From the Tales of Saint Anthony, the Johnny Holiday Mysteries
These short stories follow the lives of people who populate the fictional city of Saint Anthony (Minneapolis, Minnesota), and make their appearance in the first Johnny Holiday novel, The...
Denys took his breakfast in the kitchen with the rest of the staff at the Forrester mansion. He was expected to join them six days a week. His employer, Colonel Forrester liked to see the staff sitting together at the long table in the kitchen, though he rarely appeared himself. Whether or not he actually laid eyes on them, he liked to know that all of the household staff were together at the board at the start of everyday: the maids and the kitchen staff, the groundskeeper and Nils Vindhler, the ever-present butler and 1st among Colonel Forrester's servants.
Denys was never hungry in the morning, but he would sip a cup of black coffee, eat a soft roll made from white flour, smeared with butter, sprinkled with cocoa and sugar, while listening to the cooks and maids as they chattered amongst themselves like a flock of hens waiting for Nils to give them the plan of the day.
The household was organized like a military unit, Nils was their captain and the only other man on the staff.
This morning started out like most of the days that had come and gone in the two years since Denys had been employed at the mansion. He woke up before dawn, opened the windows in the small room above the garage that was assigned to him, and listened to the sounds of the early morning while looking out over the railroad yards, just north of the long ridge that curved like a crescent moon across the westside of Saint Anthony between Jewett's park and Cedar Lake, and upon which the Forrester mansion occupied the highest point.
Before he went down to the staff meeting Denys did his daily calisthenics, washed himself, smoothed out his livery, polished the buttons on his uniform, his belt buckle and boots. He brushed his black cap and oiled the bill, getting himself dressed and prepared for the day.
This day had begun like so many others. Denys sipped his coffee and nipples his slice of bread. He flirted subtly with Melissa, a dark-haired girl who was close to his age and newer to the staff than him. She enjoyed the attention he paid to her, and he enjoyed her smile.
There was nothing out of the ordinary, and no reason to expect that there might be, until Nils informed them that the Colonel would be interviewing a young man for a position in his organization later in the morning.
This was different; Nils was not in the habit of discussing the Colonel's business with them. A new hire to the household would have been news to share, but Nils did not say that, he specifically referred to the Colonel's organization, which everyone knew had two sides to it; one licit and the other not.
Denys listened intently as Nils gave them instructions to make up the guest room, the expectation was that this Johnny Holiday would be staying with them for an undetermined length of time.
When Denys heard the man's name it threw him off, he believed he had heard the name before...and felt as if he should know him, at least by acquaintance.
As Denys was caught up in his reflection, he sensed Nils staring at him. He looked up and they locked eyes, Nils held him in his gaze while he gave them the details of what Johnny's room would require: a blotter and pens, a typewriter and paper, miscellaneous items to outfit an office, some for comfort, some for utility.
Denys swallowed hard before breaking free, he forced himself to suppress a feeling of jealousy as he listened to Nils tell them all to treat this Johnny Holiday as if he were family.
Who was this guy? Denys thought to himself. Just who was this guy we were rolling out the red carpet for?
It vexed him, and he could not help but wonder why he cared.
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