Page 91 of Replay
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You have three new messages.
“Alle, I need to talk to you.It’s important.Call me back.”
“Little Princess, we need to meet.I’m sorry about last night.There are things you need to know.”
“Sis.It’s Theo.Are you okay?How’s Ronnie?We should talk.I’ve heard some stuff you ought to hear, too.”
Alle wiped her voicemail and scanned the list of unread text messages in the desperate hope that she’d find one from either Spook or Xane.Nada.No one had seen either of them since last night.Her heart was running at least twenty beats a minute above normal, and she kept expecting management or a police officer to approach her at any moment to deliver bad news.She knew she was letting herself get overwrought, but there was no getting the image of Spook clutching that shard of shattered mirror out of her head.Nor had it helped learning that Xane was AWOL too.She’d spoken to Dani over breakfast, who hadn’t heard from Xane since he’d left their suite last night.According to the Black Halo security guys, both Xane and Spook had checked out of the hotel at first light.So far, there was no sign of either of them at the festival ground.
The net result was a sickly feeling in her stomach that an excess of coffee was contributing to.In this instance, did no news equal bad news, or should she be doing more than drifting about looking lost?
“Alle.Hey.”Ronnie beckoned her from the doorway of his caravan.At least he appeared to be back to his larger than life, strawberry lace chewing, slushy slurping self.“What’s up?You’re looking grim.”
She shrugged.“I’m just trying to find Spook.”A little seed of hope blossomed in her chest.Maybe Ronnie would have the answers.
“Yeah?The whole world’s trying to find you.Or leastways a string of Huttons are.I’ve had separate visits today from all three of your lovely bros.”
The way he said lovely implied the precise opposite.
“But not Spook?”she asked mournfully, before peering up at him in alarm.“Marshall came to your caravan?It better have been to deliver a grovelling apology.”
Ronnie chuckled, lips peeling away from his teeth.He gave a quick slash with his hand.“Nah.And actually, he didn’t come in person.He sent an underling.The other two showed their actual faces though.Said I’d catch up with Flynn again after the gig.However, the point is, your family seem really concerned about you.Did you do something wondrous and wild last night, without me, kid?Because I have to say, they’re acting like you got high, ran naked through the city centre, and then humped an on-duty police officer in front of an audience of minors.”
“Uh!Sorry.No.”
Ronnie nodded, like he was actually disappointed.“Just an average night in a luxury hotel suite bonking mister hot stuff, eh?”He grinned.Yeah, he was recovered.Hence the gleam in his eyes and the sly attempt to source her for sexy details.Celebrity sex lives, it was a topic Ronnie would never tire of.
Alle sighed.“I wish, Ronnie.I really wish.
“Still no bonking?”He grimaced.“Damn.The boy has ice cold testicles, eh?”
She didn’t really want to get into the details of it, as it would only delay her search, but she figured a reply of some sort was necessary, if only to dissuade him from speculating.“Last night kind of went a bit pear-shaped.Spook hung out with Xane for the night.I took a bubble bath…” And failed to get any rest at all.Hence, she looked and felt like a member of the walking dead now.“Anyhow, that’s why I’m trying to catch up with him now.So, since you haven’t seen him…” She turned to head off.
“Did I say that?”
Alle turned back and stared up at him like he was the new messiah.“You didn’t not say it.”
He shrugged, leaned over, and snatched something from off the counter inside the caravan.Excitement ballooned inside Alle’s chest, only for her to deflate with a hiss, when what he produced was a packet of fizzy cola bottles, not a clue.
Ronnie thrust them at her.“Load up.You definitely look like you need some sugar, babes.”
“Ronnie, have you seen Spook, or not?”She passed the packet back to him un-opened.
“Have,” he confirmed.“It’s got to be over an hour ago now.He and Xane came by to talk me through the set list and make sure I was happy with all the arrangements.”
“They did?”
“We’re doing my single and another track in with their songs.”
“That’s great,” she said, endeavouring to be a good, supportive friend and listen, while what she wanted to do was wring his neck until he squawked the information she required.“I don’t suppose you know where they were headed?”She’d already tried the Black Halo tour bus.Hadn’t got further than the steps before Cave Troll had escorted her down them again.Something about saving face and the embarrassment of an Ash and Ginny sideshow.
They hadn’t been in the VIP bar either.
“Have you tried the yurts?”
Yurts?She’d never entirely figured out what one of those was anyway.Some sort of rustic camping pod for posh people?Why would they be—
