Read Online As if by Magic by Kerry Wilkinson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kerry Wilkinson
Ads: Link
day.
‘Did you manage to resolve the issues from yesterday?’
Balthazar continued to walk away from them, heading towards the throne that was on top of the stage. ‘It’s very complicated,’ he replied. ‘May I ask why you’re here?’
‘We’ve recovered more of your items,’ Jessica said. ‘We’ve found the bracelet and the broach – so that’s just two more outstanding.’
Balthazar didn’t reply, instead fiddling with something on the floor underneath the throne.
Jessica met Dave’s eyes and raised her eyebrows to tell him to leave it to her. ‘I thought you might be more excited,’ she said, approaching one of the shelves and peering closely at one of the photos.
Balthazar stopped shuffling and stood, spinning around to face them. For a moment he didn’t say anything. As Jessica picked up a second photograph, she could feel him watching her but resisted the urge to turn.
‘That was taken at the Liverpool Empire in 1971,’ he said.
The photo Jessica was holding showed Balthazar with his arms aloft and a huge smile on his face. Next to him was Brenda, and on his other side two men who Jessica didn’t recognise.
‘It must be hard staying relevant nowadays,’ Jessica said. ‘What with computers, televisions, phones and everything else which people have to take up their time?’
Balthazar sighed and climbed down from the stage, walking towards them and picking up a second photo from the shelf next to where Jessica was standing and then handing it to her.
‘This one was taken at the Royal Variety Performance in 1987. We were at the London Palladium and it was the highlight of my career.’
Jessica put the photo she had been holding back on the shelf and took the one being offered. Balthazar looked a completely different person in the photo. His face was fuller and eyes brighter. The photo showed him shaking hands with the Queen, a row of famous faces lined up next to him.
‘How did the show go?’
Balthazar ran a hand through his hair and his face cracked into a wide smile that almost made him seem like the person in the picture. ‘I actually made her laugh. Can you believe that? I was doing this thing with a piece of string which just got longer and longer and I looked up to the Royal box and there she was, laughing gently. You put on shows for all sorts of people over the years and most are nice about it. They tell you afterwards they had fun – but to actually see someone like that enjoying themselves, it’s hard to beat.’
‘What did she say to you?’ Jessica asked nodding at the photo.
Balthazar laughed. ‘Not much, just “Pleased to meet you” or something like that. I was so terrified of saying something stupid, I went to bow and ended up doing this half-curtsey thing.’
Jessica grinned, feeling slightly charmed, before she composed herself. ‘Do you know why we’re here?’ she asked.
Ignoring her question, Balthazar took the photo from her and returned it to the shelf. ‘Do you know how many countries I’ve performed in?’ he asked, walking back towards the stage and sitting on the throne. Jessica didn’t reply, so he answered his own question. ‘Twenty nine, including Australia, Japan, Thailand – all over. I was massive in Iceland for a while.’
Dave had taken a few steps towards the stage and Jessica caught his eye, giving a slight nod. ‘I know you don’t have the money to return to the insurance company,’ Jessica said.
‘I once performed in front of 48,000 people at a festival in Germany,’ Balthazar continued. Dave took a few more steps towards him, while Jessica kept her eyes fixed on him as he reached into the front pocket of his jacket and took out a plastic-looking rectangle with the outline of buttons on the front.
‘Wait,’ he said firmly, switching his gaze to Dave.
Dave stopped moving, seemingly incapacitated by the authority in Balthazar’s voice. Jessica couldn’t make out quite what the object was but, from the way he was
‘Did you manage to resolve the issues from yesterday?’
Balthazar continued to walk away from them, heading towards the throne that was on top of the stage. ‘It’s very complicated,’ he replied. ‘May I ask why you’re here?’
‘We’ve recovered more of your items,’ Jessica said. ‘We’ve found the bracelet and the broach – so that’s just two more outstanding.’
Balthazar didn’t reply, instead fiddling with something on the floor underneath the throne.
Jessica met Dave’s eyes and raised her eyebrows to tell him to leave it to her. ‘I thought you might be more excited,’ she said, approaching one of the shelves and peering closely at one of the photos.
Balthazar stopped shuffling and stood, spinning around to face them. For a moment he didn’t say anything. As Jessica picked up a second photograph, she could feel him watching her but resisted the urge to turn.
‘That was taken at the Liverpool Empire in 1971,’ he said.
The photo Jessica was holding showed Balthazar with his arms aloft and a huge smile on his face. Next to him was Brenda, and on his other side two men who Jessica didn’t recognise.
‘It must be hard staying relevant nowadays,’ Jessica said. ‘What with computers, televisions, phones and everything else which people have to take up their time?’
Balthazar sighed and climbed down from the stage, walking towards them and picking up a second photo from the shelf next to where Jessica was standing and then handing it to her.
‘This one was taken at the Royal Variety Performance in 1987. We were at the London Palladium and it was the highlight of my career.’
Jessica put the photo she had been holding back on the shelf and took the one being offered. Balthazar looked a completely different person in the photo. His face was fuller and eyes brighter. The photo showed him shaking hands with the Queen, a row of famous faces lined up next to him.
‘How did the show go?’
Balthazar ran a hand through his hair and his face cracked into a wide smile that almost made him seem like the person in the picture. ‘I actually made her laugh. Can you believe that? I was doing this thing with a piece of string which just got longer and longer and I looked up to the Royal box and there she was, laughing gently. You put on shows for all sorts of people over the years and most are nice about it. They tell you afterwards they had fun – but to actually see someone like that enjoying themselves, it’s hard to beat.’
‘What did she say to you?’ Jessica asked nodding at the photo.
Balthazar laughed. ‘Not much, just “Pleased to meet you” or something like that. I was so terrified of saying something stupid, I went to bow and ended up doing this half-curtsey thing.’
Jessica grinned, feeling slightly charmed, before she composed herself. ‘Do you know why we’re here?’ she asked.
Ignoring her question, Balthazar took the photo from her and returned it to the shelf. ‘Do you know how many countries I’ve performed in?’ he asked, walking back towards the stage and sitting on the throne. Jessica didn’t reply, so he answered his own question. ‘Twenty nine, including Australia, Japan, Thailand – all over. I was massive in Iceland for a while.’
Dave had taken a few steps towards the stage and Jessica caught his eye, giving a slight nod. ‘I know you don’t have the money to return to the insurance company,’ Jessica said.
‘I once performed in front of 48,000 people at a festival in Germany,’ Balthazar continued. Dave took a few more steps towards him, while Jessica kept her eyes fixed on him as he reached into the front pocket of his jacket and took out a plastic-looking rectangle with the outline of buttons on the front.
‘Wait,’ he said firmly, switching his gaze to Dave.
Dave stopped moving, seemingly incapacitated by the authority in Balthazar’s voice. Jessica couldn’t make out quite what the object was but, from the way he was
Similar Books
