The Little One [Quick Read 2012] Read Free

the colour of blood on the tiled floor.
    When Barbara rather nervously asked if she should dress up or make it casual, he snapped, ‘Wear anything you feel comfortable in.’
    Barbara chose a short plaid skirt, black stockings, boots and a black polo-necked sweater. She also wore big gold earrings and matching bangles. Alan had on a very smart navy velvet suit and a
white collarless shirt.
    ‘Do I look all right?’ Barbara asked.
    He gave her a glance and shrugged.
    ‘Sure. We should get started.’
    After driving in silence for about half an hour, Alan gradually became less tense.
    ‘I think I should make something clear, Barbara.’
    ‘Fire away.’
    ‘OK, this is a get-together of old mates and cast members for Margaret’s birthday. But there is an ulterior motive.’
    ‘Really?’ she said innocently.
    ‘Yeah, we want her to come back into the show. Some of us haven’t had much work recently and it would be a big plus for all of us. So, everything I’ve told you is private,
understand? Off the record. I just feel rather nervous.’
    ‘About what?’
    ‘Well, I know you’re intending doing this gig with Kevin, finding ex-soap stars.’
    ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, Alan, you couldn’t describe your series as a soap. It was a very serious drama.’ By this time Barbara was being such a creep she was even making
herself feel a bit sick.
    ‘No, no, I know that. But I don’t want you trying to hassle Margaret. Promise me that whatever happens tonight is off the record.’
    Barbara nodded and then patted Alan’s shoulder.
    ‘I promise, but you didn’t even need to bring it up. I’m so thrilled to be meeting her and the rest of the brilliant cast.’
    Just as Alan and Barbara pulled in at the Hare and Hounds, three actors from the show arrived. There was a lot of chit-chat about who was doing what, or not doing anything at
all. Barbara remained very much in the background, behaving herself, not that she recognized anyone.
    Felicity arrived to whoops and a lot of air-kissing. She suggested that they go in convoy to Margaret’s house as she knew the way and so, after a drink, everyone got into various cars to
follow her ancient Mini.
    They left the main road and drove along a series of increasingly narrow lanes. By the end, they appeared to be heading towards a dirt track.
    ‘This can’t be right,’ Alan muttered as they bounced over a number of potholes.
    Eventually they reached a steep embankment. There were now thick woods on either side of them. Suddenly a lightning bolt zigzagged across the sky, followed quickly by a crash of thunder. As
Felicity stopped her car at a sign and got out to look at it more closely, the rain started lashing down.
    She waved to the next car and shouted, ‘This is it.’
    ‘I hope she’s right,’ Alan groaned.
    The convoy rounded a bend that was lined by tall fir trees. They stopped at a white-painted gate with a postbox on the top bar. Felicity had to get out of her car again to open the gate and was
soaked by the time she’d finished.
    ‘It’s straight ahead from here,’ she shouted.
    They moved on to a tarmac road that was a lot easier to drive along than the track. As they went round another bend the old manor house came into view. Even though it was dark, they could make
out a huge Victorian building with turrets at either end. Strange-looking stone creatures flanked the main entrance. There were big bay windows on the ground floor, some dark but others well lit.
There were also three cars parked at the top of the horseshoe-shaped drive: an old Land Rover and two BMWs.
    ‘That belongs to James Halliday, the show’s producer,’ Alan said, pointing towards one of the BMWs.
    Barbara nodded, trying not to seem too interested. ‘Looks like we’ve enough food for a banquet,’ she said, watching as everyone gathered, arms laden, on the stone steps leading
to the door.
    Felicity pulled the old iron bell, which clanged loudly and ominously. Eventually they