The Final Curtain Read Online Free Page A

unmistakable. ‘It’ll be hard to find a suitable way to thank me for that one.’ Toby shook his head. ‘But I’m sure you’ll come up with something.’
    â€˜You’re my hero.’ Max pretended an adoring look.
    â€˜I knew you’d finally admit it.’
    â€˜You know what I like about you most?’ Max asked.
    â€˜My charm? My good looks? My –’
    â€˜Humility.’
    â€˜Ah, yes, that’s good too.’ He straightened his tie.
    Linden laughed.
    â€˜Don’t encourage him, he’ll think he’s actually funny.’
    â€˜Funny and stylish.’ Toby brushed the sleeve of his jacket. ‘What do you think of the suit?’
    â€˜It looks good,’ Linden said.
    â€˜I wanted to look my best. Even though it’s hard for me not to.’
    â€˜I think that might be a record,’ Max said.
    â€˜A record for what?’ Toby asked.
    â€˜The shortest amount of time taken for me to get over you and your ego.’ She walked ahead into the maze of video archives.
    â€˜Nice to see Max is her warm and fuzzy self,’ Toby said.
    â€˜You know Max. She’s not about to change for anyone.’ Linden smiled. ‘Which I like.’
    â€˜Don’t tell her.’ Toby watched her disappear into the crowd. ‘But I do too.’
    The end of the corridor opened out into a grand ballroom. A huge dome ceiling shimmered with silver helium-filled balloons and spinning mirror balls, which cast sparkled light over candlelit tables and formally dressed agents. A brass band swirled music into the air as more waiters expertly hovered between the excited hands of agents, carrying trays of Irene’s finest creations. At various points around the room, standing on marble pedestals, were fountains of tropical juices with glasses strung around the edges, while others bubbled with streaming melted chocolate surrounded by bowls nestled on ice and crammed with strawberries.
    The walls were decorated with long, unfurled banners bearing the photographs of agents past and present, and at the end of the room behind a stage a bright projection with a revolving globe declared:

    â€˜Mood flower?’ An agent dressed in a white suit with butterfly wings on his back floated before Max and handed her a short-stemmed white flower.
    â€˜What’s a mood flower?’ Max asked.
    â€˜They change colour according to your mood. White is neutral, yellow is happy, green is jealous, black is angry, red is for love. They were made by Frond and her team in the Plantorium especially for tonight.’
    The winged agents hovered away as the room filled with bobbing yellow flowers.
    â€˜I see you have your flower.’
    â€˜Aaah! How do you just appear like that?’ Max asked, her flower tinged with yellow.
    â€˜I have a light touch,’ Linden answered. ‘Ready to party?’
    Linden’s flower was bright yellow.
    â€˜Yes,’ Max smiled broadly, ‘I think I am.’
    â€˜Max! Linden!’
    Max turned to see the beaming face of Ella through the crowd. Her mother, Valerie, had worked as a scientist with Ben and Eleanor in London and Ella, much to Max’s dislike, had joined her and Linden on some early missions.
    â€˜Ella’s here.’ Max didn’t even try to hide the disappointment in her voice.
    â€˜Yeah, she told me she was coming.’ Linden waved her over.
    â€˜You knew she’d be here?’
    â€˜Yeah. We talk a lot on the Communication, Tracking and Recording Device her mother made.’
    â€˜She’s cute.’ Toby walked up behind them. He’d stuck his flower in his lapel, and it blazed yellow against his black jacket.
    â€˜I didn’t know you still spoke with her.’ Max’s face resembled someone who’d sucked a lemon. Her flower faded.
    â€˜Oh yeah. She always asks about you.’
    â€˜She sounds nice,’ Toby said.
    â€˜She’s a real sweetie.’