Page 79 of The Library of Second Chances
‘Please don’t say that,’ said Chloe with a groan. ‘All right, look. Let’s check the restaurant. And, um, the supermarket as well, just in case.’
‘I could go home,’ Gwen offered. ‘See if anyone is there.’
They split up, though Chloe took Harry’s sleeve. ‘Stay with me?’
‘Shall we check the restaurant?’ he asked with a smile.
Eric scurried off to check the supermarket and Mrs Cook headed back to check on the library. They hurried along to the restaurant where they had eaten together, where Chloe and Harry had shared so many of their secrets. The place was open, a delicious savoury scent already wafting onto the street.
Chloe’s stomach rumbled. It felt like a lifetime since the omelette she’d eaten with Gwen this morning. A supposedlynormal morning where all they had to do was visit the graveyard. ‘Do you see anyone?’ she asked Harry.
Chloe stepped as close to the restaurant window as she could without touching it, hoping no one would see her looking and think she was weird. The restaurant seemed fairly busy, with waiting staff moving around the tables. Couples and families sat together, none of them looking much like the two remaining characters.
‘Look, over there,’ whispered Chloe, pointing towards the bathroom.
A man who could only be the illusive detective was striding back from the direction of the restaurant toilets. He looked so painfully Victorian era that Chloe was surprised no one else in the restaurant was craning their necks to look at him. Well, some of them were, eyeing him with interest before going back to their meals. Chloe hoped no one would try to talk to him.
He wore a tweed suit and boots today, and Chloe couldn’t miss his height and his hawk-like nose. He regarded everything he saw with a thoughtful frown, as though he had encountered a mystery here and he was trying to solve it.
‘That’s interesting,’ said Harry. ‘The characters need to use the toilet like real-life people do?’
‘It looks that way,’ said Chloe, hoping the detective hadn’t been back there looking for clues or something. ‘They eat, too. Like at the café, the Scottish warrior had some cake, didn’t he?’
They couldn’t sit outside all evening, waiting for the detective to leave. Already, he had returned to his table, where he had set down his deerstalker hat. A half-finished meal sat before him. Chloe watched as he tucked a large serviette into his collar to serve as a napkin bib, then tucked into his spaghetti with meatballs, still frowning thoughtfully.
‘I should go and talk to him,’ said Chloe. ‘Who has the book?’
‘I think Eric has it.’ Harry had already pulled out his phone. ‘Look, it’s cold. Why don’t we go inside?’
That was better than standing out here. They stepped into the delicious warmth and Harry got them a table for two. There wasn’t time to eat, so he ordered them both soft drinks. Looking a little irked that they hadn’t ordered food, the waiter rushed off while Chloe texted the group chat, asking whoever had the book to write the character’s last line as a message.
Eric obliged soon after as the waiter was bringing them glasses of lemonade. Chloe risked a look at the detective. He had nearly finished his meal.
‘I’d better go and talk to him.’ Chloe took an obligatory sip of her drink then sidled over to the detective. She wished he hadn’t chosen such a conspicuous table; he was in the centre of the restaurant, and several people were watching him with amusement.
‘Good evening, madam,’ said the detective, setting down his cutlery. ‘We have met before, haven’t we?’
‘We have,’ she said, glad he remembered. ‘It’s me, Chloe. You gave me some advice last time we met.’
‘Did you bring me here again?’ His stare was intense as he put some spaghetti in his mouth, chewing slowly. ‘For what purpose? Do you need my advice?’ He looked around. ‘Or is there something more sinister at work here?’
‘I’m afraid it wasn’t me who brought you here this time,’ said Chloe. ‘And it’s nothing sinister,’ she quickly added. The last thing they needed was for him to inspect every little detail of the restaurant. ‘If you’re ready, I can send you back to London as soon as possible.’
He nodded, wiping his mouth. ‘And the topic of last time?’
‘Last time?’
The detective removed his spotless napkin bib, folding it neatly beside his clean plate. ‘You had a problem, I recall. Amatter of truth and lies and a certain young man.’ He must have followed her gaze to where Harry was sitting, his chin resting in his hand while trying, and failing, to not look like he was watching them. A small smile appeared on the detective’s face. ‘All resolved, I trust?’
‘Yes. You said just what I needed to hear.’ Chloe smiled back at him. ‘I’d say your task is complete.’
‘Such a hurry. Fine, I’ll settle the bill.’
‘Don’t do that,’ she said in alarm as the detective pulled out a worn-looking wallet.
‘What’ll it be?’ The money he was pulling out looked nothing like what Chloe had seen before. She looked in fascination at the gold-coloured coins with the royal head that could only be Queen Victoria. The detective laid them out on the table.
A waiter was coming towards them. Chloe had to think fast. ‘Debit card, please,’ she quickly said.
