The blinds at With
A Kickwere drawn, but a warm light shone through them onto the pavement. A
faint thread of music seeped out from indoors.
Karel opened the
door as they got close. “Good afternoon gentlemen,” he said, with his usual
smile. “Good to see you.”
Voices and
laughter spilled out from inside the shop. There was the chink of a glass. He
turned to Bryan. “Is there some kind of party going on?” In my shop? Without
me there?
Bryan and Karel
nodded to each other with a shared smile. “Don’t panic, Patrick,” Bryan
said smoothly. “It’s just a few beers, that’s all. Our friends are waiting to
see you.” And he nudged Patrick forward into the shop.
Patrick couldn’t
remember ever being so shocked.
When he’d gone
over to Bryan’s the night before, he’d left the cafe area still bare, apart
from the latest coat of paint and a brand new flooring. One of the jobs for
this weekend was to set up the final decorations, ready for Monday.
But now the room