The Day of the Gecko Read Online Free Page A

if that’s okay?’
    â€˜Sure, go for your life. But you can see why I was worried about leaving the flat empty. I got a security alarm but if they got in they’d have all those out in two minutes. I can’t claim insurance, because, to be honest, Les, most of them aren’t quite kosher and the ones in my collection are irreplaceable.’
    â€˜Yeah,’ replied Les absently, still looking at all the CDs like a kid in a toyshop.
    â€˜Anyway,’ Susie started loosening her tracksuit, ‘I’m going to have a shower. Make yourself a cup of coffee if you want. There’s juices and cold water in the fridge.’
    â€˜Okay, thanks.’
    Susie went into her bedroom and locked the door. Les soon heard the sound of a shower running and figured she must have an en suite in her room. He gave the CDs another loving look, then decided to make himself a cup of coffee.
    The kitchen was all matching brown and white tilesand brown-timber laminate and was a little wider than Les had first thought. It looked onto the pathway through a grilled window and a curtain. Cupboards ran round the walls and beneath the stainless steel sink set under the window. There were plenty of electric do-dads, a solid electric stove and a microwave oven. A large refrigerator hummed against the wall next to a breakfast table near the laundry door. A Mexican hat and a framed photo of some Mexican food and the recipe hung above the kitchen table.
    Norton had no trouble finding what he was looking for and before long had the kettle boiled and a cup of instant in his hand, which he’d flavoured up with some Carnation he got from Susie’s well-stocked fridge. Yes, this might just suit me, thought Les, as he sipped his coffee in the kitchen. I can do plenty of cooking here. Use all her food, it’ll only go off. Try all sorts of things. Though I’d better not make too much mess. Shit! She keeps it clean. But what about those fuckin’ CDs. Les moved into the lounge and slowly looked over the table full of CDs while he sipped his coffee. He’d never heard of half of them. Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters. Shane Pacey and the Cigars. John Heartsman. The Leon Thomas Blues Bank. The Nighthawks. There was Zydeco. Rockin’ Sydney. Terrence Simien and the Mallet Playboys. Country and Western. Confederate Railroad. Neal McCoy. The Kentucky Head Hunters. Shit! How good’s this, thought Les. There’s gotta be some top tracks amongst all this. He clicked his fingers. That’s what I’ll do as soon as I finish this coffee and get the keys, buy a stack of blank tapes and start going for it. Though I shouldoffer poor Susie a lift to the airport. I’ll do it first thing after.
    Gaping at the CDs, Les didn’t hear the shower stop and didn’t hear Susie come out of her bedroom. She was wearing a long, loose, blue-striped Grandpa shirt, open a little at the front to give a glimpse of dainty white bra, and looking and smelling good.
    â€˜I see you managed to make yourself a cup of coffee. I hope you made one for me?’
    Les smiled over to her. ‘Susie, I knew you’d come out of that shower all freshened up and looking for either a stink or an argument. So I did. There’s a cup ready to go near the kettle.’
    â€˜Oh! You’re . . .’
    â€˜But don’t move. I’ll get it. Two sugars?’
    â€˜One.’
    Les poured Susie a cup of coffee, handed it to her in the lounge room and had another look around.
    â€˜Yep. This isn’t a bad set-up you’ve got here, Susie. I like the photo of Little Richard.’
    â€˜Yeah, it’s coming together slowly but surely. It’s just the bloody payments.’ Susie put her coffee down on one of the small tables. ‘Before I forget, I’d better show you how everything works.’
    Susie showed Les how to work the stereo, the TV, the video and the intercom. She gave him the buzzer for the garage and a