Berwick Street. Outside the bookshop

"Call Muriel" Crowley held the end of his phone next to his mouth.

"Calling Aziraphale" it announced

Crowley prodded at the phone. "No no no. Stupid predictive voice recognition"

He stopped outside the bookshop. "Caa-lll Mu-Re-Ell!" he pronounced angrily.

"Calling Aziraphale" it said again

"Gah"

The phone on the desk inside rang. Crowley looked at his phone. "Same number, right. Hope no one saw that" he raised the letterbox lid and dropped it again. Twice.

Muriel answered the call "Hello. Fell's bookshop. Can you hold a moment? There is someone at the door" she put the phone down and walked to the door

"Its me. I'm at the door"

She opened and looked at the man standing there.

"Hello. Can you hold on a minute? I've got someone on the phone" she closed the door and went back to the desk. "Can I help?"

"Put the phone down and answer the door" Crowley yelled.

"Crowley?"

"Yes" he hung up and let himself in.

They sat in the backroom. Aziraphale's chair was left empty.

"I need your hand."

"You need a hand?"

"No, your hand. Well a finger. Attached or not. Your choice"

Muriel looked shocked and drew back into the chair and clutched her left hand in her right.

Crowley put a harmless-ish grin on his face "Only kidding"

"Oh. Oh. Thank goodness. Or evilness? You are a demon, thats the kind of thing your side would do" she nodded knowingly.

"But if they asked, I was this" he put his finger and thumb close together. "close to plucking your fingers off" he peeked over his glasses, flashing a little more yellow than normal."They have upped the security. Heavenly digits only"

"Oh"

He pushed up from the chair. "I need to go in there" he pointed to a door on the far wall.

Muriel watched him carefully.

"Come over here and push this button and the lift will open here" he pointed to a button, old and brass ringed, next to the broom cupboard.

"That wasn't there before?"

"That? Yeah. Course it has. Been there for ages that."

"You sure?" she asked.

"Yup. Button. Press. Go" he pointed at it again. "Push the button. Go on, be a dear"

Muriel move out of her chair and pressed the button. A noise started behind the door.

Crowley check his watch "Three minutes and I'll be out of you hair.

They stood in silence, neither knowing what to say.

"Did you like your present?"

"Present?"

"Asking a question using the last word I said? Ever so slightly done with that habit of yours?Package. Yesterday"

"Yesterday?" she smiled a little. "Oh yes. Thank you. I like the paper books, but the electronic ones? They are just so..."

"Convenient? Covet-able?"

"Yes!" she fought the urge to hug the device, again.

"Show Aziraphale. When you do your next report" Crowley tapped the door. "He'll luuv it"

"What? No. No report. I'm a bookseller. Why would I do a report?"

"Because you are an angel and he is your boss?"

The door binged and opened. There was one button, marked H. He skipped in.

"Door closing" it announced.

"How will you get back?"

"I'll take the stairs" he waved, clicked his fingers. Her e-book reader made her new favourite noise. A new book.

She opened the door again and all that was there was a Henrietta hoover and a feather duster.

"Simple plans are always the best" ~ René: