Page 31 of The Christmas Book Hunt

‘You wouldn’t dare,’ hissed the woman.

‘You wouldn’t dare break into an elderly woman’s home, would you?’ said Mirren boldly. ‘In fact, you’d probably leave straight away.’

The woman stiffened. Then she saw the resolve in Mirren’s face.

‘We’ll come back,’ said the woman threateningly. ‘When it’s more convenient. Come on, Georges.’

‘Don’t let them,’ said Mirren to June.

‘Oh, I thought they seemed nice,’ said June, blinking.

There were now books all over the floor where Georges had tossed them down. If Mirren had been feeling less shaky, she’d have ordered him to pick them up. And learn how to usea duster in his shop while he was at it. But she was already amazed at her own daring.

‘Go now,’ she said, as sharply as she could manage. ‘Vultures.’

Theo called her back.

‘Oh my God!’ said Mirren. ‘I can’t believe that worked!!!!!’

‘I’m not all bad,’ said Theo.

‘No,’ said Mirren, frowning again. ‘Just abitbad.’

‘What are you going to do?’ he said.

‘None of your business,’ said Mirren. Then, ‘I’m going home.’

‘That’s what you said yesterday.’

‘I know. But I am now.’

‘The Beardsleys’ family retreat,’ said Theo, marvelling. ‘Amazing. Are you absolutely, positively, one hundred per cent ...’

‘No,’ said Mirren, looking at the star twinkling on top of the beautiful Christmas tree that was now apparent in June’s front room. Even though the room was cold and hardly used, she had decorated it anyway, with beautiful lights, to please the eye, to make children happy passing by on the snowy road; to celebrate a time of year for family.

‘No,’ said Mirren. ‘I’m done.’

Then she paused.

‘Would you have been like them?’ she said eventually. ‘If I had found the book? Were you on a mission to find me? Did your uncle really send you to get it off me? Would you have fought me for it?’

The pause told her everything she needed to know.

‘But,’ stuttered Theo eventually. ‘But, Mirren ... I really ... I really had fun and wanted to get to know you and, well ...’

But it was too late. She had already hung up.

The kettle clicked off in the kitchen. June was making more tea, and this time she was cheerfully taking out the whisky. Mirren waved it away.

‘I’ll go,’ said Mirren. ‘I’m so, so sorry. I’m so sorry to put you through this.’

June was looking far more herself.

‘Not at all,’ she said. ‘It’s very exciting! Quite the most fun I’ve had in ages! You can’t be off!’

‘I am,’ said Mirren. ‘I have to get home.’

‘Oh,’ said June, looking a little sad. Then she looked up. Again, there was a long pause.

---