Read Online Matala by Craig Holden - Free Book Online Page B

last, “I suppose if we’re hanging it all out, we might as well finish. What are your plans?”
    Darcy shrugged.
    â€œYou really want to go back to your tour?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou knew what was going on all along, didn’t you?”
    â€œWell, no. I mean not really.”
    â€œI mean when we offered you an escort.”
    â€œI had my hopes, you know? That we could hang out still. Delay things. I knew we were getting on the wrong train, if that’s what you mean.”
    â€œAnd that pleased you.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThen why don’t you come with us?”
    I felt another shock as her words settled.
    They were silent until Darcy said, “Seriously?”
    â€œYes, of course,” said Justine. “Just promise you’ll stop nicking our shit. Of course you can keep nicking other people’s.”
    â€œOh, sure.”
    â€œAnd, again, there’s the money issue.”
    â€œI’ll pay,” she said. “I’ve just come into a whole bunch of cash, see.”
    â€œThat’s not what I meant. That’s not your effing money.”
    Darcy started to laugh then. It was a strange high-pitched squeal, incongruous with the rest of her but infectious nevertheless. I laughed, too.
    â€œOh, stuff it,” Justine said, “both of you. It’s not yours. You can’t take it from Maurice.”
    â€œI already did. Here.” She put the empty leather file back on the table and said to me, “Take it to the men’s room and leave it on the floor by the toilet. Someone’ll find it. It’s all there but the cash.”
    â€œYou’ve still got your cards.”
    â€œYes. I can get the train tickets and whatever else we need.”
    â€œHow much cash can you withdraw on the gold?”
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe a thousand.”
    â€œThat should do. Then once you’ve withdrawn, you have to get rid of them. Throw them away.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhat will happen? You’ll inform the tour?”
    â€œI suppose.”
    â€œYou must. Otherwise, they’ll call in the authorities. We absolutely can’t have that.”
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œAnd your parents? I imagine they’ll be concerned.”
    â€œI’ll take care of it.”
    â€œSee that you do.”
    â€œWhat’s in the package?”
    â€œI really don’t know,” Justine said. “I don’t.”
    â€œYou’re taking a huge risk then. They have narc dogs that sniff—”
    Justine replied, “I doubt Maurice would enlist our help to move a small parcel of powder from Italy to Crete. Not very cost effective, you know? And I suspect that that sort of thing generally comes in the other direction. Why would you take it there if you can sell it for at least as much here?”
    Darcy thought for a moment, then nodded. “Today,” she said, “when we were sitting in the sun, I realized that you guys were the only people who had any idea where I was. God, I loved that feeling. Do you ever think about how right at a certain moment no one else who knows you in the entire world knows exactly where you are?”
    â€œNo,” Justine said.
    But I did. I knew exactly what she meant. It struck me just that way when Justine and I first went off together, but I confess the wonder of it had worn off. In the years since, though, I have found it again now and then, at odd moments, but never that profoundly.
    â€œYou could just disappear if you wanted.”
    â€œYou can always do that.”
    â€œCan you?”
    â€œYou can. You’re about to, and so am I. I’m knackered. I’m going to bed.” She waited then, apparently for us to say we were going to join her. But when Darcy asked me instead if there was any place else I knew of that was open, and I said I supposed so, Justine regarded us briefly and then got up and left.
    â€œOr we can just walk,” said Darcy.