Dark Shadows - Clementine

Eight

When they returned to the house, Barnabas and Josette went separate ways; Barnabas to the drawing room to use the telephone and Josette to talk to David, who was in his room.

The telephone was sitting on the desk in the drawing room, the receiver on top of the dial. Barnabas picked it up and pressed the numbers. He held the receiver up awkwardly, and waited for a response. Clementine's bored voice echoed through.

"Angelbay cannery. How can I help?"

"Ah, Clementine; I need to see you tomorrow."

"Oh, hello, Barnabas. An appointment, you say? Tomorrow?" There came a faint rustling of papers.

"Yes, it's a fairly urgent matter, or at least... not very important," Barnabas said, placing his words carefully.

"Not very important, yet still urgent?" asked Clementine, her voice sounding amused.

"I should say this; it is concerning a drawer that I have noticed you always keep locked."

Clementine's eyes widened, though Barnabas didn't know it.

"What do you know of it?" she said sharply. Barnabas smiled to himself.

"Not much. I only know that you keep something dear to you inside."

Clementine's voice shook with mild anger and fear as she replied.

"Why?" she whispered. "You stick your awfully long nose in everyone else's business, but for what?"

Barnabas felt satisfied, but he didn't want to admit it; he wasn't quite sure why, though.

"It is never for personal gain, if that is what thou speak of," he replied smoothly.

"No. I won't let you – you cannot – no."

"I shall go with Elizabeth, then, and I will see you after her appointment."

"Ha," snorted Clementine, "try getting past Casey when she hasn't had any caffeine in the morning."

"What?"

"Oh, I forget how little you know. Ignore me, Barnabas, I'm just playing little sister."

"We are not related, Clementine. Clementine?"

Clementine had hung up on Barnabas, having heard enough of his old-fashioned speech and annoying ways. Barnabas placed the phone back and strolled out of the room.

Angelbay was noisy. Clementine felt she could hold the board meeting up no longer. She sighed, stood up, rammed her chair under the desk and grabbed a pen. She ventured across the way and into the meeting room. Her hands caressed the wooden boat head that Angelique had displayed as she passed it, moving up the table to the end, where she chucked the pen and herself, kicking her feet up, so her boots were resting on the table edge. The board members looked at her with disdain.

"So, er, Clementine," one to the second left of Clementine said, who happened to be Mr Tomlin. "How are things going at the moment? The workers don't seem to be bothered about anything."

"Good, that's good," Clementine muttered. "I have made an agreement with Collins Canning," she said, with a raised voice. She swung her legs down and leant forward, her elbows hard on the table now. "Is there any criticism that needs to be dealt with?"

"Was that wise?" someone anonymous said. Clementine stood up, pushing her chair back.

"Is this your company?" Clementine asked, smiling. "Oh... hang on... yes, I suppose it is. Never mind that, then!"