirror. The make up that I had neglected to remove last night was now re-arranged in a far more abstract pattern all over my face. The hairpiece dangled lopsidedly over one ear, mirrored by one remaining earring in the other.