Sleight of Hand [Show 'em Who's Boss #1]

6: Agoraphobia

"Stop whining and have fun!"

     We had barely arrived at the first nightclub when Jakob began to complain. This place was not our natural habitat. We creatures are usually found with our hands glued to some form of game controller or a slice of pizza, slouched on a sofa in a dark room.

     The loud music and flashing lights were too much for me and Jakob. It was probably obvious to the crowds of dancing people that we didn't belong in this kind of environment. We both grabbed a seat at the bar; as far away from the dance floor as we could get.

     I never carry a handbag with me, but that night I had needed one. In the brown leather bag, borrowed from my mother's half empty wardrobe, which was slung over my shoulder there was an ancient camera that used to belong to my father. This camera was my secret spy gadget which would allow me to build up evidence to solve the on-going mystery. I'd been keeping an eye out for Uncle Steve the whole night but he hadn't turned up and pretty soon I decided it was time to move onto the next club.

     Jakob complained about that too, but soon shut up when I whispered promises into his ear. I promised him anything he wanted as soon as we got home. Jakob pretended to have fun from that moment onwards.

     The second nightclub was more crowded than the first. I hated being there, but I knew that I had to get on with it if I wanted to unlock the secrets that surrounded me. Jakob ordered our drinks and I glanced around for Uncle Steve.

     I found him sat in the corner of the club at a table all on his own. He was wearing a different business suit to the one I'd seen him wearing earlier, this one was much smarter, and he held a cocktail in his hand. It reminded me of a scene from a James Bond film.

     I turned back to Jakob, hoping that Uncle Steve hadn't seen me as his eyes wandered the room looking bored. I grabbed Jakob's collar and pulled him closer so that he could hear me over the thumping bass.

     "I'll be back in a sec, going to the loo," I explained.

     "I'm not staying here on my own. I'll come with you."

     "Don't be stupid, you need to stay here and keep an eye on our drinks."

     I walked away before Jakob could protest again and dug my way through the crowd, shouting 'excuse me' several times to wasted people who were oblivious to the world around them. I watched as I walked and saw a young man marching towards the table Uncle Steve was sat at. He took the seat opposite and I tried to hide behind a group of drunken men. As I slipped the old camera out of my bag I found a better hiding place nearer to the two.

     There was no chance of hearing their conversation over the music, but I got some pictures of my Uncle Steve and the mystery man. One of the photos was of the mystery man handing over a big brown envelope. I couldn't help but debate what could possibly be in the envelope. I also wondered if this was normal behaviour for a businessman. I should pay more attention in business studies and then I might understand what was going on.

     As I walked back over to Jakob, I came to the conclusion that Uncle Steve and the mystery man must have been making some kind of business deal.

     Jakob's face lit up with excitement when I said we could go home now because I was bored. He had never fully understood why I had wanted to go clubbing in the first place. We were so alike he knew almost everything about me. He knew I didn't like clubbing but despite our odd relationship he only wanted to make me happy.

     That's why he hadn't stopped thinking about my suggestion I made yesterday. It would be a good thing to team up and perform magic tricks to large crowds. He could leave the job he doesn't like and start a business up with me.

     As we were walking out of the club, someone snatched the bag off of my shoulder.

     "Hey! Give that back!"

     I ran after the guy who pushed through the crowd and out of the club, with Jakob following close behind me. I was fast and tough but I lost the guy in the crowd. I've lost the camera that stored some of my evidence on it.

***

I spent the rest of my weekend playing video games with Jakob whilst wondering whether I'd ever see that handbag again. When the guy opens the bag and sees nothing but a worthless camera he's certainly going to be disappointed.

     The office door was locked for the whole weekend. No conversations to be overheard. When I pushed my ear up against the door I couldn't hear a thing, even though I knew Uncle Steve and my dad were working hard in there.

     "We're going out tomorrow after you've been to school," said Jakob as he shot at a zombie. (On the Xbox, of course.)

     "I'm not going to school."

     "Let's make a deal," my eyes left the TV screen to look up at Jakob in confusion, "You carry on going to school for a while and I'll consider setting up a double act for our magic routine. Then, you can leave school and we'll work together."

     My face lit up with a smile and I kissed Jakob on the cheek. He smiled back.

     "You promise?" I asked.

     "I promise."

     I went to school the next day, sticking to my deal with Jakob. I ignored the girls desperate to be my friends because of my money and status. I tried my best to focus in lessons and complete all the work set.

★★★

Agoraphobia: fear of crowded places