The Set Piece Read Free Page A

letters embossed across it.
    “Here’s the paperwork. This is the law firm; their address is here.” He flicked it open to show her. “All my info is in there, too. The appointment’s at ten in the morning.” He snapped the folder shut and handed it to her. “I know you have no reason to trust me, but this is a great opportunity for you. It’s only going to come around once. If you don’t take it, we’ll pass it on to someone else. So give it some real thought.”
    “Okay,” Amy said through tight lips.
    “Oh, and it will be much easier for you later if you don’t tell anyone about this.”
    “That doesn’t sound suspicious at all.”
    “You would be stupid not to think so. And we already know you’re smart. If at any time you don’t feel right about it, you can just walk away.”
    “Like right now,” Amy said, turning her back on him and finally making her way into work.

CHAPTER 2
    “Ta.” The Manchester United supporter smelled of sour sweat. He thanked Amy for the pint of Guinness and doubled his thanks by slapping her behind. Her skirt was so short that he caught her cheek and cupped it for an instant.
    “I’ll have another one of these, duckie.” He pointed to the Guinness. “And those.” He pointed to her behind and then spat in his hands and rubbed them briskly together. The whole table roared with laughter.
    Amy could barely choke down her disgust. That was the second time tonight. She quickly found Reggie carousing in the back with his buddies, letting Simon and Amy do all the heavy lifting, as usual.
    “Your friend at table three keeps grabbing my ass.” She spat the words out.
    “Don’t worry. It’s good for business.” His Manchester accent was made thicker by the four empty pint glasses in front of him.
    “Well, it’s not good for my ass, Reggie. And if he does it again, I’m kicking him out.”
    He exchanged pointed looks with the men at his table. “You can’t kick anyone out of the Arms, love. It’s my pub.” He slid the empty glasses toward her. “Relax. It’s all good fun. Clear the table, would ya?”
    Amy reached out for the glasses. Her hand hovered over the first one, shaking slightly.
    “They’re not going to clear themselves,” Reggie said.
    Anger at Reggie and the state of her life boiled over. Suddenly, she knew exactly what she could buy for Knight’s six hundred bucks.
    “You know, Reggie, you’re wrong. I can kick someone out of your pub.” She tipped the glass over so the dregs ran out. “Me! I quit!”
    She would have given anything to storm out, slamming the door behind her. But those kind of dramatics only worked in the movies. Aware that everyone’s eyes were now on her, she grabbed her purse from behind the bar with a flourish and downed a quick shot of Reggie’s best Scotch. The alcohol burned her throat on the way down, but its warmth hit her immediately.
    This is what freedom must feel like.
    Simon stood before her open-mouthed. She gave him a quick squeeze on his arm, and had her hand on the door when Reggie’s voice boomed out, “Oi! That uniform’s not yours, missy!”
    She stopped in her tracks, her back to him and the entire, expectant pub. Then the devil took her. With a simple shrug the black jacket fell to the floor. The Union Jack bra top was another matter, though. She shimmied and twisted, trying to get it over her head without looking foolish. Finally, with one arm over her naked front, she flung the bra top over her shoulder back into pub.
    The place erupted with cheers.
    “Take it all off!” someone shouted.
    “You wish.” Her heart pounding with excitement and embarrassment, Amy pushed through the door. “Sleep tight, ya morons!”
    Outside the warm night air hit her like a tonic. Her shoulders dropped what felt like a foot, and for the first time in ages the deep breath she sucked in actually made it to the bottom of her lungs. Walking out of the back door of the Valley Arms free and clear was the best thing that