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‘It’s a tough rule, I know. I have no idea who came up with it, but it’s set in stone all the same. I’m sorry, Claudie.’
    They were both silent for a moment. Claudie spoke first.
    ‘So when do I meet the others? You mentioned something about “us”?’
    ‘Oh - don’t be in a rush to meet them! I’m enjoying my time with you alone first.’
    ‘But there will be more than just you?’

    Jalisa nodded. ‘We operate in flights of five.’

    ‘Flights? You mean like in flights of angels ? That’s from Hamlet , isn’t it?’

    ‘What?’

    ‘Is that where your collective noun comes from? Shakespeare?’
    ‘Oh, Shakespeare ! Yes. You’re right. He was quite honoured when the term was employed.’
    Claudie smiled. ‘You’ve met him, then?’
    ‘Of course! Everybody knows everybody on the other side. Anyway, a flight is a group - a company, if you like - of carefully selected angels who’ve been trained for the job.’ She nodded her head as if pleased with her summary. ‘So this idea of people only getting one angel is outrageous. Whoever thought that only one angel could do the job?’
    ‘It all sounds so fascinating.’
    ‘What sounds so fascinating?’ The voice wasn’t Jalisa’s but Mr Bartholomew’s. Claudie’s heart danced the quick-step. She did wish he wouldn’t creep up on her like that.
    ‘Er -’ she struggled. ‘Nothing. I was just thinking aloud.’
    ‘I found this on my desk. It should have gone out on Friday.’ He handed her a memo.
    ‘Oh,’ Claudie said, knowing full well that he hadn’t given it to her on Friday morning, and knowing that he knew perfectly well that she was out of the office on Friday afternoons. ‘I’ll deal with it straight away.’
    Mr Bartholomew nodded absent-mindedly and left the office.
    ‘What a horrible man!’ Jalisa cried.
    ‘Shusshh!’
    ‘Don’t worry - he can’t hear me! Only you can, Claudie. How many times do I have to keep telling you that?’
    ‘I’m sorry. It’s just this is all rather a lot to take in at once.’
    ‘I know. That’s why I was sent ahead of the others. It would be disastrous if the whole flight appeared on your desk at once. That’s how it used to happen in the old days, of course. Terrible system, apparently. Drove people insane. But there’s this new charter now,’ Jalisa said, stretching her arms out either side and spinning on one foot like a mini Leslie Caron. ‘But-’
    ‘I know!’ Claudie grinned. ‘You’re not meant to talk about it.’
    ‘So - back to where you want us. Here? Or at home?’
    Claudie pursed her lips and watched Jalisa dancing round her desk. She’d never be able to see her desk in the same light again.
    ‘I think here would be fine. If that’s all right with you.’
    ‘Perfectly!’ she replied, swinging round Claudie’s Rolodex.
    ‘Can I ask you something?’
    ‘Of course! I may not be allowed to answer it, but I’ll do my best to be helpful.’
    ‘How were you chosen for me?’
    Jalisa stopped spinning. ‘I don’t know. That’s not my department. But I suppose it’s rather like real life. Sometimes a job chooses you.’
    Claudie nodded knowingly. ‘And why now? Why not before?’
    ‘It’s called a testing period,’ Jalisa explained. ‘Everybody has them, after something bad has happened, and everybody’s is different, and we’re not always needed.’
    Claudie wanted to ask more. Like how did they know she needed help? Who made that decision? Had they all been watching her, and assessing her? And were there flights of angels everywhere, and you could only see your own flight? But Jalisa looked as if she’d said all she was prepared to say on the subject.
    ‘So,’ Claudie said, trying to inject a little colour in her voice, ‘what about the others? When do I get to meet them?’
    ‘Whenever you’re ready! Though I must warn you - they’re rather a motley bunch.’

Chapter 6
     
    There must surely be something in amongst all his junk that was worth