Page 57 of All I Want for Christmas

‘Tonight is my chess club.’

She hadn’t been expecting an answer in the affirmative. ‘Oh? I didn’t know you played.’

‘Oh, yes. It’s my obsession. I attempted a Bird’s Opening last week but it rather backfired on me. I’ve decided to open with an Elephant Gambit this week instead.’

‘You’ve completely lost me, I’m afraid, Viggo.’

Jens was sitting at the reception desk, his dog curled up in its bed. Darcy didn’t know its name and there was little point in asking. It wasn’t a pet. The animal lifted its head at the sound of their approach, eyes following them, but it made no move. Not without Jens’ instruction.

‘Good night, Jens,’ Viggo said with a nod as they passed. ‘We’ll see you in the morning.’

‘Good night, Viggo. Miss Cotterell.’ The security guard hada deck of cards laid out before him and was setting up for a game of patience. ‘...Oh, by the way, Miss.’

She stopped and turned at the door.

‘Is the other box ready to come back?’

‘Back?’ she asked in surprise.

‘Yes, from Mr Lorensen’s. Only we didn’t receive the remittance form yet.’

She stared at him. Hadn’t her message to Max been clear enough that she didn’t need it there? ‘But I told him—’

‘Ah! This is my oversight, I fear.’ Viggo spoke with a slightly frozen look as he turned towards her. ‘I apologize. When we drew up the working plan at the weekend, Max Lorensen asked for a box to be delivered each evening after closing up here. I’m afraid I forgot to cancel yesterday’s delivery after I learned you weren’t intending to go over this week.’

‘So you mean it’s been sitting there all last night and all day today?’

‘Yes, but...’ Viggo looked shaken and suddenly every single one of his seventy-three years. ‘Oh. Oh dear.’

‘Viggo, it’s fine,’ she said, touching his arm and seeing how he paled. The material in the archives was treasure to him and he took its safekeeping seriously.

‘I’ll go over there right away.’

‘No,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I’ll go. You’ve got chess club.’

‘But this is not your error.’

‘I know, but I’m free this evening. I’ll check everything’s okay and I’ll get the form signed and then it can be sent back. No one will ever know.’ She gave a careless shrug.

The old archivist looked pained by the oversight. ‘...You’re sure?’

‘Of course. No harm will have been done.’ She turned back to Jens. ‘How should I communicate to you about when to collect the box?’

‘Text me.’ He scribbled a number down on a piece of jotting paper and handed it to her. ‘Please allow half an hour from the time you send it. Arrival time will depend on whether I’m on patrol.’

‘Okay. I’ll be in touch.’ She and Viggo stepped outside. It was brisk, and Viggo pulled his coat closer to his frame. ‘And you’re sure Max is away at the moment?’

‘Yes. Why?’

She looked down the street, past the tail-lights of the rush-hour traffic as everyone made their way home. ‘I’ll do another hour or so over there,’ she mulled, before looking back at him. ‘May as well, seeing as I’m looking in anyway. And if I’m not going to be in his way...’

‘Here.’ Viggo reached into his coat and pulled out a key. ‘He gave me this. The code is P-E-D-E-R.’

‘Peder?’

‘Exactly.’

The Danish form of Peter? ‘Okay, well...enjoy your chess. Don’t worry about a thing. It’ll all be fine.’

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