Page 96 of Out of the Shadows
“Dignity is so overrated. There’s yours, look.” Just a couple of feet away my horse awaits me and I’ve little choice other than to take my place. Cosmo claims the one next to me.
The organ music starts up, and the carousel rotates, the horses rising and falling as though trotting over gentle hills. It would be easy to feel a little bit stupid, but next to me Cosmo’s laughter is so joyous there’s no way I can stop from joining in.
The carousel speeds up a little, the horses rising higher and falling lower, and all the people standing and watching whip by. A flash of memory hits me. The village fair near where my grandparents lived on the farm. Candy floss and toffee apples, bumper cars and carousels, all that freedom and without a care in the world. I turn to Cosmo — and find him clinging on for dear life. He’s stopped laughing and is very, very pale.
“I don’t think it was a good idea to have glühwein, and chocolates, and strudel…” His voice carries, but only just, over the carousel music. “Oh, thank god for that,” he mutters, when the carousel slows to a stop.
Cosmo begins to slip sideways and I catch him as he all but falls off the horse. Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I guide him down the carousel’s wooden steps, under the concerned gaze of the guy in Victorian costume.
“Too much glühwein,” I throw over my shoulder.
“It’s okay, I’m not going to throw up.”
I’m not so sure about that, and I get him to wooden bench, a little out of the crowd, and sit him down.
“You okay?”
“Yes, or I will be in a minute. You must think I’m a right twat, pushing you to get on the carousel only for me to start feeling ill.”
“I had a feeling this might happen.”
“You don’t sound very sympathetic.” He pushes his lower lip out in a pout.
I shrug. “I’m not.”
“Don’t blame you, really. I suppose. If ever I try to make you climb onto the back of a painted wooden pony again, please stop me.”
“Stop you? Cosmo Stern, the Great Unstoppable?”
“The Great Unstoppable. I like it. Also impulsive and completely reckless.”
“Hmm, but also brave, and funny and smart. And a pain in the arse.”
His brows rise in mock indignation. All trace of nausea has disappeared.
“Pain in the arse? I have never been described as a pain in the arse. I’ve been described as many things in the arse, but pain isn’t one of them. Maybe later I can prove it to you?”
He sidles along the bench. We’re sitting close. Thigh to thigh, and arm to arm. His smile is dark and dangerous, his lips red and plump and parting as he leans in, as he leans in to—
“Daniel? I thought it was you. How are you?”
My head twists around so hard, I almost break my neck. Blinking hard, I stare up into the face of a jowly older man.
“Michael. What a surprise.”
Cosmo’s shifted back along the bench, looking from me to Michael and back to me.
“Erm, this is…” My what? Boyfriend? Lover? I clear my throat but before I can say anything, Michael plunges in.
“Stella and I are visiting our daughter, and these are our two grandchildren.” He indicates a couple of bored young teens, standing a few feet behind. “Time with the family,” he says in a stage whisper. “I’m afraid it has to be done.”
Michael laughs, and his ageing, sagging jowls wobble. He offers Cosmo the thinnest of smiles; it holds a hint of something that looks like a sneer but it’s gone before I can pin it down.
“I heard on the grapevine you’re doing some work for the Kingsbury Group. Jackson Cleaver specifically. You’re pulling them up by the bootstraps, or so I’m led to believe. They need it but if anybody can do it, you can. How’s Geraldine?”
He looks around, as though expecting her to pop up out of the crowd.
“Such a wonderful woman. She’s made quite the name for herself, I understand. But human rights? And minority causes and groups?” He tuts and shakes his head. “The real money’s in criminal law. Or is it corporate?” He guffaws. “I’m a bit out of touch. Retirement has a habit of doing that.” He taps his head. “Whichever it is, I’m sure it’s not in representing cleaners moaning about not being paid the same as the CEO, or lefties and degenerates demanding equal rights for puppies or boiled eggs.”
