Morningstar Manor

It hadn't taken him long to figure out who had sent the email. No that had been the easy part. The hard part was deciding what to do after that - because it hadn't been who he'd expected. For several days Deacon had sat and thought. And he'd done a little digging.

It hadn't helped his mood.

When no other emails came he had to face facts - they'd wanted to be found out. And they were waiting for Deacon.

( A meeting )

Jimmy normally had a smile for everyone when he was on his way to work, but today he was exceptionally cheerful.

He stood at the door, waiting for his boss - no point taking two cars - and as soon as he saw him grinned and said, "'Lo boss, have I got some gossip for you!"

"Yeah minor glitch," Jimmy was saying into the phone when Yolanda entered the staff room and began to take off her coat. Jimmy smiled at her and she smiled back because, though at first he had scared her, he had been nothing but kindness since.

"We're just having trouble backing up the hard drive when we need a copy of certain sections. You know the kinda thing. Kids we don't wanna let back in again. Potential dealers. It's cool to give the door guys mugshots."

"Coffee?" she mouthed at Jimmy and he nodded and gave her a thumbs up.

As she busied herself with their drinks she listened to Jimmy's half of the discussion about the problems with the security system. Jimmy was following directions, pressing this button and that and making notes.

"Oh right," he said. "Fuck me, I bin doing it arse about face. Yeah. I see now. Sorry, mate. What, yeah, I'd love to. S'Friday but they can manage without me for an hour or two at the front end of the night. So, you an' Charlie liking the new place? Yeah? Well I'll look forward to seein' it then. Yeah, see you about nine. Thanks Deacon. Bye."

Yolanda passed him the mug and sighed. "Deacon?" she said.

"He's our security guy," Jimmy said and smiled. "Why you asking?"

"I knew a guy called Deacon," Yolanda sighed. "Well - I knew him as Tod at first but Deacon was his name right enough." She sighed against and shrugged. "Why are all the best guys gay, Jimmy?"

"I dunno, girl," Jimmy said, his eyes curious. "Hey - why don't we send out for breakfast and you can tell Uncle Jimmy all about it?"

Yolanda smiled at him, so kind, so comforting. She'd been told not to talk but it had been a long time ago and maybe she was still just a little hurt about it. Anyhow, what harm could it do?

"Yeah, why not?" she said.

"Ah right," Jimmy said into the phone. He tapped his pen on the diary on the desk and listened nodding. "So when would I be able to move in?" he asked and nodded again at the reply. "Well, that's very good of you. I'll drop by to sign the papers on Monday. Yeah thanks. Yeah, see you then. Bye."

He put the phone down and chuckled, making a note in the diary, then turned back to the woman the other side of the desk.

"Sorry about that, luv," he said. "So - I looked at your application and I think you'll do fine. Just - er - stand up will you - yeah tha's right. Now lemme 'ave a look at your legs ... Oh nice! Come on then." He stood up. "And I'll show you where everything is."

"Does this mean I got the job?" she asked, incredulous.

"Sure does," Jimmy said with a grin. "Pleased to have you working for us - um ..."

"Yolanda," she said and picked up her cheap purse with a sigh of relief.