Convictions (31 page)

‘Alex, meet Ginger Baker. Baker, this is Alex. She’s going to help me tell the sorry tale of my life so far.’ Unimpressed, the cat turned his back on them and lay down again.

***

Alex spent that first afternoon getting to know Johnny Burns a little better and setting the ground rules for the job. Later in the day, reassured that they should be able to work together, Alex left Johnny’s house and headed for the village where she would be staying. She had gathered that Johnny, too, was comfortable with their arrangement, although she had thought some of the questions he had asked her decidedly odd.

Further questions about her experience, achievements, musical knowledge and tastes, she had expected. They had enjoyed discussing bands and musicians they both liked and admired, and good-naturedly defending their choices when their tastes differed.

She was taken aback, however, when Johnny assumed an expression that was an odd mix of earnest and embarrassed and started on a different tack. ‘Alex,’ he said, ‘have you ever used a Ouija board?’

Alex shook her head and laughed, wondering where this was going. ‘No, curiously enough, I never have.’

‘Not even a makeshift one? You know, homemade letters and numbers, glass in the middle of the table?’

She shook her head.

‘Palm reading, tea leaves, spiritualism?’

‘No.’

He ran a hand through his hair. ‘Tarot cards? Have you ever owned a deck or had your fortune told with them?’

‘No. I’ve got a couple of mates who are into that sort of thing, but I leave it well alone.’

‘Is that because you think it’s dangerous?’

‘No, it’s because I think it’s bullshit.’ She sat back in her chair and folded her arms. ‘Johnny, what’s this all about?’

‘Ah … nothing, really.’ He smiled an apology, evaded her eyes. ‘I guess I’m just a bit superstitious about superstition.’

She’d pushed him on it, but he wouldn’t elaborate, changed the subject back to music and drew her into a discussion about Jack White’s stripped-bare approach to playing and recording blues. Alex let it go; if there was more to it, it would surface in its own time.

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