"Can I help you?"she said with that accent that drives some men crazy and others to the bottle. I held my nerve concentrating on the prize in the room. No way was I gonna blow a cover I'd been working on for a week. But it turned out the plan needed to go into the trash as soon as I'd stepped through the door. I don't swoon like some flimsy dame, but she was the kind of dame you'd break a law for, several I think would be worth it. I was getting too close to the treasure I'd sought to lose my nerve. Her Norfolk accent was the cherry and she knew it. I was getting drawn in and I loosened my tie in order to concentrate.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Where's you pies sweetheart?"
"Why Sir, you are VERY direct. I have enjoyed the company of many tourists in my work but your's has been the most business-like to date."
"Don't play coy sweetheart" I said in a lower voice "I've come a long way to get my hands on your goods."
Her face turned to a broad grin and she played with her hair, I noticed her figure-hugging uniform for the first time. Her goods were showing well - they can wait I thought.
"What's the best pork pie you have, sweet cheeks, I have as much dough as the deal will take." I said hoping to cut through too much obfuscation. The room was quiet - if it was gonna get nasty there would be no witnesses.
"Do you want the pie or the goods?" she smiled so sweetly you could almost taste the sugar syrup dripping from her lips. This was a well practiced line she towed.
"Honey, if the pie measures up then I may come back for the goods - both look pretty tasty from here but I've been disappointed when I taken a bite in the past so I'm not promising' nothing for now sister, not even with sauce on it!" She sashayed to the end of the counter and pulled out a tray with a selection on it. She was still in the game but knew I was gonna be a tough man to please.
"These are our best" her tone was suddenly business-like. I shook my head.
She leant over the counter "Ah c'mon buddy give me a break, I bust my ass 7-7 here every day and you know these pies will be good." she ran her fingers through her hair, like a sales rep who's got a ticket. "C'mon Mister"
"Listen lady - you're good but you know I'm after what the guys who run this town call real pie - those Brays know how to make a pie - show me the quality goods or I'm outta here and not coming back"
She looked around, the shop was empty. She brushed imaginary crumbs off her uniform and slipped through a doorway and opened a fridge which was locked. I was onto the good stuff.
She walked out carrying a tray, a tray with a cloth over it, and all the time she looked out towards the shop door. She set it down and went to pull back the cloth, but I grabbed her wrist.
"Is this the real deal?" I snarled
"Its more the real deal than you'll ever be" she snapped back, I gripped her wrist tighter
I pulled her closer
"You play tough honey but the sweat on your top lip gives you away"
She stopped pulling her arm away
Her eyes looked at mine for a moment longer than necessary then she looked down. I relaxed my grip.
"These are the Brays" she whispered
"How much?"
"Two seventy five"
"Jez, these Brays must be mopping it up in this town"
"My brother likes to gamble" she muttered
"Show me the pie" I didn't acknowledge her admission
The cloth came back and she revealed this unimpressive item:
"I'll give you the dough then skedaddle"
"OK" she said looking relieved, "in cash?"
"This better be worth it" I said as I paid her the two seventy five.
"You'll be impressed with everything with Bray stamped on it" her coy smile returned and she bit her bottom lip for going a bit too far.
"We'll see"
She wrapped the goods twice and handed me a small brown paper bag. We both looked around again as I took the bag and she pocketed the money. That was nearly ten times more than I'd pay for a regular pie. I turned and left the shop without looking back. The next day they found her in a ditch covered in muddy water, her uniform ripped on the brambles.
No comments:
Post a Comment