Red Flag

14. From Bliss to Reality

While Lorne and I washed each other in the shower, he said, "Our priority is to get you away from this area. We're much too close to your townhouse, and with two murders hanging over their heads, they'll be desperate to remove you. Likely have the area crawling with their goons."

I trembled at the thought. "But you've already told the police about our suspicions."

"Whoever's behind this wouldn't know that, and the police are masters of inconspicuous surveillance. Besides, it's too far-fetched for them to think that you would have so quickly made the connection between the restaurants, the explosion and Nathan's disappearance."

"Ummm. All they know is that I saw Nathan's confrontation and accusation at Dalliance – and heard the manager's threat."

"And that you were with him at Zack's shortly before he disappeared – and that they shot photos of you. Also, abandoning your appetisers, paying and quietly leaving would add to their thinking that you're onto something. More than enough for them to want you out of the picture before you connect the dots and go to the police."

"Yeah." I looked down and chuckled. "I think Miss Fanny has now been sufficiently washed, Lorne."

Lorne pulled his fingers away and grinned. "And so has Cyclops."

"Hunh? Oh!" I felt my face warm as I stopped stroking and unwrapped my hand. "Distracted."

"Aren't we both?" He blew a deep breath. "But we need to focus."

"So, where will we go?"

"The most convenient and logical is my loft."

"Where is it?" I slowly bent and turned under the shower to rinse.

"Wylie and First." Lorne switched the handheld to rain-head and assisted with its soft spray. "The former telephone exchange and warehouse."

"Ooh, what a great building. Made an offer on one of the lofts, but I lost in a bidding war."

"Love your taste."

And I love you. Whoah! Too fast. Too intense the last few hours. Let it simmer for a while. Why? You know you love him. "Ummm! We're so similar in many ways."

When fully rinsed, I stepped out of the shower, bent forward and untied the Urban Fare takeout bag. With it removed, I wrapped my hair in a towel. "Great! Just a bit wet at the nape of my neck."

"Do they make shower caps big enough for all of that?"

"Oh, for sure. This only goes to my waist; some wear it to their bums and below."

"Umm, but not as thick as yours."

"True. That long, this is a real chore to manage." I wrapped another towel around me and began drying. "I tried it longer, but after the hassles, I finally settled on this length – and even this takes ages to blow-dry."

"Does your hood cover it?"

I snickered. "Yeah, tried it once. Made me look like Quasimodo. I wear hoodies because of the pouch pockets and the way the hood pushes my hair out. I do love showing it off."

"And so you should. But hair like yours is rare – very rare – and the moment we step off the boat, you'll be waving a big red flag in their face."

"Oh, God! But wouldn't a hood look suspicious in the heat of summer?"

Lorne pointed up at one of the skylights. "It's raining."

A few minutes later, with my hood up and backpack slung, I took Lorne's hand as he guided me down Tastevin's transom steps and onto the float. Then through the gate and with an umbrella above us, he turned right, and I realised. "Aha! A ferry. That makes sense."