Читать книгу The Ghost Of Margaret Houg - Elton Varfi - Страница 9

That morning Ernest was already feeling tired and he didn’t want to answer the phone that was ringing nonstop. At last, he got up and picked up the phone. On the other side of the phone, he heard his friend Roni’s voice that seemed weirder than usual.

That day looked like his friend had kicked in high gear and Ernest didn’t even have the time to say hello before getting filled up with questions.

“ Hey, smart-ass! How come you have not been in touch for a week? Not even answer the phone! It looks like you no longer need money! Did you win the lottery or something?”

“ No, Roni, I have not won any lottery and to be honest some money would be handy, but I don’t get what money has in common with you,” Ernest replied ironically.

“ Some friend you are! I go out of my way for you and this is how you repay me?”

“ What?” Ernest replied, who wasn’t really getting the meaning of that.

“ I’ll be there in half an hour, so I can explain you everything,” Roni said, ending the call.

Ernest remained clutching the receiver and a smile on his face, denoting its strong concern for this unusual behavior of his friend. Actually, he was glad to see that Roni was his best, and maybe only friend, but he was feeling exhausted because of the night before; so he decided to take a shower.

He strangely was in a good mood again, but he didn’t really know why. Maybe it was the long and relaxing shower or maybe the thought of Roni’s arrival that would always make him feel good. He was the only one who had got him through during difficult times, giving him courage and supporting him in every decision. He had been by his side when he was dropped out of the Homicide Squad of Scotland Yard and when Luisa had broken up with him. Ernest didn’t know what he’d do without Roni.

While these thoughts alternated in his mind, there was a knock at the door. It was Roni.

“ You’re in good shape,” Ernest said to his friend, which, as soon as he saw Ernest’s expression, knew that something was wrong.

“ It's been a very tough night, yesterday, hasn’t it? And don’t tell me no, because I know you very well. You can’t trick me,” Roni kept talking.

Ernest nodded and Roni continued: “I bet you saw Luisa or am I wrong?”

Ernest, who wasn't expecting anything else, replied: “Yes, I saw her by chance last night and I acted like an idiot. I couldn’t say a word, we just greeted each and she went away. Later on, I called to invite her over for dinner.”

“ And her?” Roni asked, of course her answer could not be positive, given the condition in which he had found his friend.

“ Well ... she didn't even answer my call.”

“ So? That’s strange? If she’s not home she can’t answer your call. You shouldn't let this bring you down.”

“ Don’t try to make me feel better, Roni, it’s useless. It’s over now. But the angriest thing is that I’ve not yet figured out what brought her away from me. I thought that, by leaving my investigator job, we would get closer and instead she left me.”

After Ernest's breakdown, they stayed silent for a few minutes. Then Roni got up and asked him: “By the way, you're still a private investigator or did you resign?” and without waiting for the answer he continued, “I have a job for you.”

“ What is it about?” Ernest asked.

“ I don’t know exactly, but you'll work for a very important person.”

“ And who would this third person supposed to be?” Ernest asked again, intrigued by the offer.

“ James Houg.”

An approving whistle came from Ernest’s lips: “The banker?” he questioned.

“ That's him in person. So, what do you think?”

“ Tell me something, Roni, but how do you know Houg?”

“ He is a fan of antiques and he often comes to my shop. That’s how we met,” Roni said and continued “recently, he got a problem to solve and needs a hand with it. I told him about you and he said you're exactly the right man he’s looking for.”

“ I thought you said earlier that you did not know what it was about?” Ernest asked, looking at his friend in the eye.

“ Yes... yes... I know nothing, but a little advertising never hurts; then you are on the ball and I just told him the truth. I’ll tell you one last thing: if you decide to accept Houg’s proposal you would earn a lot of money.”

“ Listen, Roni, I think you know more than just what you say, my friend, and I frankly don’t understand why you do not want to tell me the truth. However, at this moment I want to do something and above all I need money and therefore I am willing to talk to Houg and understand what it is about.”

“ Then, do you agree?” Roni said almost yelling with joy. “Don’t worry, I'll talk to Houg and I will set an appointment; you instead try to put you on track and look better.”

“ This will be very difficult, since Mother Nature has been very little generous with me,” Ernest answered laughing.

“ You are joking, my friend. Now I really have to run away because I have many things to do,” and Roni went out after having greeted his friend.

Ernest remained alone again, but Roni’s optimism got him so much that he was considering the possibility of calling Luisa to invite her out for dinner.

After various second thoughts he called her, but Luisa did not answer and Ernest remembered that she was working at that time.

He did not know what to do and having all day to fill up in some way, he decided to go and meet Luisa at the shop where she worked. Along the way he was puzzling on how she would react to his invitation, since lately she decided to avoid meetings with him. But then he thought that he had nothing to fear, since they had been married for two years.

While thinking, he did not even notice he had already arrived at the shop where Luisa worked. He stayed outside for a while, but then he gathered up his forces and went inside.

He quickly spotted her, she was there, more beautiful than ever, and Ernest understood that he loved her like he had never loved any another woman in his whole life. He could stay still there for hours and hours just looking at her, and he would’ve never gotten tired of it. For a moment he wanted to go back and let sit all, but then he gathered up his courage and approached.

“ Hi Luisa,” he said.

Luisa seemed glad to see him and that made him feel good.

“ Hello, Ernest, what a nice surprise; what brings you here?” she asked.

“ I wanted to apologize for last night.”

“ To apologize? For what?” Luisa asked as she truly could not understand.

“ Well ... last night I wanted to invite you out to dinner, but I did not and so I would like to fix it tonight, what do you say?”

“ I was afraid it was something much more serious,” Luisa replied, relieved by Ernest’s response. “Unfortunately tonight I can’t because I have already made plans with a friend. I’m really sorry, maybe next time,” Luisa concluded, but Ernest had no intention of giving up.

“ So, let’s do tomorrow night,” he tried to insist. “You choose the restaurant, I don’t really...”

“ I can’t tomorrow as well,” she interrupted him and continued, “unfortunately, I have other plans, but I promise that as soon as I’m freer I'll call you and we’ll spend an evening together.”

“ Okay, no problem. I just wanted to spend some time with you. That’s all. I’ll wait for your call then,” Ernest said, trying to sound calm, but in reality he was a mess.

“ Well...” Luisa said “I certainly didn’t want to disappoint you, but...”

“ No, no disappointment at all, I assure you,” Ernest interrupted her and continued “I’d better go now. You have to work. See you soon, darling.”

Ernest was sure that Luisa was not that busy as she said, but he could not understand why she did not want dating him. Without thinking about it, he stopped at a pub, went in and chugged down various bottles of beer.