Mystical Circles Read Online Free

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    “Craig’s hypnotised you, hasn’t he?” said Juliet.
    “How dare you suggest that?” Zoe sprang to her feet and flew across to the gate.
    Juliet jumped up too. “Zoe! Stop! I didn’t mean…”
    Snatching the gate open, Zoe turned. “You’ve already made a judgement, haven’t you? Call yourself a journalist.”
    Juliet opened her mouth to protest, but Zoe was racing across the gravel forecourt. Juliet remained where she was, trying to steady herself, shaking.
    Looking about, the place still seemed deserted. Where was everyone? Then a figure appeared from round the north side of the house, crossing the forecourt to the garden gate: Don.
    They might have had a sharp exchange that morning; but he was the only person she’d met so far here who had his feet on the ground.
    “Your sister didn’t look happy,” he remarked, as he closed the gate behind him.
    “No,” said Juliet. “She thinks I’m unsympathetic.”
    “And are you?” he enquired.
    “Of course not.”
    He rubbed his chin as he looked at her. “Been thinking over our little chat. Bit abrupt. Like to apologise.”
    “That’s good of you.” She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her combat jacket.
    “Take a seat?”
    “Why not?”
    They went over to the white cane chairs, and settled into two placed opposite one another.
    “You and me – we’re both outsiders,” he said.
    “Yes. I’m here visiting Zoe. And you’ve come to look at the group’s finances.”
    He gave a curt nod. “Cash-flow problem.” He studied the ground, then looked up again. “This is by way of an annual holiday. Not how I planned it, of course. But that’s by the by. Call it a family visit.”
    “So what line of business are you in?”
    “Property management. For me, this place is a sizeable investment.”
    “Oh – I wouldn’t have expected Craig to have such connections.”
    “That so?” His voice was barbed.
    “Property business, you say. Is yours a demanding role?” she asked.
    “Company director and chairman.” This time his eyes remained fixed on hers. “My father ran it before me.” Reaching into his inside pocket, he pulled out a business card. “Here.”
    “Thank you.” She studied it. “Ah. Family firm. I’m surprised you decided to come here to your son’s community, and take on the worry of troubleshooting his problems. Couldn’t you have delegated that? Appointed an accountant perhaps? You must be a very busy man.”
    “Glad you appreciate it.” A little of his tension evaporated. “Not sure Craig sees it that way.” He probed the cane weaving on the arm of his chair with his fingers for a few moments. “But I had to come.” He volunteered no further information on the subject. “And you, Juliet? Who’ll broadcast your stuff?”
    “BBC I hope. I’m offering this to an independent production company and they’ll pitch it to Radio 4.”
    “And if they don’t want it?”
    “A local radio station might pick it up.”
    “You work for yourself?”
    “I do.” She slipped her hand into her own pocket, depositing Don’s card there, and then found one of her own business cards. “Here you are.”
    Taking it, he scanned it for a few seconds before looking up again. “So Craig’s giving you your big chance here.”
    “You could put it like that.” She hoped her newness to all this wasn’t glaringly obvious. She’d never sold a documentary before. Just filler spots for features programmes and regional news items. And (until Zoe’s email had knocked her off balance) her sole focus had been to win national acclaim with a documentary.
    “So. Bit of a testing ground for you here,” he said, adding Juliet’s card to his own collection.
    She nodded.
    “Craig’s scored one credit in his copy book, any road,” said Don. “For having you to stay.”
    “Thanks.”
    “And he’ll let you record what you like?”
    “Certainly. He expressed no objection.”
    Don looked sardonic. “Might be coming. Once he’s