Read The Overnight for Free Online Page A

he's cracking spines with gusto before he slings each offender into the carton when the next book proves to be Commons and Canals of Cheshire. He's about to be delighted on Mr Sole's behalf, but then he sees that the entire middle section of the slim volume, including several pages where he's just able to distinguish the name of Fenny Meadows, is so blotchily printed it looks waterlogged. He drops the book in the carton and opens the most expensive item, a hundred pounds' worth of paintings by Lowry. Where's the exchange slip? He leafs through the heavy pages, past cityscapes so drab they might be composed of mud, swarming with insect figures, but they're all. Nothing is wrong with the catalogue except the jacket Nigel tore and the pages he wrenched loose from the binding when he threw the book on the trolley. He's damaged one of the most expensive books in the shop.
    It shouldn't have been on the Returns racks, but that doesn't absolve him of failing to check. He grabs a slip and describes the catalogue as damaged on delivery. It could almost be true; certainly the cover feels grubby. He's lowering the book into the carton with belated care when Woody darts into the staffroom.
    Is he due yet? Nigel's start of guilt sends the book half out of its jacket, which tears as he lunges to save it. As he fumbles both of them into the carton, Woody advances to watch. "Say, that's some damage," he remarks.
    Does he mean the price, or wouldn't an American? "That's how it came," Nigel manages not to stammer.
    "Are we seeing much of that?"
    Whatever face Nigel is showing feels treacherously warm. "This is the first," he makes it reply.
    "How about once we've taken delivery?"
    "Just about the same, I'd say."
    "As long as everyone is careful. We can't sell books we don't have." Woody passes a hand over his turfy hair as though he's feeling for overnight growth or perhaps for his next thought. "How long does the fog stay like this around here?"
    "It does seem to be hanging around in the mornings."
    "Seems like it's keeping customers away. We may have to think about our hours." He takes a step away from Nigel and halts to demand "Who went in my office?"
    "I thought I could keep an eye on security while you weren't here and I was."
    "I do take a break once in a while, you've got me there." Before Nigel can decide whether to explain he wasn't criticising, Woody says "No, you were right" and shuts himself in his room.
    Nigel seals the carton with tape and heaves it onto the trolley. He sends it down in the lift and dumps it in the lobby to be collected, then hurries upstairs to tabulate the latest stock reports. The windowless rooms no longer bother him now that someone else is there. Nevertheless as he sits down Woody's muffled voice rather takes him aback. Woody must have heard him return and is calling to him. Since Nigel doesn't know what's behind the words, he isn't sure how to reply. He utters a sound that may not be audible, or perhaps it seems insufficiently agreeable. "We'll need to be here longer," Woody said, but now there's silence.

Agnes
    "Agnes please call nine. Sorry, I mean Anyes. Anyes please call nine."
    Agnes would suspect some people of getting her name wrong on purpose, but not Jill. She sticks the last corner of her Warm Up With Winter Breaks notice to the end of her European Travel shelves before hurrying to the phone next to Humour. Perhaps a stray child has been playing with it; the receiver feels grubby. Agnes holds it between a finger and thumb and says "Hi, Jill."
    "Sorry again. I forgot how to page for a moment. There's so much to remember, isn't there?"
    "I expect we won't even think about it soon. Why did you want me?"
    "Your father's on line one."
    "Thanks, Jill," Agnes says and thumbs the Line One button. "Hello?"
    "Annie. She's there, June. You're in one piece then, Annie."
    "Such as it is. A bit pale and wrinkled but still intact."
    "You always look fine to us. You ought to think of yourself more, all the same.