Helping Sarah

Chapter 28

Michael

"What time do you want to go get Charlie?" I called the question down the corridor towards my home office that Sarah had been working in all day, but there was no reply.

"Sarah?" I tried again as I detoured to the laundry room with my sweaty gym clothes and wet towels.

She knew I was home, I'd poked my head into my office when I'd arrived ten minutes ago to tell her so, but I hadn't wanted to disturb her further as it was still fairly early in the afternoon and she had been in the middle of a drawing of how to operate an electric pancake griddle.

Just like the last two days, I was supposed to have been at my office at Capra Games all day to give Sarah peace and quiet to work, but Lisa had been there, and somehow Brian had discovered my presence.

I had endured my PA's none too subtle questions, hints and recommendations about my relationship with Sarah and the CMO's hints at all the projects they'd like my help with for only a few hours before I'd snuck out and gone to the gym instead.

A long run on the treadmill had helped erase my annoyance with Lisa and Brian, but not the tension that had had me tense as a bowstring since Sunday. When Sarah and I had kissed in the kitchen. There was only one way to relieve that.

Pushing the door to the office fully open, I said again, "Sarah?"

Her head jerked up and the phone she was clutching in her hand went flying. It landed with a thump on the carpet by her feet. Her wide eyes stared at me, unshed tears glittering there, and her face completely devoid of colour.

"What's wrong?" I hurried over to her and clasped her trembling hands.

Hers closed claw-like around mine. "Lenny called."

It took real effort for me not to growl my words. "What did he say?"

"He's livid that I'm not at the flat. Apparently, Mrs Boyce chased him off when he banged on my door and told him I haven't been there since the fire. You can hear it yourself."

Sarah picked up her phone and tapped the screen a few times until an angry, male voice reverberated in my office.

That Lenny was livid was an apt summation of the threats and vile words he spat out in the few minutes the call lasted, and the only thing that held me back from seeking him out right then and there to knock his teeth into his throat was his parting shot; the threat to cut Sarah open from nose to pussy if she didn't pay.

I met her gaze. She was still pale, but her eyes were gleaming over the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips.

"You got a recording of a threat."

"A threat," she repeated, but her smile only grew. She slowly released a breath that made all of her tremble. "I'm not sure if it's enough with just the one."

"Call DI Murphy. Let's ask him."

She scrolled through her list of recent calls and tapped one near the top. After a few diversions, she took the phone from her ear and put it on speaker between us, and we both heard the weary voice that answered.

"Hello, Detective Inspector. It's Sarah Graves."

There was a good deal of background noise, but no mistaking his sigh. "Mrs Graves. How can I help you today?"

"There's something I'd like you to listen to." She tapped the screen before the detective could argue and once more Lenny's rant echoed in my office.

Sarah's free hand sought mine between us while we listened.