The Orpheus Trail by Maureen Duffy Page B

I have to attend?’ I asked my union representative.
    ‘Not necessary. We’ll be arguing on technicalities and legalities. How probable is it that you could anticipate those bits being stolen when the rest of the stuff had been sitting there safely in their glass cases for a couple of days? The police found evidence of a forced entry by an upper skylight. A professional job that was aborted for some reason after the burglar had only had time to tackle that one case. We’ve got your statement, yours and the other members of staff. There’s no question of anyone inside being involved, least of all you. I’m totally confident. The only question is: do you want reinstatement or compensation?’
    ‘Reinstatement,’ I said without thinking and then wondered if that was true. But anyway it was too late to go back on it.
    In spite of his reassurances I spent a nervous morning. At 12.30 the telephone rang. ‘We’ve just broken. I think the chairman wanted his lunch. You’re back!’
    ‘When can I go in?’
    ‘Tomorrow if you like. Or you can have a week to sort your affairs. Not culpable. Recommendation to upgrade security which means the council will have to spend some money. Cheers.’ And he was off.
    It was strange to be walking in through the door of the museum the next morning.
    ‘Oh, Mr Kish,’ Phoebe hurried towards me, ‘we’re all so glad to see you back. I’ve put a little plant pot on your desk as a welcome.’
    I managed to thank her and say yes it was nice for me too, surprised at the threat of tears that sprang up in my throat and behind my eyes. A few early miniature daffodils lit up the December gloom of my office. Or were they narcissi. And what had I read somewhere about Narcissus? I took down the Encyclopaedia of Myth and Legend I had bought when all this first began. And then I put it back. I wouldn’t look him up. I’d been too much alone all these weeks, thinking, brooding. Now I had to get stuck in to something practical. Soon the chairman was on the line.
    ‘Good to have you back. You do understand we had to go through the accepted procedures. I’ll be in touch about the security upgrade.’
    Silently I thought that now there was nothing worth stealing. Perhaps I should have opted for compensation, taken the money and run. But, when I asked her, Hilary was adamant that for the sake of the future I had to take up my old job again. If I were unemployed I would be looked at suspiciously every time I went after something new, and how long until the compensation ran out? To become a teacher I’d need at least a year’s retraining with no guarantee of an easier job at the end of it. More like a mob of ungovernable teenagers on the most run-down estate in Barking.
    Post had continued to come in while I’d been away. Some of it Lisa had dealt with but there was a little stack of unopened envelopes. I began to go through them, tossing some of the contents into the shredder and putting others aside. Hilary rang in the middle of it.
    ‘How does it feel to be back?’
    ‘Strange. But I suppose I’ll get used to it. Do you fancy an official junket?’
    ‘Depends what it is.’
    ‘We’re unveiling the first piece of town sculpture since that of Queen Victoria for her Golden Jubilee. The mayor’s going to pull the cord that opens the curtains or whatever and then there’s a civic reception . I ought to show my face to prove I’m not still in the doghouse but it would be a lot easier if you were with me.’
    ‘Of course I’ll come if I can. When is it?’
    ‘That’s the snag. It’s very early in the morning for some reason, sunrise on midwinter day, the shortest day – however you care to think of it.’ I hesitated. ‘I wondered if you’d like to stay the night before. At my place I mean.’
    I heard her pause before answering and I could imagine her straight look as she said very steadily: ‘I don’t think we’re quite ready for that, Alex. You don’t really know very much about