Facade Read Free Page A

much.” Helen gave her an extra container of the knish.
    Not caring if that were true or not, she hugged the container to her chest and made her way out.
    The city of Los Angeles hated the rain. It was as if everything stopped. She never meant to be such a wanderer, but once her father died in her senior year of high school, she sort of ended up flitting around with nowhere to go and no money. It was a strange happenstance, and she managed to make it work for the most part, but along the way she’d ended up without any true address, with no family, and spending all of her time simply trying to make do. Before her father died he promised she would one day make it big, and she could only hope and pray this group with Ramon would work out.
    Hoping she could wait out the storm, she went to the library and read for a bit and searched the Internet. Her mind continued to return to the old theatre and she did some research. “The Etolie Theatre.” In its heyday it was quite the showpiece. Pictures from the lobby way back in the 1940s showed the theatre ghost was actively restoring the place to its former grandeur.
    With the library closing, the night upon her, and the rain still falling, she considered her options. Tonight might be a night to use some money and hang out in a coffee shop or shops before she got kicked out, or maybe she should get it over with and call Ramon.
    Neither truly an option, she went with her heart and her instinct. Soaking wet and almost beyond her control, she returned to the theatre. She faced the door she first snuck in and shut her eyes. If the door was locked or barricaded, she decided she would call Ramon. If the door was open, she decided it would be an invitation. Whoever was there had to know how she entered and exited.
    Taking a deep breath, she pushed on the door. Since she expected it to be bolted shut, she practically tripped when it easily gave way, and she tumbled inside.
    She caught herself, closed the door and smiled when she went to the stage to find all the lights on. “Thank you.” After arranging her items in the corner, she went to the front of the stage.
    Refusing to take anything for free and unsure who she was dealing with, she repeated her offering of the night before, cleared her throat and began to sing.
    She performed a simple song. A little twenty-year-old ballad she particularly liked and remembered her parents dancing to in their tiny apartment so long ago.
    She let the notes take her away, and if she squinted her eyes in just the right way, she could practically picture an audience in front of her. As she finished, she imagined the applause and took a bow.
    Like earlier, she walked around and used the facilities, and when at last she returned to her little corner, she found a bottle of water near her backpack.
    She curled up in her space, picked up the bottle and read the note written on the label. “Always sing.” Her fingers traced the neat handwriting, her heart fluttered and she lifted the bottle. “Thank you, I hope you don’t mind if I come in out of the rain.”
    The lights flashed, and she leaned back and took in the theatre.
     

Chapter Three
    Insolent girl.
    From the flies, Erik shook his head and watched his little chirping cricket make a nest in his theatre. It was almost time for his performance. Maybe he should go get some popcorn. Instead, he sat back with a glass of whiskey and waited.
    Silly, silly girl didn’t know better than to not make a residence in a place where either a crazed lunatic followed her around communicating with her with flashing lights and little notes, or a ghost. She didn’t know not to come in here and sing in that beautiful voice and expect no one to react. She didn’t even know not to come in here and float around like a gorgeous angel and not expect anyone to watch.
    Of course, he didn’t get rid of her.
    Who was the stupid one now?
    He was the one who allowed her to stay for over a week for the price of a song each