me, did the groundwork like research and finding sources. But Finn had said I could write it up. It really was too good an opportunity to turn down.
Chapter Nine
‘OK, there are two to see this morning and two this afternoon,’ I said as I glanced down the printed sheet of names from Finn. ‘Want to split up or go
together?’
Finn hadn’t wasted any time and had already emailed a list of assorted clairvoyants that he managed to get to see Effy and me at short notice. He’d also picked them because they
didn’t charge a fixed fee but took donations instead. He said he would reimburse us from the Chillaxin kitty when we’d finished.
Now it was Saturday and Effy and I had just met in west Hampstead for a quick cappuccino before we headed out to the sessions we were booked in with. It was a sunny day and Effy had a short blue
dress on and her turquoise sneakers and I was wearing a black lace vintage top that I’d got from Notting Hill market with my black jeans.
‘Let’s go together,’ said Effy as she spooned froth from her coffee into her mouth. ‘We might remember different things.’
I laughed. Effy’s nobody’s fool. She knew we’d take a different angle on it all. I didn’t mind that. I knew it was good journalism to represent different viewpoints.
‘It would be amazing if any of them come out with the same story’ Effy continued. ‘You know, say that you were Henrietta once.’
‘Yes, that would be amazing,’ I said. ‘But it’s not going to happen. So. Who’s first?’
Effy glanced at our sheet of appointments. ‘Annie Simmons. According to her ad in the back of the local paper, the spirits speak to her.’
What if she evokes someone we don’t want and it follows us home?’ I asked. ‘Like a bad spirit, wuhoohoo.’
‘That won’t happen,’ said Effy, but she said it rather quickly.
I picked up the list and glanced over it again. Number one: Annie Simmons in West Hampstead. Number two: Heather Mason in KilbUm. Number Three: a group who meet in a church with guest
clairvoyants and the last was late afternoon in Muswell Hill. ‘Doesn’t sound like an awe-inspiring bunch,’ I said. ‘I hope we get something we can write about.’
‘That’s because you’re not open-minded,’ said Effy.
Being accused of not having an open mind by Effy or anyone really bugs me. Effy particularly because she’s my mate and supposed to get me, but sometimes she just doesn’t.
‘There’s a difference between being open-minded and gullible.’
Effy bristled. She doesn’t like it when I insinuate that she’s naive. I suppose that makes her feel like I don’t get her. ‘I am not gullible. I can spot a fake as
well as the next person,’ she objected. ‘Come on, let’s not argue. Let’s go and get started. Is Ben coming to any of them to take photos?’
I shook my head. Finn had sent me Ben’s email address so we could discuss the article, and I’d sent him our list of appointments, but he’d emailed back saying he preferred to
work alone and would go round later to take his pictures. Miserable git, I thought, although part of me was glad he wasn’t coming along. I didn’t know what was going to happen or
what was going to be said and I didn’t want any witnesses apart from Effy.
‘What does your mum think of you doing this research?’ asked Effy.
I shrugged. ‘Haven’t told her. You know what she’s like. She’d be here doing it with us. I just said I was working on a magazine article. What about you? You told
yours?’
Effy shook her head. ‘Same as you. Just said I’m doing stuff for the school magazine. You know my mum. She’d put such a dampener on it – bit like you.’
‘Sorry, Ef. No more fighting today’
‘Agreed,’ said Effy, then grinned. ‘As long as you admit that I am right, always was right and always will be.’
‘Yes, Your Majestic Queen of bossiness. I hear and obey.’
Effy laughed. ‘I supposed it would be boring if we agreed on
Chapter Nine
‘OK, there are two to see this morning and two this afternoon,’ I said as I glanced down the printed sheet of names from Finn. ‘Want to split up or go
together?’
Finn hadn’t wasted any time and had already emailed a list of assorted clairvoyants that he managed to get to see Effy and me at short notice. He’d also picked them because they
didn’t charge a fixed fee but took donations instead. He said he would reimburse us from the Chillaxin kitty when we’d finished.
Now it was Saturday and Effy and I had just met in west Hampstead for a quick cappuccino before we headed out to the sessions we were booked in with. It was a sunny day and Effy had a short blue
dress on and her turquoise sneakers and I was wearing a black lace vintage top that I’d got from Notting Hill market with my black jeans.
‘Let’s go together,’ said Effy as she spooned froth from her coffee into her mouth. ‘We might remember different things.’
I laughed. Effy’s nobody’s fool. She knew we’d take a different angle on it all. I didn’t mind that. I knew it was good journalism to represent different viewpoints.
‘It would be amazing if any of them come out with the same story’ Effy continued. ‘You know, say that you were Henrietta once.’
‘Yes, that would be amazing,’ I said. ‘But it’s not going to happen. So. Who’s first?’
Effy glanced at our sheet of appointments. ‘Annie Simmons. According to her ad in the back of the local paper, the spirits speak to her.’
What if she evokes someone we don’t want and it follows us home?’ I asked. ‘Like a bad spirit, wuhoohoo.’
‘That won’t happen,’ said Effy, but she said it rather quickly.
I picked up the list and glanced over it again. Number one: Annie Simmons in West Hampstead. Number two: Heather Mason in KilbUm. Number Three: a group who meet in a church with guest
clairvoyants and the last was late afternoon in Muswell Hill. ‘Doesn’t sound like an awe-inspiring bunch,’ I said. ‘I hope we get something we can write about.’
‘That’s because you’re not open-minded,’ said Effy.
Being accused of not having an open mind by Effy or anyone really bugs me. Effy particularly because she’s my mate and supposed to get me, but sometimes she just doesn’t.
‘There’s a difference between being open-minded and gullible.’
Effy bristled. She doesn’t like it when I insinuate that she’s naive. I suppose that makes her feel like I don’t get her. ‘I am not gullible. I can spot a fake as
well as the next person,’ she objected. ‘Come on, let’s not argue. Let’s go and get started. Is Ben coming to any of them to take photos?’
I shook my head. Finn had sent me Ben’s email address so we could discuss the article, and I’d sent him our list of appointments, but he’d emailed back saying he preferred to
work alone and would go round later to take his pictures. Miserable git, I thought, although part of me was glad he wasn’t coming along. I didn’t know what was going to happen or
what was going to be said and I didn’t want any witnesses apart from Effy.
‘What does your mum think of you doing this research?’ asked Effy.
I shrugged. ‘Haven’t told her. You know what she’s like. She’d be here doing it with us. I just said I was working on a magazine article. What about you? You told
yours?’
Effy shook her head. ‘Same as you. Just said I’m doing stuff for the school magazine. You know my mum. She’d put such a dampener on it – bit like you.’
‘Sorry, Ef. No more fighting today’
‘Agreed,’ said Effy, then grinned. ‘As long as you admit that I am right, always was right and always will be.’
‘Yes, Your Majestic Queen of bossiness. I hear and obey.’
Effy laughed. ‘I supposed it would be boring if we agreed on
Similar Books
