Page 108 of Fe
“Spencer,” Ripley said.
“Who ignored me throughout the meal.”
Billy quietly growled.
“Let’s try and win then,” Fen said. Though he and Ripley wouldn’t be together in August, so there’d be no trip to take.Don’t think about that.
Someone tapped on a glass and the room fell silent. Matthew and his wife stood next to the Christmas tree.
“Thank you all for coming,” said Matthew. “It’s been another hugely successful year for us and that’s down to everyone here tonight.”
“Especially me,” Billy whispered in Fen’s ear. “And let’s not forget the office staff who weren’t invited. Oh dear, he has.”
Fen glanced at him and smiled.I like him.
“We’ve come up with something different this year,” Cressida said. “A couple of challenges. The first is drive a needle through a coin. We’ll give each pair a hammer, snippers, a coin and a needle. Those who succeed go through to round two. Bend your needle and you’re disqualified. Please use the hammers on top of the protective mats outside on the patio. I don’t want the floor damaged. Everything else you require can be found in this room or the dining room.”
“Ready, steady, go!” Matthew called.
“Have fun,” Billy said. “I’m getting a drink.”
Ripley sighed. “Me too.”
“Come on,” Fen said. “I know how to do this.”
“I don’t want the holiday.”
“You want Spencer to win?”
“No.”
“Then go and get the stuff. Make sure you pick a pre-1992 penny. I’ll get the rest of what we need.”
Fen had never actually done this before but it was something he’d read about. He pocketed a cork from the dining table, then collected two solid straight-edged pieces of wood from the basket by the fire in the lounge. Ripley came over to him.
“Outside now,” Fen whispered.
He knew Spencer and his wife were watching and wondered if they’d seen him pick up the cork.
“Tell me what to do,” Ripley said.
“Press the needle into the cork until it reaches the other end.” Fen put the pieces of wood on the protective mat, setting them close together, then put the penny on top.
“Done.” Ripley held it out.
“Now you need to snip off the eye bit of the needle so it’s level with the top of the cork. Put the cork over the coin and hit it hard with the hammer.”
Ripley sighed as if he didn’t believe him but a moment later, he gasped. “Bloody hell.”
“The needle can’t bend because it’s held by the cork, and steel is stronger than copper. Take it to Matthew.”
Fen returned the bits and pieces to their places. When Ripley returned, much to Fen’s shock, he pulled him into his arms. “Clever boy.”
“You’ve only just noticed?”
“I’ve been dazzled by other bits of you.”
Fen’s cheeks heated.
