Cervena by Louise Lyons

notice something was wrong. Or maybe he just didn’t care.
    Sickened, I turned off the computer and rubbed my hands over my face. How could things have changed so much in so short a time? That money was there two weeks before I’d left Prague—I’d seen it for myself when I’d entered the most recent receipts into the accounts book and set up November’s salaries. Now there wasn’t enough money left in the account for February’s payments.
    I packed quickly, cramming my clothes and the gifts I’d received at Christmas into the case Karel had sent over. I checked my room and the bathroom to ensure nothing was left behind, then took the case downstairs.
    “You’re going, then?” Rosalyn gave me a smile. “You don’t look happy about it. You don’t have to rush, you know.”
    “I’ve already been here far too long. You have your own lives to lead. You know I love being here, but I need to get back to the club.”
    “Seriously, Joe, is something wrong? You look like shit.”
    “Yeah, thanks, Ros.” I smiled tightly. “I think the club’s in trouble. I don’t know how. Things were going great. Karel’s done something. I had an e-mail from my bar manager, saying he’s gone to a new job and that there have been changes he doesn’t like. He hinted that I ought to check it out, and that he thought I didn’t plan to go back. I checked the bank and the money’s gone. All of it.”
    “The club’s money? How much?” Rosalyn’s eyes widened.
    “Over a quarter of a million pounds.”
    “Oh my God! Why would he do that? He’s your friend. Why…?”
    “I have no idea, Ros. He’s been in touch with me every week, telling me everything’s great. I never bothered to check. There was no reason to. There’s never been a reason to before, I mean. We’ve always shared the accounts stuff. I got an evening flight. It’s all there is.”
    “I’m so sorry, Joe. You will let me know tomorrow, as soon as you find out what happened?”
    “Yeah, I’ll call.” I sighed heavily and stooped to hug my sister. “I’m gonna miss you.”
    “We’ll miss you too. You know we’re always here, anytime you need us.”
     
     
    THE REST of the day crawled by, while my stomach churned in panic. I tried to imagine what could have happened to make Karel take all the money. Did that explain why Tomáš was dancing naked? Was Červenà in trouble, only I hadn’t seen it?
    Again I considered everything—the club, Karel’s behavior before I’d left, and the things I’d done—and I dismissed the idea. The bills were always paid on time and the place was so popular that the money poured in six days a week. Our accounts had been done in September, proving the club’s profits had increased from the previous year. The only thing I could imagine was that Karel had some personal problem I didn’t know about.
    I pictured Tomáš on the podium as I’d seen him on the website, and wondered if the others were dancing naked too. The picture in my head became Sasha on the podium with his dick out, while a crowd of horny men pawed at him, and I wanted to throw up. I couldn’t imagine him wanting to do that but maybe he had no choice.
    By the time I left for the airport, I was more angry than worried. Karel had no right to make any changes without consulting me. It had been an unofficial agreement between us from the beginning. We’d always decided anything significant together. That included the spending of the club’s money.
    I checked in for my flight, wishing I didn’t have a suitcase. It would make things take longer when I had to wait in Baggage Claim at the other end. I bought a coffee and found somewhere to sit away from the main bustle in Departures. Two hours and I’d be in the air. Three hours after that and I’d find out what the hell had happened to my business.

Chapter Six
     
     
    I FINALLY reached Červenà a little before two in the morning. My flight had been delayed by almost three hours, following which