Doing it Cold: Prologue

PROLOGUE

July 2007

Bow, East London


‘I am sensing the letter R coming through.’

No one says anything.

‘Rita? Rowena? Robert? Randy?’

‘Yes!’ a voice shouts from the middle of the left side of the room.

‘Well, which is it?’

‘Ronald. My dead uncle’s name is Ronald!’

‘Yes, exactly! Ronald is speaking to me now. He has passed over and his passing was without pain, no?’

‘He died in his sleep.’

‘Indeed, he died in his sleep at home.’

‘No, he was on holiday.’

‘Yes, at a holiday home somewhere near the sea.’

‘Well it is somewhat back from the sea, but yes, it is in a seaside town near Alicante in Spain.’

‘Right, and you had spent some time there with him in the past?’

‘No, but my mother used to go with him there on holiday.’

‘Of course, but you no doubt have photographs of their time together, and his passing weighs heavily on you since you never really went to see him there.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, some days it weighs on you and some days it doesn’t.’

‘Yes….uh…yes, I suppose that is correct.’

There is a smattering of applause from the audience.

‘And you were reasonably close to your Uncle Ronald?’

‘I was when I was growing up, but we lost touch as I grew older.’

‘Indeed, and it is this distance that developed between you that now weighs on you, at times, now that he has passed.’

‘Yes.’

‘He is at peace, and he too wishes that you had spent more time together, but he harbours no regrets or resentments and he has the fondest of memories of you two together, and enjoyed his last days in the holiday home in south east Spain, breathing in the fresh salt air and enjoying the late summer sun…’

‘He died last April.’

‘Sorry, yes of course, the early summer sun, since summer in Spain begins slightly early compared to England. But nevertheless he is now at peace.’

‘Thank you!’

More applause, but this time it is slightly stronger. He scans the audience and receives a sympathetic look from a woman in her late 40s three quarters of the way back on the right side of the room, in which more than eighty people have turned up for tonight’s performance.

‘And you madam? You are no doubt here this evening to learn of any news from the other side?’

‘Yes, from my husband.’

‘Who died very suddenly and tragically?’

‘He was taken from me without warning, yes…’ she says with her voice trailing off.

‘He did not die in his sleep, but in some other way.’

‘Yes, he was hit by a car while changing a tire on the M25 a little over 18 months ago.’

‘I am sorry for your loss, and you have been seeking closure ever since, but as yet you have not felt entirely resolved to accept his passing.’

‘This is true.’

‘What is your name madam?’

‘Joyce.’

‘And your surname?’

‘Wilkins.’

‘Joyce Wilkins. But correct me if I am wrong, this is not your birth name, since you have kept your husband’s name?’

‘Yes, I have kept his name. My maiden name is Avery.’

‘Yes, I suspected as much. You see, with your birth name – Joyce Avery – I can calculate your representative number, which is the underlying harmonic force or vibration that guides you. Knowing this number may help you in finding whatever it is you think you need. Would it be alright if I did that for you?’

‘Yes, I suppose that would be alright.’

‘Thank you. I assign each number 1 through 8 to three letter groups from A to W and then 9 to Y and Z. So, using your name and assigning numbers to each letter, the number for your Christian name is 21 and the number for your surname is 27. If I add these two numbers together, we have 48 and if I add the 4 and the 8 together, we have 12, which when added together equals 3. You see, throughout this kind of numerological process, the idea is to reduce down the multiple numbers that represent your name into a single number between 1 and 9. This single number, linked to your birth name is your birth number, much like a birth stone or star sign. Your number is 3, which means that you are a scientific person and a seeker of knowledge, who is also powerful. Does that sound an accurate description?’

‘I am not sure.’

‘Are you a seeker of knowledge?’

‘Well yes, I suppose I am.’

‘Are you not in search of knowledge about how to accept your loss?’

‘Yes, but I would not say that I am scientific, nor particularly powerful.’

‘Nonetheless, you are seeking information, and you feel that no rational explanation beyond mere probabilistic chance can account for your tragic loss, and thus you are seeking the truth through other means.’

‘Well…uh…I did come here this evening…’

‘That is correct madam.’

More applause this time that is even stronger.

‘Now, I would like to invite five members of the audience to join me up here for a small demonstration of mind reading.’

As the five volunteers are brought forward, no one notices the man in the back of the audience with a set look on his face stand up and leave the hall; nor could anyone have possible known what he was thinking:

I am going to savour this killing…